*this chapter will mention Anthoine Hubert's crash*

DECEMBER 4th 2018
AUTOSPORT MAGAZINE

ALFA ROMEO SIGN WOMAN RACER FOR 2019 SEASON

It is common knowledge that at the end of the 2018 season, Marcus Ericsson will leave Formula One and Charles Leclerc will join Ferrari for next season.

Kimi Raikkonen was confirmed to drive for Alfa Romeo (previously known as Sauber) earlier this year, after Ericsson announced announced his leave from the sport in March, however, with Leclerc moving to Ferrari to race against Sebastian Vettel, who would take his spot?

Today, Alfa Romeo have released a statement, telling us exactly who.

Alfie Grattan, driver for CAMPOS RACING in F2 next to her team mate, Luca Ghiotto was confirmed today to race for Alfa Romeo next season.

Grattan finished third in the F2 championship, after her performance at Yas Marina last month, in which she finished second behind George Russell, (confirmed Williams driver for next season).

George Russell, Lando Norris, Alex Albon and now Grattan will all be moving up to F1 together, after spending years karting together.

There has not been a woman in a F1 car for a whole season since 1992, when Giovanna Amati drove for Brabham.

Susie Wolff (wife of Mercedes AMG CEO Toto Wolff) had an opportunity to drive in one race in the 2014 British Grand Prix, however, her experience was short lived when a mechanical issue in her Williams forced her to retire after one lap.

Frédéric Vasseur ( Alfa Romeo CEO) has told reporters; "We have watched Grattan through her F2 career, and we have been highly impressed with her performance. We believe that women deserve a chance to race now, as they are the future. We have full confidence Grattan will provide."

Grattan is yet to make a statement herself, but we believe she will make an announcement anytime soon.

DECEMBER 10th
FORMULA 2 PRESS CONFERNCE

George Russell, Lando Norris, Alex Albon, Nyck De Vris, Luca Ghiotto, Alfie Grattan, Nicholas Latifi, Jack Aitken

Everybody had been congratulating George on his Championship win, and his new F1 seat, until a reporter turned to Alfie.

"Question for Alfie, how do you feel with being the only woman on the grid next year?"

Alfie took a sip of her water and then spoke, "I feel alright. I was the only woman on the grid this season so..." She joked.

People laughed slightly and Alfie did to. She straitened out slightly and cleared her throat. "No uh, obviously F1 is a big step for all of us you know? Bigger stress, faster cars, more publicity, and I think it will be a challenge, especially in my situation but Fred has confidence in me so I have to have confidence in myself."

The report smiled, obviously happy with her answer, and moved on to talk to Lando about his move to McLaren, and Alfie felt a tap on her right shoulder. She turned to see George leaning back in his chair, his arm stretched around Jack's back as he reached over to Alfie.

Alfie lent back so she mimicked George's position. "What?" she whispered covering her mic.

George covered his up and spoke, "I'm totally going to beat you next season."

Alfie scoffed. "Not in that shit box you're driving."

George opened his mouth, offended but offered his fist to Alfie. She bumped his fist and she brought her chair back up to the desk.

In her perpetual vision, she could see Jack smirking.

"Oi Aitken, what you smirking for?" she whispered.

Jack turned to her. "Nothing, nothing."

Alfie frowned but didn't press it. Jack caught Lando and Alex's eyes and winked. They winked back at him.

Next year should be interesting.

DECEMBER 19th 2018
FORMULA ONE 'DRIVE TO SURVIVE' INTERVIEW WITH ALFIE GRATTAN

The producer sat opposite Alfie. "Can you introduce, your name and who you work for."

Alfie nodded. "I'm Alfie Grattan and I am a Formula One driver for Alfa Romeo."

She let out a deep breath and turned to the producer, "How was that?"

She chuckled and nodded, "Good."

Alfie laughed with the other people in the studio, "OK, good."

She had question after question about the car, the season and whether she was excited, scared, stressed, and then the final question.

"Do you think you can beat your friends from F2 who have moved up with you this season?"

Alfie smiled. "Fuck yeah."

Everybody laughed at her joke, and Alfie grinned broadly, "Uh, well I think I can beat George, defiantly, he can't drive for shit, so yeah. I can beat George."

Everybody was laughing hysterically at Alfie's joking manner. "I'll tell him you said that." the producer joked.

Alfie held her hands up, "Be my guest, Lord knows the man can't think of insults."

DECEMBER 20th 2018
FORMULA ONE 'DRIVE TO SURVIVE' INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE RUSSELL

George had been asked several questions about moving up to Formula One, and about Williams, and then the producer asked about his mates from F2.

"How do you think your friends will preform this season in F1?"

George let out a breath, "Alex is a beast, he'll do well, Lando is an awsome driver, and Alfie is just," he waved his hands around, "she's one of the best I've ever seen so, I know she'll do well too."

People in the studio laughed slightly, George laughed too, but it was an awkward one, in fear he had said something wrong. "What are you all laughing at?"

The producer chuckled. "Alfie had different words to say about you."

"Alright show me what she said."

The producer pulled out her phone and showed George the video of Alfie's interview.

George smiled and shook his head, "That bitch. I retract my statement, I could drive circles around Alfie, she won't get anywhere." he joked.

AUGUST 31st 2019
BELGIAN GRAND PRIX WEEKEND
QUALIFYING - F1
RACE - F2

"Oi Hubert! Wait up!" Alfie ran down the paddock to see Anthoine walking with his PA. He turned and saw Alfie running towards him, and told his PA that he would only be a few minutes. She nodded and left the two to talk.

"Hey Grattan!" Anthoine ran the remaining distance and engulfed Alfie in a hug. "You come to see me win eh?"

Alfie scoffed and hit his back. "I thought you'd come to see me qualify 1st?"

Anthoine scoffed this time. "Not on your life."

Alfie mimicked a look of betrayal on her face. "Watch it you or I might just put in a bad word for all the CEO's."

Anthoine placed a hand on his heart, "You'd never."

Alfie pushed his shoulder, "Don't test me Hubert." She teased him.

Anthoine smiled. "Good luck in Quali today."

Alfie smiled too, "And you, get a podium for me!" she hugged him again and left him to find his PA.

Alfie was standing next to Lewis, the two, having reporters around them, asking questions. They were stood close to the track, so Alfie was peeking through the gaps in the reporters to see the tack. It wasn't long until her friend would be racing, so she was looking forward to this view.

After a few minutes, she could see cars going around the circuit. Lewis nudged her shoulder "You waiting on Anthoine are you?"

"Shut up, you know he's my best mate. "

Lewis chuckled, "Yeah but next year he could be competition."

"Competition? Oh really, what like yo-" She cut herself off.

The was a big crash, not far from where her and Lewis were standing.

"Oh my God." Lewis muttered.

"Oh my-" Alfie was squinting, trying to see what happened, and who was involved.

Then she saw it. A piece of a front wing.

A pink front wing.

Alfie gupled. She kept looking, until she saw the number. 19.

She sprinted down the paddock, knocking into people as she ran down past garage's and mechanics.

She spotted Alex running too. "Alex! Alex!" she screamed his name, catching his attention.

He turned around and ran up to her, he saw the tears in her eyes and began to shake his head. "No, No Alf don't, no he's..."

Alfie sobbed, "I saw the num-number Al,"

Alex began to sob and he pulled her into a tight hug. Alfie wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head in his shoulder.

They were crying hysterically in the middle of the paddock, whilst ambulances and medical cars were driving past them in the track towards the cars site, hoping that the crash looked worse than it actually was.

SEPTEMBER 1st 2019
BELGIAN GRAND PRIX WEEKEND
RACE - F1

Everybody was stood in a circle around Anthoine's helmet. He had passed away after the crash.

Alfie stood in between Pierre and Kimi, silent tears streaming down her face, as Pierre gripped her arm. She had her head resting on his shoulder, her tears soaking into his overalls.

Kimi looked over to the two grieving racers, and he looked down at Alfie's hand, which was hanging loosely by her side. He grabbed it and squeezed it tight. Alfie turned her head slightly, so she could see Kimi. He nodded reassuringly to her.

Anthoine's death had taken its toll on Pierre and Alfie.

Pierre had been his teammate, his friend and brother. Since they were little, they had been best friends. Karting together, growing up together.

Anthoine had been the first person who had ever accepted Alfie other than George, Lando and Alex. He had been the first person outside of her childhood, who had really believed in her. Anthoine was the one who had persuaded her to take the Alpha Romeo offer.

If she hadn't have met Anthoine, she definitely wouldn't be standing on a Formula One grid, in an overall for a Formula One team.

Anthoine was her brother too.

The race had been hard for her. She had started 17th, after a bad qualifying.

However, she had managed to move her way up the grid, slowly, but she had done it.

Overall, she finished 10th, with a fastest lap.

Her first ever points in her Formula One career, and she couldn't share it with Anthoine.

After the race had finished, and she had gone through the scrutineering, she sat in a small alleyway that had been made by cabins behind the team's offices.

She was sobbing, silently, and the more she thought about Anthoine, the more the tears came flooding down her red cheeks.

She wasn't breathing properly, she was gasping for air as she screamed throughout her sobs, the fact she would never see Anthoine again staying to sink in.

Footsteps sounded around the corner and George came skidding through the gap in the cabins.

He spotted Alfie and ran up to her, crunching down in form of her. He grabbed her hands and pulled her into him, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping his arms around her back.

He rubbed her back and rocked back and forth slightly, he moved his hand up to her head hand held the back of it gently.

"It's OK, you're right, I'm here Alf, in not going to leave you."

I am so sorry