𝚂𝙷𝙾𝙾𝚃 𝚃𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙸𝙻𝙻 ,, formula 1: drive to survive

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BBC Sports: "Women like that are bad news for the sport. They're basically groupies!": Dr. Helmut Marko speaks on the Leclerc Photos.

Motorsport.com: Toto Wolff urges fans and team principals alike to go easy on Dakota McManus ahead of her landmark interview with Naomi Schiff: "Dakota is a magnificent young woman who simply made a mistake."

Autosport: Jost Capito: "While we appreciate McManus' talent, we simply cannot have her working for Williams Racing. It's not a very good look for us as a team"- Williams Racing joins the list of teams that have declined to extend offers to McManus following Leclerc Photos.

People Magazine: "I love her. Nothing will change that. Is there something wrong with all of you? She didn't cheat on me, so stop acting like she did." F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda speaks out about his relationship with crew cheif Dakota McManus

Mirror: Dakota McManus will continue to guest DJ at EmoNite Brooklyn ahead of Miami GP following controversy.

2022 Season

TURIN, ITALY

Dakota McManus sat on the back porch of her house in Turin. The house that she had lived in since the 2021 season had begun. The house that later became hers and Yuki's.

She felt horrible. Experiencing the Imola weekend on the heels of what should have been the most embarrassing moment of her life had been a real turning point. The biggest kick to the face was when Fred Vasseur opened his stupid French mouth and told her to her face that because she was seen sleeping with other drivers, they were no longer going to be offering her a job.

The other crew members and drivers had tried to be understanding, but the entire race weekend had been benchmarked by pity stares and whispered comments. 

And Helmut Marko basically calling her a whore to the media, without really using those words.

She was angry, and she was annoyed. At the reporters. At the old-man team principals who ran from the first sign of drama. At Charles, for kissing her back.

But mostly, she was angry at herself for not being able to handle her emotions like an adult.

"He never stopped loving you, you know that?"

Mac turned around, tapping her acrylic nails on the side of her hand-crafted ceramic mug. She and Yuki had made them together. It had been their fourth date, still keeping things lowkey for the sake of both their jobs.

"I feel like such a bitch, P. I'm a terrible person for putting him through this." Kota said softly as Pierre Gasly sat down next to her, his weight shifting the boards on the back deck.

"No, you're not, Dakota. Don't let this one thing ruin your life or your relationship. Yuki's faith in you has never once faltered." The Frenchman encouraged, his hand on Dakota's back as she took another sip of her hot chocolate.

"I'm never going to be able to get another job, not with this thing following me around. I can't have male friends anymore, because now the public doesn't know if I can be left around men unsupervised lest I cheat on Yuki."

"Dakota-"

"Marcus called earlier, he wanted to see if I would go on his podcast. And I just jumped down his throat, Pierre. Ripped him a new one about how I have said everything I want to say about what happened with Charles. It turns out that Marcus didn't even know. News hasn't reached F2 yet, I guess." She laughed grimly. "Maybe Prema and Carlin will give me jobs. Mick and Yuki still have connections. I could always switch to IndyCar, see if Romain and Marcus can set me up somwhere."