Page 87 of Racing Hearts
As expected, on the Thursday before the Austrian Grand Prix, the first race post summer break, theDaily Reporterreleased their article. Nora had explicitly instructed me not to read it, which I had listened to for all of one hour, if only because I was too terrified that if I read it, then this nightmare would actually be real. Some irrational part of me still believed that if I didn’t acknowledge the article’s existence, it wouldn’t exist—would never haunt my dreams.
But as I sat down on my driver’s room couch, staring at my face on the home page of theDaily Reporter’s website, I knew that wasn’t the case.
This nightmare was real.
To make matters worse, it had now been two weeks since Luca and I had gotten back from Mallorca. Two weeks since I had seen or heard from him. Between our two midseason training camps, I knew we’d have very little time to speak after the vacation, but I hadn’t expected such glaring silence.
Watching the notifications from friends and family pour in, I just continued to stare blankly at my phone screen, hesitant to tap the link. Every piece of me wished that Luca was here in our room to help me face my fears. Each notification built up a new panic, a new anxiety, and by the number of texts that were flooding through, I knew I couldn’t let this sit unread anymore.
SHOWMANCE? F1 star Georgia Dubois accused of “PR stunt” withfellow driver Luca Rossi
Despite public displays of affection, leading female F1 driver GeorgiaDubois and alleged boyfriend Luca Rossi’s relationship is a “PR stunt”according to sources close to the pair.
Documents shared with the Daily Reporter claim the relationship wasset up by Valkyrie F1 Racing to help “boost Georgia’s sponsorshipprospects.” According to the insider, Dubois is using fellow F1 driverRossi’s famous racing family to get funding for her Valkyrie seat.
It was similarly claimed during her IndyCar days that Duboisparticipated in the same stunt with fellow driver Anthony Walker. Areview of Dubois’ sponsorship records proved she accepted money from hernow ex-boyfriend’s father’s company, Walker Industries.
Avid viewers have equally speculated that during recent races Duboishad been allowing Rossi to pass her on track, a move seen when she“spun” in Monza that allowed him to win his home race. According toexpert engineers close to the F1 leadership, the spin was “clearlyintentional.”
The insider said: “It’s really a shame because the F1 communitybelieved that they were finally getting a female driver that deserved tobe in this sport, not one that slept their way into it.
“We all want a female driver, but not if it’s achieved by cheating,”they commented.
Dubois and Rossi are due to appear at the Austrian Grand Prix thisupcoming weekend. What will the FIA do about this incident?
Check back for more updates and click here for our in-depthinvestigation.
By the time I finished the article, I was gripping my phone so tightly that my knuckles were white. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out activity in the garage. The words on the screen blurred together, forming a sickening concoction of disbelief and anger. I tried to manage my shallow breathing as I processed the magnitude of what I had just read.
They had accused me ofcheating.
Because how could a woman ever be successful in a man’s world without help?
“Hey, Georgia, you got a moment?” Lily’s gentle voice drifted through the door, barely audible over the ringing in my ears. She hesitated before knocking again. The door creaked open, and I didn’t bother looking up. She didn’t wait for permission, just came in and sat beside me, reaching for my trembling hand. Her palm was warm against my cold skin.
“Georgia, what’s going on?” Panic was laced in her voice.
“These journalists…” I finally whispered, “I’m done with them.All of them.They’re going to rue the day they decided to mess with Georgia Dubois.” My hands shook as I clenched the phone.
“Fuck, Georgia. Nora told you not to read the article!”
“Haveyouread it?” I shot back.
Obviously, she had.
Hell, I knew by the end of today, everyone in the paddock would have read it. Lily said nothing. Her gaze drifted to the window, her silence answering for her.
“I knew it would bebad, but I never thought it would bethisbad.”
“It’s notthat bad,” Lily offered weakly.
My face might as well have saidfuck you.
“They accused me of cheating! What could be worse than that? Luca has only finished ahead of me twice this season. Twice! I win my races fair and square.”
Lily opened her mouth again, but I held up a hand, shaking my head.
“And for them to bring in IndyCar. Just ridiculous. Iearnedthat spot. Saying I bought my seat with sponsorship money? That’s how racing works! That’s how ithasto work. Cars don’t run on magic and fairy dust. It’s why I’m in this mess to begin with. Cars aren’t free! The idea that I dated Anthony for clout is laughable. He was a loser. I had more fans than he did.”
