Formula 1: The GOAT

Chapter 265: Race Weekend | Sunday | LOCKOUT

“IT IS A PODIUM LOCKOUT FOR TEAM ARDEN! ALTHOUGH MORE THAN TEN SECONDS BEHIND FATIH, IT IS DENNIS HAUGER TAKING HOME HIS SECOND PODIUM POSITION OF THE WEEKEND, HAVING FOUGHT FOR THAT POSITION WITH THEIR THIRD TEAMMATE, JACK DOOHAN, WHO COMES HOME TO TAKE THE FINAL PODIUM POSITION! WHAT A WEEKEND FOR FATIH, WHAT A WEEKEND FOR TEAM ARDEN!” Brad commentated as the feed showed the drivers who had been trying to overtake each other wave at each other in celebration of the positions they finished.

“And Fatih, who is aware of that, seemed to be driving just above the minimum speed, waiting for the other two drivers to join him in a formation celebration lap to commemorate this feat they have managed to achieve.”

As Justin said, it seemed the other two drivers also understood Fatih’s intention as they rushed and flanked him on both sides. The feed then shifted to Fatih’s T-cam, showing him waving and pumping his fist up, with the two other drivers returning the same excitement to him. He immediately followed by pointing to them to press the pit limiter so that they wouldn’t have to worry about overspeeding while trying to keep up a certain pace.

“What a smart use of the pit limiter and what a beautiful image they are creating. I already know what pictures the articles are going to have. This is also going to be hung in the Red Bull Academy building,” Brad joked as the feed continued focusing on them, showing how they kept in pace with one another.

“That is true. It is also a win for the Red Bull Academy because all three of their drivers have taken home at least a podium position, with Hauger taking two and Fatih taking three.”

“But more than the academy, I believe it is Fatih’s weekend because, in a single week, he became the Red Bull and team driver with the most race wins, beating both his teammates who each had one win before this weekend. It made us wonder at the start if it was going to make him feel under pressure, hahaha,” Brad chuckled when he remembered his words at the start of the weekend.

“Yeah, what a naive thought that was, because he went and took home all of the wins available today.”

“It makes me wonder what he is going to keep showing us in the upcoming weekends,” Brad said as the feed still showed the three drivers in formation.

“If he keeps this up, he might achieve his target, and I can’t imagine what that day is going to be like,” Justin took over and created the image of how big and chaotic that day would be.

While they talked, the cars finally entered parc fermé, stopping in front of the boards indicating each position. They got off the cars and rushed to their mechanics, who had filled the entire barrier section as he jumped onto them while everyone cheered.

“Now let’s hear from the driver of the weekend, rookie of the weekend, winner of the weekend, and the team of the weekend,” Brad said as Fatih and the two other drivers finally finished getting off the crowd of mechanics who came to celebrate with them at the parc fermé barriers before they walked to the reporter who was waiting to interview them.

“And for a change of format, all three drivers will be interviewed at the same time. Which is quite a fitting choice when the entire team is the one being interviewed,” Justin added sarcastically, as he knew this decision had been made before the race had even started. They had confidence in Fatih being on the podium even if he didn’t win, so they wanted to create an atmosphere for attention, because many people would be curious how he would act with other drivers who many now think he called untalented. But the situation had changed to a completely different one.

……..

“Congratulations to team Arden and all of you. What does it feel like to have every driver on the team be on the podium?”

“It is quite a different feeling when everyone on the podium is wearing the same race suit, but it would have been better if I were on the top of the podium. That would have made it a more worthy triple podium for the team,” Dennis Hauger said while looking at Fatih.

“I couldn’t agree more, but it would have been even better for me because it would have been my first podium position, and for it to be a race win would have been befitting,” Jack Doohan joined in on the play.

“Well, as the one on the top of the podium at the moment, it is a moment of celebration for the team, and it is a feeling I would like to experience more,” Fatih said, making it clear that he was hoping for such a podium to repeat, but only when he is on top.

The reporter chuckled for a moment at the three of them, who were answering the questions but throwing shade at each other openly, before he resumed his questioning. “Dennis, have you had the chance to watch the video?”

“…Yes, I did,” Dennis answered as the smile on his face disappeared a moment before he answered. He had hoped that the reporter would have forgotten that, but it seems like he hadn’t and was very happy that Dennis was on the podium.

“And what are your thoughts now that you are informed?” the reporter asked him, a smile of satisfaction on his face. This had been his luckiest weekend because one after another, interesting things were happening, and he was the one interviewing those who were the cause of the interesting topics.

“Having watched it, I agree with his words. We all have nearly the same opportunities, barring a few, but the cars we drive are equal machinery,” Dennis answered, making it clear now that he knew the information, he had already chosen his side.

“What do you think?” the reporter asked as the microphone moved to Jack Doohan.

“Mhhh. I agree as well,” Jack said, knowing that there was no way he could throw Fatih under the bus because although they were not as close as Fatih was with Dennis, they were still friends and teammates.

“And have you had any change of mind considering the misunderstanding and controversy that your words and the misunderstandings of them were met with?”

“…..” Fatih went silent for a moment, thinking about the question before he said, “I stand behind what I said. But just as I’m responsible for the words I said, the other drivers are also responsible for correcting their own misunderstandings and not just taking whatever they heard at face value without trying to verify it, just because it fit their bias,” directly addressing the group chat which the drivers had used as a means to vent their feelings.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I will leave it there,” Fatih said with a smile, making it clear that he was not going to talk about it anymore.

Knowing that it was useless to drag it on and sour his relationship with the drivers, he finally decided to move on to the next questions before they finally headed to the podium to receive their trophies and sing the national anthem.