I won. I won. Those are the only thoughts going through Max's mind. I am a world driver champion. The first Dutch formula 1 world champion.

"OOOO MY LORD MAX. OO MY LORD" Alex yells over the team radio. "YEEEESSSSS. YEESSS. OH MY GOD. HAHAHAH. YES." Max yells, while Horner tries to say something. Max can't stop yelling over the team radio. "WOOOOOH. YEEESS. OH MY GOD. HAHA."

After Max is done yelling Horner says one more thing: "Max Verstappen. You are the world champion, the world champion." Max feels himself getting a little emotional. At that moment Alex says something on the radio again: "Mate you... you absolutely deserve it. You absolutely deserve it. You've had no luck."

"Recharge on please. Recharge on." "Max we are so proud of you." "You have driven... like a champion all year, you deserve that." "You made it happen." "We love you. We fucking love you."

Max has no idea who is speaking or what is going on. All he knows is that after this long season he is the world champion. He made his dream come true. The dream he has had since he was 7 years old. He promised himself to make it come true when he won his first karting race.

When Max comes out of the car, he hears all the cheering. His team comes running to him. He is in high spirits. Everything that is happening around him is happening in a blur. Before he knows it Vicky is getting him to a microphone.

Max has no idea what he is being asked. Probably how he is feeling right now, but he has no clue how to describe what is going on inside his head. "It's insane. The guys at my team, at Honda, I love them so much," he says without really thinking about it "finally, a bit of luck for me. And I have to say a big thank you to Checo, he drove his heart out today."

He walks off and sees Lewis walking to him. "Congratulation's mate. Enjoy it" Lewis says with a broken smile. Max gives him a hug while saying "Thank you and let's make next year's battle just as sensational." Lewis smiles at him one last time before walking away.

All the drivers come to him to congratulate him. They smile at him, give him a hug and say something along the lines of how great of a driver he is. Max isn't sure who already came by, but he does notice that someone is missing. The one with the best smile of the whole grid.

Daniel is looking from a little distance at how Max is having all those happy drivers around him. The moment he heard Max won, a big smile had appeared on his face, this smile hasn't vanished from since.

 Daniel had taken his sweet time getting out of the car. He is happy for his ex-team and mostly for Max. Wish I was still with the team. A thought that was coming back to him throughout the season.

He wants to congratulate Max, but that boy was surrounded by people. Maybe I should call him a man now that he is a world champion. Before going to Max, he walks to Horner to give him a well-deserved pat on the back. 

"Hey Horner. Got some time for an ex-driver of Red Bull?" "Only the ones with a big smile like yours" says Christian with the biggest grin Daniel ever saw on his face. The same grin he had in the pictures that were made when Sebastian won the championship. Those pictures were all over Red Bull's headquarters, they were imprinted on his mind.

"Congratulations on your 5th world championship Christian. Probably doesn't feel so special anymore now." Christian laughs out loud at Daniel's joke, "Winning a world championship will always feel unreal. Every damn time. Maybe you will experience it once." Now it is Daniel's time to laugh.

"Time to praise that little boy of a driver of yours." Daniel says while walking away. Just as he is getting out of earshot Christian yells after him "You can call him a man now". Funny, that is exactly what I was thinking.

Max looks around him and sees Daniel walking to him with the biggest smile ever. "Come here little champion. Time for your congratulation hug". "Little," Max huffs, "I am 5 cm taller than you." Daniel just pulls him in a hug.

Both had the same thought: This feels so comfortable. When Daniel pulls out of the hug, he looks in Max's eyes. Still the same beautiful colour. Why are you thinking this right now? Just say something to him, Daniel. "You look happy, little lion" Daniel finally says. Max laughs out loud "I am not sure, but if I remember correctly a couple of minutes ago I became world champion."

It is Daniel's turn to laugh now. "That happened?? I think that took place in your dreams." Max can't stop laughing. The combination of all the endorphins made by winning and the smiling idiot before him can't make Max stop smiling.

Around them there is chaos, but between them there is a pleasant silence. They are just looking at each other and smile. Suddenly Max feels a pair of hands on his shoulder that push him out of his trance. "Sorry Daniel," Vicky says "Max is needed at the podium ceremony." This startles Daniel out of his trance. "Yes take him," Daniel says smiling "he wouldn't be a real champion without his trophy."

Daniel walks away. When he looks back he sees Vicky talking to Max, but Max isn't really listening. His heartbeat stops for a moment when he notices that Max is still looking at him. "Hey Danny. Wait." Max suddenly says. Daniel stops walking and sees Max rush over to him. Vicky rolls her eyes. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. Being Max's Press officer isn't easy, he never listens. Not that I am any better.

"So Danny, I was thinking..." "Not something you do a lot." "Cheap shot Riccardo. You are better than that." Max says while rolling his eye's. Vicky and Max are a lot of a like. "It is hard to always be the funny one. But go on, finish your thought." "Don't know if you already got plans for tonight, but I wanted to invite you to party with me." A quick moment passes between them before Daniel manages to find his voice to respond "I would love to."

"Max Verstappen. Stop talking with Daniel and come with me." "Yeah yeah, relax Vicky. We will be fine." She rolls her eyes at that again "You are not the one being yelled at when we are late," she says annoyed "so give Daniel one last hug and hurry up." Max looks at Daniel and gives him a hug. "See you tonight." Daniel whispers in Max's ears.

Max walks with his father to where the podium ceremony is going to be held. "I am so proud of you, my son. I never doubted that you could achieve this." His father says with tears in his eyes. "Thank you, dad. No need to cry." "They are happy tears." "Would be weird if they weren't or are you secretly a Hamilton fan?" Father and son laugh together.

When Max finally arrives behind the podium he immediately ushered to where he needs to be. "Yes he is here. Start announcing  Carlos. We are already 7 minutes behind plan." Mia yells. Mia is one of the P.R. mangers of the Formula 1, Vicky and her started at the same time and are good friends. "I know you are a world champion now, but that doesn't mean you don't have to be on time," Mia says annoyed towards Max "also, Vicky I expected better of you." 

Vicky once again rolls her eyes. "Vicky you know rolling your eyes this much is bad for them?" Max jokes. Vicky isn't having it and rolls her eyes again just to mess with him before replying "If you start listing to me, I wouldn't have to it anymore. So if my eyes go bad I send the bill to you." At that Mia starts laughing really loudly. "MIA WE NEED YOU." "Yeah, yeah, I am coming. Congrats by the way Max." And she is gone.

"This isn't only his 6th podium, but he also finishes 5th in the championship of 2021. Can I have a big applause for the driver racing with the number 55; Carlos Sainz!"

"We are going to focus on the positive. This driver had an incredible race and season. Maybe he didn't break the record this year, but he is certainly going to try doing that next year. Give it up for the driver who finished second today; Lewis Hamilton!"

Next one will be about me. What will they make of it? "Last but not least; the winner of this race. This racer drives with the number 33 but not for long. He has fought as hard as a lion this season and it paid off. He already was the most successful Dutch formula 1 driver, nonetheless with winning today he makes it harder and harder for Dutch drivers to ever surpass him. I am pleased to introduce you to our race winner and world champion; MAX VERSTAPPEN!"

Max runs to the podium and jumps on it. All he can hear is cheering. His smile was already big, but it becomes even brighter. He's going to have muscle pain from smiling this bright tomorrow.

Max walks off the podium and wants to walk off to Vicky. He knows he still has to do media duty and he wants them done as quickly as possible. Carlos stops him and pulls him in a hug. "Felicidades león naranja." Max smiles at hearing the nickname that Carlos gave him when they were both still driving for Torro Rosso. "Gracias." max says in his best Spanish. 

"Do you know what you are going to do tonight?" Carlos asks when they both are walking to the media box. "Apart from getting shitfaced, not sure." "Can I join??" "Yes of course, since you also got something to celebrate. Being the best of the rest and all." Max says smiling proudly at him "That and also we couldn't do that for like a year. Got to make up for the lost time." 

"Daniel, I should ask you about your race, but I want to know how you feel about Max winning today." Being asked about Max makes Daniel smile. " I am so happy for him. Max and I build a good friendship when we were teammates. It is still going strong so seeing him achieving his dream makes me real proud on him."