Life in the Fastlane (Sebastian Vettel)

22. Homecoming (2)

Theo Pourchaire soon realised his mistake in choosing the inters.  The three cars behind soon swallowed him up. He struggled around as far as Brooklands, where he went off and his race was over. 

It wasn't just him.  Pierre Gasly also failed to finish the first lap.  The safety car was dispatched and the cars followed it around for four laps whilst the two stricken cars were removed. 

Seb had kept his lead.  Lewis had tried to pass him into Abbey but failed.  Behind them the only real significant change was Mollie getting the jump on Lando and Scott at the start, and was now in fourth place.

When the safety car pulled in and they began racing again Mollie caught Luca napping. She was now up into the podium places. Getting there was easy. Now she had to stay there.

As the race progressed, one by one cars started to retire. Lando managed to undercut Luca and move up into fourth behind Mollie.  Then on the next lap he passed Mollie at Copse. 

She cursed as she saw the papaya McLaren go by.  The podium was falling from her grasp. 

Then all of a sudden it was back in her hands again. Lewis Hamilton pulled to the side of the track.  His engine had given up.  Mollie was back into third. 

"Fifteen laps to go Mollie.  P3. Scott P4 but he's 12 seconds behind you."

"Distance to P1 and P2?"

"Norris P2, 2.6 seconds. Vettel P1, 10.7."

Mollie had a decision to make. Settle for a safe third or risk it all to go for second?

Then suddenly she noticed the green Aston Martin rejoining the track just in front of her. Seb had spun and rejoined between her and Lando.

Her decision was now made. She had to go for it. If she didn't people would say it was because of their relationship.

Seb cursed as he rejoined the track. He'd made a stupid mistake and lost the race lead.

"Fuck! Sorry guys. My bad. Norris got past."

"Don't worry about Norris. It's Rashford you need to concentrate on, she's only 1.3 behind you."

Seb hadn't realised it was Mollie behind him. He gave a small grin.

"Let's see what you've got baby," he muttered.

For six laps they battled, neither one of them wanting to give up. Then Mollie saw her chance at Brooklands and she went for it.

Seb was taken by surprise. He'd thought she was just slightly too far back at that point to put a move on him.

Next thing he knew he was staring at the rear end of the black and yellow Thorne.

He was pissed off but he was proud. He tried to hold
on to her but his tyres were done. She soon began to edge away.

"Yes," Joel exclaimed in Mollie's ear. "Great move. 2.9 to Lando. 8 laps left."

"I'm going for it."

"Mols don't do anything stupid."

"Me? Nahhh. I want this win Joel. Be quiet and let
me drive."

Seven to go. 2.4 seconds.

Six to go. 2.1

"Mollie, Norris is struggling. He's complaing about tyres."

5 to go. 1.8 seconds.

4 to go. 1.3.

"Mols, that was fastest lap. Steady. Don't take any unnecessary risks."

3 to go. 1 second.