RACE 2 - Max Verstappen

29

"What do you mean Lewis didn't make it?" Daniella asked in disbelief. She was just informed that Lewis was out in Q1. It just seems like a joke to her. 

"He didn't have enough pace…" Nate informed her. 

"Dani, it's all up to you now," Toto nervously told her. The entire team is shocked because the last time Lewis was out of Q1 was in 2009.

Daniella cursed as she felt the increased pressure. 

***

"Red flag, Red flag."

"What happened?" Daniella asked as she slowed down as all the other drivers that moved into Q2. 

"Mick crashed," Nate told her. 

"What?" Daniella gasped as her heart started beating faster. "Can you confirm if he is okay?"

"Sure, please standby."

Every second felt like minutes as she, along with all the drivers, made her way back to the pit lane. 

As the mechanics pushed the car back to the garage Nate walked over to her. He hovered above the halo so that Daniella could hear him. 

"They are saying he is talking but he is not getting out of the car," He informed her. 

Daniella let out a shaky breath, praying that her friend is uninjured. 

"He will be fine," Nate tried to comfort her. 

"Yeah," She nervously nodded her head, trying to convince herself that Mick is okay. 

She got out of the car as she was told that it will take some time to clear up the debris. She took off the helmet and handed it to Nate. 

"I will be right back," She said as she ran over to the Haas garage to talk to the team principal. 

She found Gunther Steiner talking to Sophie, Mick's teammate. 

"He is out of the car and they are talking him to the hospital to get him checked out," Gunther said even before Daniella could ask. 

"Is he injured or.." Daniella cautiously asked. 

"No," Gunther shook his head. "I talked to him and he is saying that he is fine."

"Okay," Daniella let out a deep breath. "That's a relief."

***

Daniella went back to the Mercedes garage to look through the data and see what they can change to get a better result. 

"How is Mick?" Toto asked Daniella. 

"Gunther told me he is fine and uninjured," Daniella sighed. "But I will call him after the qualy."

Toto nodded. 

"I really don't like this track," Daniella muttered. She looked around but didn't see her teammate. "Where is Lewis?"

"He went to give interviews," Toto huffed as he crossed his arms. "He is in a really bad mood. I sent Myra with him just in case…it will be a disaster if he says something wrong."

***

"We don't have the pace," Daniella complained as she tried to do her best in Q3. Both the Ferraris passed her, proving they have a better pace, meanwhile she was struggling to stay between the Ferraris and the Red Bulls. 

"Understood," Nate calmly said, knowing there is nothing anyone can do at the moment. 

Toto was pinching the bridge of his nose, praying that Daniella stays in the top five.