The tension was palpable as Nico Verhoeven entered MP Motorsport's hectic paddock. He barely took it in. The world that he'd watched at a distance for so long—watched on TV, read about in magazines, seen on social media—was now his world. He'd just signed on the dotted line on his Formula 4 deal, and reality was just about to kick in.
MP Motorsport, that team infamous for turning raw talent into polished professionals, was set to help him take the next step towards F1. Nico struggled to suppress the flutter in his stomach as he looked around. The hum of cars being revved up, the hum of the mechanics fiddling about, and the random whoop from the members as they worked on the vehicles—it all felt surreal.
The first that caught his attention was the dense number of journalists. There were scores of cameras scattered here and there around the pit, their lenses trained upon the team, their mics outstretched as if waiting to pounce on any sentence from the drivers or the team. The buzz of the media crowd only made him more nervous.
He was never under the spotlight before. Karting was nothing—he was a hometown driver, known mostly to family and friends. This was something different. Formula 4, the step down from the pinnacle, and here he was, on the precipice of that universe. Nico drew in his breath and straightened up. This was his moment to test himself. But that hadn't stopped his hands from shaking slightly as he made his way to the MP Motorsport garage.
The second Nico entered the garage, some of the team members welcomed him by waving at him. They were busy with last-minute adjustments on the cars, but their grins made him feel better. Nico didn't know how he felt, but one thing was for sure: all this was happening much faster than he'd expected.
"Nico!" A voice shouted.
He turned to see Maya Vega, the veteran F4 driver who had been one of the top talents in the series for the past few years. She walked up to him with a wide grin and a friendly handshake.
"Welcome to the team," she said warmly. "I'm Maya. We've got a lot to teach you, but you're in good hands here. Let's make this season one to remember."
Nico smiled in return, somewhat better with the soothing words from Maya. She was renowned for her calm and cool demeanor, both on and off the track, and her success spoke volumes about her. He nodded, ready to set off on his journey together with her and the rest of the crew.
As Maya was welcoming him to some of the engineers, a group of reporters tracked them down, microphones in hand. Nico remained frozen stiff for a moment, not sure what to utter.
"Hey, Nico!" A Motorsport World reporter, young and bouncy, chimed in, her crew trailing behind. "How does it feel to sign with MP Motorsport? The team's got high hopes from you!"
Nico stopped, and then smiled obligingly. "It's. it's incredible," he said. "I'm just very keen to get started. There is a lot to do, but I know that I'm at the right place with a great team."
The reporter nodded, making scribbles. "Lots of people have been following your career since karting times. You've always been an underdog. Now that you're here, do you feel under pressure to live up to expectations?"
Nico gulped slightly, his palms starting to sweat. "There's pressure, sure," he admitted, "but I'm here to learn and improve. I'm not focused on winning just yet—I just want to keep pushing forward, race by race."
The reporter smiled, clearly satisfied with the answer. She moved on to other questions, but Nico's mind was still buzzing. The cameras, the attention—it was all so overwhelming.
The first practice was looming ahead. Nico was by his car, his fingers running over the steering wheel in fidgety expectation. His heart was pounding in his chest as he buckled up his racing gloves, checking to make sure everything was in its place. The car was new and sleek, an F4-spec MP Motorsport car, and was completely different from any vehicle he had previously driven.
"You're ready," Maya said as she approached him. "Just remember to take it easy on the first lap. Get a feel for the car. Don't worry about the lap times yet."
Nico nodded, his focus on the task at hand. When the team started the countdown, he climbed inside the car, the roar of the engine in his ears. The helmet compressed his head, and the world outside the cockpit dissipated. His nerves steadied as he adjusted to his zone.
The first few laps were cautious and slow. Nico's hands gripped the wheel hard, feeling his way through each corner, every shift. The car was responsive—better than he expected—but it was clear that learning curve was going to be sharp. Every corner brought him back to the realization of how far he had to go.
Sidelined by the media, journalists observed his every move. For months, they had waited to learn how karting phenomenon would fare in the big time of Formula 4. Cameras clicked nonstop, and the buzz of the press only served to build suspense.
"How's the young newcomer doing?" one reporter asked a team engineer.
"Looks good so far," the engineer replied, eyes on the screen. "A bit tentative, sure, but that was to be expected. It's his first time behind an F4 car. The real challenge will come when he pushes harder."
As the session went on, Lars, his new teammate, was driving much quicker. His aggressive driving style was something that the team and the media were taking notice of. Every corner he drove was a little more on the limit, a little riskier. The press were lapping it up, but Nico could tell that Lars was also attempting to bully him.
After the practice session, Nico was exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. The qualifying session was the next order of the day, and he knew this was where his first true test would come. Pressure would be higher still as the cars waited to line up for the first competitive run of the season.
The paddock was invaded by the media as the cars took to the track, interviewing the drivers and giving the session a hard time. Red Bull's Jasper De Vries was the first to be picked out, already being touted as a season favorite. Reporters questioned him about his qualifying approach of giving it a go, whether it would see him grab pole position.
Then Lukas Müller was approached by another reporter, who asked him about his composed and thoughtful style. Lukas, as always, stayed calm and composed, delivering thoughtful answers on strategy and racecraft. The Dupont twins, on the other hand, were busy debating their different approaches to the race and how they complemented each other on the racetrack with some reporters.
Last of all was Nico. A reporter from Grand Prix News caught up with him as the qualifying session opened. "Nico," she began, "everyone is eagerly awaiting your performance today. Are you ready for your first official qualifying session?"
Nico nodded, trying to keep himself calm. "I'm ready. I prepared as well as I could. I just want to do my best and see where I am at."
The interviewer smiled, noticing his nervousness. "And how about racing against your teammate, Lars? He is notorious for his aggressive style of driving. Do you think that will work in his advantage today?"
Nico hesitated for a moment. "I don't dictate how Lars drives," he replied, trying to stay focused. "I'm just focusing on my driving."