Page 4 of Spin Control

Well. It’s not like I can argue with that. “What exactly did you do?”

“I wrote a holding statement that David’s team posted on all social channels and sent out to the media,” she says. “News editors know that’s all they’re going to get from Martine Racing today.”

“Okay, well—” I start, but Elizabeth cuts me off.

“There are, of course, reporters who will keep digging. And yes, this story is only going to gain momentum. We can’t control either of those things—we have to accept that. But what we can control is Martine Racing. Nothing is going to come out of this team until we’re ready to be the ones controlling the narrative.”

When she’s finished, all I can do is sit there and nod.

“So,” Elizabeth says, turning to David. “Where is your team with the newsletter draft?”

“We should have it in ten minutes.”

“Fantastic,” she says. “And approvals are just you and me?”

David nods. “Marcus has given his go-ahead to send these out by close of business. He’s also engaged a forensic accountant to look at the books starting tomorrow.”

“Good,” Elizabeth says perfunctorily. “I have calls with a few investigative reporters scheduled for tonight. I’ll keep you posted.”

David nods. “Marcus is finalizing the deal with the interim team principal. I’ll have that release draft to you as soon as we have a green light. We’ll send it out at 10am tomorrow.”

My mind whirls. “Who the hell is he tapping?” I ask. It’s not like there are all that many people with the experience and knowledge needed to step into the role of an F1 team principal—the person who acts as both a head coach and the head of a high-performance business unit.

David gives me a long look. “Who would you ask to be a team principal on a moment’s notice?”

You’d need someone who knows the job. Who knows racing. And more than that, who knows this team. My mind lands on one name. “No way,” I say quietly. “I thought he was completely unreachable. Off on a year-long silent retreat in the Himalayas or something.”

“That was last year,” David says. “But should this conversation go well—and Marcus is very confident it will—then tomorrow we’ll be welcoming Albrecht Klein back as team principal.”

I whistle low. Albrecht Klein is a god in this sport. A five-time world champion, he transitioned into management and found success everywhere. He finished his career with Martine two years ago, when he retired at the age of 50 so he could “find a new adventure.”

Though I’ve never worked directly with the man, he’s always been kind and generous during our interactions. Back when I was at a team that put me through hell, Albrecht offered me advice on a particularly bad day. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for his words, I don’t know if I would have realized exactly how toxic the situation was.

So to say that I’m excited about this turn of events is an understatement. Fucking thrilled, is more accurate.

This really could be a hell of a year for me.

The first three races of the season have been solid for the team, with Stas on the podium every Sunday and me finishing high in the points. The car is good. I’m good. I’m in a much better place mentally and emotionally than I have been in years, and I’m in better physical shape now, at the age of 33, than I’ve ever been.

I can do this. This is my time.

I just need to make everything work together, both in qualifying and on race day.

I need to fucking win.

And with Albrecht Klein, I have a feeling I will again.

“Well,” I say. “That’s pretty amazing.”

“It will definitely generate positive press ahead of the weekend,” David adds.

Elizabeth nods. “It seems Marcus took me very seriously when I said we need to give the media a new story this week.”

“He did,” David says. “He knows exactly the kind of results you bring in and is doing everything he can to ensure you can get them.”

Elizabeth smiles. It’s radiant. It makes the room seem brighter. It makes me want to smile.

It also disappears in an instant, there and gone so fast that I wonder if I imagined it. But no—my imagination isn’t that creative. There’s no way I would have come up with a smile that warm on a woman so cold.