Paddock and court
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July 16th 2000
Today is race day, and this Sunday in Austria, Jos have the support of Sophie, Victoria, and Max.
Sophie as for now let Victoria while she enjoy with Max before the race start. Dressed in his coat because of the cloudy weather, he started running as usual, imitating the sounds of the engines as if the paddock were just a big playground.
"Max stay with me!" His mother quickly quickened her pace, smiling slightly.
"Daddy!"
"Dad is busy, Maxie, we'll go see him later." She took her son's hand again when a familiar voice called her name.
"Sophie!"
"Oh, Michael, hello!"
The world champion walked over to them and greet Sophie by kissing on the cheek and then running his hand over Max's hair as everyone was looking at them. Max used to give Michael a kiss every time they passed each other in the paddock.
"Good to see you before the race, how are you ?" The german started the converstation
"Oh, it's okay. Max wanted to come in his Ferrari suit, Jos raised his voice a little... Victoria and I are good. And you, ready to win?"
Michael crossed his arms, taking a quick look around the paddock before returning to Sophie.
"The weekend is going as planned, more or less," he said finally.
Sophie raised an eyebrow. "More or less? That's not very reassuring."
He drew a smile, but she could see the tension on his face. "I am in the lead of the championship but I'm only P4 on the grid... Mika is on pole, and on top of that the McLarens are much stronger."
Toddler Max, who had been staring at his mother and uncle, turned his head and his gaze shifted to a photographer in front of him. The sound of photos popping out made him react, and while his hand was still holding his mother's, he extended his other arm and pointed at the camera. Making everyone around them smile.
Michael looked at his watch and then talked one last time before leaving. "Well... I'm going to join the others for the race. See you later, maybe."
"Good luck !" Sophie answered, while she was wondering if Gina and Mick were here with Corinna
As Michael disappeared into the bustling paddock, Sophie adjusted Max's coat, making sure he was warm enough. But the toddler was already distracted, his gaze wandering through the busy scene around them. The hum of engines, the chatter of mechanics, the scent of burning rubber-it was all part of the world he was growing up in. All these sounds making him uncontrollably moving his hands.
Then, suddenly, his eyes landed on someone familiar.
A few steps away, Alain Prost was deep in conversation with a group of engineers, his arms crossed as he listened intently. Even at his young age, Max recognized the man. He already started to knew well the important figure of the sport. Either way, his little face lit up, even if its not the first time he saw him.
Max tugged at Sophie's hand and pointed. "Mama!"
Sophie followed his finger and smiled. "That's Alain Prost, sweetheart."
But Max was already stepping forward, his fascination pulling him toward the four-time world champion. He wasn't sure why-he just wanted to see him up close.
Prost turned, catching sight of the tiny figure staring up at him with wide eyes. A small, amused smile appeared on his face.
"Bonjour, petit." "Hello, little boy." His voice was calm, almost gentle.
"Hi..." Max said with a big cutie smile.
"Bonjour Alain. Max, Prost c'est les voitures bleus, tu te souviens ? Blue cars." "Hello Alain. Max, Prost thats the blues cars, do you remember ?"
"Petit Belge mais il ne parle pas français, hein ?" "Little Belgian but he doesn't speak french, huh ?"
"Oh oui, Jos dit que l'anglais et le néerlandais sont assez mais pourtant j'ai l'impression que Max comprend l'allemand..." "Oh yes, Jos say that english and dutch are enough but yet I have the impression that Max understands German..."
"On voit qu'il est déjà habitué au paddock." "We can see that he's already familiar with the paddock."
"Oui en effet... Oh mais on ne vas pas vous déranger plus longtemps..." "Yes indeed... Oh but we won't disturb you any longer..."
"Il a déjà fais du kart ?" "Did he already drove a kart ?"
"Pourquoi pas bientôt." "Why not soon"
"Qui sait, peut être un jour se sera un champion." "Who knows, maybe one day he gonna be a champion."
🏎
It was one of the few very good weekend for Jos. First free practice sessions, fourth. Second session, fifth. Last session, first.
And then a tenth place to the qualifications.
Max wore ear defenders larger than his head. He sat there staring at the screen with his mother with Victoria on her lap next to him.
The race started at 2 pm local time, 71 laps, dry track and same temperature as the air, 30% risk of rain, Max already understood everything that was explained.
Häkkinen keep the lead into turn 1. Coulthard drove alongside him. Both of the Ferrari had slow starts, bunching up the field behind them. Michael Schumacher was on the inside line, with Barrichello on the outside and Zonta close by, causing an accident.
"Uncle Michael !!" Max said loudly while commentating the race.
"Oh no ! He cannot win anymore" Sophie was invested in the way Max talk, she was just happy yo be here, and seeing her son enjoying.
"And daddy?"
"No, Maxie, daddy can't win, but he's okay." She laughs softly at Max.
"Look mama, Michael doesn't have a front wing anymore !"
"Yeah, if the race is not stopped he will not continue."
No red flag, but 3 cars still cannot resume driving. Schumacher, Trulli and Fisichella had to give up.
Meanwhile the mechanics in the garage are starting to get active as they are explained,
"Jos is coming to the pit, he was caught in the carrambolage of the beginning so we will put new tires and change his front wing that was damaged."
Jos' family looked at the pit stop from the back of the garage, Frentzen's Jordan had an engine failure and spin due to oil leaking from the car. Making him the fourth DNF while on the next turn Jos gets the fastest lap while he is last.
Max was so excited to see his father perform, even if the team cannot make him fight for a podium right now. "Yayyy !!!"
Ralf Schumacher is stuck for several laps at the stand, having to repair his left-front brake
And then Jos went off the track. Off the racing line, understeer, loss of grip, and he flew over the gravel trap.
Sighs and discontent were heard, as Max and Sophie stopped smiling, victoria did not understand what was going on. Jos who will again give up... This is not surprising. "Is everything all right?" "He thinks that he is in rally cross ?" "He slowly comes back to the stand, gearbox failure."
So Sophie stayed in the Arrows garage, with the childrens by her side, watching the screens, waiting for Jos to get the car back in the garage.
Jos went into the garage with a heavy step. He pulled off his helmet, his hair soaked in sweat. Sophie crossed her eyes and understood immediately. Another weekend to forget. Max did not understand, clunging to his legs.
"Did you break the car again, Daddy...?"
"it broke on its own." His tone was dry and cold. He got upset easily, everyone knows that, and it was disturbing.
He leaned forward to kiss his wife who still has their daughter in her arms who said a little "papa". Sophie kissed him back gently, then pulled back slightly to observe his tired face. She knew he didn't like talking about his failed races, especially not in front of their son. Max, however, didn't look convinced. He looked up at his father, his eyes narrowed, as if trying to understand, but in the end he's gone back to watch the race.
The seconds Arrows, De La Rosa's ones, retired too, and the Ralf Schumacher. Hakkinen win after dominated the whole race. Making him take the lead of the championship. Meanwhile the Verstappen family we're going back to home on a private plane.
🏎
On Monday, October 30, 2000, the news came.
In May 1998, Jos allegedly fractured the skull of a 45-year-old man. That's all the public knows.
He was not present in court when he and his father were found guilty and each received a suspended sentence of 5 years after finding a payment with the victim.
Belgian law says that if an accused enters into a financial agreement with the victim, he may receive a lighter sentence. However, he will not escape prison if he gets into trouble for the next five years
"It's been more than 2 years and we never really talked about it... Your behavior really hurts me. I'm worried about you, about the children. Chéri, it's serious what you did !"
Jos did not answer immediately. Sitting on their bed, he was looking at an invisible point in front of him. The dim light of late afternoon cast shadows on his tense face. Sophie was standing in front of him, arms crossed, struggling with the emotion that threatened to make her voice tremble.
"Are you going to say something?" she insisted, her voice softer this time.
He passed a hand over his face, deeply inspiring. "What do you want me to say? That's it."
"No, it's not, 5 years with conditional sentence, you realize? You have to learn how to manage your anger."
Jos clenched his fists, breathing faster as the tension rose in the room. Suddenly, he stood up and swiveled abruptly before striking a violent blow against the wall. Sophie jumped, instinctively holding a hand to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock and fear.
"Look what you make me do!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with anger and frustration. He turned to her, her burning eyes meeting hers.
Sophie felt her heart clench, torn between fear and sadness.
"Jos, I don't want you to hurt yourself or us," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.
He looked away, shoulders bent under the weight of guilt.
She gently put her hand on his arm, feeling the tension that ran through him, but he pushed her away violently and left the room, then the clapping of the front door was heard.
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It took me a while to be satisfied with this chapter and I still don't know if I am
I had a hard time knowing which Grand Prix this chapter would be. I originally wanted to focus on the photo of Max and Michael with Sophie, after finding after a long search that it took place in 2000, then I noticed that other photos date from the same days when we look at Max's clothes, and thanks to that I was able to search the archives and find the date of July 16, so Austrian GP!
I tried to imagine a conversation from these real photos of Austria 2000 gp, then about Alain, it's purely fictitious! It's just my French pride that made me say that it would be nice to meet them, especially since there are many chances that it really happened! For the rest, I just followed the race.
I also had to add a passage on the condemnation of Jos, their relationship is no longer as cute as at the beginning... I laughed a lot, I didn't know what to do so I made the cliché of dark romance scenes, plus it matches.
I'm working hard on the coming chapters... The next one will be the arrival of someone you'll love!
Don't forget to follow my instagram @ ragondin_wllmrln
Also join my server discord multifandoms and safe place!
Take care of you, kiss ♥
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The pictures of Max that day
[CANNOT PUT PICTURES ON AO3 FOR NOW, COME SEE THEM ON WATTPAD (I will start soon posting them on tumblr)]
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