The early Thursday morning sun painted golden streaks across the pale buildings of Marrakesh as the group of racers spilled out of the luxury hotel's marble-front entrance, sunglasses on, daypacks slung over shoulders, and excitement humming in the air. Morocco wasn't just the next race destination—it was a pause button in their fast-paced lives, a rare breath in the middle of a whirlwind.
For Sukhman, it was something deeper. As he stood beneath the towering palms lining the hotel driveway, the city's earthy scent mixed with the sound of distant call to prayer, he felt the corners of his mouth curl into a slow, content smile. This wasn't just a detour from racing—it was a gift. A reminder that there was more to life than engines and podiums.
"I don't know what I did to deserve this," he murmured to himself, "but I'm glad I get to live it."
The Crew:
Sukhman had joined a loosely formed explorer's circle led not by Thiago, as usual, but by Omar Irani—whose roots ran deep in Morocco. "Welcome to my world," he said with a grin, arms outstretched. "Trust me, I've got the perfect route for us."
Thiago Martins still acted as their unofficial vlogger and content machine, already planning titles and shooting clips, but he happily let Omar take the reins as cultural guide. Rounding out the crew were Amelia Foster—sarcastic and sharp-eyed behind her ever-ready camera, Diego Montoya—quiet, steady, unexpectedly hilarious in small bursts, and Finn Carter—pretending not to care but clearly soaking in every moment.
---
Their first stop was the Jemaa el-Fnaa, the iconic public square at the heart of Marrakesh's old medina. Snake charmers played haunting melodies as cobras swayed; vendors called out in multiple languages; and the smell of spiced meat and sweet mint tea hung heavy in the air.
"Thiago, tell me this isn't your next vlog thumbnail," Amelia joked as he leaned close to a man with a monkey on his shoulder.
"Too late!" Thiago grinned, adjusting his phone mounted on a tiny gimbal. "Day two of #MoroccoMadness, and we're just getting started, baby!"
Sukhman, laughing, ducked as the monkey reached for his sunglasses. "Hey, not today, little dude!"
Later that afternoon, the group wandered into the labyrinth of souks—endless alleyways brimming with artisan rugs, copperware, spices in pyramids, and handwoven lanterns. Diego haggled for leather slippers, surprising everyone with fluent Arabic. Omar bartered for a brass tea set with all the flair of a stage performer. Finn bought a silver bracelet after much protest from a persistent vendor.
"Just admit you liked it," Amelia teased him.
"I liked that the guy stopped yelling at me," Finn muttered.
Thiago's vlog captured everything—from Omar pretending to get lost and narrating in dramatic tones, to Amelia capturing aesthetic shots of sunlight filtering through intricate latticework.
By evening, they headed to the Atlas Mountains in two jeeps. The drive up twisted roads brought out a different kind of thrill—the kind without helmets and guardrails. They stopped at a panoramic vista just in time to catch the sun dipping behind the peaks, bathing the valleys in rose-gold light.
Sukhman found himself standing beside Diego, the silence between them comfortable.
"Places like this," Diego finally said, "remind me there's more to life than pole positions."
Sukhman nodded. "Yeah. And the air doesn't smell like burning rubber."
Diego smiled faintly.
Back at the hotel that night, Thiago uploaded a short edit of their first day: "MARRAKESH MAYHEM – F1 Stars Get Lost in the Souks!" The thumbnail featured Omar mid-yell with a tea kettle on his head.
Within hours, the video had over 70,000 views. Fans loved seeing their favorite racers outside the cockpit.
Thursday Highlights:
Their second day began with a visit to Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO World Heritage site famous for appearing in epic films. They wandered the fortress ruins, took group selfies on the highest tower, and reenacted movie scenes, with Omar dramatically shouting, "This is SPARTA!" and mock-kicking Finn into a pile of cushions.
Sukhman and Amelia climbed ahead of the group, sharing a quiet conversation.
"You enjoying this?" she asked.
"More than I expected," he admitted. "I thought it'd be awkward, traveling with rivals."
Amelia smiled. "Some rivals are just future friends in disguise."
Lunch was served in a Berber village at a rooftop café overlooking sunbaked hills. Tagine dishes simmered with lamb, apricots, and almonds. Mint tea was poured from ridiculous heights, and the group tried their best to imitate it, laughing whenever someone spilled.
Later, they ventured into the Sahara's edge, riding camels for sunset. The golden dunes stretched like waves. Finn kept adjusting in his saddle. "My spine was not built for this," he grumbled.
Amelia smirked. "Maybe the camel just doesn't like you."
Thiago, vlogging all the way, asked everyone to share a quick sentence to the camera:
Diego: "I am here for peace, not paparazzi."
Amelia: "This place is better than the pit lane."
Omar: "Watch out, Marrakesh—F1's sexiest man is in the dunes!"
Finn: "Send help."
Sukhman: "This is… surreal. Racing brought me here. Crazy."
They watched the sun sink beyond the horizon, casting long shadows on the sand. The moment was unexpectedly emotional—each of them lost in thought, tied together by their shared journey and the race yet to come.
That night, around the hotel pool, the racers lounged in robes and swimwear, sipping mocktails and joking around. The usual tension was gone.
Finn beat Omar in a cannonball splash-off. Amelia dared Thiago to belly-flop, and he did, recording it for content. Sukhman floated silently, gazing at the stars.
Eventually, they all gathered around a small fire pit as a hotel musician played soft Gnawa music on a guembri. It was a peaceful ending to an adrenaline-fueled career path—a reminder that even speed demons needed to slow down sometimes.
Thiago uploaded a second vlog later that night: "DESERT SUNSETS & CAMEL SADDLES – F1 Crew Goes Full Tourist in Morocco!" It quickly hit 120K views and flooded with fan comments:
"Omg this is the content I LIVE FOR!!"
"Sukhman looking chill AF under the stars!"
"More Finn complaining pls it's hilarious!"
"Why is Omar actually my spirit animal?"
"I used to think racing was all there was," Sukhman said quietly, just loud enough for the others to hear. "But this… these days, these people—I think this is what I'll remember most."
Diego gave him a knowing nod. Omar raised his glass in a salute. Amelia captured the moment with a soft click of her camera.
Thiago was already editing footage, mumbling something about "emotional b-roll" and "cinematic transitions." But even he paused to look around and smile.
When they finally rose and headed to their rooms, there was a lingering peace in the air. They weren't teammates, or rivals, or even celebrities in that moment. Just people who had dared to chase speed and somehow found stillness along the way.
And as Sukhman lay in bed that night, scrolling through clips from Thiago's vlog and laughing at Finn's complaints, a quiet sense of gratitude settled in his chest.
This life, he thought, is more than I ever hoped for.