Formula 1: The GOAT

“We are seeing the dominant Fatih we got used to seeing in the past, answering all the skeptics’ questions on whether he was going to recover from facing one of the worst racing weekends of his career. As he comes out of the final corner into the start-finish straight, FOR THE THIRTEENTH TIME, HE TAKES THE TOP POSITION ON THE PODIUM! AND TO TAKE IT HOME, HAUGER JOINS HIM, WITH DOOHAN TAKING THE LAST PODIUM POSITION! A PODIUM LOCKOUT FOR TEAM ARDEN, AND THAT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR THE TEAM TO WIN THE CONSTRUCTORS’ TITLE!

TO COMPOUND ON THIS SITUATION, DESPITE HIS VALIANT FIGHT FROM THE GET-GO, THE SAFETY CAR AND CONSTANT RACE RESTARTS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO CARVE THROUGH THE FIELD, AND JEWISS FINISHES IN NINTH POSITION!

THIS NOW REDUCES THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO DRIVERS DOWN TO 37 POINTS AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND RACE TOMORROW!”

“EVEN MORE INTERESTING IS THAT DUE TO HOW THEY FINISHED, FATIH WILL BE STARTING FROM P8 ONCE THE GRID IS REVERSED, AND JEWISS WILL BE STARTING IN P9, WHERE HE FINISHED!

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEKEND THESE TWO WILL BE IN THE SAME VICINITY DURING THE RACE, AS THEY WERE NOT IN THE SAME AREA IN RACE ONE, AND THEY WILL NOT BE IN RACE THREE, AS FATIH WILL BE STARTING FROM THE BACK OF THE GRID! AND LOOKING AT THE WEATHER FORECAST, IT SAYS THERE IS A VERY BIG CHANCE OF RAIN, SO THERE IS A CHANCE THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WET DURING THE RACES…”

…….

While Jackson was excitedly commentating, Fatih and the rest of the team were already celebrating.

{YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! THAT IS THE CONSTRUCTORS’ TITLE OUT OF THE WAY! GOOD JOB! GOOD DRIVING!} James screamed in the radio as they celebrated their win.

{YEAAAAAAAAAH…}

The other two drivers were also in a celebratory mood, celebrating both the constructors’ title win and their podium positions. As they drove the cool-down lap, Fatih had slowed down while the other two caught up, and they started driving in a formation around the track.

The feed remained on them, showing the drivers pumping their fists while looking at one another until they entered the pit lane and came to a stop in front of the boards showing their positions.

They hugged one another as they got out of the cars before heading to their interviews, which were usually done separately, but because they were from a single team, they decided to do it jointly.

“Congratulations to the three of you and the team on winning the constructors’ title,” the interviewer said as the three drivers arrived.

“Thank you,” the three of them, each holding their own microphone, said at different intervals.

“How does it feel after contributing so heavily to the team’s performance over the last few weeks to see that your contributions have helped in bringing the title to the team?” the interviewer asked Fatih.

Due to F4 teams being able to field as many as four cars, to prevent a team with the most cars from directly winning the championship through sheer numbers, a rule had been in place where teams with more than two cars had to nominate only two of their drivers before the race weekend started, and only those two drivers’ points would be counted toward the team’s constructor points. As a result of that arrangement, Fatih had now contributed more than half the points the team had earned due to his consistency.

“It is a good relief that my contribution helped us win the title, but it is not something I could have done alone. My other teammates contributed in their own ways before I was on the track and when I returned after my ban.”

“Does winning the constructors’ title now help in giving you confidence in your own title chase?”

“Well, it is good that we won it now, but I have to keep my vigilance until the final race, since relaxing now might negatively harm me in terms of focus tomorrow,” he said, pausing for a moment before he added sarcastically, “However, this now frees up our tactical options on the track, now that the constructors’ title is out of the way.”

“There is a report that the chance of rain tomorrow is nearly double what it is today. What do you feel about that? Is it better for you if it rains tomorrow or if it doesn’t?”

“If it rains during the race, it will be my first time racing in the rain in an F4 car, so if I have the option, I would like it to be in dry conditions. But if it rains, I will not consider myself at a disadvantage.”

Fatih answered a few more questions before the interviewer then moved on to his other teammates, taking his time as the time for all three of them was combined, so for the next ten minutes, he could interview them however he wanted. Once all of that was done, the podium celebration finally happened. And although it was something the team needed to celebrate, in keeping with Fatih’s situation, they delayed the celebration until after the final race, so the team kept operating as they usually did, but on their faces, there was the glow of having won the title.

…….

“Let’s go easy, man, I have a race tomorrow,” Fatih complained as the physiotherapist massaged his hand in the hotel room, causing him to squeal in pain.

“I told you you would suffer if you went ahead with it, and now you are complaining?” the physiotherapist said sarcastically as he added pressure.

“I feel like you are using me as a means to vent your feelings, man,” Fatih said but didn’t try to stop him at all, as he had known about this from the get-go. He knew it was something that needed to be done because he was feeling twice as sore due to using the ice packs, but thanks to having teammates behind him, he could manage the race pace comfortably without having to push the car and himself too far, meaning the situation was better than even the best-case scenario he had expected.

“This better work, or I will find you after.”