Finally.I think about all the things I’m going to say, all the people I need to thank.And then, I close my eyes briefly and speak only to myself, to that eleven-year-old girl.You did it.You fucking did it.I’m so happy for you.I glance down at my prepared statement.You got this.
As I look back up, I notice an empty place next to Barry with a name card I can’t quite see.“Who’s sitting there?”
“Your present,” he says, grinning, tapping his lecture cards into a uniform stack as he waits for the room to settle so he can begin.A camera flash startles me, and I swing my head forward again.
My eyes sting from the bright lights, so I create a visor with my hand to see more clearly.Who else could be coming to sit up here with us?A head of aerodynamics?We need one.Or is it someone else?
Along with the press, I can see team principals from Ferrari, Rossini, McLaren, even Mercedes, ready to do theirvarious team updates too.I spot Jack Sheppard fromF1 Daily, a driver turned journalist who I know from my old racing days.I smile nervously at him, and he winks back.A friend.I breathe out.If I freak out, I’ll just look at him.By the far wall, I can see a couple of drivers too, before my eyes catch on a very familiar profile....
Wait.Is that Matt Warner?
My eyes widen as he comes fully into focus.He’s leaning back against the wall, arms folded, eyes on the floor like he doesn’t want to be here.He looks so different after all this time, even at this distance.Older, wearier, somehow, though still admittedly attractive in that classic cocky Matt Warner way.His dark hair is too long, falling forward, hiding his eyes.Honestly, I’d be hiding too if I had burned out as spectacularly as he did at Rossini.Once their big hope, he’s had a season—so far—of failing form, then a huge crash at the Italian Grand Prix, which took out his teammate and best friend, Stavros.The Chloe from our teenage racing days might have had some empathy for his rough run, but those days are long gone.
I sit up a little taller in my seat and turn my gaze anywhere but in his direction.That too tall, arrogant asshole is about to witness my ascension.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.I have a short statement to make, and then we’ll take questions,” Barry says.
Click.Click.Click.He waits for the sound of the cameras to quiet, and I feel a smile creep across my face, a coy heat rising in my cheeks.I can barely contain myself.
This.Is.It.
“Welcome to everyone on this hot day in Singapore.Thequalifying will begin here at Marina Bay Circuit in just a few hours, and we have a lot of teams to get through, so I won’t keep you,” he says, before clearing his throat.“As you know, Arden Racing has been without a team principal since the end of the summer break.But we’re very happy to announce Chloe Coleman will be filling that role, effective immediately.”
I absorb the gasps from the press corps, feeling my chest swell with pride.That’s right, I’m going to be leading Arden’s F1 racing team for the rest of this season.The boss.The head of all staff and drivers and the ultimate decision-maker.
Even though I really, really shouldn’t, I can’t help but look at Matt.I have his attention now, his hazel eyes in my direction, mouth slackened.
I’m surprised by how sharp the pleasure of his surprise is.See, I made it too.I turn to the press and paint on a smile, trying to remain calm and professional.
“Chloe has a wealth of experience.Not only is she an immensely competent driver, but the work speaks for itself.Last year in Formula 3, she turned around the fortunes of Visor Racing, teaming up with Honda and raising capital to improve the engines.Her decisions ultimately delivered the biggest improvement of any team on any of the circuits.”
I’m surprisingly impressed with Barry’s statement, which is very competently drafted, and has not contained any derivative of the wordfuck, yet.He’s made me sound utterly worthy of the role, and for that I’m grateful.
I knew when he asked me to be team principal of theworst team in F1 he was chasing a reputation clear-up as much as anything.It’s bound to help improve the image of Arden Racing to have a woman in charge.A team that this year alone has been embroiled in a sexting scandal concerning the now sacked, very much married team principal and his personal assistant.And to make matters worse, there was a gender pay gap dispute that Arden ended up losing in court, resulting in a forced-groveling public apology, with Barry acknowledging that team Arden needed to “do better” when it came to ethics and diversity.It was honestly delicious to watch.
So yes, I’m a chance for Barry Arden to polish his team’s murky reputation.But there is politics behind so many decisions in F1, and besides, I am the queen of making lemonade out of lemons.I’ve worked with the scraps I’ve been tossed my entire racing career, and look where it’s got me.Here.Hopefully paving the way for more young women to break up this boys’ club.
“I know you’ll have a lot of questions for Chloe, but I just have another announcement to make before we unleash the hounds.”Barry pets one of his greyhounds, Ginger, and chuckles to himself.
One of the female journalists in the front row tips her head toward me and grins.“Good for you,” she mouths.I bite my lip, my cheeks warm with delight.All the work.All the hard fucking graft, it all comes down to this.
Barry clears his throat.“Now for the other big news...As you know, our first driver position has been empty since the departure of Jose Diaz.And so, we’re excited to announce we’ve taken on a new driver.”
I swing my head around to look at Barry.Hiring new drivers is really the team principal’s decision, and I have ideas of my own.I feel the little groove between my eyebrows deepen as I cover the mic on my desk and lean in toward Barry, trying desperately, out of the corner of my mouth, to shut the guy up.
But he completely ignores me.
“I’ve just finished talks with Rossini about the immediate release of Matthew Warner from his contract there.”
If I thought the news about me delivered gasps of shock, they paled in comparison to the breathless puffing and wheezing of excitement from this surprise announcement.
“What?”I say loudly into my microphone, causing feedback to squeal across the room.
Barry taps the table in front of me, his way of telling me to calm down.
Then he continues, a toothy grin on his round face.“As if he needs any introduction, Matt Warner has spent the last ten years at the top of the very best team, with over seventy podiums and one world championship under his belt.I know the last few months have been rough for him, but Rossini have agreed a fresh start for Matt here at Arden is best for everyone.”
All eyes are on Matt, and he looksfurious.He immediately cranes his head in the direction of the Rossini team principal, who is already picking his way through the crowd to make his escape.Barry glances toward the commotion, and I wonder if this announcement is a little premature.I wonder, briefly panicked, if Matt and Rossini are also missing a final contract.
