Forever and always

Chapter forty-four

Olivia's pov:
March 2022

Finally, finally the day has come! It's the first qualifying of the 2022 season. The practices yesterday and earlier today went great for Max, he topped two out of three and I couldn't be happier about it. The car looks promising and seems to be very fast, exactly what fits Max perfectly.

I had just finished getting ready and I was now ready to leave the hotel. I didn't attend the third practice earlier since I had a few campaigns I had to finish so I could go to the track now. I grabbed my bag, put on my shoes, walked out of my hotel room and down all the stairs, and found my way to a car that I had rented while being here, so I just drove myself to the track, which was not that far from the hotel.

When I arrived there was still about an hour until qualifying had to start, so I still had some time to talk a bit with Max, and whoever I'm gonna find on my way, hopefully I run into Daniel! - "Olivia, can we take a picture with you?" A group of mixed young girls covered in ferrari and red bull merchandise asked, just as I was about to scan my paddock access card. "Hey girls, sure you can" I smiled and walked closer to them. I took so many pictures with them, they were really sweet. "I hope you and Chalres will get back together, you were so cute" one of the girls, obviously a Ferrari fan said with a big smile, she had all possible ferrari merch on. "That's sweet of you" I said, it was a bit weird since we obviously won't get back together, but it was sweet of her to say so. "Omg yes! we stand Charlivia!" some of the other girls said and then they all got totally hyped up about it, not to make it even weirder. "You're sweet girls, but I better get going! enjoy the qualifying" I smiled and then I said goodbye to them, it got a bit too weird. So I scanned my card and walked into the paddock.

"Buh!" I heard someone giving me a scare from behind me. "Max, you almost made me shit my pants!" I said and hit him gently. "Sorry Oli!" he laughed, I know he didn't mean it.

"I saw the practice, congrats the car seems to be great this year already!" I smiled and he did as well. "Yeah let's see, hopefully the qualifying will be great! the ferrari's seemed to be good as well" he said. "You can easily beat them, you're the champion!" I smiled and tried to encourage him a bit. "Pressure much.." Max laughed.

We then walked into Red Bull hospitality which was great, I didn't enjoy walking around the paddock as much anymore, since I knew the chance of bumping into Charles would be huge, so being in here was great because I know he can't enter this place, luckily.

After hanging out with my dear brother, It was time for him to get ready so I walked to the back of the garage and got a pair of headphones on, now I was also ready!

Q1 began and the sound of the beautiful formula one cars was a sound I have missed over the break. Max and Checo waited a bit before going out, but when they did they did almost perfectly! Max had a phenomenal time and topped in front of everyone, who had sat a time for now, Checo was a bit slower but had a great time as well.. That was until Charles and Carlos sat their times as well, they were also almost perfect, unfortunately..

Q1 was done and the first five eliminated were Yuki, Nico, Lance, Nicholas and unfortunately also Daniel, who had a few problems, dammit.

After a little break Q2 began, Max once again had the best time, if he kept setting times like these he could possibly grab this year's first pole! Thankfully Charles couldn't top his time, so he was six tenths behind Max, then Checo in third and  Kevin in fourth in a Haas, which was surprising to see. Mercedes didn't seem to be so great, they couldn't keep up with either Red Bull or Ferrari, which was fine in my opinion. After Q2 the eliminated ones were Mick, Esteban, Alex, Zhou and Lando.

Q3 began and I was a bit nervous, I had my fingers crossed that Max could set a perfect time again and grab the first pole of the season, that would be amazing really. His first sector was amazing, but then something happened and it got worse, Carlos lapped him and in the end sat a way better time. - Carlos, Charles and Max were now on their last laps and it would definitely be one of them to grab pole. Max was no doubt best of all in the first two sectors, but then the third sector didn't go great which resulted in him losing pole position.