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VANITY FAIR: Inside Dakota McManus' Garage at the Bahrain Grand Prix + How an F1 Car Actually Works


BBC SPORTS: Why 2022 is Dakota McManus' most important season yet

( on screen interview with pierre gasly, scuderia alphatauri )

"..... dakota and i have known each other for so long that there's this link between us. we always know what the other is feeling. it's a good thing and a bad thing, but if either of us feels like something is off with the car, the other knows instantly. it opens the way for more communication, and I think that helps us operate better as a team. of course it started getting weird when she and yuki first started dating, *i* don't need to feel that shit."

2022 Season

SAKHIR, BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

SUNDAY - RACE DAY

Yuki was in the top ten. AlphaTauri were going to start the season with points, albeit not very many. Dakota's hands shook as she sat at the pit wall, trying to keep calm as she communicated with varying members of the team, right down to the pit crew as they prepared for the next opportunity one of the drivers would need to pit for a tyre change.

Her leg was bounding against the chair, and Jake laid a hand on her shoulder.

"You're going to make Pierre nervous. Hell, you're making all of us nervous."

"I can't help it!" The Aussie hissed back before looking at the virtual map which showcased each driver's position on the track and reaching for the button that would page her in to Yuki's car.

"We're doing fucking amazing, babe!" Dakota grinned under her cloth mask. "Holding down P8, Ocon is in front of you, Alonso a little further behind. That's four points if you can hold this down, don't do anything stupid."

"I don't plan on it, sunshine. I love you."

"Love you too."Β 

Numerous recordings had found their way onto YouTube of the couple being all loved up on the radio system, full compilations dating back to even before they were dating, with captions like 'we should have guessed.' There was no doubt that this interaction would soon be joining the fray.

And then she felt it, in the pit of her stomach, at the same time that one of the mechanics dialed into the radio system.Β 

Something was wrong. Dakota knew her cars, she could tell just by watching them on a screen that they weren't running properly. So when the mechanic came online and said that there was a problem with the fuel levels on Pierre's car, she was already five steps ahead.

"Cherie, we may have a small issue. It smells weird in here, almost like gasoline." Pierre remarked from his place on the track as Dakota rushed down the pit wall, staring over another crew member's shoulder at the rapidly dropping levels, meters and incessant warnings popping up all over the screen.

"P, get out of the car!"

In addition to feeling her own worry, she was starting to feel Pierre's. Being friends for five years in such close quarters does that to you.

"Mac, you're scaring me, ma belle!"

"Pierre, I think the car is about to blow, you need to pull over, now!"

"That's a grave warning from the pit wall for Pierre Gasly, who's pulling over at the side of the chicane- and there's the fire!"

Fuck you, Crofty, Mac thought, heart pounding out of her chest as she turned back to the towering wall of monitors, stomach churning like Niagara Falls as she watched the back of the AlphaTauri car go up in flames.

"Pierre? P, can you hear me?"

A second passed.

Ten seconds passed.

The entire pit wall held their breath, panic hidden behind fabric face masks as they quivered in their blue and white polo shirts.

And then-

"I'm okay, cherie!"

Dakota almost fell to the pit lane floor in relief, gripping on to the counter for support as the crew around her visibly relaxed.

"Thank fuck." Dakota could have cried from relief, needing nothing more than to wrap Pierre in her arms and make sure he was still all right.

"Are you okay, lovebug?" Yuki's voice interrupted her spiral. "Is Pierre okay?"

Wiping at her eyes, Dakota sat back down at the pit wall, inhaling a deep breath. "Yeah, we're all okay. P's on his way back to the garage. If he ever scares me like that again, he'll be sorry."

Yuki laughed, a warm feeling blooming in Koda's chest.

She looked back at the screen. A few laps to go, and then AlphaTauri would have score their first points of the season.

"He, Baby Mac." Jake nudged her in the side. "Look at your monitors." He was obviously trying not to smile, or laugh, likely at another team's expense.

Dakota glanced up at the monitor that was covering the Sky Sports coverage of the track, allowing the pit wall to see what was happening on all sides of the track at one time. Two black cars with bright red bulls on the side had pulled over, and Max Verstappen was shouting so many expletives that Sky had given up on censoring him and just muted the entire damn thing.

Both RedBull Racing cars were out of contention for points in Bahrain, and out of the race altogether.

The thought made Dakota smile.


( on screen interview with dakota mcmanus )

"...i'm sitting there on the pit wall, and I just know that something is wrong, i can't explain it. i know my cars, i know when something is wrong. next thing i know, pierre is on fire and i can only sit there and watch the recovery team put it out. it stings like shit when only one of your cars can make it to the finish line, but at the end of the day you just have to try and keep your head up, you know. but seeing the red bulls DNF... that made my fucking day."

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