[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 200
“Leclerc!”
Having stepped out of the race car, I took off my helmet and ran straight towards Leclerc. There were many others to check on, but right now, the person who needed a touch more than anyone else was Leclerc.
The feeling of sadness, not exactly sadness nor joy, when you suddenly encounter the bright light of the world after being locked in a dark place for a long time makes a person… incredibly weak.
It was an experience I didn’t want to go through, but having experienced it myself, I knew just how fragile he might have become.
Leclerc was, as expected, huddled in the cockpit, showing no intention of coming out. He was tightly gripping the steering wheel with both hands, curling up his body. With his head resting on the wheel and his body motionless, a rational suspicion crossed my mind that he might be dead.
“……”
Even from the outside, the turmoil of emotions was severe.
There was a joy at having finally achieved victory, but also a sadness and self-loathing that came with realizing that this victory had come so late. It seemed as if he was both proud to have finally discarded the feeling of defeat and ashamed that it had taken so long to regain his true self.
Today’s exhilarating and clear outcome had him fluctuating between unprecedented emotional extremes. He likely couldn’t decide whether to feel satisfied or whether to wield his whip even more.
When the depths of thought get this deep, it’s right to find a way out quickly. Thoughts often lead one down a rabbit hole, drawing humans deeper the more one contemplates. Of course, it is also true that some time is needed to reflect, but one shouldn’t linger within it for too long.
“Everything in moderation. Moderation is the best.”
I moved towards Leclerc, surrounded by the worried gazes of the F1 Ferrari team members.
“……!!!”
“Driver Yui-hyun! You did great!”
“Thank you so much.”
As expected, the team members flocked to me like bees.
I needed to get to Leclerc quickly, but I couldn’t blame them. I’m sure they, too, had been trapped in their own depths for years. Leclerc was important, but they were not any different.
They all wanted to express their gratitude to me in any way they could, struggling to share this enormous joy, as if I had gifted it to them.
“It’s not me, it’s all thanks to them.”
Yet, could such an absurd outcome really be entirely due to me? If we were to get into it, it would lead to a meaningless debate over whether the chicken or the egg came first, but without them, nothing would have even begun.
That’s what a team is. Everything Ferrari has achieved is because of ‘you’ and ‘me.’ Therefore, as long as Ferrari exists,
there is no ‘alone.’
“Thanks to all of you!”
I shouted at them with the brightest smile I could muster. There was no pretense, no deception, that word was my genuine heart. It was just a simple phrase, but I had an unfeeling desire for that single sentence to heal the struggles they had endured.
“Yui-hyun!!!”
“Today is a party! Party! Let’s drink until we d*e!”
“Driver Yui-hyun is still underage in Korea, though?”
“……You clueless idiot.”
The F1 Ferrari team members used every possible range of sound to cheer. It was the first time I saw someone make dolphin sounds from their mouth while living a second life.
It was quite a chaotic scene…
“Isn’t it normal for them to rush in and hug at times like this? How are they holding back?”
Despite their excitement, not a single one approached me. Rather, they seemed to maintain a distance of more than a step as if there was a boundary. But their bodies looked twitchy, ready to pounce on me at any moment. I scanned their faces amid that strange sense of discomfort.
Man, man, man, and more men…
“Ah…”
That’s right. This group of engineers and mechanics filled with males, and considering my status as a minor and a pretty girl, it was impossible for them to make a move or come near me. No matter how joyous the occasion, it would certainly be awkward for them to act without my permission.
Understanding my colleagues’ unbearable consideration, I opened my arms wide. If we can’t share a hug and the joy on a day like this, then when will we ever do that with anyone?
Hugging doesn’t wear one out, so on a day like today, we need to embrace and share the joy freely!
As the engineers, who were gauging the meaning of my open arms, were enveloped in a moment of silence, they instinctively charged at me like animals. No, to avoid misunderstanding, let’s say they charged like dogs. Wait… that doesn’t seem right either? Let’s express it honestly.
My excited colleagues rushed at me like ‘humans’ eager to share the joy of today.
“Waah!!”
“We won!!!”
“We did it!”
The engineers and mechanics were happier than I could have imagined. Most of them had been dedicated Tifosi supporting Ferrari for at least several years. Having finally escaped from a slump, it must have felt like they had gained the whole world.
“Thank you. I’m really grateful too.”
After sufficiently sharing moments with them, I made my way through the crowd towards Leclerc, reaching out my hand.
“Leclerc.”
“…….”
“Everyone is waiting. Let’s go together.”
Leclerc gently placed his hand on mine. That hand, which usually looked big in my grasp, seemed particularly small today.
Gently…!
I covered his hand with my other hand and pulled him out of the cockpit. As Leclerc took off his helmet and stood beside me, the team members rushed towards us without exception.
We hugged each other, shouted, laughed heartily, and even cried together. The warm embrace of Ferrari enveloped us all.
Among us were Director Minoto, veteran Logan, technical advisor Shin Juhyun, the youngest and hidden contributor Won-jin, and even Jihyun Lee.
Everyone together…
“This is the feeling of togetherness…”
I can confidently assert that I have never been this happy in this life or even in my past life. The saying that joy is multiplied when shared, and sorrow is halved absolutely applied in this moment.
In terms of scale, from the small group of our F1 Ferrari team members to the larger Tifosi supporting us. How many people are sharing in this joy?
I approached Leclerc, who had helped us overcome the tough battle and reach this moment.
“Leclerc.”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you. And you’ve worked hard.”
Without any hesitation, I tightly embraced him. It wasn’t a hug from the relationship of Leclerc and Yui-hyun but a hug between humans, between one being and another.
I hoped that all the wounds and times of agony he had endured would be healed with this one hug.
Seemingly trembling slightly, Leclerc soon clumsily wrapped his arms around my head and back. His embrace was warm, but his heart embraced me even warmer.
“It’s because of you.”
“I’m glad you know. I was honestly worried you wouldn’t recognize it.”
“Words without sincerity are…”
“Who said that? That it’s insincere? I’m not that kind of person.”
“Ah, don’t mess with me. I’m already dead tired after the race, and now I cry and laugh, which is even more exhausting.”
Trying to lighten the mood with some teasing, I saw that Leclerc’s mood seemed to have improved more than I expected. After seeing his relaxed expression, I felt a bit lighter in heart too.
It turns out the burden wasn’t Ferrari, but rather Leclerc himself?
“Okay, I know everyone’s happy, but let’s wrap things up now. Yui-hyun, Leclerc, we need to move. There’s still a lot to do!”
With a very satisfied expression, Minoto approached and began to settle the heated atmosphere.
Sure, just because the race ended, it doesn’t mean the Grand Prix is over. We still need to show our faces to the audience, do interviews, and go to the podium for the awarding ceremony…
Just because the race has ended doesn’t mean the events have finished.
“I was just thinking of washing up and laying on the bed, but it looks like I have the most annoying tasks left.”
“It’s too big a dream for a rookie to carry?”
“Our senior doesn’t understand. It’s because it’s a big dream that I carry it. I know I can’t achieve it.”
Still, I will surely make it happen one day.
Swallowing my words, we were guided by an attendant to the next course.
On the circuit, all I had to focus on was the corners and straight paths, but why are there so many things to think about and so difficult in this course?
I found myself having somewhat frightening thoughts of wanting to return to the circuit, while grimacing like a cattle being led to slaughter, being pulled left and right.