Heartfelt (Formula 1 fanfiction)

Episode 1;

"I know it's impossible to win all the time. I just hope that defeat doesn't come this weekend.

Ayrton Senna"

Speed. Faster than sound, faster than light. When I drive my car, I feel totally free to be myself and express myself. I don't think about anything else but the corners, the right overtaking points, the DRS zones, and making sure I'm wearing the tyres gently to minimise tyre changes. For me, racing is a real experience of a lifetime. It's doing what I love - it's a real life. Just like my grandfather. Although I never knew him personally, because when I was born, he was already racing from the top. However, however much I didn't know him personally, I know that he is there for me and looks after me every single time I race. And for me that means more than anything. I don't have to worry completely about not having someone watching over me every moment before every corner. There's no logical explanation, but when I get to a corner or I have to overtake, it's like for that split second, I'm out of my own body while someone else does what I need to do for me. Even though I know it's a physical impossibility.

Right turn, perfect deceleration, overtake teammate, then instant acceleration. That's pretty much what the track in Imola is now. The car underneath me is great, the road in front of me is clear, while beside me, everything else has turned into a big blur. I can't see or hear much of the fans. My helmet completely muffles the sound, the black earpiece in my ear, which I pretty much only use when I need to speak to my engineer, or vice versa. Also, well, the adrenaline rushing through me helps to muffle everything. The roar of the engine is loud, of course, but I try to shut that out and just concentrate. If I can win, I can officially sign up for Formula 1 from now on. All my dreams would come true. I want to follow the example of my grandfather and my father. Besides, I've been attracted to motor racing since I was a kid, so there was no question about what I wanted to do with my life. I've had a bumpy road so far. In the beginning, my mother and grandmother didn't want me to do what grandfather did. They weren't even happy that Dad was a racer, but there was nothing they could do. Mom fell in love with Dad at first sight. Even though cars weren't so advanced back then, Dad was always great. In December 2013, after the skiing accident of his best friend Michael Schumacher, something changed in Dad too. It wasn't like before. He no longer raced the way he used to, and not for the reasons he used to. After his main rival's crash, Dad no longer had the huge power, the adrenaline rush that he had initially had. Dad raced for one more season in 2014, as it were, but realised that there was no place for him in Formula One. The media, the fans and Formula 1 have lost two great drivers, figuratively of course; Michael Schumacher and Casper Akkerman. Two fantastic drivers. A lifelong friendship. And we, the heirs; Mick Schumacher and I, Am...

- America, if you go faster to the line, you can beat Ayrton's lap time, which no one has ever done before. If you slow down, you won't break it, but you'll still cross the line first. "It's up to you now!" my radio beeped, pulling me out of my thoughts.

- Who and how far away from me?

- Callum Ilott, and he's 6.849 seconds away from you. I slowed down, knowing I would be safe. Coming out of the last corner, I didn't accelerate back and crossed the finish line in fifth place, winning the last race. And of course I beat Senna's lap time. I didn't make a decision. And it was the right thing to do.

- Congratulations America, you've come first!" said my engineer Nikolas again.

- That's incredible! I know we've been fighting for this all year, but I'm telling you, we couldn't have done it without you! Thank you guys, you are the best! - I fought back tears as I replied.

- The biggest credit goes to you, America.

- No, you guys! You're the ones who put the car together. I have you to thank for everything!", I said one last time, and stopped at the first place checkered flag and got out of my car. I rushed to my team behind the barrier, who were shouting and giving me a team hug. Unbelievable. I was world champion. Even though it's only Formula 2, it's almost the same as Formula 1. I won, I became world champion and that's all that mattered.

Out of my helmet, I put on my baseball cap with the Primera logo on my sweaty, heavily condensing hair. I waited for Dan and Callum's interview to go down and then walked over to Lukas Webber.

- America Akkerman. Congratulations on your first place!" he smiled at me.

- "Thank you very much!" my voice was shaky as I still couldn't believe it.

- America, how does it feel to be Formula 2 World Champion?

- Well, you can ask me that question tomorrow, because at the moment, it doesn't really want to enter my mind," I laughed softly. Lukas and the camera guy laughed too.

- Now that you are world champion, which Formula 1 team would you like to join?" came the tough question.

- Now that's a very good question. For me there are three teams that would be the best, but of course I would go to the others.

- Can you know those three teams?

- Sure. Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari. In the first round I would like, or rather I hope, that I might get an offer from one of the three, but if not, I wouldn't mind.

- And why these three teams?" is the question I was hoping for. Before I answered, I took a deep breath.

- It's because my grandfather was world champion with McLaren, my dad has always raced for Mercedes and my godfather raced for Ferrari. For me, these three teams are the most important.

- And do you know who they are?

- As you know, Casper Akkerman is my father and Michael Schumacher is my godfather. But apart from my relatives, no one else knows who my grandfather is," I smiled conspiratorially.

- Wow, you're getting me more and more excited. Who is your grandfather?" asked Lukas. I could sense the heightened curiosity in his voice.

- "It's a secret for now, but I swear everyone will know soon," I winked one last time, and left the stunned reporter behind, walking to the podium.

- My daughter!" my dad hugged me as I entered my break room, cup in hand. I hugged the man I love more than anything else, the man who has given me strength and support since childhood, the man who has stood by my side and guided me.

- "I am your daughter," I whispered into the crook of his neck, as tears fell down my shirt.

- There, there, there!" he pushed me away to wipe my tears away. You're the world champion! You did it!

- We did it together, Daddy! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be standing here," I sniffled and put the cup on my desk. Then, reaching for a tissue, I blew my nose.

- Baby, I was just giving you advice. You did all the rest!" he sat down on the arm of the sofa, while I leaned against the table. Never forget that!

- I know, Dad. I know I'm Senna too. I will never forget that fact. Why do you think I didn't decide his lap time?

- You know, baby. No matter how fast you drive your car, no one will ever beat your grandfather Ayrton's time! Not even you, Senna. If you knew how many times I tried... - he laughed. I laughed too, and then, apologising, I hurried to the bathroom to clean up.

Ten minutes later, I was rushing to the interview room when out of nowhere, my Formula 3 ex-teammate Arthur Leclerc crashed into me. He had a big grin on his face, his eyes were shining.

- "What's up, world champion girl?" he put his arm around my shoulder.

- "Nothing. I'm going for an interview," I smiled at him as I continued on my way with him.

- And I'll accompany you. My brother's there anyway, I'm going to annoy him. Congratulations, by the way!" he hugged me sideways.

- Congratulations to you too for coming third. You can say that you have a female world champion as your best friend, or that you stood on the podium alongside her," I pinched her cheek and she grimaced.

- You're lucky you're my best friend and lucky I love you!" she wrapped one of my brown locks around her finger and started to play with it. All this, of course, in front of the interview room door.

- "Arthur!" came a voice from beside us, as I turned to look. Do you have that feeling when you're totally frozen just because something unexpected happens to you? Well, it happened to me. Those greenish blue eyes. That sharp chin line, barely covered by stubble. The boyish face. The brown hair. The inviting eyes, the sexy, athletic build. Those perfect, pink, kissable lips. Looking at his hair, I'd have loved to have pushed it in and not let go until I'd smoothed every square millimeter of it. I would kiss her lips for as long as my strength would allow, then let go for a tenth of a second while I caught my breath and resumed. His eyes, in which I could - could - get lost, I would stare for hours, even years, non-stop, non-stop. His palms that I wish would grip my hips or my buttocks and never let go. Just where does he look so familiar? Just looking at him, my brain is so blocked I can't think normally. I know he's familiar from somewhere. It's just that I can't remember where. Can you please not sleep with your girlfriend in the interviewer's doorway? Go to your room, and if it'll get you out of here, I'll take my break there!" he growled, and then, taking us by the shoulders, he pushed us away, not a little gently. I rubbed my shoulders as I looked after him.

- 'Take care of him. 'My nutter brother's girlfriend just broke up with him and he's pretty pissed off about it,' Arthur stepped up beside me. And that's when he jumped in. The not-so-nice young gentleman was Charles Leclerc, driver for Scuderia Ferrari, Formula One.

- Not bad. I can understand his attitude. But let's not take any more time, let's go for an interview and then we'll talk more,' I smiled at the blond, who nodded and we entered the room together. I took my place in the middle, Arthur sat on my right, while his brother sat on my left, and Lewis Hamilton sat next to him. And so the interview began.