F1, a sport where things are calculated to the thinnest margins. Even finances.
It was Y/N's dream to race in F1 one day. He was the quickest driver in junior categories. However, his F1 dreams was shattered by a driver with huge financial backing...
After that incident with Somi, I haven't talked to her at all. According to the PR manager, she went back to South Korea the day after the race while I took some time at the simulator to prepare for the next race with the team, the French Grand Prix. I think she didn't want to talk to me because I have shouted her and took my anger after retiring at the Canadian Grand Prix on her. It wasn't ideal but I was very frustrated at that time, so I just shouted at her for no reason. I really wanted to to apologise to her but I feel like doing it through text is a bit too insincere and I can't find the time to do it in person. With that I just decided to let her take a break from me so we could get on with our respective life and most importantly, I could focus on the preparations for the French Grand Prix.
Heading towards Le Castellet, it wasn't really a track I know well. I've previously raced here in Formula 3 a few years ago and that's it. The hours spent in the simulator needs to pay off. Especially, I was determined to bounce back from what happened in the Canadian Grand Prix. With that, I set my sights on a podium finish after the pace I showed at the previous race, hoping that this time I would actually finish the race and not have a suspension failure. Ugh, it's so frustrating even thinking about what happened last race.
Practice didn't go really well for me. I was struggling for pace and spinning a few times as I tried to find the limit of the car on this track. Also, with the team testing new parts on my car didn't really help me learn the track as I wanted. I finished outside the top 10 for all 3 practice sessions and things wasn't looking good heading into qualifying.
However, a few tweaks to the set up, I was able to feel a little bit better in the car and squeezed my way into Q3. As I head out the garage for my first lap of Q3, I once again felt something wasn't right with the car. This time, it was something else, it was the gear shifts that was a little bit weird, there seemed to be a delay as I upshifted from 7th to 8th gear. This wouldn't be such a big problem if the track didn't feature a straight that goes on for miles, but this track does and I was losing so much time on the back straight. With that, I aborted my lap and headed back into the garage so the team could have a look at my car.
Y/N: Guys, gearbox. Something's wrong with the gearbox.
Tim Wright: Copy. Mode recharge and box please Y/N. We'll check the car.
With the car in the garage and nobody knowing what the problem was, I was told to get out of the car and that there will not be time to do another qualifying lap. Meaning the best I could start was in 10th position. It wasn't that bad given that I would still score points if I manage to hold my position. But if there was anything wrong with the gearbox, it will be an automatic penalty. I seriously couldn't get any luck on my debut season. First, my brakes go burning and now my gearbox decided to not work.
Race Day
Race day came, and luckily the team has said that the failure I had was only a hydraulic issue so they were able to fix the problem without having to trigger a grid penalty. This means that I will keep my 10th position on the grid. It wasn't too bad but then again it wasn't ideal as I would be right in the mix of the midfield chaos. The race was a simple one stopper, starting on the mediums and then going onto the hards. Not much strategic games to play which was good for me because I could focus on my driving and let my driving do the talking.
Getting into the car, my engineers strapped me in and after the formation lap I waited for the race to start, determined to make amends to what happened in the last race. This was my chance for redemption. As the five red lights went out, I released the clutch and got an alright launch. It was a very average launch so I didn't jump anymore or let anyone jump me. Heading into turn 1 I picked my braking point trying to avoid any carnage happening in front of me. However, with my current run of luck, I felt someone hit me on the rear.
David Croft: WE HAVE 5 LIGHTS AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO FOR THE FRENCH GRAND PRIX. HAMILTON GET'S OFF WELL FROM POLE POSITION AS THEY ALL HEAD INTO TURN 1. OH AND IS THAT A CRASH BEHIND BETWEEN THE ASTON MARTIN AND THE ALPHA TAURI.
Martin Brundle: Yeah, I think that was Yuki Tsunoda braking a bit too late and going straight into the back of the Aston Martin of Y/N.
David Croft: You would be right Martin, that is indeed Y/N, facing the wrong way. Can this kid get any luck on his debut season.
I did not know what happened, but after I felt someone hit my rear, I realised that I was then facing the wrong direction watching all the cars go past me as I tumbled down the order. This was the worst possible start I could have for this race. Honestly, this is so frustrating and I just couldn't believe my luck. I tried to get going again, but I can't because the car was switched to limp home safety mode and I decided to deal with this retirement this time by taking my anger on my engineer.
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Tim Wright: Are you ok Y/N?
Y/N: NO OF COURSE NOT. WHO THE F*** WAS THAT WHO SMASHED INTO MY BACK.
Tim Wright: Err, we think it was an Alpha Tauri. Any damage to the car?
Y/N: YES, BIG F***ING DAMAGE. I CAN'T EVEN GET THIS F***ING THING GOING AGAIN
Tim Wright: Copy, switch off. P1 then wait for 10 seconds before going to P0 then please Y/N.
Honestly, I couldn't believe my luck in this championship at all. I was once again forced to retire from a race through no fault of my own. This was very frustrating, I mean part of me feels like I deserve this kind of luck for shouting at Somi. This is karma and this is what I get for shouting at Somi after last race. She was just trying to help and I shouted at her. I clearly have anger issues because this time without Somi, I decided to take my anger at the team. This wasn't a healthy relationship and I needed to sort my anger issues as soon as possible.
I decided to surprise you guys with another chapter. If you don't want to miss any surprise chapters, please add this book to your library because I honestly don't know when will I write and the updates will be frequent but unscheduled.
I know this is a racing chapter but it is relevant to what is going to happen next to Y/N and Somi. Will Y/N solve his anger issues or will he continue to take his anger on random people after a bad race? Continue reading to find out.
Thank you very much for all your support. I am just writing as quick as I could so I could finish this book as soon as possible. If you ever feel that the chapters are a bit too rushed, just tell me and I will try and take some time off. Please vote for this chapter and share this book and I will see you guys in the next chapter
