Thursday in Bahrain was known as "Media Day," but to Dominik, it felt more like "Interrogation Day."
The exposure of F1 was exponential compared to F2. The flashbulbs in the paddock were brighter than the start lights. Dominik spent the entire day in the media pen, answering the same questions until his voice went hoarse.
"As a rookie, how do you feel?"
"Is the car competitive?"
"Russell and Leclerc said you are the 'Dark Horse'. Pressure?"
Dominik maintained his frozen media smile. "I am honored. The team is working hard. I will do my best." He was a robot, reciting lines programmed by O'Connor.
In the afternoon, the questions got specific.
"George Russell says you owe him tuition fees for a driving lesson in testing. Care to comment?"
Dominik gritted his teeth, imagining strangling Russell. "George likes to talk. I prefer to drive."
By the time the sun set over the Sakhir desert, casting long shadows across the paddock, Dominik was exhausted. He walked past the Williams garage, seeing the FW44 under the lights. It looked peaceful compared to the chaos outside.
Gaëtan Jego patted his shoulder. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow, the real work starts."
Back at the hotel, Dominik collapsed onto his bed. His phone buzzed.
Yeji: I'm here. Where do I drop the key?
Dominik blinked. She actually came.
He drove to the airport pickup zone. Yeji was waiting, wearing a bucket hat and mask, looking like a spy. She handed him the red Ferrari key.
"Delivery complete," she said.
"You really flew all this way just to return a key?" Dominik asked, loading her suitcase into his rental car.
"I have time off," she shrugged, taking off her mask. She had dyed her hair back to dark brown, losing the pink streak from the show. She looked less like a K-Pop idol and more like a normal, albeit stunningly pretty, girl. "And I wanted to see if your driving is as scary in real life."
They went for dinner at a quiet restaurant. It was... slightly awkward. Dominik realized he rarely had dinner with women who weren't family or PR managers.
"I left my lipstick in the car," she said suddenly after they ate.
Dominik drove her back to the hotel. As she got out, he remembered something.
"I got you a pass for the weekend," Dominik said. "You'll be in the Paddock Club, but you can come down to the garage."
"Thanks," she smiled. "See you tomorrow, Racer-ssi."
Friday. Practice Day.
The next morning, Dominik walked into the paddock with a mission. He found Russell and Leclerc at the coffee station.
"You two," Dominik pointed a finger. "You told the press I owe you tuition? Now they won't stop asking about it."
Leclerc looked innocent. "I said nothing."
Russell grinned mischievously. "It's good for your brand, Dominik. Embrace the rivalry."
Dominik rolled his eyes. "I hate you both."
Later that morning, Dominik brought Yeji into the Williams garage.
The reaction was immediate. Mechanics stopped polishing the car. Engineers looked up from their laptops. O'Connor raised an eyebrow. Jost Capito smirked.
They had seen Dominik with his family, but never with a girl. And certainly not a K-Pop star.
"Who is this?" Capito whispered to O'Connor.
"A friend," O'Connor whispered back. "From the Korean show."
Capito nodded wisely. "Ah. The 'Partner' pass. Good choice."
Dominik ignored the looks. He showed Yeji the car.
"This is the office," he said, pointing to the cockpit.
Yeji looked at the steering wheel, with its dozens of buttons and switches. "It looks like a spaceship."
"It costs about the same," Dominik noted.
Yeji was wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, her dark hair loose. She looked effortlessly stylish. Even the usually focused mechanics were stealing glances.
"Handsome," Yeji said, looking at the car. Then she looked at Dominik, who was tying his race suit sleeves around his waist, revealing his fitted fireproof undershirt. "The car is handsome. You are... okay."
Dominik laughed. "Thanks."
At 2:45 PM, the warning siren sounded.
"Time to work," Dominik said. His demeanor shifted instantly. The playful boy vanished; the driver appeared. He put on his balaclava and helmet.
Yeji stepped back to the viewing area, putting on the team-issued headset.
The garage was a flurry of activity.
"Radio check," Dominik said.
"Loud and clear," Gaëtan replied. "C2 tires are fitted. Focus on track evolution."
3:00 PM.
The engines fired up. The sound was a physical force, vibrating through the floor. Yeji jumped, pressing the headset tighter to her ears.
The Williams FW44 rolled out of the garage, the yellow-walled Pirelli tires gleaming under the afternoon sun.
Dominik Corvinus merged onto the track for FP1.
The 2022 Season had officially begun.