Fields of Gold; Daniel Ricciardo

Zandvoort

We put Spa behind us with again a disappointing result. Daniel started so well. But after putting him on the hard tires and later the mediums he dropped back and couldn't get back in the top 10.
He was disappointed, but not as much as he would have been before summer break. Now at least he knows next year he will be fighting for points.
I was pissed at the team again. They screwed his tire strategy up again. Sometimes I really don't know what they are doing or if they even know themselves. Lando started the race almost at the back and even he finished before Daniel, because they had a different strategy.

I try to let it go, but I find it a lot harder than Daniel to put it behind me.
I was very happy he was doing alright when he got out of the car. He was definitely sore and his muscles needed a lot of massaging the next couple of days. But they didn't have to put Nyck in the car.
Daniel did admit he was in quite some pain while driving, but he pushed through.

I got a bit mad at him when he told me, especially when I saw he needed a bit of help getting out of the car Sunday when he parked in the pit lane.
I quickly realized it was useless getting worked up about it. It's just the mentality of these guys, they push beyond normal peoples limits.
So I gave him a hug and told him how proud I was of him.

We spent a few days in Amsterdam after leaving Spa and today it's Thursday and we are at the circuit in Zandvoort. I absolutely love this place. Also because I was born nearby.
I asked Lewis if I could take Roscoe to the beach. Officially dogs aren't allowed on the beach during the summer, but we will see if somebody will say something about it.

During the raceweekend there aren't much people allowed into the town anyways as it will become too crowded and the people who have tickets for the weekend have priority.
Daniel has an interview with Jack Plooij, a Dutch pit reporter, so I have some time to enjoy myself on the beach with Roscoe.
As I go get Roscoe, Lewis is already walking up to me with his dog.
"Hey Sky, mind if I tag along? I'm done for today." He asks when I greet both of them.

"No problem, I would love the company." Together we head out to the beach, I'm wearing some jeans shorts and a tanktop with sandals as it's very nice weather. I have my bikini on underneath, just in case I decide to go for a quick dip in the sea.
As soon as we reach the sand I take off my sandals, we let Roscoe off leash and he calmly walks alongside us.

I notice that the people that are on the beach are definitely taking a lot of pictures, but they don't approach us, which is nice.
"How did you get used to the cameras pointed at you all the time?" I ask him as we walk to the water, on our bare feet we stroll through the surf.
"I don't know, I guess after so many years it's just part of this job. Mostly I don't really mind, but sometimes it gets annoying. I'm just a person like anybody else. I just happen to drive really fast cars and people get to watch it on tv."
He picks up a pretty pink shell and hands it to me.
"Thanks. People don't see you as a regular person I guess. They admire you, your job, your lifestyle, your wealth. It's something only a few people get to experience. For us 'civilians' this is the dream life."

I get to live this life through Daniel, but even thought I've been experiencing this for 5 months, I'm still amazed by it all. I mean I'm friends with Lewis, Max, Charles, Lando, Pierre and George. Seb and I talk quite often, I think I can consider him a friend as well. I'm sure he doesn't invite just anybody over to his Swiss home for a visit. Daniel and Seb were friends already as they were team mates years ago, but he just accepted me and he's one of the nicest guys around.
"I guess, but it still doesn't make me any different from anybody else. At least I don't feel different."

I smile at him, "for me you're just Lewis, my dear friend."
He puts his arm around my shoulder as we keep walking, giving me a kiss on my head.
Roscoe starts to jump against his legs and Lewis laughs.
"Yeah you want your ball don't you buddy." He gets a tennis ball out of his pocket and throws it. Roscoe sprints after it, or well sprint. He's still an English Bulldog, so what's a sprint for him is a trot for another dog.
He grabs his ball and brings it back. I pick it up from the sand and throw it again. When Roscoe takes off I run after him.