The perfect match

“What’s wrong?” Christian asked, coming into the meeting room for the post-race meeting, seeing Logan sitting at the table, his head in his hands, his expression sad. Logan shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know … it was just … I don’t know. It was a good race, but … I should have been faster.”
“We both could have been faster, Logan. Sometimes it just is like that … suddenly the track cools down, you get a puncture, catch the wrong wind, whatever and you lose a couple of places. This wasn’t a shining moment for us, so now we’ll talk about it and then we concentrate on Monaco, the next race.” Max said, not sounding amused either.
“Oh really, guys, I know, you both take things very personally, but you got 3rd and fourth. Those are NOT bad results, Max you are still on the podium, Logan, you are fourth in your rookie season! You were both great today. The circumstances got you those good spots. Could you have great spots? Yes, most likely, but Max had a puncture and needed a new wing, that costs time and gave Lando and Daniel the chances of the season, which they took. Logan, you were third, but at the restart after the yellow flag Daniel got the smallest amount of speed more AND immediately slipped into Lando’s DRS while you JUST slipped out of Daniels. It happened, you both ended in good spots, got good points, I’m not disappointed, management is not disappointed, the sponsors are not disappointed. It’s been a good day. Did you open social media yet?”
“No” they both answered.
“Alright, it’s a happy day for everyone, Pierre and Kika just announced their pregnancy, there is ABSOLUTELY NO moping around today!” Christian said sternly, looking at both of them. “Anybody got anything to add?” he then asked, looking around the table.
“You nailed everything.” Hanna stated.
“Alright then, let’s make it a day, I need to get to a management meeting now, who knows how long that’s going to take.” Christian said, getting back up and leaving the room.
“They never had any management meetings after races before, what the heck?” Max asked when they sat in the car bringing them back to the hotel, seeing Helmut and their CEO walk into the hospitality.
“I think they’re going to sack Nyck, but you didn’t hear that from me.” Logan said.

They got back to the hotel and Logan went to his suite when he saw Max stepping next to him.
“You didn’t really think I’d let you say something like that and wouldn’t want an explanation, right?”
“Alright, come on.” Logan said, letting Max in, who just went straight ahead and plopped down on the couch. “So, last Friday, just when we got back to Milton Keynes, Yuki came to me and needed to vent. Apparently, Nyck is pretty … disrespectful. They never really got along from the beginning, Nyck always being condescending to Yuki and acting like Yuki would be the rookie. Now that Friday they had a meeting with Hanna, Franz and Helmut. Long story short, Nyck interrupted Hanna twice to mansplain what she said to Yuki and afterwards even cut off Franz when he asked a question.” Logan said, handing Max a bottle of water. “There is no alc in my room.”
“I don’t have to have alc all the time. So what did Yuki do? I can’t imagine him just being silent and let Nyck mansplain to him.” Max asked, taking a sip of the water.
“The first time he was way too shocked and alarmed by what happened, he just let Nyck talk. The second time Nyck started he stopped him and said he could say whatever he wanted to say after the others were finished, apparently that really surprised Nyck, but he shut up. When it was his turn to talk, he tried this mansplaining, or as Yuki called it, childsplaining, because he was talking so condescending and all that, it sounded like Nyck would talk to a child. He also childsplained everything wrongly, making it sound like the strategy would be for Yuki to have Nyck’s back and supporting him –“
“Hold on, Yuki supporting Nyck? Not the other way around?”
“Yuki supporting Nyck, yes, that’s what Nyck tried to tell Yuki. Yuki apparently then called him stupid and summarized what Hanna actually said – that they would pretty much fend for themselves – and Nyck did this mommy-like thing, you know, putting her hand on your shoulder and talking to you with that little smile when you fucked up? He started to talk like that to Yuki, saying again, Yuki was wrong. So, Yuki just asked him who the fuck he thinks he is, interrupting both Hanna and Franz, acting like he’s some kind of hot shot, even though he’s the only person on the grid without a point and that even the Haas BOTH have points by now.”
“Yes, that’s our Yuki” Max stated with a wide smile.
“It was really silent and then Helmut lost it, laughing like crazy, Franz tried to calm him but laughed as well, Hanna thanked Yuki for standing up, Yuki said he shouldn’t have to stand up for her and Nyck just sat there like a deer in headlights.”
“How did it end?”
“That is the end. Yuki’s trainer came and started getting mad because he was late, so Yuki left. He doesn’t know what happened after that. But the mood is … strained, has been for a while and Nyck not performing well and also not showing any progress while Yuki is getting the points … doesn’t really help Nyck’s case. Yuki even asked me if it is a bad thing that he hopes he gets a new team mate.”
“Oh, dear Jesus. Interrupting superiors and behaving like that towards team mates is not a smart thing to do. Yuki can swear and act out and stuff, but he is respectful, no question there. Did you ever talk to Nyck? I can’t remember if I did. I think I didn’t, maybe a hello or something.”
“I said hello at the driver’s dinner, he looked me up and down, said hello and turned away. I didn’t count it as weird back then, plus Alex and Valtteri started talking to me right away and I didn’t think about it anymore.” Logan explained. “I don’t know, apparently overall, the mood isn’t good and the points suck. The only thing Yuki knows is if they bring Seb back and make him his new partner, we both are going to pee ourselves.”
“Oh, yes. I don’t think he’d come back, though. He posts a lot of pictures of a really … picturesque life on a farm and just started being a beekeeper. I don’t think that would be a life for me, but who knows.”
“Beekeeping? I wouldn’t have any idea about that. I like honey, though.” Logan said.
“What is up with you, though? The ladies at the travel office are gossiping that you are apparently spending a lot of time in France even though you just moved to Monaco. Is there a special mademoiselle waiting there?” Max asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Well” Logan started, but was directly interrupted.
“Cherie, I’m sorry I’m late, there was a huge line at the store and then there were fans that” Esteban started while coming in, but stopped as soon as he saw Max sitting on the couch “Uuhm”
“The French mademoiselle, I suppose?”
“YOU said it was a mademoiselle.” Logan said.
“Anyway, mademoiselle or monsieur, whatever, it’s Maxie’s time to go to bed. Good night!” Max said and left the suite.
“Cherie?” Logan asked with a smile.
“You don’t like it?”
“No, I do, keep saying it, please.”
“I can’t believe that just happened, though.” Esteban said and made his way to the couch.
“Well, it’s Max, he won’t say anything.” Logan said, pulling Esteban into a kiss. “Two points, baby!”
“Yes, two points! They made some kind of update, hopefully it keeps getting better.” Esteban said, kissing back.
“And you got food.” Logan said.
“Well, I got us some pizza and a tiramisu, apparently from one of the best pizzerias around here.”
“Mhm, this is really good.” Logan said, eating another piece of pizza.
“Yes, it really is.” Esteban said.

“Another win in the books, baby!” Oscar said, Lando carrying him into their suite.
“Yes! You really are my lucky charm!” Lando said, kissing him deeply.
“I think we are each other’s.” Oscar agreed, pulling off his shirt.
“I assume you forgot you invited us over?” Pierre asked from the couch and Lando dropped Oscar out of shock.
“Fuck! Oscar are you okay? Shit, yes, we forgot, Pierre. Are you alright, Oscar?” he asked, kneeling down next to him on the floor.
“Ow, yes, I’m okay. Hi Pierre, hi Kika.” Oscar said, rubbing his back.
“Hi Oscar, that really wasn’t Pierre’s intention when he spoke up.” Kika said, looking at Pierre.
“Well, it did look kind of comedic, though.” Pierre grinned.
“You can’t laugh about that!” Kika said, smacking Pierre against the chest.
“He said he’s fine!” Pierre argued.
Oscar took the plates with cheese, ham and grapes as well as the butter board out of the fridge while Lando was cutting the bread and setting the plates. They had a nice evening, talking for a long time.

“But we NEED to go karting!” Arthur yelled through the livestream, jumping up and down.
“We will go karting, I promise. You will go to kindergarten tomorrow morning while I’m coming back home and we will go to the track right afterwards, okay?” Charles said and heard a knock. “One second!” he yelled to the door and then continued to Arthur. “Arti, I will see you tomorrow, okay? Please be a good boy and be nice to mummy, okay?”
“Okay!” Arthur yelled and they ended the stream before Charles got up and went to open the door.
“Hey, you asked me to come?” Olli asked, looking a little nervous.
“Yes, come in, please. Thank you for taking the time, do you want to drink anything?”
“Uhm, water?”
“Alright” Charles said, grabbing two waters and two glasses from the minibar, walking over to Ollie on the couch and filling the glasses. “Are you okay?” Charles asked, seeing Ollie sit on the edge of the couch, rubbing his thighs nervously.
“Yes, sure.” Ollie said, not sounding convincing.
“Ollie, I just invited you because I have questions about Claude Devereux, nothing else. And if ever anyone invites you into their room and tries something other than talking against your will, you come to me or call me or whatever and I’m going to kick their butts, you understand?”
“Okay.”
“Good, so” Charles started, sitting down on a chair opposite to the couch “Claude Devereux is your manager, right?”
“Yes, are you looking for a new one or something?” Ollie asked, lifting the glass.
“No, Max and my little brother Arthur went karting together. Apparently, Arthur was really good and this Claude was there and gave Max his card and told him to call if they go karting again.”
“I would call. If Arthur isn’t that good after all, he will tell you that he should progress it as a hobby for now. If Arthur is really great, he will ask you and your mother for a meeting and explain what could or might happen in the future. He’s doing that with everyone. He is driven, but he knows that we are children and he wants children to stay children in a way, he … always expected a lot and made us work hard, but he also didn’t overdo it. He never expected too much. He is really involved in the Junior categories, knows people pretty much everywhere … if you want that Arthur is getting a chance, he’s one of the best guys to get him started.” Ollie said.
“Mhm. Okay, thank you for that. I’m just really cautious.”
“Of course you are, it’s your little brother and there are some real blenders out there who are only after your money.” Ollie said, looking a little nervous again.
“What’s up?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re looking tense … do you want to talk about it?”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“Okay.”
“The reason I came this late … I had a little … I’m not sure if we can call it a meeting … a conversation? Maybe? Well, I had a talk, I think that’s a good way to describe it.”
“Alright.”
“Uhm … Helmut Marko and Franz Tost stopped me and asked if I have a couple of minutes. Then they asked about my contract with Ferrari.” Ollie gulped down a big sip from the glass “And how tight it was, how easy I would think it would be to get out of it. Ferrari still has Giovinazzi as a reserve driver, you know?”
“They offered you a seat?” Charles asked with wide eyes.
“Well … they asked if I could imagine to drive for one of them. I said I would have to take a look at my contract and they offered to help if there would be some kind of fine.”
“They offered you a seat. Nyck’s most likely. How tight is your contract? Did you look at it?”
“Well, there would be a penalty. It’s quite the sum, to be true, but it’s not sky high. It would be … manageable.”
“Do it.” Charles said and Ollie stared at him “I know, I shouldn’t say that, driving for Ferrari, but … who knows when or if they would offer you a seat again. If any team would offer a seat. You get the chance to go into F1, you take it. I never said that to you, though. Did you talk to your parents, yet?”
“Yeah, my mum is a little bit scared, my dad is the happiest person in the world … he always supports me … he said we’ll manage the penalty somehow.” Ollie said, followed by a nervous giggle “I’m sorry”
“Don’t be, dude … you got offered a seat in F1.” Charles said with a huge smile “I’d be honoured to challenge you on track. Train your neck, though. As soon and as hard as possible.”
“I already upped those sessions, I thought I’d die in like … lap 30? 35? In Saudi-Arabia, my head just tumbled around after that.”
“What did you say to Franz and Helmut when they talked to you?”
“That I’d have to have a look at my contract to know how easy it would be, only that.”
“That’s good, it’s pretty much a soft yes. You should inform them as soon as you can, though.”
“Okay, I will, I’d go now, if that’s alright for you?”
“Of course, go, make everyone gawk.” Charles smiled and watched Ollie almost run out of the room.
He rapidly knocked on Franz’s door until he opened while frantically looking around, hoping nobody would see him.
“Oliver? What are you doing here?” Franz asked, looking tired and wearing pyjamas.
“I just wanted to tell you … were you asleep?” he asked after seeing the pyjama.
“I was awake since six, it’s nine thirty in the evening and I’m 68 years old, yes, I was sleeping. What’s going on?”
“I’m in.”
“What?”
“If you want to have me in your team. I’m in. If you still want to, of course.”
“Get in.” Franz said, opening the door. “I’ll have to call some people, take something.” He said with a wave to the minibar and then started making calls.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Christian Horner, Helmut, also in his bathrobe, a lady from legal, Franz and Ollie sat in the lounge area of the room, Ollie’s manager Claude connected to them via live stream. The negotiations were pretty short. RB would pay the penalty for Ollie and he would get a contract starting immediately with a base pay of 750k plus bonus, half of the base being paid right away. They printed the contract, as well as everything Ollie needed to get out of his Ferrari contract on a printer Franz apparently is getting provided by every hotel he stays in, Ollie signing everything right away. He handed in his immediate notice at Ferrari HQ the next day, barely answering any questions. Some reporters were in front of Ferrari HQ and saw him carrying in some stuff that belonged to Ferrari, as well as him carrying out some stuff he had stored there and the pictures went viral within minutes, letting people make all kinds of assumptions.

At 1pm, RBs social media account gave out the news that Nyck de Vries would be released from his contract with immediate effect and that Ollie would replace him. His phone went crazy, he was in the F2 driver’s group and they all congratulated them, as well as nagging him for not saying something. They didn’t really believe him when he said it only started a day earlier. Shortly after that, he saw that Charles had added him to the F1 group chat and that Nyck had been kicked out of the chat shortly after. Lando was the first one to gratulate and when Charles asked why Lando was on the phone again, he stated he was laying on the couch, waiting for Oscar to get out of his meeting. Yuki, Logan and Max greeted him in the bulls and said they’d see him in Milton Keynes, which reminded Ollie of his flight. He lived with his aunt and uncle in Maranello at the moment, he just went home and threw all kinds of things he thought he might need into his carry-on and took a taxi to the airport.
He entered the Redbull HQ a couple hours later, still overwhelmed by everything.
“Mr. Bearman?” a lady asked.
“Yes?”
“Welcome to Redbull, or RB in your case, please follow me, we’re going to get your things.” She showed him his driver’s room first before giving pretty much the same tour Christian gave Logan and at the end brought him to a meeting room, Christian, Franz, Helmut, Hanna, their race engineers, Max, Logan and Yuki already inside.
“Ah, Oliver, great to see you again.” Franz said, pointing to a free chair.
“It’s great to be here.” Ollie said, smiling nervously.
“Don’t worry, we don’t bite.” Helmut said, making Max chuckle.