away we go • formula 1

The Hamilton Grand Prix

I was still on the fence with myself about my qualifying performance. Stoffel wanted me to come to his trailer to hang out but I wasn't in the mood. I needed to find a way to suck less at this track. I knew that I wasn't going fully full out in close corner as maggotts, becketts and chapel. Truth be told I was scared of a high speed crash in any of those turns. But I had to find a way to overcome this fear. I never had this problem at another circuit so I didn't know how to deal with and Iwas too ashamed to ask anyone for help. I didn't wanna admit to anyone that I was scared because I fear that people would see it as a reflection of my gender. I strongly believe that this has nothing to do with the fact that I am a girl and 100% to do with the fact that I've never raced here before. I was never one of those try it for the first time and it's perfect kinda people.
I slept badly that night and really wished George were here. But the boys had their own races to prepare for.

After a restless night I got ready for the day. I was excused from all media appearances as my team told them I was having back problems. This was in fact a lie they just wanted to keep me from the media. Word got out that the team was mad about my performance so they decided to keep me away from the media completely.
"How's your back?", Dan approached me and I looked at him confused. "What?"."Your back? That why you missed all media appearances, right?", he asked. I knew I fucked up. "Oh yes my back. It's better now.", I tried to save it but he wasn't buying it. "Ok enough. Why did you really miss?", he asked. "They didn't want me to talk to the media. Word got out that the mood within the team was tense", I admitted, "but don't mention this to anyone. I would get in big trouble.".

I went into the garage and jumped into my car. "Sorry about the rest of the Team.", Markus Said to me. He was always a rock for me. He is the head of engineering on my car and he knew about my struggles with the high speed corners. But in contrast to Luka who was mad at me he tried to make me feel more confident. "Don't worry. It's not your fault. I will do my best and I hope this will better the mood". "You'll do great.", he gave me a little pat on my helmet and walked off to tell the rest of the mechanics what to do.
The car was rolled to the starting grid and I felt my focus shit completely. This was why I was good at racing. As soon as the races approached I was focused on nothing but the race.

Luka told me about the other drivers tyres and the weather situation for the next half an hour. It was supposed to rain in an hours but the rain might approach earlier.

"It's lights out a away we go.", Crofty screamed. "Into turn one Hamilton out in front with Ricciardo close behind him. Bottas under pressure form the second Red Bull of Max Verstappen.", Martin Brundle assess the situation. "Lots of positions gained and lost in the back of the field." "Last weekends podium girl Zwesper lost a place into turn 1 but made three back into turn 2. 

"Carolin there is rain in the pitlane.", Lukas transmitted. I already had some drops on my visor too. "Copy. I have some drops on my visor."

"Many drivers saying that's it's raining." "if the rain gets worse we might see some teams change to inters or even heavy wets very soon." "that should make for a suspenseful race."

"Ok it's getting real slippery out here.", I told my box. "Ok Box target minus 4". Which meant box this lap. "Ok copy."

"And that's Zwesper and Ocon coming in for inters I suppose.". "Yeah I'm not sure if it's not a bit early for that or if their teams just had a strategically genius idea."

My pit stop was great and I felt the advantage of intermediates instantly. I overtook all the cars that overtook me when I was pitting and catching up to the cars in front. I don't know why but somehow they all missed the opportunity to change tyres. Now the track is drying up more and more and my tyres were already so used up that they acted like slicks.
"Ok Carolin box box."
I stopped again and got softs. I was running in 5 place by the time I had my second put stop.
"Ok push now. Push Target P5.
And I pushed. My lap times were always just under target which annoyed Luka a bit because we had to watch out and manage our fuel. "Ok lift and coast for 1 lap Caro."
I was catching up to Valtteri who was running in P4 now. Hamilton was way out front and Dan and Max battled for P2 and P3.
"Last 3 laps. Maximum push.", I was told. I caught up to Valtteri but getting past him was impossible.

„And that's the fight for P4. Bottas now under pressure from Carolin Zwesper. She is a mighty driver but Bottas is good here. And more importantly the Mercedes is exceptional here. Into copse corner side by side. Zwesper just giving him enough space." "This is racing like a champion right there."

I passed the finish line in P5 behind Valtteri. I couldn't pass him he was just too good. "P5 Caro mighty job. Thanks for that. Great drive."
"Thank you guys. Great car."
To say I was exhausted was an understatement. Only know I felt the pressure lifting off of me. I loosed my cramped up muscles. I tried to get out of the car but I was knackered and couldn't even lift myself out of the car. "Hey you good?", Sebastian Vettel approached me. "Just exhausted.", I admitted. "Let me help you.", he helped me out the car. "It's because of your back? They said you had some problems and that's why you didn't come to the media.", he looked at me concerned. "Yeah.", I lied but felt bad because Seb was a gift to humanity.  "Don't let them overwork you. And remember you can always come to me to talk.", he squeezed my shoulder. I got weighed and did the post race stuff.
Sofie got me and told me we have a debrief in an hour and I am free to chill out.

"Hey good result linny.", Lando walked into my motorhome without knocking. I looked up at him sleepily. This race drained me. "Oh you don't look to good should I get a medic?", Lando looked concerned and kneeled down next to my head. "No don't worry. I'm just knackered.", I tried to calm him down. "Your wrist looks awful.", he stated.  "I forgot about it actually. Until now. And now it hurts.", I was annoyed. I looked at my wirst which was blue and yellow all over. It also seemed to be swollen. "Let's not worry about my wrist I will get it checked out.", I said to him and sat up on the sofa. "I wanted to congratulate you on your drive. It was great Linny. Alex also sends his congratulations but he had to get to a meeting. ", I smiled at Lando. "Do you have milk?", he asked and went to my fridge.  This is the Lando I love always making me smile and chuckle with his strange behaviour. "I do. Help yourself."
We sat on my sofa chatting about the race and other stuff when Sofie came and got me for the debrief. She saw my wrist and started worrying. "Who in their right mind would deem this wrist fit to drive?", she was shocked. "It's not bad and it didn't hurt until after the race. I didn't feel a thing yesterday.", I explained. "Yeah we need to get that looked at. Hi Lando I'm sorry but we need to go now.", Sofie explained and we left my motorhome.

"The team is very happy. Seb helping you out of the car made their story more believable. You did good.", she told me.
I was annoyed that the team seems to only praise me for keeping up their scheme.

As always the debrief was boring but most of the team seems to be in a better mood and the atmosphere changed compared to yesterday.
The key points of the meeting were my fake injury, my wrist and the improved driving. 

I walked to my motorhome to lay down as we would leave tomorrow morning. I texted Lando, Alex and George about meeting up. They agreed to come around at 7 so I still had time to get my wrist checked out. 
Luckily the on track medic were still here and they checked out my wrist. "So it's a bad sprain. You should ice it and try not to move it. So wear this brace and you should be fine in no time." "Thank you."

I walked back to my motorhome and hid my wrist from the paparazzi. "There she is.", Alex said as I stepped into my motorhome. "You do know it's not polite to invite us when you're not even here.", Lando joked. He already made himself at home. "I brought some food from McLaren.", he piped up, "they gave it to me when I complained about us having a nice evening together but only shitty snacks from Linny.".
"Hey boys." I greeted them. George immediately walked up to me. "You good?", he asked and brushed a strand behind my ear. "My wrist is acting up but I'm happy you're here.", I said and pecked his lips without thinking about it,