The Team // A Formula One AU

Lewis

Qualifying is forty minutes, twenty for everyone and twenty for those who make it through into the top ten. Tom says we might change the format later, but for now this is how it is.

I cross the line with a respectable time of one minute thirty-five and pull in to the pit lane to review my sector times after a slow in-lap to calm my nerves. Tom has invested in a huge electronic board to put all our times up on and placed it at the end of the first sector. It's great for in-laps, but pretty distracting when you're trying to do a hot lap without thinking about anyone or anything else. That might be another thing we need to change.

I jump out of my kart and pull off my helmet as I jog over to the computers where all our data is visible. I lost time in the second sector, particularly turn nine. If I can nail that and maintain my times in sectors one and three then I might actually stand a chance of getting into the second half of qualifying. That's a tall order.

"How's it going?" I ask Kimi as I join him by his kart. He's deep in thought and his gaze doesn't even lift from his right rear wheel as I speak. "I mean, what position are you in so far?"

My friend stands stone still for another couple of seconds before reaching behind him and putting on some sunglasses from his toolbox. I seems he doesn't want to talk right now.

"Please, Erik!" I turn my head as I hear Charles begging from the pit box beside Kimi's.

"No, Tom made the rules very clear. No changes to the car after the start of qualifying."

"But I've finally worked out how to get my wheel the way I want it!"

"You already have the perfect brakes, you can try to set a time without perfect steering for now."

Charles looks like he's about to cry but Erik walks off to refuel Nikita's kart before he can say anything else. The Monegasque pulls on his helmet shakily and sits down in his car, reading through his data one more time before tossing it out and driving onto the track.

With four minutes left to decide who makes it into Q2, everyone is getting out for a second or third hot lap. For now I'm in seventh place, although I don't expect that to hold very well when both Max and George are yet to set a proper lap time. They're almost racing to the end of the pitlane when I check my neck brace and close my visor. This is it. My last opportunity.

But I don't make it.

Three corners before the start of my hot lap, I have to swerve to avoid a flying tyre. The red flags come out immediately and I swivel my head to try to see what caused the barrier bulge like that. Someone must have crashed into it from the opposite side. I hope everyone's okay.

I get to the pitlane and join Daniel and Carlos in climbing the pit-wall to try to see what happened. Two karts are smoking in the barriers and two drivers are arguing in between them. At least no one seems to be hurt. I don't recognise their helmets, but Daniel kisses his teeth.

"Max and George..." He mutters. "This will not be good for morale."

An airhorn sounds from somewhere in the garage and I nearly topple off the wall. That sound signals the end of our time. That sound signals...

"Tom!" I shout as I jump to the ground and sprint towards the computer where our principal is making notes. "Tom, who made it through?"

He turns to me and nods approvingly, handing me my paper. My eyes widen.

"Eighth!"

"You deserve it, Lewis. We'll clear the track and then you can fight the others for pole."

I bite my cheeks to avoid bursting into laughter. Partly because I never expected to perform so well, and partly because I can't imagine myself fighting for pole at all. Although, with Max and George both out...