UNGUARDED WIN-WIN SOLUTION — Chapter one: First steps, new laps. (Check here for masterlist)
Pairing: Max Verstappen x OC (Nicollete Harline)
Summary: Nicollete Harline steps into her new world, a place unknown with modern and sleek interior. But that's not her biggest highlight, she's freezing and the car she needs to fix... Well, it sucks.
Warnings: 18+ for suggestive and harsh words, but this series mostly contains romance, humour, angst.
As you probably know from my wife few months ago, I transferred teams from Red Bull to Aston Martin. But I gave you as a recommendation as a new engineer in Red Bull, I know you're going to be mad at me. Niki, please consider this as a compliment, you're the most important thing they need and your skills are admirable enough that everyone wants you for skills and power.
If you ever received an email from Red Bull Racing team, consider the invitation nicely. It would be nice to see you there and fix the car.
Your long friend and self-proclaimed mentee, A. N.
Did you just gamble my whole career? I don’t know… I mean if they reach out, right? Hope they fucking don’t. Anyway, send love for your wife and children for me.
Love for my favourite Neweys,
Good morning, afternoon, or evening, Nicollete.
I've got your email through Adrian Newey who recommended you as our development engineer few months prior before he left the factory. Our car lacks every point we wanted this year, we struggle hard towards the season and the season almost comes to an end. I'm pretty sure you know the reason I emailed you with the team name.
We, Red Bull Racing, consider you as our employee in your condition and availability. We hope you will consider this nicely.
Yes, Adrian indeed reached me about a month ago about this and he asked me nicely to consider this. But if you want to follow my condition, my works has been crumpling me up and I need to do some things before I can freely check and develop your car for the next season.
Late November until March next year is my condition. I can't focus solely on the team if we go further after months I mentioned.
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
Seriously, do not ask Nicollete what was she thinking when she accepted the offer from the Red Bull team because the Great Britain is fucking freezing and Niki hates it with whole her heart. Contrary on popular beliefs, Niki doesn't like Christmas—she likes the vibe, but the weather? Eh… not exactly her norm.
Her steps falters a bit from the cold degree. Maybe it is her fault for using heels rather than loafers, but for her, heels are better for first impressions. In psychology, first impressions are extremely important because they shape how we perceive and interact with others from the very beginning. Research shows that people form impressions within seconds—sometimes even milliseconds—based on facial expressions, tone, and body language, a process known as thin-slicing. Once an impression is made, the halo effect can cause that initial judgment to influence how we see the person overall, while confirmation bias makes us seek information that supports our first opinion.
And heels? Heels are going to help her today.
She finally steps in. The interior looks like what she had imagined before—modern, something you can see in a space museum. She clicks her heels in waiting, her eyes scanning the welcoming table that's empty while looking at the trophy cabinet. Impressive? Yes. But she feels nothing. She doesn't want to make a bad impression today, but she also doesn't want to fool people with another version of her.
She hears someone step in before she can see them. Another heels, softer than hers, a woman. It's always nice to interact with a woman in a male dominated world, she smiles while still looking at a trophy—Vettel’s.
Thick English accent. Posh accented too, must be from London. She finally sees her when she turns her body to the welcoming woman. “The one and only.” She steps forward and arrange their hands to shake. “Nicollete, Niki is fine. It's nice to meet you.”
“Oh, Hannah, it's nice to meet you too.” She extended her arms. They walk together to the door and Nicollete has to suppress her smile seeing how grandeur the environment is. It's like they're screaming their championship title.
She never likes a silence with a person she just knows. “I read your paper about new installments of Oracle Strategy and modeling pre-race optimization. It's amazing.” She beams at Hannah who smiles so wide and cheeks blushing.
“Oh, thank you. You don't know how much it means, I adore your research on plasma actuation. You did so many papers per year, it's amazing. The discipline, I mean.”
Great. Conversation conquered, woman conquered. It's nice to know someone is in your corner from the very first start.
Her hands moving a gesture. “Oh, please, you're the only I should be talking about. The balancing must be difficult.” Hannah still blushing only nods quietly. “We're two women enjoying a role in male dominated field, aren't we?”
That earns a genuine laugh from the older woman, both knowing how hard it is to not keep up, but to achieve and acclaimed in the field. They reached the elevator and enter it, she sees Hannah clicks the 3rd floor. “So, Porsche Penske?”
“Yes, in few championship like Daytona or Le Mans. But, yes, I spent few years in motorsports before focusing on space engineering. I just didn't thought those years will make me reach Milton Keynes,” she jokes. Hannah laughs again and finally touching her shoulder like a sister who already knows eachother for years.
She shakes it softly. “Oh, you're very much welcomed here. Others have been dreading to meet you, I mean it's Adrian who recommended you.”
“Oh, you're finally free from that old geezer’s nagging, aren't you?” She rolls her eyes jokingly which again get a laugh from her. “Well but I still see him every other weekend, so not entirely.”
The conversation still rolls even after the elevator reaches the 3rd floor, they keep smiling and enjoying the talk as Laurent Mekies finally shows up. Hannah nods at her as a good bye before entering the room before them. But not before saying “We'll make a great team.” Which earns a joyful giggle from the younger one.
Now it's only Laurent and Nicollete left as they enter the conference room, there's some people. Half of them she knows, half of them she doesn't.
Pierre Waché, a senior technical engineer she met few years ago, never had a conversation with. Paul Monaghan, former McLaren’s, a data engineer she knows from Newey. Ben Waterhouse, head of performance, probably the one she needs to know mostly to develop the car. Stephen Knowles, chief strategy who talked to her few years ago when she was still in Porsche Penske. Enrico Balbo, a famous name figure in ESA, she never met him but she knows he's good at aero. And Richard Wolverson, a design engineer she doesn't know.
She stacks her best grateful smile that if her family see her like this, they would be so proud of how good she smiles. It's a known fact since she was a kid, she's not a smiler. She in fact only smiles more as she grows up.
She hasn't even talked before Enrico Balbo suddenly said: “You're younger than I expected.” And his eyes widens, as if realising that he just said that out loud rather than an internal thinking.
But Nicollete, ever the calm even during the storm (happened few years ago in Operation Centre in Germany) only laughs and smiles. “Is it because of my height?”
The tension subsides, everyone starting to smile. They probably expected Niki to get mad over the mere comment. But Nicollete today, she insists on making a friendly gesture. “Kind of,” adds Paul, only to make everyone laugh harder.
Everyone comes down to a calm silence, the calm she loves out of focus, as Laurent tells her to sit down and introduce her. “Everyone this is Nicollete Harline.”
“Just Niki please,” she adds. “I know everyone probably didn't expect Adrian Newey to drop a girl name so suddenly, because trust me, so did I. I'm not doing a long game, you reached out to me on developing the car’s condition for the next season, if you want me, I need to trust you, and you need to trust me.” She sees some ghost of smile from the men in the office and a woman, Hannah Schmitz. “I've worked with Porsche Penske for around 3 years before joining the ESA. In Porsche, I worked in developing both LMP and GT Class. I also developed Ducati’s Desmosedici GP25, prioritising Marc Marquez’s bike. But yes, I need to confirm that I'm not that active in motorsport, I'm active in space science and technical rather than… this.”
She goes silent for few seconds. “And I have a twin.” Everyone laugh again, it's a skill for her to know to break an icy condition. Focus isn't always serious, sometimes it also needs it's moment to break down the sweat.
Laurent coughs purposefully. “Our car has been struggling with the aerodynamics, the balance, and our management on the car. We need to stabilise on the turn and overheat also sliding every time the car is getting used.”
She accepts few files and datas from Pierre Waché besides her. Nicollete hums. “Straight to work, I see.”
Monaghan raises his left eyebrow. “Do you want a welcome cake?”
“Oh, no. I will gladly welcome a sashimi platter though,” she smirks as she reads the file thoroughly.
And that earns another round of chuckle.
It's worse than she thought it would be.
ICE and ERS machine… God, shit makes her speechless
The last is quite complex. She can't make anything to develop for 2026 season if the team hasn't confirmed which engine they will use next season. Racing Bulls will be using Ford engine in 2026 while Red Bull itself will use Honda with its dilemma: should they change to Ford or continue the contract with Honda. She also thinks the safest option is with Honda, consistent despite not as good as Mercedes. But it'll work with her. They need to discuss it later.
She puts down her lunch box on the desk quite hard as she sighs and lunches her ass to the seat. “Damn, you guys didn't lie about the car being shit.”
Emma, an extraordinary extrovert from PR who gave her a bag of pretzels on her first day has to clamp her mouth with her right hand to stop her from laughing out loud in the canteen. On her right side, Hansell, an introvert who's life only revolves in finance data (and Emma, but another story is another time) almost spit out his tea.
“Oh, seeing our results in this season is enough proof. I mean I don't understand engineering, but fourth place in constructor championship is enough proof for whole building,” she says. She continues to eat her meatballs with bolognese sauce.
Hansell leans forward. “So, any improvements or changes for the car?” which the question doesn't fail to make Nicollete sighs.
“You two are insanely nosy.”
They barked at the same time. “Come on! We're fighting finance and media demons, you're fighting with cool mechanics stuffs. Let us in.”
Nicollete puts down her spoon while her friends lean in as if this is world’s number one gossip.
“I mean I did some improvements on the car. But I don't think I understand that much of FIA rules. The improvement and new changes are believable. If you want me to fix the current car rather than building next season’s, it's best to synchronize the data and fix the understeer problem which quite exactly one of the reasons why driving RB21 is not easy.”
Tweedledee and Tweedledum strikes again. “But…? You always have a but.”
The oldest between the three throws a sigh again, this time it's slow and deliberating. “I just don't understand why the data is not on synchro. I mean, I do understand if few changes happen, like from A to C, or C to E. But changing A to Y is… ridiculously extreme. That's a great picture of RB19, RB20, and RB21. The changes are insane, it's too experimental.”
Emma and Hansell look at eachother then frown. They know a little about engineering, but with how Nicollete explains the problem, they understand where the problem stands. The whole Red Bull crew know that they're in bad position this season, hell, their drivers make it knowable. It's not uncommon to see both drivers complain about the car, again and again. Sometimes it's for the same problem. Sometimes, one problem disappears, new one appears out of nowhere. They're stranded and not bonded.
Emma jumps in. “As a PR, I often saw the drivers complained about things like this on panel, politely. But you know… I’m not the one who understands fully about technical difficulties.”
“It's worse for me, I mostly stay here.” Hansell gestures the whole room. “Milton Keynes.”
Now it's Nicollete's turn for her eyes to widens. "So, you never went to any Grand Prix?" Only to receives a glare from Hansell. He answers, "not exactly like that, I've been there but you know, it doesn't line up with my line of work. So, even if I go there, I'm doing nothing except watching. And I think having nothing to do is boring."
Both Nicollete and Emma laugh at that as Emma coos at him. "Of course, you find having nothing to do is boring." Again, Nicolette has to fight her smile seeing two idiots in front of her, Emma ruffling Hansel's hair while he is blushing furiously. She has quite a control before screaming two of them to talk it out or kiss it out.
The conversation flows in nicely. She asks Hansell about his dog, Tommy, who apparently went to a vet yesterday because he accidentally ate his owner's toothpaste. She also asks Emma about the new teapot she bought from a trift store nearby. She also later finds out the two will be attending a concert in few days.
"But anyway, if you want to, clear the schedule on Wednesday." Nicollete already walks slowly while saying the sentence to them. Her eyes focuses on throwing the trash to the bin.
"Don't you want to see the upgrade?"
iMessage: Gianpiero Lambiase (GP)
Heads up. We're going to Austria on Wednesday, the team just noticed me and told me to notice you. A few laps so they can confirm the development on 2026 season with RB22
And they're working on upgrading RB21
Another bullshit upgrade that won't work during the race?
We have two weeks before Las Vegas, Max. We can work on it, the team just did some upgrades. We can focus on next season
Yeah, okay. Just... I'm sick of the car. It's undriveable
I know, Max. We see the data ourselves, we haven't made the car you deserve. And if this year fail, we try again next year. You and me and probably Red Bull, but we'll see
Okay. Thanks for the heads up
November, before Las Vegas.
Gianpiero Lambiase has met outstanding engineers before. Hell, he worked with the Adrian Newey himself. He has to admit that he admires their brain, most of them are calculated, most of them are cold and private. So, when Newey in his last meeting mentioned a girl name, he didn't think of it that much. Even if she does join the team by his recommendation, she will be that one awkward and introverted colleague to have. Gianpiero Lambiase certainly didn't expect her to bring a coffee to him.
He also didn't think he would be receiving hundreds of compliments and questions. Talkactive, full of spirit, soft yet sharp smile, friendly, and welcoming. Not the usual type of engineer. That's what describe who Nicollete Harline is when he first met her. Until she suddenly gives a file to her.
"This is the synchronized data of RB19 and RB21, quite a leap that I don't understand but I think it will work just fine on the trackside. Mind the understeer and all." She sips her tea calmly as if it is nothing while GP can't help but stare at her intensely.
"You synchronized all of it?" He asks. He takes the file and read multiple of errors the team has made before it's getting fixed by the woman in front of it.
She nods. "Yes. It is quite a leap, I don't understand. Even if the machine is adjusting to adapt on new system with Ford next year, the RBPT structural is very much different from RB19. The slot-gap upgrade from few months ago didn't help the perfomance like I expected it to be when I read the data, it does stabilize the downforce, but with how much it must've costed, I would have cried."
GP smiles, she's blunt too. Before he even responds, the girl asks again. "Sorry, is it fixed that Ford will be our engine supplier next season?"
She nods. "That will do, but honestly I would love Honda more. It will be more stable for a hybrid machine." Again, he nods, agreering her point of view of the machine with Honda rather than Ford. "Sorry, I'm not really good at doing non-work conversation."
The older man shrugs it off, it's in fact nothing and he doesn't really talk about his family or personal life too. "So, how did you find the team now?"
"Brighter color suits me more." Nicollete jokes and succesfully making him laugh. "Well, if you want to enjoy depression, pretty sure Ferrari will make a room for you."
The girl smiles and continues the joke. Again, it's nice to have someone in your corner from the very first start.
"So, what's the plan today?"
"Holy shit, this is my first time seeing you in Red Bull attire." Emma is standing near the door while Nicollete fixes her hair with a hairclip. She only barks out a laugh hearing that from the younger girl. Her hair is clipped while her attire now entirely dimmed with Red Bull's color. "Do I look good?"
Emma gives her a scowl. "If someone sees you, they probably think the track is a model's catwalk because of you."
"Chanel would love that idea."
Their conversation ends there when Christopher, a data engineer calls Nicollete. "They're ready." He nods to Nicollete and three of them begins to steps outside the Red Bull Ring's building and walk into the pitlane. Emma goes straight to the paddock while Nicollete walks to the pit wall.
She can see it on the sideline, the Max Verstappen already inside the car. And suddenly, an unexpected nerves launches in. She feels nauseous, the last time she felt this was when her rocket launched from a site in Kourou owned by CSG and ESA while she was operating the mission in ESOC, Germany. Her thoughts ends abruptly when Laurent Mekies gives her the headphone and points her seat, next to GP. She walks straight away and sits there. GP gives her a focused smile and Nicollete focuses on her data immediately. Her project: COJ-RB21-FAI and unfinished one: COR-NH00-QUE.
Today, this is her monopoly. All of them are hers to play. They're hers to play and hers to win. COJ-RB21-FAI, cojones, RB21, and failure. Cojanes, balls, her younger brother's motto. Have some balls.
02:23 PM, Red Bull Ring, Austria.
A warm lap is on going as Max leaves the pitlane and goes to the track. Not even the coldness of Austria can stop her, she's freezing to death but her heart is beating the fuck out of her that she knows she's not dying anytime soon. "Patch me through."
Afternoon, Verstappen. This is Nicollete, introduction later. You must have noticed there are two identical cars, one of which is the one you're driving right now. This one, this is your original shitbox me and team trying to fix.
Beside her, GP laughs with his mic on. And she looks at the data. He's in the Rauch, again RB21 showing its difficulty on turns. She almost smiles when she hears Max Verstappen chuckle, in the right of her eyesight, she sees Laurent Mekies nodding with a ghost of smile.
Do me a favor and do a qualifying lap as if its the last lap of the last race of the season and decider of the championship with a point gap between you and one of the Papayas who just insulted you in media day, Verstappen. Drag that car.
And boy, in just a minute, he push that car like he's pushing a baby. Nicollete cannot bite back her smile. The team is lucky to have a driver as outstanding as him. 1:08.196, slower than Piastri's lap record in 2025 Austrian Grand Prix. She hears GP telling Max the lap time as she tells the team to prepare the second car.
RBN1, an upgrade she has been making in a week, spent her restless nights here. She won't ever admit that oud loud though. That car doesn't have his name and number, merely a car with Red Bull's colour.
Understeer, unstable downforce, and brake problem again in turns.
Copy, come back to pit, Max.
The car comes back and the team prepares for the next car, her car. She sees Max nods at her for not even a second, face still covered in helmet but he notices new people, he must knows everyone on the team. And the only new people here is a person, Nicolette.
02:30 PM, Red Bull Ring, Austria.
Very clear. The same thing, Nik?
RBN1, I just finished it yesterday. But anyway, I tried to fix the understeer and balance problem on downforce but I adjust it with Las Vegas setting, quite a difference with Red Bull Ring. Buttt I added some beneficial factors on acceleration on straights. Will it be fine it the turns? Jury is still out. Enjoy my car, Verstappen.
Rauch and Wurth Kurve is two most hard and damaging turns in Red Bull Ring, she just hopes with the upgrade, it will improve more. Because this car, this is only 15% of her idea to make the car the fastest car ever driven that not RB19 can disagree with it. And yes, she is not doing this only for the team, but also for her, to prove her mentor.
Just less than a minute, he does the flying lap. The data is throwing everything at the screen. Everyone is watching and she cannot help bringing the nauseous feeling back. She wants to throw up and suddenly everything dims, quietens, she can't hear anything but the car and her heart thumping. She hears a dimned voice of Ben Waterhouse mutters something inappropriate. She hears GP breaths slowing as if he is doing a breathing exercise. She also sees how Mekies looking at her intently. Everyone's eyes are on her and the car.
1:00.124, fastest ever in Red Bull Ring. Faster than Valteri Bottas in 2020 in a W11, an engine that said to be the fastest F1 car ever made. She speaks before she even thinks.
She hears Max laughs on the radio. His breathing is still erratic from the flying lap as now he is driving it in low speed to bring back the car into the pit. Now, all eyes on her, including the driver.
Should've made this sooner.
The laugh breaks down in the pit wall and pit box, everyone cheering for the success of the upgrade. Everyone but Nicolette who still focuses on the data. She has to admit that it is a success rather than the shitty RB21 but there are some problems with legality. But she can work with that too. She feels GP taps her shoulder and gives her a 'Welcome to the team' smile. She sees Enrico Balbo giving her an acknowledging nod. And Mekies saying,
"Welcome to Oracle Red Bull Racing, Niki."
Bring my daughter back to pit box, Verstappen.
Max gets off the car and checked out RBN1, he croaches down looking at the floor of the car. Not only the machinery, Nicolette changes few things visibly to the people, the floor is stable, not like before. He finally stops checking and looking at Nicollete only to see her back.
A girl with messy hair clip and Red Bull attire sitting next to GP and Hannah Schmitz.
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