Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MéXICO | TUESDAY
Morning light filters through the hotel curtains as Nico stretches.
The space beside him in bed is empty and he sits up, momentarily worried that Petra’s made her decision without giving him more time to prove their worth as a couple.
Then he hears movement in the bathroom and shakes his head at his own idiocy.
She’s still here. Of course she is. She wouldn’t leave without making him work a helluva lot harder.
Petra isn’t a quitter. Never has been, never will be.
Even though she can’t say she loves him, Nico knows he’ll win that race. He’s lasted this long and brought her this far. Crossing the finish line with Petra Hayter is just a matter of endurance and consistency.
Those he excels at.
She emerges from the bathroom wearing his blue and red FuegoFrío sponsor shirt and a pair of his sweatpants, both hanging low on her narrow hips.
Her thick, dark hair is pulled back in a ponytail and her face is freshly washed.
The sight of her wearing his clothes probably shouldn’t affect him this much, but. ..
?Dios!
“Borrowed these.” She gestures at the clothes while already on her phone. “I’m not taking the walk of shame in last night’s dress.”
She looks strong and confident, already shifting into race weekend mode despite everything that’s changed between them.
“Vale.” Nico props up on an elbow, admiring the view. “But you won’t fool anyone.”
“I know.” She’s scanning her phone, no doubt reviewing schedule changes and engineering briefs. “We’ve got work to do, Bunny Boy.”
He loves the way she compartmentalizes, switching from lover to driver without missing a beat. Petra attacks every aspect of life with the same dedication she brings to racing. That’s her strength and her weakness. It made her a champion. But it also drove her self-destruction when they were teens.
“I have an engineering meeting in an hour.” She pockets her phone and comes to the bed. She leans down and kisses him in a way that makes him want to make her late for that meeting. She pulls back a little, and there’s that playfulness he loves so much in her eyes. “I bet you do too.”
“If I don’t check my schedule, I have plausible deniability.”
She snorts and straightens. “Bullshit.”
Nico grins. “Lunch with me?”
“Can’t.” Petra rolls her eyes and looks like she’s caught between homicidal and suicidal. “I have an interview with Graham’s media team.”
“Ah.” He wraps his arms around her waist. “That’s going to be shit.”
Her beautiful lips curl into a snarl. “Mm. They’re making the rounds so expect to be called up next.”
“Mierda.” Nico hates that contractual obligation. Media and cameras always in their faces is his least favorite thing about F1. And with all that’s happened in recent weeks—Singapore, Wyn, him and her—the interview questions will be loaded.
“You should to talk to Carlos.” She sits beside him, all business now. “Set boundaries. Decide what you won’t discuss, no matter how hard they push.”
“Like you do?”
“I learned early.” She shrugs. “Being F1’s darling,” she makes a gagging noise, “means fielding asinine questions about hair care and dieting tips between engineering briefings.”
He hates that they treat her like a novelty. Petra’s a serious fucking contender, but the misogyny of the media rises in interviews, especially with Graham’s people. Still, she tries to put them off their game every chance she gets.
“I remember that post-win interview when you took your first F1 podium.” He grins. “What did you say? You were sweating like a racehorse?”
“And stank like a motherfucking pig.” She laughs. “I got fined for that one, but it was worth it. Like my pink middle fingers.” She waggles both hands at him, nails perfectly painted Nitro green, except the two in the center. “Subtle enough to avoid penalties, clear enough to make my point.”
He brushes her hair off her face. “You’re incredible.”
Petra makes a smug little face. “I know.” She kisses him, then stands. “And you need to learn the fine art of telling people to piss off while smiling pretty for cameras.” Her demonstrated smile definitely says, ‘Fuck off’.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah.” She gathers dress, handbag, and shoes. Her feet are bare, which he finds amusing. “You don’t owe them explanations about anything beyond racing lines and tire strategies. They can fuck themselves if they think they own you.”
“Or you.”
An hour later, Nico’s sitting in the sim racing setup he convinced WolfBett to start bringing to every race. It’s nothing like the factory’s multi-million euro DIL simulator, but it allows him to test configuration changes at each circuit.
“Terrence preferred setup 3 through sector 2,” Heinrich says. Terrence is their test driver back at the factory. “He felt it gave the best downforce levels for Mexico’s altitude.”
Nico pushes through the virtual track, feeling how each adjustment potentially affects the car’s behavior. The simulator can’t perfectly replicate Mexico City’s thin air, but it gives the team baselines to work from and data to send back and forth with the DIL driver to help refine setups.
“Better through 15, but losing rear stability in 13.”
“Numbers confirm it.” Heinrich frowns at his screens.
Marcus appears in the doorway, expression grim. “Nico, we need to discuss some social media concerns.”
“We’re testing.” He’s halfway through another hot lap. “Five more minutes.”
“No. My office now. Heinrich, you too.”
Nico exchanges a look with the team’s chief engineer, then ends his session and climbs from the rig.
Marcus wouldn’t interrupt if this wasn’t serious shit.
They join their TP in his small office, closing the door and sitting.
Victoria is already there and she looks unsettled, which is something Nico’s never seen before.
Marcus leans forward and folds his hands on his desk.
“What I’m about to tell you, you repeat to no one.
Clear?” He looks between each of them, waiting for acknowledgement before he continues.
“I just spoke with Richard Morrison. There’s been a breach of team security that’s compromised technical information. ”
“What?” Nico says, and Heinrich asks, “How?”
Victoria presents the face of her tablet.
She’s pulled up what looks like a private F1 fan group.
There are pictures of fans posing in the paddock, in the stands, in F1 hospitality, and with engineers and other team personnel inside garages.
Victoria indicates multiple garage shots.
“These photos show sensitive data obtained from several teams.”
“We’re investigating.” Marcus hesitates. “But given the fan enthusiasm over recent inter-team developments, we have to take a closer look at everyone’s relationships with outside personnel.”
Nico sees red and draws a slow breath before he looks at his TP from beneath his brows. The man is implying Petra had something to do with this breach. “Right. Because champions need to steal data to win races.” He nods slowly. “Makes perfect sense, Marcus.”
“Everyone’s a suspect right now, Nico.”
“Not Petra. Wrong suspect.” It’s only because he’s a master of emotional control after a lifetime of race training, and because he respects the man, that Nico doesn’t punch Marcus Wolfberg in the mouth. “Let me see those photos.”
“Here.” Victoria hands over her tablet. “They’re posted in a private Honey Bunnies group.”
The images show glimpses of engineering screens with technical data visible in the background of what look like photos of fans wearing bunny ears or sporting pink hair, posing with the engineering team and mechanics.
They’re raising their fingers in peace signs, laughing, sticking out their tongues.
These are photos of young female fans having fun and supporting the team they love.
There’s nothing devious, unless you know what you’re looking for.
Then it’s clear that whoever took the pictures framed them to capture the screens.
One photo like that could be dismissed, but not a dozen.
Especially since the focus isn’t on the fans, but the screens.
“These aren’t from our garage.” Nico zooms in on details. “That’s Nitro’s setup.” He taps the screen and turns it for them to see. “And look at the timestamp.”
Marcus nods, but says nothing.
Heinrich peers at the images. “During their overnight modifications at COTA. When they were dealing with that suspension issue.”
“Exactly.” Nico returns the tablet. “So why are we discussing this?”
Marcus meets Nico’s gaze evenly. “Because information flows both ways.” At least he’s not pulling his punches.
“You think I’d compromise either team?” Some of Nico’s cool is slipping. “That Petra and I would risk everything we’ve worked our entire lives to achieve, Marcus? Fucking really?”
“No.” His response is immediate. “Absolutely not, Nico. But others will.” He lowers his voice. “Especially people like Graham and Junior, who’re looking for any advantage over other teams and drivers, and would relish an opportunity to smear you and her.”
It surprises Nico to hear Marcus bad-mouthing one of the team’s co-owners. But maybe it shouldn’t. Graham’s been stomping on Marcus’s authority this season, overstepping his role by a mile. The friction he’s causing in team management isn’t good for anyone.
“There’s more.” Victoria scrolls through her tablet. “Similar photos from other teams have surfaced. JMR and Telco, so far. But I’m sure there are others. Someone’s collecting technical information through fan access.”
Joder. That changes things.
Heinrich whistles a low note. “Has this been shared with Nitro?”
“Not yet.” Marcus answers him but watches Nico. “We wanted to discuss it with Nico first.”
“Do it.” Nico gestures at the tablet. “This affects all the teams.”
“I’ve requested a meeting,” Victoria says. “All affected teams, senior personnel only.”
Nico leans forward. “Petra and I should be there.”
Marcus shakes his head. “Not a good idea.” He lifts a hand, staying the protest Nico starts. “There will be questions and suggestions about the relationship between rival teams’ drivers.”
“Which is exactly why we need to be included, Marcus.”
Heinrich’s face twists like he tastes something rotten. “Some assholes will suggest you’re compromised, Nico.”
“That’s absolute bullshit.” Nico thumps the desk with his fist. “A lifetime of professional integrity doesn’t suddenly mean nothing because—”
“You got a taste of some magic pussy?”
“Heinrich!” Victoria gapes at WolfBett’s chief engineer.
Caught mid-rage and off guard, Nico cracks up.
Marcus just closes his eyes and shakes his head. None of this is funny, but the man said just the right thing to let all of them vent some steam.
Heinrich raises his hands, trying—and failing—to look sheepish. “Sorry, sorry. I know I should talk to human resources about my language now, but I couldn’t help it.”
Marcus sighs. “If Graham comes to the meeting, he’ll provoke a fight, Nico. If I include you, promise you won’t be baited.”
Nico nods. “I can be an adult, if he can.”
Marcus nods. “Victoria, ask Carlos to be present, too.”
“Good suggestion.” She pulls out her phone.
Nico’s happy with that. Having his father in the meeting to protect his interests is a smart idea.
“We need to find the real source of these pictures.” He returns to the photos.
“They’re not random fan shots. Look at the angles, the timing.
Someone knows exactly what they’re looking for and posed the fans where they needed them. ”
Heinrich leans closer. “Probably using a phone camera to disguise their efforts, but the framing seems deliberate.”
Victoria points to one. “They’re specifically capturing technical information.”
“And posing as a fan to gain access to do it?” The pieces start clicking for Nico. “Then posting in these groups makes it look like fans are just sharing their paddock experiences, when this person is actually transmitting the data to someone.”
“Hiding in plain sight.” Marcus’s expression shifts from concern to calculation. “We need to handle this carefully.”
Victoria nods. “If word gets out that fan access is being exploited, teams will put a chill on fan participation. It could damage trust and the sport.”
“Yes.” Marcus checks his watch. “See if you can gather everyone in an hour, Victoria. Nico, think you can focus on simulation work until then?”
He glances at the time. “Yes. But we need to warn Petra. She has an interview with Graham’s production team soon.”
Marcus nods and picks up his phone. “I’ll speak with Coy. But the fewer people who know about this, the better. She shouldn’t even hint that she’s aware of it.”
Nico fists his hands. Petra needs to know her reputation and her future are at risk. He just hopes Coy can warn her before she’s blindsided in that interview. If Graham’s people even know.
Which… if they do? Well, that raises some red flags and major questions.
Marcus meets Nico’s gaze as his phone rings. “I know she’s the one with the greatest risk, Nico.”
Coy answers the call. “Marcus? What can I do for you?”
WolfBett’s team principal turns away, dismissing everyone to do their jobs. “There’s a problem, Coy.”