January, 2023
It was dawn in the British capital, even though the sun hadn't made an appearance yet. The young dark-haired lad lying in the bed seemed to be still sleeping, deep in his dreams. Stretching his long limbs across the large bed, covers tossed aside despite it being freezing cold-quite literally.
His phone on the bedside table started ringing nonstop, but to no answer yet. Until he heard its sound so far in his dream and after a moment too long, he picked up the phone, unable to ignore its loud ringing anymore. He answered without bothering to check the contact name.
"Yes?" He muttered, his voice raspy with remnants of sleep.
"Good morning, Ruslan" greeted the voice on the end phone.
Only then did Ruslan open his eyes and fought the sleep out of them to say "Dad? What's up? Why are you calling at this time? Has something happened? Is everyone alright? Is it even morning yet?".
"It's almost 6 a.m. actually, and everyone is fine. However, I do need to speak with you about something this morning before I leave for work. It's been a while since we had breakfast together, anyway," Nicolai explained.
"Yeah since you kicked us out of your house" Ruslan said while getting up his bed while listening to his father chuckle on the other end.
"But what is so urgent that you've bothered to wake me from my sleep. I'm sure you've been calling for the past thirty minutes," He asked, running a hand through his hair that was now messy from sleep.
Ruslan was now standing before the glass wall of his bedroom, taking in the sight of the city covered in snow, eyeing the Thames no doubt already beginning to freeze.
"The FIA called," his father uttered the two words that were enough to send panic waves jolting through his body.
"Oh God, what? What did they say? Why were they calling you? When was that? Why didn't t you call earlier?" Ruslan asked question after question, not even giving his father a second to answer. He already began pacing through his room barefoot, full panic mode on; and any remnants of sleep had already left the planet.
"Like you guessed I've been calling for the past half hour. Anyway, I have some papers to revise, see you at eight, and drag that clown of a brother of yours with you" Nicolai said calmly as if there was nothing he should be concerned about.
He ended the phone call, leaving his son with a million questions in his head, pulling his hair before bursting out of his room into his brother's.
"Valero, get up" Ruslan shouted at the boy sleeping on the bed in the oddest angle his tall frame allowed him to. Valero didn't even move clearly still sleeping.
Ruslan was now hovering over his brother's head, his blond hair contrasting his own, though it wasn't in a better state. Ruslan started shaking his body, but to no avail, seeing his twin was not one to wake up at this hour.
He took another glance at his sleeping twin, before splashing the glass of water on the table next to the bed onto his face.
"Ruslan you *****, what the ***** , what the ***** do you want from me now?" Valero was now awake and upright on his bed, looking at Ruslan like he had done the one thing he prohibited him from doing.
"Good morning to you too, brother" Ruslan said amused at his brother's expression now furious with the realization that it was so early the sun hadn't even risen properly.
"Dad just called. He said he has something important to discuss and told us to join them for breakfast, and he specifically said to drag you along." Ruslan was now by the door, seeing no reason to stay near Valero, who looked like he was going to break his jaw for waking him this early in the morning on a Saturday.
Having achieved his task, Ruslan went back to his bedroom,washed his face and brushed teeth and changed into a more sporty outfit, before he quickly left their apartment for the gym.
************
Their two-bedroom apartment was neat, located in an elegant modern tower right in downtown London where its financial hub was located. Huge perk of this building was their specialized gym, which saved him the trouble of having to leave his apartment building in freezing January mornings like today. Moreover, it was close to Valero's college.
The apartment was gifted to him and Valero by their father, who had affectionately kicked them out of his house two months ago-just one month after they turned eighteen. After which he made it abundantly clear they were no longer welcome at their own house. Yet, instead of leaving them utterly clueless as to where to go, he generously provided them with the key to this apartment they didn't know about.
Ruslan could afford to rent them both an apartment, but he wouldn't know where to look or what to do seeing he was never invested in the matter and had to no plans to move out any time soon. Therefore, his father had beaten them to it. But their father was somewhat right, that was house was pleasantly getting crowded.
Ruslan made it to the gym on the first underground floor; it wasn't busy as usual since it was somewhat early and a Saturday. He had forty minutes today instead of his routine hour, so he began with some quick running on the treadmill, before moving to weight lifting.
Formula one driver training was unique to them, as they need to build muscles in certain parts of the body. It was a balance between being strong and as light as possible.
Their necks needed to be exceptionally strong to handle the tough G-forces that were significantly higher than what he was used to in Formula 2 cars. Accurately between four to seven Gs-high enough to render any normal human being unconscious.
Their legs needed to be able to apply a hundred kilograms of pressure on the brakes, as Formula 1 cars didn't have the semi-automatic brakes in normal cars.
Their arms must be capable of wrestling the stiff steering wheel for two hours.
Ruslan was supposed to start his specialized training two weeks ago. But he hadn't even met his physical trainer, who decided to take a two-weeks vacation right after New year's. Growing impatient while waiting for his return, Ruslan was considering asking the team for another person. Nonetheless; the team only had two trainers: one for him and another for his teammate. By the time they hire another one, Amil would have already returned.
Ruslan was now sweating heavily, punching the boxing bag in front of him, taking out his rage of this Amil on it. The smartwatch on his wrist was now vibrating, signaling that his time had ended.
Ruslan took off his boxing gloves, shoved them in his bag, before he sped off back to the apartment; trying to leave the building fast enough to catch his father before he left.
************
Ruslan headed towards Valero's room praying he didn't go back to sleep, because he would seriously leave without him.
Valero however, was already changing his clothes when Ruslan stormed in.
"Good you're already dressed, I was going to leave right away!" Ruslan said, now relieved at the sight.
Valero turned towards him. "I didn't hear you knocking on my door before you came in, where are your manners today? or those manners are only in tact when I don't ...?" He started whimpering.
"We don't have time for your pickering, see you down the garage in ten and take the keys" Ruslan cut off.
"But you drive, and If I don't find you there in ten, I'll leave you figure your way out by bus" Valero shouted at Ruslan, who marched towards his own room.
Twelve minutes later, Ruslan was running towards the garage knowing Valero would happily leave and tell their father he was the one late.
Ruslan caught a glimpse of his own car at the garage exist that leads to the main street. He was now running at full speed and practically shouting like a five years old left in a mall by his mother.
Lucky for him, Valero saw him through the mirrors and stopped. Ruslan ran over to the driver's seat and motioned to Valero to open the door, his car was new and there was no way he was letting his twin drive it through London bustling streets. Valero got out of the car earning a smack on his head from his brother before he returned it.
They switched seats and before he knew it, Ruslan was already half the way towards Greenwich, which was only thirty minutes away from their down town home.
For all their wealth now, Ruslan could never forget their humble beginnings in the fog city.
It felt only like yesterday, but it had been more than ten years since they had left Russia for the UK in the quest of a more prosperous life.
It was a new country, a new city, new people, and a new language.
Their education suffered greatly of the language barrier, since they had come to London equipped with no more than a few words their aunt Ester knew and taught them. Their father Nikolai was very fluent in English. But between working his full time job and a side one as a collaborative design engineer in a local car manufacturer, he had little to no time teaching them.
They had to endure sassy English kids bullying in their first year even though, their teachers were of great help. A particularly gorgeous math teacher named Anna still was.
Ruslan and Valero had now made it to Greenwich, where the fine houses lined on both sides of the street-completely contrasting the tiny apartment buildings on outskirts of London they called home only a decade ago.
Ruslan pulled to the left side in front of a particular exquisite two storey white house, and by the time he turned off the engine, Valero was already knocking on the door.
Their stepmother opened the door quickly as if expecting them.
"Morning Anna, you're looking as lovely as ever" Ruslan complemented, kissing her on both cheeks, seeing a smile as bright as the sun light her face-no wonder their father fell for it.
"Good morning boys, how lovely seeing you. We were waiting for you, you know your grandmother likes breakfast early, but she wouldn't have it knowing you were coming" Anna welcomed them into the house.
Ruslan was strolling around the house, before he saw a particular small angel clinging to his brother. "Sophie, what are you doing up so early" he said softly to the baby in Valero's arms.
"I guess she knew I was coming, so she didn't want to miss the fun" Valero replied on her behalf, now holding the child high in the air.
"Do you think your horror shows are entertaining? Valero, you're frightening her. Put the girl down!" Ruslan scolded, but Sophie was just giggling in that innocent childish manner, seemingly used to their brother horror shows.
Ruslan shook his head at him in disapproval, telling him not to drop the child. Otherwise, their father would banish him from the country. And upon seeing his words meeting deaf ears, he strode toward the living room.
A graceful lady of seventy years was seated on the chair opposite the window, holding a book between her wrinkley hands.
"Доброе утро, мама" (good morning, mama) Ruslan greeted, approaching her. Only then did her eyes land on him.
"Hello, my dear boy" she greeted, kissing his cheek.
"How are you? How is your back?" He asked his grandmother, after she broke the tight embrace.
"Got better after seeing you" Freya answered with a smile, her eyes as bright as his and wrinkled from too many years of laughter in this life.
"Valero is also with you? Wow, how did you manage to wake him?" His grandmother exclaimed, seeing she was the one who took upon herself the task of waking his brother up and he didn't exactly make her life easy.
"I have my methods that are preserved for urgent matters" He joked with the old lady wraping his arm around her shoulders.
"Henry seems to be the exact same. Yesterday he said he'll come with me to the pharmacy, but he overslept so I just left without him. Now he's not talking to me" His grandmother giggled while they were making their way to the dinning room.
*************
"What do they mean I can't drive under the Russian flag? Are they banning us now?" Ruslan grunted as he was pacing back and forth, restless in his father's office, where they gathered after breakfast and a heartwarming chat.
"All Russian sponsors are banned from the sport, Russian FIA representatives are to step aside as well" Nicolai explained, sitting calmly at his desk as if none of the above bothered him.
"No, they can't do that! That's unfair, everything we worked for will simply go in vain?" Ruslan objected in frustration. He punched the wall, once, twice.
"Easy brother, this's not the end of the world" Valero soothed him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You can still drive, just under the FIA flag..., without your citizenship" Nikolai muttered, running a hand in his light blonde hair, his calm facade already slipping.
"All I wanted was to make a name for us!" Ruslan whimpered, taking a seat in the corner, with his head down in disappointment.
His Formula 1 debut was impatiently waited by everyone in Russia, seeing that he was the first to take an F1 seat in over fifteen years.
Ruslan was seeking to become the first Russian to win a grand prix and a championship. To make proud all his fellow countrymen and family members who had done everything in their power to get him here.
After an impressive Formula 2 season, a miraculous seat opening for him, Ruslan thought he was ready to write history. Nonetheless, reality said otherwise.
Upon the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the World Motor sport Council took the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian teams and sponsors while allowing individuals to participate without representing their nations.
He just loved his life.
"When did they contact you?" Ruslan asked his father, who was now leaning back against his desk directly facing his sons.
"In fact they contacted Stewart, and he informed me. He needs to put everything in order before the announcement." Nikolai replied.
"Maserati has already dropped the news of David Gomes joining their ranks. Lancaster is under pressure to confirm the second driver, therefore everything needs to be finalized before the car launch. Otherwise, they might seek a replacement, I fear" Valero voiced his concerns.
The downside of the rare opportunity that was floating around, was the tight timing it gave Ruslan to prepare.
He needed to obtain his FIA Super License mandatory for competing in F1 world championship, sign the contract, and get in shape for the season. He had only a single month for the pre-season training that typically took experienced drivers two months.
He had already met all requirements for the super license; he passed an actual theory test of F1 sporting codes and regulations, accumulated forty points necessary to qualify for a Super License-after winning the F2 championship, and paid the hefty price of £10,000.
One obstacle remained which is his nationality, Ruslan would just have to...
"You will drive under the Brazilian flag" Nikolai suddenly stated, breaking the heavy silence.
"You can not be serious right now" Ruslan muttered without giving it a second thought.
Nikolai moved, sitting in the chair next to him. "You are just starting your journey, and it won't be a walk in the garden. You'll need to garner any support available, while all that everyone back at Russia can only offer is their sentiments" Nikolai remarked, putting a hand on his son's knee.
"Brazil on the other hand, already have a rich history in the sport thus they're passionate about it. The Brazilian grand prix is one of the most attended races on the calendar. Moreover there are three hundred million Brazilians, should the need arise their support could be beneficial" Nikolai explained to his son whose stormy grey eyes were pinned on the floor, inky waves splattered across his forhead. Nikolai patted his son shoulder to grab his attention.
"Besides, they haven't had a Brazilian driver to root for in recent years. They would be thrilled" Valero added smiling, trying to cheer his brother up.
Ruslan didn't utter a word, thinking about all that was said. What his father had suggested seemed like the most logical act. However, it felt like betrayal to him, betrayal to his cause and to his nation. The dreadful pain of a sailor abandoning his sinking ship was sitting upon his chest.
Ruslan had been training for this moment the entirety of his conscious life. For decades the British and French have been dominating the sport, Ruslan vowed to change that and he didn't shy away from loudly voicing his intentions.
************
FLASHBACK
9. Dec.2022
The cameras flashlights were blinding as Ruslan stood tall and proud on the red carpet next to his team principal James Murray. His tailored black suit was clinging to his lean frame, while his hair was slicked back with some strands falling over his forehead.
He gave the cameras his most charming smile, while putting his hands in his pockets in a highly relaxed manner, completely concealing his nervousness and the fact that it was the first time he was exposed to such attention from the press.
After precisely five minutes, he found himself unable to put up the act any longer, so he moved to take shelter inside. But before he could escape, Murray caught him from the hem of his sleeve, and silently encouraged him to sign some autographs first.
Ruslan tonight was at the FIA prize giving ceremony in Bologna, a prestigious gala held by the Fédération Internationale de Automobile or commonly known as the FIA, the governing body of many motorsport championships.
It served as a global celebration of motosport where the world renowned drivers from different disciplines came together to honor and award the highest achieving individuals from FIA held championships; such as Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, World rally , World endurance, and World karting championships.
Lucky for him, Ruslan had won the F2 title this year and was here having the pleasure of meeting his fellow sportsmen. Hence why he was wandering across the hall, greeting the ones he knew and introducing himself to the others. Before he came across the greatest of them all, commonly known as the GOAT.
Ruslan caught a glimpse of Fabien Verne, the most legendary Formula 1 driver in history with five titles under his belt. To Ruslan, he was the reason he was still racing.
"Oh boy" Fabien smiled at Ruslan walking toward him. He pulled the teenager into a warm hug.
"Félicitation! I have never been prouder of anyone else in my life. That was impressive, the most dominant F2 season I've watched so far" Fabien congratulated Ruslan from the bottom of his heart, patting his back.
"Thank you, it wouldn't have been possible without you" Ruslan professed, holding Fabien's hand in his, his eyes full of gratitude.
"So what now? When are we going to see you on track?" The French man asked curiously.
"Frankly, I have no idea. I have done my part, it's up to them" Ruslan replied, seemingly not delighted by the situation.
"So Harrison will keep ruining everyone's races for another year? It's a shame they'll keep you on the sideline, but that's what you signed up for. It's a golden cage" Fabien snorted with a look of empathy on his face.
"Don't be too eager, considering that If I am to be on that track, your winning streak will come to an end. You laid the road to your own ruin" Ruslan joked, seeing Verne laughing at his words like he used when Ruslan was just a kid, firing threats that he'll beat him at his own game. Fabien used to tell him to grow up fast, because he wanted him to be his teammate.
The years had flown ever since Fabien Verne the rookie met the six years old child who was the ambitious young man today.
Only few years later, and Verne was in Jim Stewart's office- Lancaster racing CEO and team principal- trying to convince him to sign up Ruslan, the hot new talent who won the Formula Regional European championship in their Junior programme.
If it wasn't for Verne, Ruslan would have long gave up racing after his family resources ran short.
Nevertheless, they were both standing here now. Ruslan wished for nothing more than to make good on his threat and beat Fabien before his retirement, that would only be few years from now.
END OF THE FLASHBACK
************
Ruslan was snapped back to reality by Valero's hand on his shoulder.
"Damn, it's only in moments like these I remember we're half Brazilian. So what are you gonna do about it? Everyone will be confused, you've never mentioned Brazil before, have you? Do you even know where it's on a map?" Valero asked his twin jokingly.
"Yeah, I do know where it is on a map, but no I've never mentioned it. I can just say that, there wasn't an occasion?" Ruslan said.
"You are a PR nightmare" Valero started laughing hysterically, before Ruslan shot him a mean look urging him to go radio silent.
"I will call Jerry. It seems we'll be spending the day in this office" Nikolai stated.
Valero started laughing again. "Smile guys, this is the moment we have all been working for in the past decade. I mean what impact your nationality change will have on your debut?" Valero questioned.
"None, it's absolutely meanless and people will forget about that after two races" he replied to himself, sounding far too serious than his usual self while shaking Ruslan's shoulder trying to light his mood up.
Before he added, "I mean hopefully" he mumbled playfully.
Ruslan stood up from his seat. "I'll go get some fresh air, the peonies smell lovely in the morning" he said, before he left the room.
Valero and Nikolai stared after him, the latter with some worry, as it was January and their frozen garden most certainly had no peonies.
"Alright dad, I'm too lazy to come up with an excuse, but honestly I have been up too early and I'm going back to sleep. I'll be in my room If any of you got too bored with Jerry, or just missed my refreshing sense of humour, call me and I'm likey not going to answer so leave me a voice note too" Valero joked, while exiting the door before his father finds...
"In fact I need you to go down the office for me" Nikolai stopped his son.
Valero just looked at his father like he had read his mind and decided to utter the words he feared.
"Hand these papers to Danny" Nikolai ordered his son, passing him the files.
"Okay, but I'll take your car, Ruslan won't..." Valero pleaded.
"Absolutely not" Nikolai interrupted.
"But the traffic..." Valero started arguing.
"They need these papers by ten" Nikolai cut his son off again. He went back behind his desk to dial a number on his phone, leaving Valero speechless.
Valero left the office cursing under his breath and swearing he was never leaving the comfort of his bed on a Saturday for any reason ever again.
Valero shared many traits with their father. However, his joyful sense of humour and bright personality weren't among them.
Ruslan looked somewhat different from anyone on their Russian family side, with the exception of the tall, lean frame and bright gray eyes which were the Romanovs' distinctive features. While Valero fully resembled their father with his tall, lean frame standing slightly taller than Ruslan, his blond hair, his masculine features, and strong jaw.
Looking at his father's old photos was like staring at a mirror, with the only exception being his ocean-blue eyes unlike his father's grey ones.
But their personalities were polar opposites, whereas his father and his twin were thick as thieves.
At least Ruslan laughs at his jokes, Valero thought.