‘Darien, Heidelberg is investing inyou.Your home country, partnership with your racing team. You’re going to have to deliver if we want this new facility to keep its funding for next season, not to mention if we want Heidelberg to keep you for next season too. And ideally … you know you’re young, doing well for yourself. They’d love to see a title back in the trophy case.’
I’ve picked up my jaw now, but it’s just so my mouth can form anOof shock.
‘I’ll be sending you that itinerary. Speak to you soon,’ Katrina finishes far too peppily.
I don’t let the phone move away from my ear till I hear the dull tone that tells me she’s hung up.
Frantically, I open my laptop again. There’s a gentle chime as my inbox tab lights up. I’ve never clicked on something so fast. I lean back and let out a low whistle. There it is.
Re: Heidelberg Hybridge Ring
‘What? What is it?’ Diana scrambles to get out of her chair and stand at my side so she can see it for herself.
‘Look at this thing.’ I exchange a slack-jawed look with Diana as we glance over the floorplan of the new building. ‘It’s huge. This is gonna be the bridge between Heidelberg and Redenção, man. This is unreal.’
My head spins like I’ve just downed a whole bottle of tequila.I suddenly remember what Manuel had been going on about: a Granja Comary for drivers. Apparently, as if by magic, here it is now: a chance to attract more drivers from home, to show everyone that Brazil can hold its own against all-comers. New equipment, analytics, it would level our game up massively. Redenção drivers would have a fast track, a direct affiliation to F1 through Heidelberg, a shared facility.
But at what cost?I need to get third in the World Drivers’ Championship.
That’s insanity.
‘Well, look at you go!’ hoots Diana, stealing back the CAR GUY mug for one more sip. She studies me for a second, calming down to ask, ‘They’ll want results from you, won’t they?’
I let out a laugh, awkwardly hiding how nervous I’m feeling at the prospect of even more weight on this next season. ‘It’s not just gonna be the average expectations this year. They’re doing all this extra stuff, bringing new people onboard …’
‘The WDC,’ finishes Diana. ‘Bit of pressure there.’
‘Yeah.’ I stare at the email, at the open reply text box yet to be filled in. There was always going to be pressure; it’s the price I pay to drive in F1. It’s the price I paid when I took it upon myself to get Mãe and me out of Oakland. But I had never felt it so intensely before.
Looks good, I type.I’ll be there in a week.
Chapter Four
Shantal
Marcus shoves his phone in front of my face. ‘Shantal!’
‘What!’ I yelp, nearly slapping the phone right out of his hand. ‘Oh, god, you scared me.’
He waits barely a second for me to compose myself before coming back with a vengeance fuelled by multiple cups of cold brew. ‘Do you realize what you’re going to do? Look at this!’
The staccato music absolutely pouring from his phone speaker, dripping with bass, repels me instantly. ‘My days. Marcus, turn that down. What is that?’
‘It’s Brazilian funk,Miss Rio.’ Raya pokes her head out from behind the wall of her cubicle.
‘Yes, it is. Look!’ Marcus attempts to bring the screen out one more time, but I wave a hand and turn back to my monitors.
‘I would, but if I want to go to Brazil, I have to finish all the prep work first,’ I counter slyly. It’s true. I’ve been given a laundry list of things to sort through prior to my flight out. This new sports centre they’re setting up is no small operation,and their expectations of my simulator program are equally enormous.
‘No, Shan, seriously.’ Now Joel has rolled out of his workspace in his beloved gaming chair, which takes a lot, because Joel is the sort of man who minds his own business as a principle. ‘Darien Cardoso-Magalhães is Brazil’sfutureof motorsport. That song—’
‘Is Brazilian funk. I know.’
‘It’s abouthim,’ Joel corrects me. ‘They made this guy a song.’
‘As a citizen of the United Kingdom, you’re really gonna say you’ve never had exposure to Formula 1?’ prods Marcus. He’s the biggest fan of this racing stuff I know, but I can’t say I share his enthusiasm.
I squint, trying to remember the last time I watched a race. ‘I mean, I’ve seen Silverstone on TV, I think, but I don’t follow it religiously enough to know names.’
