Chapter Text
Things moved quickly once Jos realised he wasn't going to get away with what he had just done. Security at the track had immediately tackled him to the ground when he tried to run, while the medical team at Toro Rosso rushed out towards Max. But, Vettel didn't care about what was going on with the older Verstappen as he was dragged away. All he cared about was providing information to the medics about what he knew about the younger Verstappen's condition.
"The kid is knocked out but breathing. There are shards of the visor in his face, but I am not sure how deep they go." Vettel explained as the medics carried Max to the team's med bay.
The German wanted to follow after them to make sure the teen was okay, but he needed to check on his teammate to make sure he wasn't hurt. He turned his attention to Kimi and headed over as Red Bull medics were examining him.
"I am fine. My back does not hurt, and he did not do much else after that." Kimi commented, trying to shoo the medics away from him.
"Yet you are still the idiot who nearly took the brunt of what he did," Vettel said, raising an eyebrow when the medics did leave the Finn alone. "Why were you around the Toro Rosso trailer anyway?"
"I was on a walk and happened to bump into them on the way," Kimi said, then frowned when Vettel gave him a look. "Fine. I was waiting there because Max asked me to." He admitted, looking away from Vettel.
"That has created more questions than answers, Kimi," Vettel said as he crossed his arms. "But we will talk about this later. We need to make sure the kid is okay before the police come and take statements." He said as he made his way into the chaos that was the Toro Rosso paddock, Kimi following close behind.
Both of them had expected to fight for their right to check up on Max, knowing how other teams didn't like competition roaming around their paddocks. However, the team didn't push them away; instead, they led them over to the medical room, where they had Max. Sainz had already beaten them to it when he saw them carry the Dutchman in and was sitting down next to the bed when the two Ferrari drivers walked in.
They had already managed to remove the helmet and were in the process of clearing the visor shards and cleaning the wounds. It seemed like he was going to need stitches for each of the cuts. One of the medics turned to the two Ferrari drivers.
"He is going to be fine. He will need stitches for the cuts, and when checking him for signs of concussion whilst he is unconscious, he has none." The medic said.
"I should hope so. If your helmets didn't prevent that, that is a major issue." Vettel said, watching the medic head back to the bed to help with the stitches.
Sainz looked over at the two Ferrari drivers with a frown before heading over to the two of them.
"How come you two were allowed in here?" Sainz asked, arms crossed.
"Considering we were involved in stopping what happened, we were allowed to check up on him," Kimi said, looking over at Max.
"Wait, you two were involved? What happened? Who hurt him?" Sainz demanded.
The two Ferrari drivers looked at one another, debating whether or not to tell the Spaniard about the situation before the videos inevitably leaked online. Eventually, they nodded to each other and led Sainz out of the medical bay to discuss the situation privately. They led him to somewhere less crowded with the team, so what they said wouldn't be drowned out by the chaos caused by Max's situation.
"So, what happened?" Sainz asked once they were out of earshot of everyone else.
"Jos happened. He had gone to attack Kimi, but Max had put himself in harm's way before the punch landed." Vettel explained what he knew, hoping Kimi would fill in the blanks.
"I was there because Max had asked me to wait for him there after Free Practice. I happened to catch both of them heading to the trailer." Kimi said, making Sainz frown.
"How come he asked for you? I am his teammate." Sainz questioned.
"I knew Max when he was a lot younger, and his father was a driver. I do know more than what I am telling you, but I am not breaking Max's trust. If he wants to tell anyone else about things going on, he will himself." Kimi said, turning and leaving before both drivers could question him.
"That was weird," Sainz commented, looking at Vettel.
"He has been acting weird since he joined the grid, but I will admit, this is more weird than normal," Vettel said with a sigh. "If you could keep us up to date on Max, that would be great. Kimi and I will have to interview with the police about what happened." The German said, watching the Spaniard nod before he turned around to leave.
Sainz frowned when Vettel was finally out of view and turned to head back into the medbay. He felt pushed away by the Dutchman. The two were meant to be teammates, yet the kid had grown closer to the Ferrari drivers and Alonso compared to him, despite his efforts to bond with the teen over the past year. It felt unfair how easy the others had managed to get close compared to him. And he wanted to know why that was.
Why was he getting pushed away?
The Spaniard peeked inside the med bay and saw that Max was still there, but was now awake and being properly assessed for a concussion. So, he waited for that to be over before he once again entered to keep the Dutchman company. Max, while cleared despite the stitches covering his face, still seemed out of it. He was staring down at the blankets he was covered in, blinking slowly and not being aware that he had company.
"Are you alright?" Sainz asked, attempting to grab Max's attention.
Max seemed almost startled when he turned to his teammate sat next to him, calming down when he realised who it was.
"I guess I could be better..." Max mumbled, turning away.
"You cannot keep pushing me away like this," Sainz commented, arms crossed. "I have been trying so hard to be a good teammate. A good friend. We did all them stunts the media team set up last year, and you will not even so much as give me your phone number. But Kimi is allowed? It is not fair." He ranted.
He wasn't shouting or changing his tone of voice when he did rant. He didn't want to have Max shut down on him. He knew from when the team principal had yelled at the two of them last year after a particularly bad stunt they had done in a race. Max would either run off or shut down. He didn't want the teen to do either of them.
He just wanted an answer.
Max was silent for a few minutes before he spoke up. "My father didn't want me to get attached...He said if I did, he would make calls and you would be replaced with someone who wouldn't distract me..." He mumbled, bringing his knees up to his chest. "I didn't want him to ruin your career because of me..."
Sainz's expression softened at the confession. All this time, he thought Max was just pushing him away for no reason or just didn't like him. But all this time, Max was just protecting him from his own father and protecting his career in Formula 1. This teen, who needed the protection from his father more than anyone else, was trying to protect everyone else from him.
"I appreciate it. But, of all the people who need protecting from your father's wrath, it is you. And you do not have many people to help you with that." Sainz said, Max turning his head towards him. "At least now, he cannot hurt anyone else for a while." He said.
They sat there for a while, the silence washing over them more being a sense of relief rather than something dreadful.
"I can still race despite the stitches...They'll put more padding in my helmet around the areas..." Max mumbled, though not quite as quietly.
"That is good! It would be no fun without you on there. Who would I have as competition?" Sainz chuckled when Max smirked a little at that.
~~~
Grid Pack Group Chat
19 Members
April 15th, 2016 13:34
Massa:
{A link was posted to a video of what happened between Kimi, Jos and Max, which had leaked on Twitter}
Okay
As much as I hate the kid
He did not deserve that
Hamilton:
Wtf!?
Riccardo:
Wait, that happened today?!
That's what the chaos was about!?
Button:
Fuck
Even with the helmet, that punch looked like it hurt
Kvyat:
So that's why the Red Bull medics rushed out earlier
Thought the stench of anger was the kid taking his anger out on tyre stacks again
I did not expect that
Rosberg:
OH FUCK NO!
Is there anyone near Fernando right now?
Button:
He isn't in the McLaren paddock at the moment
Why?
Hamilton:
Oh shit
Someone better find him before he is wanted for murder
Vettel:
It was bound to leak online
The kid is fine and being treated
Kimi is also fine, even if I cannot find him right now
Rosberg:
I get the feeling Kimi and Fernando are together, plotting the demise of Jos
Riccardo:
I've found Fernando
Caught him heading to the Toro Rosso paddock
No Kimi with him
Sainz:
Update on Max
He's fine, shaken but fine
He can still race
{A photo was posted of Max in the med bay bed. The teen, having no idea the photo was taken, was too engrossed in analysing the data from free practice. The stitches on his face are all visible.}
And Fernando has entered the room
Hülkenberg:
Those wounds look nasty
I am surprised they're letting him race with them
Vettel:
They'll likely increase the padding in the helmet around the areas
So, definitely no concussion?
Sainz:
No concussion
Fernando is scaring me a little with how calm he is being
I think the murder of Jos is still on the table
Hamilton:
I think we just do not bring up this situation around him
Especially you Massa
Massa:
Look, as much as I hate the kid
I did not think he had stuff like that going on
Thought he was just a brat
Magnussen:
What changed Massa's mind on Max
Nvm, just seen the link
Poor kid having to deal with a father like that
Grosjean:
The anger on the track makes sense
He can't let it out in a safe place
Rosberg:
I don't think completely switching up how we deal with him will be any better than what we have been doing already
He'll feel babied
I don't think he'd like that
Vettel:
Yeah, he gives off that vibe with the way he is
I don't think he knows there are recordings out there, either
So, we keep treating him like we have been
Give him something normal to work with
10+ Unread Messages...
~~~
Max Protection Squad
3 Members
April 15th, 2016 15:12
Alonso added 2 new members: Sainz and Rosberg
Sainz:
Why was I not aware of this chat existing?!
Vettel:
Because Fernando was gatekeeping from people who weren't close with Max for the right reasons
Guessing that changed
Huh, surprised Nico was added
Rosberg:
What is surprising about that?
Alonso:
I would assume because you are terrified of Max
And your focus on the title this year is taking priority
But you have proved otherwise
Rosberg:
Do Seb and Carlos know about the 'you know what'?
Vettel:
What?
Sainz:
Yeah, what?
Rosberg:
Nevermind
If he hasn't told you, I am not saying
Alonso:
I have Max with me right now
We are having smoothies
Took a lot of convincing for him to get one
{A photo was posted of Max sipping on a blue coloured smoothie. Max is completely unaware of the camera as the two of them are walking}
Sainz:
YOU KIDNAPPED HIM FOR SMOOTHIES?!
I WAS GOING TO TAKE HIM FOR ICE CREAM LATER :(
Vettel:
So, another question
Has anyone seen Kimi anywhere?
I have checked his usual hiding spots
No sign of him anywhere
Rosberg:
How the hell do you lose Kimi?
Sainz:
Haven't seen him since you two went away for questioning
Alonso:
No sign of him
He better not be killing Jos before me
I have an elaborate plan for it
Vettel:
Great
I have Ferrari on my ass about his whereabouts
And no one can find him
Rosberg:
I am sure he is fine
Probably didn't like being questioned by the police
He'll turn up eventually
Vettel:
I hope so
I really do not want to find out that he has done something stupid