Instead, he lingers on a video—an interview with an obviously upset Robert.
“How do you feel about this weekend being your teammate’s last race with Andes?” the reporter asks, shoving the microphone up under Robert’s nose. He’s trapped in the media pen, so the camera is trained to his face the entire time.
“I don’t have broadcast-appropriate words for the situation.”
“Were you aware it would be the last?”
“No, I wasn’t.” Robert has his serious–accent on—his words no longer tinted with a southern twang. “And I was with Teo when the news broke, so I know he wasn’t aware either.”
“He wasn’t?!”
Matt’s face burns with embarrassment—both for the casual use of his nickname and because the first article was released early the morning after they had sex.
Robert looks too upset to realize they probably shouldn’t have been together at that time.
“I think this situation has shown what Andes Racing thinks of its drivers. To let go of someone who has dedicated years of his life to helping them succeed? Andes’s first podium finisher? And to do so by alerting the press instead of calling him or, better, by meeting in person? I’m disappointed in my team.”
“Do you think this situation might cause a rift in Andes between drivers and management?”
Robert smiles, but it seems almost cruel, somehow. “Well, I know my worth. And my sponsors’ worth. There are a couple of teams who still haven’t announced a second driver. If any of them are interested, they should give me a call.”
The blood drains from Matt’s face.
He couldn’t?—
That’s not even?—
But he has acontract extension!Robert wouldn’t jeopardize his seat at a Formation 1 team for something as petty as this mess.
Right?!
“That’s a rather bold thing to say!” The reporter sounds absolutely gleeful. Considering the virality of the post, she has a right to be.
“Well, since Andes loves to handle business in the press, I’m just playing with their handbook. If they don’t care about driver contracts, then I won’t either. Contracts are just flimsy pieces of paper to people with enough money.”
“You’re watching my interview?”
Matt jolts as Robert lets himself into his room. “You’re supposed to knock!”
“I did knock.” Really? “Anything interesting online?”
“You shouldn’t threaten to break your contract.” Matt waves his phone towards Robert. “That’s super reckless! What if no one offers you a seat?”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Oh to be Robert, to have the world fall at his feet. “C’mon, we’re gonna be late for the anthem.”
In his very last race as an Andes driver, Matt DNFs on the first lap.
Yu-Jun apologizes to him profusely in the back of the medical car as they’re driven away, but really, Matt doesn’t mind.
It’s fitting, almost, to leave his Andes career in the wall on the first corner. A small, vindictive, part of him might even be satisfied, since the repairs will cost the team some amount of money. Maybe even a grid place penalty for the last race of the year.
A man can dream.
—Not that Matt would’ve ever crashed on purpose. He’s just looking at the bright side.
Once he’s back to his driver’s room, he answers all of his family’s concerns before opening a text from the Kaas team principal.
Joaquín, Kaas
