Its race weekend and Daniella’s 22nd birthday. The excitement inside her was radiating and everyone could see that. Her father and younger sister are finally going to come see her race as an F1 driver and she is determined to score a good result.

Daniella was on her phone scrolling through the photos her elder sister sent her when Max came over and sat beside her. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to choose my maid of honor dress for my sister’s wedding.,” she replied showing him the phone.

“So umm…Lando wanted me to discreetly find out if you want a vanilla cake or chocolate cake…cause both are your favorites and he is not sure which one to get.” Max explained.

“You are not being discreet at all,” Daniella laughed.

“I know, I suck at this,” Max’s phone range and he showed her the screen. “This is the fourth time he is calling me. He has been nagging me since morning to find out about the cake.”

“I will think about it and let you know,” Daniella teased her teammate.

“No no no,” Max begged. “Tell me the answer now so that he stops calling me.”

She took a few seconds, pretending to think as the phone kept on ringing.

“You are evil,” Max commented.

“Vanilla,” she replied, putting Max out of misery.

“Thank god see you at qualy” he answered the phone before walking away.

***

“Happy Birthday,” Myra wishes cheerfully as she hugged the birthday girl.

Daniella smiled and thanked her.

“What is all this?” she looked around, a couple of cameraman following her.

“The want to film for a youtube video,” Myra explained. “Come on we are late.”

“Late for what?” Daniella asked as Myra just grabbed her hand and dragged her to the RedBull hospitality.

As soon as Daniella stepped in everyone started singing her happy birthday and clapping. There was a big cake on the table with a candle on top of it.

She smiled brightly as she thanked everyone.

Nate handed her the knife to cut the cake and Myra started taking pictures.

“Make a wish.”

Daniella happily blow out the candle a cut the cake as Max blow up the confetti. She offered the first piece of cake to Nate and Myra.

Max tried to smash his piece of cake on Daniella’s face but instead failed miserably, she was quick to counter it and he ended with cake frosting on his face which served as a great laugh for everyone.

***

“You guys made it,” Daniella hugged her father and sister.

“Well we would have been here sooner but someone misplaced her VIP pass and took a long time to find it,” David glared at his youngest daughter.

“I didn’t misplace it,” Collins defended make her sister laugh. “I just for where I put it…luckily mom found it.”

Daniella took her father and sister to the hospitality area and offered some refreshments and cake.

“Look at you, all grown up,” David admired his daughter. He reached to his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “I didn’t know what to get you for your birthday cause you already have everything thing you need ..”

“Please tell me that’s a check,” Daniella interrupted, ready to reject the gift.

“No.. just open in.”

She took the envelope and opened it, finding a hand made card and a letter inside.

“Jenna told me you would appreciate and love the gift more if I made it myself…and this is the best I can make,” David explained.

Daniella carefully took out the beautifully painted birthday card and opened it, and the loving message written in the letter brought tears to her face.

“This is beautiful dad,” She got up and hugged her father. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you for being my daughter.”

***

The race didn’t start well. Just at turn one Lewis’ Mercedes made contact with Max pushing him out of the track and straight into the barricade. Daniella gain two positions and went to P3 but the race go red flagged.

The sight of Max’s RedBull gave her chills. The car was completely destroyed, it’s a miracle Max survived. He was immediately taken to the hospital and Daniella just prayed he was okay.

“Stewards are still discussing about the penalty,” Christian informed Daniella.

“That was a scary crash,” she said as she bit her nails in nervousness.

Christian agreed as he comforted her. She is now the only RedBull driver that will be racing in Silverstone and the entire team is pretty determined to win the race and defeat Mercedes.

The race soon restarted with Charles at P1, Bottas at P3 and Daniella at P3, and Lando just behind her at P4. She maintained her position untill she went to the pitstop to change tires and lost 2 positions. But she is not someone who gives up, soon she again climbed up to P3 again.

“Hamilton is now P5, Norris is holding him off,” Nate informed. “Try to get past Bottas before Hamilton overtakes Norris.”

“Copy.”

Daniella is well aware once Lewis overtakes Lando she is going to be the next one, and if he gains her position Valterri will be instructed to give his position to Lewis, then all he needs to do is overtake Charles to win the race. And there is no way she is letting a Mercedes win the race today.

Daniella gave her everything, and after a good fight with the Mercedes ahead of her she managed to overtake him. Now its just Charles infront of her and 10 laps to go.

“Lewis is behind you now,” Nate informed.

“They made Bottas gave up his position?” Daniella asked.

“What do you expect?” Nate replied. “But looks like he is struggling now.”

“Copy.”

Charles was managing his Ferrari well, but Daniella was gaining on him, and Lewis was gaining on her. With only 3 laps to go the race became very intense. Lando gained his p4 back from Bottas and was right behind Lewis. Everyone was on the edge of their seat waiting for a final change in the positions.

A loud cheer erupted when the RedBull finally managed to overtake the Ferrari. Daniella wave at Charles as a respect as she moved past him at the second last lap.

Lewis gave his all to win the race but only managed to overtake Charles.

Daniella was flying in the last lap and Lewis was not able to catch up.

Everyone jumped out of their seat when the RedBull crossed the checkered flag, winning her home race.

“Daniella Michaels you are the British Grand Prix winner,” Nate cheered.

“Yeah!!! Lets go guys.”

“Congratulations Dani,” Christian cheered. “You saved the team again.”

“Thanks Christian. This one’s for Max.”

Daniella parked her car and got out, soon joined by Charles. The disappointment was visible on his face.

“You drove very well today,” she hugged the Ferrari driver.

Lando soon came and congratulate her followed by the other drivers.

She turned around to see Lewis celebrating his podium with the fans. She ran to her team and hugged them, all congratulating her.

She then quickly went to hug her father and sister who were watching her from the garage before making her way to the podium.

The feeling was surreal, winning her home race. Her family and team was cheering from below as she was handed over the trophy.

As soon as the champagne celebration was over she was dragged to give interviews by Myra. Once all the interviews and briefing was done she decided to go visit Max to see if he was okay, and unknown to her Lando was on his way to her hotel.

**********

A/N: Should Dani win the 2021 championship?

Also no hate to Lewis or Mercedes.

And this is by far the longest chapter I have written.