Daniella burst out laughing as soon as she saw the Ferrari drivers in their special yellow racing suits for the race weekend. She wished she had her phone with her right now to capture the way Charles was looking.

"Stop laughing..." Charles tried to sound stern but failed.

"I can't," Daniella tried to control her laughter. "You two look like bananas...or minions."

Charles slightly pouted as he looked down to examine his suit. Because of the color, he was feeling as if it had not fitted him well.

"Hi Dani..." Carlos politely smiled at the Mercedes driver who was also in her racing suit, ready for free practice. It has been months since they had exchanged a full sentence, let alone a conversation. Carlos has come to terms that she will never have feelings for him, at least not as strong as she has for Max, and he has made his peace with it. He tried and fought but he lost.

"Hi.." Daniella awkwardly but politely smiled back before looking back at Charles.

"I think they made it a size small," Charles complained about the racing suit as he pulled it in certain places.

He unzipped it and took off the upper half, earning a restrained laugh from the Mercedes driver.

"Now what?"

"You look like a peeled banana," Daniella tried not to laugh.

Carlos was about to take off the upper half of the suit as well but the comment from Daniella made him change his mind.

Charles let out a defeated sigh as he put it back on.

"I hate you," He glared at Daniella. "And if we don't win this Sunday after looking like this the entire weekend then I am going to burn this suit."

"So you will put the blame on these cute banana suits instead of your strategists?" Daniella asked.

"If we could, we would blame our strategists," Carlos said in a low voice so only Charles and Daniella could hear him. "But since we can't, we have to blame something."

"Poor suits.." Daniella touched the yellow material around Charles. "I am going to miss you."

Charles just rolled his eyes as Carlos chuckled.

***

"I am sorry," Daniella apologized when she bumped into someone while she was in a hurry, trying to finish the interviews after the free practice as fast as possible so the team can get started on the debrief.

"It's okay," The former Red Bull and Toro Rosso driver replied as he offered a smile.

"You performed really well today," Daniil Kvyat added.

"Umm... it was just free practice and I didn't even finish in the top ten," Daniella pointed out.

"Still you did better than nine other drivers," Daniil replied.

"And that's still not good enough," Daniella faked a smile. "If you will excuse me now, I have to go finish a couple of more interviews."

"Yeah sure," Daniil smiled. "But I...are you free after the race? I was hoping..."

"Actually I am flying back to Monaco with Max after the race," She quickly stopped him from finishing the sentence.

"Oh.. But if..."

"Sorry, I have to go now," She shot him a smile before walking away in a hurry.

Daniil looked disappointed but shrugged it off, almost sure that he will get another opportunity to ask her out.

Unknown to him, Max saw the intersection from a distance and could feel anger creeping up.

"Look's like your ex's ex is trying to steal your girlfriend," Pierre said as he came up from behind and patted his shoulder before walking past him.

Max completely trusts and loves Daniella, but he has problems with those who try to ask her out even when everyone knows they are together.

He decided not to do or say anything at the moment but if Daniil tries to ask Daniella out again he will definitely step in.

**********

It's the day of qualifying and the news of Alex Albon not being able to take part further this weekend due to health issues spread through the paddock.

"Is that coffee?" Nyck de Vries said as he snatched the cup from Daniella's hand without even an answer or permission from her. "Thanks," He nervously said as he drank it.

Daniella was about to yell at him but stopped when she noticed how pale he looked.

"Are you okay?" She asked the reserve driver, sounding a bit concerned.

"Yes and no," Nyck replied as he nervously looked at her. "Alex has appendicitis and was taken to the hospital and I just got asked to replace him his weekend."

"Alex has appendicitis?" Daniella sounded shocked as her eyes slightly went wide. "I just thought he caught a bug or something... ughh George lied to me."

"Yeah.. He is going to need surgery," Nyck replied. "And I will get to race tomorrow...what if I mess up? What if I perform so badly that no team will ever want to give me a seat?" He mumbled, freaking out about the sudden opportunity.

"You are a formula two and formula E winner, Nyck. You will be fine," Daniella gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "And as long as you perform better than George no one will be able to say a word against you."

"But George is a really good driver..."

"He is, but you are better than him," Daniella smiled, knowing well that the Williams driver was nearby and clearly heard her.

George was planning to ignore Daniella but after hearing what she said he walked over to them.

"You look nervous," He said to Nyck, a genuine comforting smile on his face.

"Yeah...it's a very short period of time to prepare myself for my first race," The reserve driver replied.

"You will be fine," George put his hand on his substitute teammate's shoulder. "Just think what Daniella would do and then do the opposite. You might as well end up winning with that."

Nyck immediately picked up on the tension between the former friends and it is the last thing he needs today.

"And is that why you have so many wins?" Daniella sarcastically asked the Williams driver as she shot him a fake smile.

George clenched his jaw as he shot her a sharp glare. He wanted to argue and yell at her but since there were people around them, he decided to just walk away, preparing to channel his anger during the qualifying session.

"You just want him to hate you, huh?" Nyck asked the Mercedes driver. After working so closely with Toto he has picked up a little about what happened better George and Daniella.

"It's better this way," Daniella shrugged. "If he doesn't hate me then he will want to know what actually happened and it will just cause more problems for everyone."

"Your life is exhausting," Nyck let out a shaky breath.

***

"And that's P4," Nate, Daniella's race engineer informed her as the qualifying session came to an end.

"Okay...copy," She replied as she slowed down, waving at the fans.

Since a bunch of drivers are getting grind penalties including Max and Checo, Daniella would actually get a front row start from P2, with Charles on pole. And Lewis went down to P19 which put the team at a disadvantage.

Daniella halted the car outside of the Mercedes garage and hopped out of it before the team of mechanics pushed the car inside.

"Good job," Toto patted her back and gave her a quick side hug.

"Thanks, dad," Daniella absentmindedly said and immediately the entire garage came to a pause, all eyes looking at Daniella.

It took a couple of seconds but Daniella felt all eyes on her and she looked up.

"What?" She looked around.

"You just called Toto dad," Lewis replied, sounding amused.

"No, I didn't," Daniella quickly defended herself.

"Yes you did," Myra added.

"You said 'thanks dad' to him," Nate joined in.

Daniella could feel her cheeks turning red and just wanted to crawl and hide under her car.

"Do you see me as a father figure, Dani?" Toto asked, a smile almost breaking out on his face.

"No.." Daniella let out a nervous laugh. "If anything, I just see you as a bother figure."

"Hey! Don't talk to your dad like that," Lewis played along.

"I never called him dad," Daniella once again defended herself. "All of your ears are probably not working properly."

"That's okay," Toto smiled. "I know what I heard. Would you like to talk about it over dinner tomorrow after the race?"

"Yes.. I would like that," Daniella sheepishly and shyly said. At this point, her entire face turned red.

"Great," Toto messed her hair. "And believe it or not I like being a father figure to you," He whispered so only she can hear him.

Daniella looked up and smiled.

"I will join you two for dinner tomorrow," Lewis invited himself, not wanting to feel left out.

"Then you will pay for it," Toto replied.

"Okay, dad."

This time everyone looked at Lewis. His eyes went wide as soon as he realized what he said. He let out a curse and tried to not look at anyone.

"Now that's just weird bro," Daniella commented.

"It's your fault," The older driver pointed an accusing finger at his teammate.

"I am just their boss. I am just their boss," Toto mumbled to himself as he left the scene.

❃.✮:▹ ◃:✮.❃

A/N: Two chapters in one day😏 

We got a little B99 scene with Dani and Toto. Thoughts?

 Daniil Kavyat tried to hit on Dani but it didn't work 👀 maybe next time it will👀😅 

We also got Charles in the yellow suit. At first, I hated that yellow on him but it grew on me by the end of the race😅😅 what about you guys? 

Thoughts on Nyck and Dani? 

So Dani wants George to keep hating her. Thoughts???

I hope Alex gets better soon. They are saying he will be back to race in Singapore but is he going to be healthy and cleared to race by then?