Aren’t they rivals? Why is Robert dating Matt’s clone?
Matt can’t tell if the whole girlfriend situation feels more like Robert misses him or Matt is just… easily replaced.
But that’s the theme of Formation 1—anyone can be replaced.
Even—
Matt slams his phone screen-side down onto the springy hotel mattress. Enough of that. He pulls up last year’s race on his laptop and gets to work. Any little bit of information can be the missing piece for his race.
There’s a knock on Matt’s driver’s room door and he pops out one of the buds of his earphones. “Yeah?”
“I know you’re probably getting in the zone,” a familiar voice says. “But we just wanted to stop by and wish you luck.”
Matt scrambles upright, tossing his phone somewhere behind him and throwing the door open. “I didn’t know y’all would be here this weekend!”
“We told Bobby to tell you.” Robert’s mom tsks, catchingMatt as he falls into her for a hug. “How are you? How is Maria? Is she feeling better?”
“She is! I’ll tell her you asked.”
Matt lets Mrs. Miller go and turns to hug her husband. Mr. Miller still lifts him when he hugs, like Matt’s still some scrawny child instead of the scrawny adult he grew up to be.
“We’ll give the camera a wave for her,” Mrs. Miller says. “They never pass up a chance to put this one on the screen.”
“Not my fault you married someone so ruggedly handsome.” Mr. Miller presses his lips together in a pout and strikes a pose for an invisible camera.
“Yes, there’s a severe lack of attractive men in the paddock.” Matt shakes his head with mock concern. “That’s why they go searching for you. Nothing to do with all of your racing andchampionship wins.”
Mr. Miller’s eyebrows raise. “Are you insinuating there is a lack of race car drivers in this paddock?”
Matt’s stoic facade cracks and he laughs. “That’s a very good point."
“We’ve been watching the season, of course.” Softer, Mrs. Miller asks, “How have you been? Really?”
It’s stupid how emotional the question makes him. “Let’s just say I’ll be happy to move on next year. I hope Kaas has something a lil bit better in store for me.”
Both parents smile, but there’s sadness there. Matt blinks a couple of times, willing himself not to tear up. They know the team is favoring their own son, and yet they still stopped by to check up on him.
Matt’s grateful to have this extended family, even if they are attached to Robert.
The other driver’s door opens and Matt’s stomach drops.
“I thought I heard y’all in the hallway!” Robert appearsbehind his parents and herds them towards his own room. “Come on in, sorry it’s cramped.”
Mrs. Miller won’t be dissuaded. “Don’t be a stranger, Teo!” she calls out as Robert closes them inside his own room.
The hallway quiets so immediately Matt can still hear bits of their conversation muffled through the wall. So that's it, then.
Before the pre-race meeting, Robert catches Matt and jabs a finger into his chest. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but stop it.”
“Stop?” Matt is just… walking. To the same meeting they always attend. “Stopwhat?”
“I don’t fuckin’ know! First my girlfriend, now my parents? Like, go find your own life and live it. Leave me the fuck alone.”
