A U R O R A // F1

Qualifying Day Abu Dhabi GP. Nov 30th, 2019

*MATT* And radio check, please.

*ME* Skrrrt skrrrrt,
all good on my side.

*MATT* Haha, okay copy. There's only Magnussen out there yet
in sector 2, so you should be clear to send it the next lap.

*ME* Understood.

The last practice session came and went, I managed to pull off some good times on hards, taking 11th place overall. I really wanted this quali to work for me, knowing I could push my way into Q3 with only a bit of luck. Jamie did a great job defending me from the press so I could concentrate before this session, and I felt better than ever stepping into the metallic blue bolide.

In my first attempt, I nailed the first two sectors, but lost a lot of time in the third by completely ruining the exit out of the final turn.

Due to heavy traffic by now, I headed into the pits, seeing if my time of 01:37:8 was enough to get me out of Q1. It wasn't. At my second try, I still felt I could've pulled more out of the final sector, but with three hundreths faster, I was easily into Q2.

By the time I headed out once more, it was dark, with the track cooling down by the minute. It took us a while to find me a gap where I could try without any disturbance. Twice, I felt I was almost loosing the rear end, but just managed to keep it from oversteering, which would've cost me so much time.

Lap after lap I tried, but by my fifth and final try, all I could manage was a 01:37:02. I knew it would be insanely close. As I headed into the pits, Matt gave me the bad news.

*MATT* Sorry Suvi, it's P11. Perez just went 8 hundreths faster. Pierre is right behind you in P12. Also out are Stroll, Magnussen and Giovinazzi. You still did an amazing job.

*ME* FuuuuuUUUUUUUCK. UUURRRRGGGGHHH.

I couldn't help myself but let out a loud, angry groan.

*MATT* I know, really unfortunate,
but still you amazed us all, that
was a fantastic lap you pulled together.

*ME* Arghhhh but still. Nonetheless
a huge thank you to all of you,
I'm incredibly happy to be here
with you guys, you're amazing.

It was Hamilton on pole, with Verstappen sharing the front row. Second row was Ferrari, and both McLarens and Renaults managed to get into Q3 as well.

//

T

he bar was packed, as many drivers and team members decided to let the night before the race die away with a drink. Charles and Pierre dragged me along to cheer me up.

„Ay, female Lightning McQueen", I heard someone behind me say. I turned around to look at the ever-smiling Australian and answered with a grin and rolled my eyes.

At one point in our conversation, Pierre told the others about the incident with Max on Thursday, leaving a frown on the driver's faces around me. I frowned at him for mentioning it, not wanting any attention drawn to it.

„It was just a comment he made. I will get back at him for this, but please don't make a big deal out of it.", I tried to lighten the mood.

„Still shit of him", Daniel exclaimed next to me. „But don't take it too seriously, he's honestly a nice guy, but sometimes he does or says things that noone can explain. He just has this huge ego, and if he can't quite cope with something, he stops thinking."

„Great quality in a driver then", I chuckled, „perhaps I'll spend him a visit later, to truly give him something he can't cope with."

I earned laughter. I never thought I could settle so fast in a new group of people, but I already felt so comfortable around them.

I felt Charles tense up besides me, so I leaned over to him to quietly ask if everything was alright.

„Yeah it's fine, he's just disrespectful to you, you can imagine how I am not a big fan of that."

I poked his ribs and made him chuckle.

„Thank you for your concern, but I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

///

QUALIFYING RESULTS 2019 ABU DHABI GP

P1 HAM; P2 VER; P3 LEC; P4 VET; P5 ALB; P6 NOR; P7 RIC; P8 SAI; P9 HUL; P10 PER;

P11 GRE; P12 GAS; P13 STR; P14 MAG; P15 GIO;

P16 RAI; P17 GRO; P18 RUS; P19 KUB; P20 BOT (penalty)