RILEVARE: TAKEOVER

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MARISSA ROMONO ENGAGED TO DANIEL RICCIARDO.

Things are moving fast in the life of Daniel Ricciardo as the girlfriend shares picture of an engagement ring with the announcement — love you more than life and very happy that I have you for the rest of my life. 

With Ricciardo set to retire at the end of his contract, he is clearly trying to set up his life for after racing. The two have not yet set the date for the wedding but Ricciardo's focus will be on the last race of the Formula 1 season, in Abu Dhabi, before spending Christmas break with his new fiance.

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"Abu Dhabi at last!" Lucia Romono's voice boomed.

"You're incredibly cheerful considering the stakes," Marissa commented.

The mother and daughter walked side by side into the paddock of Abu Dhabi. The pink-haired beauty had a small baby bump showing from her purple dress. She was just over three months pregnant and it made it more prominent on her small physique, though she didn't mind. 

The decision to get married after she had the baby was an easy one to make, not wanting to worry about how she'd look or move while pregnant and she didn't mind the idea of a little cutie in her wedding photos.

It gave her time to plan, something she'd been doing very closely with Chloe James (once Stroll). Right now, however, it isn't about weddings and babies but about racing. Thrilling Formula 1 that Marissa would never stop having a passion for, nor would her mother.

Marissa and Daniel had agreed he'd race until the end of 26. He was on a two-year contract but Marissa hated the thought that they'd get to a competitive point then she'd make him leave. This way, he'd only be racing for two years of his kid's life and that was a stage Marissa could take them to races without him missing school and children. It would be a better end for Daniel's career.

"The stakes make this all the more thrilling, Marissa," Lucia pointed out. "Without risk, what is the point in anything?"

"True," Marissa shrugged. "I think finishing anywhere that isn't last is good in your first season,no?"

"If it goes well, we'll finish above Alpine in sixth. If it goes badly, we'll finish seventh," Lucia admitted. "I do plan on it going well."

It was important for Lucia to get above Alpine in the constructor's championship. There was an $8 million difference between finishing sixth and seventh, something that boosted what the team was doing. The budget cap was $135 million, thought not all teams used all that amount, and those that were often needed a lot of sponsors to do so since the prize money only cancelled it out if you won.

Otherwise, teams got money through merch, sponsorships, investments from car manufacturers, and various commercial partnerships. Lucia was good at managing them all and brining money into a team that people hadn't decided whether to invest in yet. Drivers name, such as that of Daniel's, and staff respectability helped. 

"Lucia, hello!" Gunther waved happily.

"Hello, Gunther," Lucia smiled as Marissa joined Daniel.

"Congrats on your grandchild," Gunther teased. "And son in law apparently."

"Not quite yet," Lucia chuckled. "I'm looking forward to it and a break. This sport is fucking stressful."

"Tell me about it," Gunther scoffed. "Worse for me, yeah? At least you are midfield!"

Lucia shrugged with a hum. She and Gunther had a good relationship filled with jokes and kindness so neither of them had to worry about offending each other...unlike the relationship Lucia had with the likes of other Team Principals.

She had one race left to prove why she was the best in the game...why she was the right choice for Lamborghini to agree to her strict contract asks. A chance to show that Lucia Romono did not crack under pressure.

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Daniel had qualified P4. Mick had qualified P5. Gasly and Ocon were in P10 and P13. Lamborghini was fifteen points behind Alpine. If either driver crashed, they could be looking at game over.

"Good Luck," Marissa kissed Daniel's cheek.

"Go win us that championship," said Lucia as she placed her arms around Daniel and Mick's shoulders. "No matter what, you've done us proud this season."

Lucia stood on the pit wall, her hands clasped tightly as she watched the lights of the Abu Dhabi circuit flicker to life, casting long shadows across the track and presenting all the fans in the stands. The atmosphere was electric, the anticipation nearly suffocating. The roar of the engines reverberated through her chest, a harsh reminder of the stakes. This was it—the final race of the season. As the lights went out and the cars launched off the grid, Lucia's heart raced alongside them.

Daniel and Mick had gotten off to a strong start, maintaining their positions in P4 and P5. But it wasn't just about the positions, it was about the points they come with and the drivers had been warned. Every corner taken cleanly, every pit stop executed perfectly, could make the difference between victory and defeat.

She kept her eyes glued to the screen, monitoring the gaps, the tyre wear, the strategy calls and comments in her earpiece.  The inevitable happened—Max Verstappen keeping his lead, his Red Bull carving through the field with relentless precision. But Lucia barely noticed; her focus was solely on her drivers.

Daniel was running a near-perfect race, though he couldn't get past the Mercedes of George Russell in front of of him...that was until he pitted and they had the worst pit stop of all...allowing Lucia to grin.

Marissa Romono was biting her fingers in the garage, wanting nothing more than for Daniel to have a perfect race. They had the pace and the determination, she knew that, and she hoped they made it work.

Lucia exhaled a breath she didn't realise she was holding. There were no risks being taken, no reckless moves. They were driving with the maturity and precision that she tried to instill in them all season and it seemed they had now latched onto it.

The final laps were a blur, each one ticking down with agonising slowness. Lucia's heart pounded in her chest, her nails digging into the palms of her hands. Her breath was realised as a joyful cheer as she saw Leclerc make a mistake at turn two and allow the Lamborghini's to glide past him.

Verstappen had crossed the line, taking the win, but Lucia didn't care about that. Daniel rounded the final corner in P2, Mick right behind him in P3. The checkered flag waved, and it was over.

The pit wall erupted in cheers, the team around her hugging and shouting in jubilation. Lucia allowed her beaming smile to take stage as she wrapped her arms her team members. They had done it. They had secured a double podium, and with it, they had overtaken Alpine in the championship standings.

Lucia rushed down to the podium, where Daniel and Mick were already out of their cars, beaming with joy. The rest of the team joined them, a sea of Lamborghini uniforms swarming around the pen to glance up at the podium.

They had done it—they had brought Lamborghini into the sport in a more than strong way. A mark that would keep on raising the bar. And as she looked around at the smiling faces of her team, she knew this was just the beginning.

Lucia Romono had taken over the scene and she'd be damned if she didn't see it through for many years to come.