Funny How I’m Here - F1 Grid
Just A Pretty Face series - pt 3
Summary: Y/n has no interest in tolerating comments from men in other series and she lays it all out when it comes to speaking about her position as an F1 driver vs the comments of other series drivers.
Themes/warnings: Misogyny and sexism within F1, drivers acting out of usual character (for the sake of the plot)
Request from @holdthememories13 - I really like when the reader is also a driver! - didn't actually request this specifically but I figured why not kill two birds with one stone?
Word count: 2.8k
Another headline, this time multiple Indycar drivers piping up with how they believe y/n is not good enough for her seat and that she is "destroying F1 as a sport" making a mockery of it.
Y/n could probably see the media drooling for comment about it from her.
But y/n doesn't say a word. Feigning confusion over the mere question before shaking her head and shrugging at them with an innocent expression.
She's still on a bit of a strike using yes and no as her only answer and if they ask open questions then y/n just shrugs and smiles at them like she's got no idea what they're asking.
There's visible aggravation from the media as she continues to give them the cold shoulder and while the team isn't over joyed by her behaviour. They figure it's better than the alternative of her verbally abusing reporter.
"Hey, you look very nice." Susie smiles seeing y/n walk into the paddock alongside herself and Toto.
"Thank you, I treated myself with a new Chanel bag just because." Y/n smiles actually loving her boss's wife and always getting along with her.
The weekend goes on as usual with practices looking good for y/n.
Qualifying is where there's so much drama with 3 red flags and 4 drivers out, Liam and Lewis managing to tangle and crash out somehow. No doubt something for the stewards to decide someone is at fault.
Y/n is feeling especially drained and exhausted. Something about this weekend is wearing on her.
It's visible too, her eyes are a little more hollowed out and deepened. She still looks like the most beautiful woman there but there's something visible about her that shows she's not feeling great.
"She's sick." Dakota states making it straight forward and simple.
"Too sick to drive?" Toto asks making y/n scoff.
"No. I'll be in that car. It's fine-I'm fine." Y/n huffs since she really is feeling good enough to drive. It's a residual sickness from something she ate earlier in the week. "I'm not missing anything."
"Ok, what the boss says." Toto nods, after all he doesn't like the idea of y/n missing a session. She might be on a good run but even missing one session could mess that up.
Y/n sits down for her weekly meeting with the PR team, Toto sitting in on this one with Kimi there and they're fed the usual instructions. Y/n and Kimi end up moving to sit on the sofa just chatting afterwards and in a cute moment of almost sibling like behaviour, they asleep there.
The media team and a couple photographers capture the moment of y/n and Kimi sleep, y/n's head resting on the younger man's shoulder.
Admittedly, Kimi has become a rock of support for y/n and she tries to return the favour as best she can for him.
And when the photo breaks onto the internet, it unsurprisingly goes viral initially for cute reason and then come the rumours, y/n dating her 18 year old teammate.
Nothing can remain positive for y/n.
-
"Y/n, we saw comments form some drivers in other series about how you just don't deserve your seat in F1. Is there anything you would have to say about that?"
"Given that I'm in an F1 seat and they're not. I think it's a bit bold of them to even comment about me at all. Really, it's embarrassing for them. I'd be embarrassed to make a comment about someone else in a series I wish I was in. I mean I have no interest in Indycar and I know the drivers who made comment have a bit interest in F1...clearly they'd rather be in this series than the one they're in. Sounds like bitter jealousy to me." Y/n smiles then sucking in a breath and glancing at her PR manager who has given her the ok to finally say what she likes. "I can't really hold it against them. If I felt like a failure in comparison to a woman completely out my league, I'd probably be running my mouth to the media like a pathetic cowardly weak man."
The hungry eyes of the journalists already wanting to choose which quote for their headline makes y/n laugh.
"And what about you and Kimi?"
"You mean because we fell asleep in a public area of the Mercedes unit after a team meeting? I'm just going to let you know that these questions are even more boring than that meeting was-which is absolutely a reflection of how poor your journalism is. If common sense evades you then you really are in the wrong line of work. But just for the clarification, I'm single not creepy. Kimi is freshly legal and I see him as a little brother, sometimes he's even annoying. But there is no attraction or feelings between us that are more than platonic. But common sense would tell you that."
A couple more questions that y/n almost fakes a snore at from how dull and repetitive they are, before she's finally allowed to leave them and she really does get herself out of there.
By the time Friday rolls around, y/n still isn't completely recovered from her sickness but she's working through it.
"O-Ok, Dakota I can't breathe." Y/n chokes out gently pushing the fan from her face. She still has a bit of a fever and her trainer is focused on keeping her cool before she has to get boiled by the car on track.
"Sorry." Dakota mumbles and y/n can tell that that she must look bad because otherwise she wouldn't be so absently disregarding y/n's preference of not having the fan blasting air too hard in her face.
Admittedly her practices are somewhat effected and when she gets out the car for the second time coming out of FP2. She feels a little worse than she started the day.
"Hotel and rest. We will debrief the day tomorrow when you have slept." Dez instructs since he has no intention of seeing y/n be dazed and disassociate in the debrief because she's not well enough to pay attention. "Go. Toto has agreed it will do nothing to benefit anyone for you to stick around."
Y/n nods, not even bothering to argue.
Instead Dakota gets y/n back to her hotel, gives her some medication that she blindly takes; again no questions.
-
Saturday sees y/n perked up and more on form in FP3 and when qualifying rolls around it's almost like she was never sick.
Admittedly, she still doesn't feel 100% but significantly improved and that's all that matters. Quietly she has just got her head down and qualifying is going to see the pay off no matter what she has to do.
She will make up for yesterday which has been getting her bad mouthed only further.
"Alright Dezy bear, let's get Q1 done." Y/n states as she pulls out into the Miami pit lane.
Y/n has been uncertain about Miami as a general track and event in the year. Miami and Vegas both feel more like a show than a race, the stuff on track is the least of the interest for so many in attendance who are there to get pictures with the drivers or sitting in the cars, maybe a couple cool pictures of the cars and drivers actually on track.
Ultimately there's still pints to be earned and that's all y/n needs to concern herself about. She got the green light to stir the media pot before she got out on track which was her entertainment for the weekend.
"Let's do it, y/n." Dez replies while y/n rolls out of the pit onto the track.
Q1 is pretty much perfect from her first lap and they take the risk to not send her out for a second lap in hopes of saving some tyres. Thankfully y/n did put such a massive margin on the grid in that first lap with 7 tenths that even with others on another go around, they only narrow it down to 3 tenths.
"Y/n looks like she's putting another mega qualifying together." Crofty comments as they watch her in the garage between Q1 and Q2.
"Y/n has been unwell this weekend, she seemed to have perked up a bit in FP3 but she is clearly using the maximum she can pull out of the car to get that lap in."
"I do find it interesting that y/n commented earlier in the week about how other drivers from other series are saying she doesn't deserve the seat but she has her seat and she makes a good point by saying that she doesn't want to drive in their series and has no aspirations to yet they are almost stuck in their series with no one offering them a seat in F1. That was a very bold statement and she's giving us the performances to back up why Toto wanted her there. She has a much better bond with Kimi than George did which could be for any amount of reasons but they clearly want to help each other and they get along which is important." Jenson states having initially been on the fence about being so vocal to support y/n but much like Nico, he's decided to make sure people know that she is wanted in the sport.
And y/n follows up with another 1 lap flyer that gets her into Q3 while everyone else is still struggling to match her times.
"Do we think that y/n is setting out to prove people wrong?" Crofty asks as they watch y/n go out for Q3.
"I think y/n heard the way people have been talking about her from day 1 and she has proven them wrong time and time again. They'll always been people who can't handle a woman driving in F1. But she is absolutely one of the best rookies the sport has seen and she does care about what people say but only so she can either tellt hem exactly how low she see views them because of what they said or so she can show them how wrong they are, usually after telling them she thinks of them with little respect." Jenson agrees.
To absolutely no one's surprise on the broadcast, y/n takes pole like a breeze and she leads Kimi behind her with Mercedes also just looking generally all round strong.
"Y/n, how are you feeling? You were amazing out there." The interviewer states making y/n smile a little.
"Yeah, the car was on rails (I love when drivers say that). Mega effort from the team to catch me up after being a bit out of my element yesterday. But we have a Mercedes 1-2, which just shows that you should never underestimate myself or Kimi and what we can do when the machinery matches the drivers."
Y/n does exchange a hug with Kimi before moving to the team while he takes his spot for the interview. Her just wanting to chat with them rather than focus on anything else.
-
It's a surprise to no one when y/n keeps the lead off the line, maintains the lead and wins Miami. Y/n isn't even surprised in herself, despite the effort it took and Kimi was fighting her for the win. But she kept it and for some reason, it's not till she's on the podium that the emotions she'd fought off and put up a strong defence against hits her.
She tips her head back closing her eyes, letting out a breath, trying to force back the tears. Somehow she manages to keep herself together and it's not till she's finished the media and gets into her driver room with Dakota that the flood gates open and she just hugs her trainer and cries.
"I know, it's ok." Dakota soothes rubbing her back.
It's hard being strong, trying to bite back and making it seem like the negativity is something she only takes in her stride and even after the pay off of a win. Y/n is emotionally defeated. She has support but they can't and don't outweigh the people against her.
Dakota lets her cry as long as she needs which is longer than y/n expected. But once she's done, the stone face is back, she gets in the shower without another word and dressed herself up for her usual fashion exit since y/n has a reputation to upkeep and image is all part of it.
Y/n and Kimi are actually flying back with Toto and Susie on their jet so y/n won't have anyone around her that is making the unnecessary comments and degrading her since other drivers still don't approve of her, even if a couple are beginning to regret their words.
Lando and Oscar, possibly motivated by their PR team, admitted that y/n has been untouchable at times and they respect her performances and results. Though they looked pained to admit it.
Y/n has decided to go home home, like her parents house, in the short break before the next race and she just really wants to escape for a couple days.
"How are you feeling?" Susie asks having decided to sit with the young woman who bites her lip.
"I won. I feel great."
"You can be honest here, there's no walls listening."
"Was it this impossible for you?" Y/n whispers trying to keep her voice low to stop it from wobbling as more tears make her eyes gloss over.
"Well, I never made it to your position. But it was hard and there was comments-not ones quite as open and harsh, but it stung. Just remember they can't take away the legacy you can and will leave in this sport. As much as they try. They can't." Susie states earning a nod. "I was going to ask you, when you are done with your break and stay at home. Do you think you could help me with something?"
"Of course, anything." Y/n nods since she'd really do anything for this woman, she'd probably give Susie her seat if it was an option.
