"It's vegas baby!" Daniel yells, running through the door
"You don't have to say that every minute Dan" I mumble
"But it's vegas!" He continues to yell
If you haven't guessed, it's the Las Vegas Grand Prix. With it being the second last race of the season, I decided to fly out to attend.
"Shouldn't you be like, getting ready for the race?" I asked
"I'm too excited" he says, plopping down beside me onto the bench in his drivers room
"But surely it doesn't make much difference to you, it's all a blur when your driving past no?"
"Well, yes, technically. But it's the before and after part I'm excited for. The lights and the pizzazz and the buildings"
"Shouldn't you be a little more nervous? Givin the fact that you and Lewis are exactly tied on points with only two races left"
"I'm not worried about Hamilton,"
"Of course not" I mumbled, throwing my bag onto the couch and off my shoulder
"Did you see what he said about me as well?" Daniel asked
I felt myself still, before I quickly caught myself "Le- Hamilton says a lot about you, what was it this time?"
"His interview? Surely you've seen something about it, it's everywhere. Where he said he's not going to talk bad about me anymore"
"Oh that one?" I say, not meeting Daniel's eye, instead I had become suddenly very interested in the fabric of the couch "I did actually, i would say it best to just ignore him, like completely, don't think about it again. He's definitely just trying to get into your head since there's only two races left"
"Yeah" Daniel said slowly, and I could tell he was nodding his head how he always did
"At least one of you is worried about the other"
Daniel let out a scoff "the best man will win in the end"
"I'm sure they will" I say, slower than intended
****
Charles Leclerc had claimed pole position yesterday. Which actually made a nice change from Daniel and Lewis's usual back and forth fight for pole. Lewis was in P2, with Daniel in P3. A third place qualifyer for Mr Ricciardo? The world must be ending.
Today I'd gone for a complete over the top look to match the overall theme for Vegas. My dress was skin tight, red and beaded out in jewels. My hair was styled back in a messy updo and I had a layered stack of diamond red necklaces hanging from my neck.
I spent a while longer talking with Daniel in his drivers room before an engineer came in and reminded up that there was 30 minutes until the race began, so I took that as my cue to leave and headed out into the paddock.
The place was absolutely jammed packed.
There was people everywhere, everyone was running from one place to another to get ready before the drivers would come out in a few minutes to stand for the national anthem. Crowds of celebrities and rich people with paddock passes were all packed onto the grid.
I kept my distance, deciding to stay off the grid. The agreement is that if you're on the grid, and a reporter asks you for an interview, you have to comply. It's one of the only conditions for being on the grid before the race.
Technically the agreement is the same for the pit lane as well, but no reporters ever really leave the grid, there's too many famous faces and famous cars to leave.
So I took up residence, leaning against a wall of the red bull garage and looking out at the hustle and bustle of the excitement in front of me.
However, it wasn't long until I was interrupted. When I said reporters hardly ever left the grid, turns out today was the exception
"Delaney, Martin Brundle, Sky F1, can we have a few words" he said, walking up from beside me, the microphone clutched in his hand, the camera man standing beside him, and a huge smile covering his face.
Not to sound egotistical, but he's just found the golden ticket. Not only do I hardly give interviews, but I almost never give them at Grand prix's.
I can't help but laugh slightly and roll my eyes. I've known Martin for years, and his mischievous smile is slightly infectious
"Martin, good to see you" I nodded, not standing up from my spot against the wall. My head leaning comfortably against the wall behind me
"Delaney, it's fantastic to see you out and about at the Grand Prix's again, we've been missing you and your amazing outfits, may I also say you look rather stunning today"
"Thank you, you're too kind. But I've been busy, winning Wimbledon and training for the Us open in three weeks. But since there's only two races left I decided to come down and support Dan"
"And how do you think your brothers going to do today?"
"I don't think I'm allowed to say anything other than first place" I say with a slight smile.
I glance over Martins shoulder as he moves slightly as he laughs.
My eyes connect with his.
He looks like he was walking from his garage over to the pit lane for the national anthem, but something had caused him to pause mid stride beside a barrier. His assistant was standing beside him, looking confused at his sudden hault. There were media personal on the other side of the fencing, trying to get his attention and ask him a question.
But he was just glancing softly over at me.
I felt my heart ache slightly.
I was by no means a good person.
Not at all.
But in five weeks when this is all over and I've beaten Nicki Li and I'm lifting up the trophy, I'll be thankful I chose what I did.
I hope.
I can't stop myself before I let myself smile slightly across at him.
His face mirrors mine, only a small smile is returned.
"Delaney?" Martin's voice snaps my eyes away from Lewis.
"I was just asking if you opinions ons on Darren Cahill purchasing an ownership share in RedBull Formula 1 team"
"Emm" I glance back over to where he was standing, but he was gone, the media on the other side of the fence were gone too "no comment"
"Thanks for your time Delaney, we'll stop disturbing you"
"Thank you" I say with a curtious nod, I quickly turn on my heels and walk back inside the red bull garage.
****
The drivers take off down the grid once the lights fade and the Vegas Grand Prix officially kicks off.
The smell of fuel and burning rubber fills the air around me, and it's strangely calming as I grip the headphones I had around my ears.
By the second lap, Charles had dropped off to third place, and Daniel and Lewis were still neck and neck, fighting for first.
Sparks fly as they race around corners at insane speeds, while simultaneously battling with one another.
They continue on like this for the next 10 minutes or so.
Daniels claims P1
Lewis claims P1
Daniel makes a move on Lewis
Lewis makes a risky move
Daniel claims P1
Lewis claims it back
Excitement is yet to wear off as the crowds explode into yells and cheers every time they past the grand stands.
Two laps later and Daniel is trailing Lewis. Lewis's defence tactics keep me on the edge. I cross my arms in front of me, but I can't help as the bottom of my heels begins to tap against the floor as I stare at the screen in front of me. The crew were the same, they weren't planning a pit stop any time soon, and they were all gathered tightly around the tv in the garage.
Lewis holds is lead.
Daniel is getting closer.
And closer.
And closer.
Too close.
During a straight stretch, Daniel begins to speed up before he swerves the opposite way last second in an attempt to get around Lewis.
Lewis reacts, but Daniel also reacts.
But they have opposite reactions.
The front wing of Daniel's car connects with the back of Lewis's.
Daniel has just crashed into Lewis at 180 miles an hour during the second last race of the season when points are worth more than anything.
Daniel's car immediately begins to spin, spinning over and over again until he crashes sideways into the barrier, the car being thrown back into the middle of the track from the force of the hit.
But it's Lewis's car that the camera follows.
His car flips over.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And again, until it lands upside down on top of the barrier, right in front of a grand stand.
I feel like I'm about to collapse.
I grip onto the wall in front of me, using it to hold myself up
Lewis was hanging upside down and Daniel was sitting in the middle of the track.