Page 41 of Overtake
Some asshole at the FIA decided Nico and Petra teachingbetweenpractice sessions was a good idea. If Nico knew who it was, he’d launch them over the nose of his car. He clears his table and heads out to face two more hours of pretending he’s not hyperaware of Petra’s every breath.
Nico spots Reece in the paddock, staring up at WolfBett’s team unit. Graham’s voice carries down from the upper balcony. Even from here, the criticism is clear. Wyn’s weak FP1 performance, his lack of aggression and failure to match Petra’s pace. All are unacceptable to a father with the wrong priorities.
Nico joins Reece. “Your teammate was flying today.”
“Yeah.” His attention stays fixed upward, where Wyn stands in the corner of the deck, posture rigid as he endures their father’s lecture. “Amazing how quick you can be when no one’s trying to put you into a wall.”
He doesn’t just mean Wyn and Petra and Singapore. They both know it.
“He’s getting worse.” Nico keeps his voice low.
“The pressure’s breaking him.” Reece meets his eyes, and the misery he feels for his younger brother is clear. “You think I don’t see it? My brother used to love racing.”
Above them, Graham’s voice sharpens. “If you’d taken that line like I told you?—”
“Before your father decided winning was more important than safety?”
“Before he decided winning was more important than anything else, including his relationship with his sons.” Reece peers at Nico. “You saw Wyn’s times today? Two spins and a near-miss. He’s pushing past his limits because anything less is failure.”
They stand in silence, watching team personnel bustle past. Graham’s criticism continues to rain down, each word making Wyn shrink further into himself.
“Petra won’t back down,” Reece says finally.
“Do you want her to?”
“No. This sport needs someone to show there’s another way to win.” Reece pauses. “Though backing her against Graham and the Bettertons? That might be a fool’s bet, Nico.”
He nods. “Maybe. But it’s the right thing to do.”
Reece’s expression shifts to a different kind of concern. “You know it could be career suicide?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re still going to do it?”
“Yes.”
Reece nods slowly. “Good. Because she’s right.” He looks back up at the balcony. “And my brother needs someone to stop him before his next crash is worse than Singapore.”
“Even if that someone is his rival?”
“Yeah.” Reece points from himself to Nico. “Because it means it’s about the racing, not family or history.”
“Everything in F1 comes down to family and history.”
Reece shrugs. “Maybe it’s time that changed.”
“Your father’s going to hate that.”
“That’s exactly the point.” Reece straightens as Wyn pushes away from the railing and Graham’s voice fades. “Now go teach some kids about clean racing. Show them there’s a better way.”
“On it.” Nico slaps Reece’s back and heads for the karting facility, but Wyn’s defeated posture stays with him. The man’s trapped by his father’s expectations.
If defying Graham frees Wyn and other kids getting crushed by their parents’ dreams, it’s worth it.
Working with the kids feels more genuine without Graham’s camera crew in their faces. Word has spread that championship contenders are teaching at the local karting track, so there are more observers. Many are girls sporting pink-streaked hair or pink nail polish.
A boy in a WolfBett shirt catches Nico’s attention first. “Mr. Belmonte! Watch this!”
