Drive to Survive [Lando Norris]

-5-

"It was a shame to see your qualifying end like that, how do you reflect on that?" a stupid reporter asked an angry Willow, who had to put on her best face to not like like an asshole on TV. 

"Well, it wasn't really my fault. A car was blocking my perfect lap, and I couldn't see it until it was too late." she replied hoping that she didn't have to say anything else. Though of course she had to. 

"And what are your goals for tomorrow's race?"

"To finished the highest possible. It's important to get a good start of the season" she said and was finally cleared of that interview. 

"We still have one more" Clara said with a little smile. 

"Seriously?" Willow said feeling herself being completely drained for energy. 

"Yes seriously, come one. One last interview for today" Clara replied pushing Willow slightly in the direction towards the interviewer. 

Soon Willow found herself standing in front of another interviewer, when she suddenly got interrupted by a laughter so special it could only belong to one person. A certain British driver. 

Willow looked over and saw Lando, who held his hands to his stomach while practically crying of laughter. His smile was so wide, and Willow almost found herself smiling as she looked at him. His laughter was so contagious, and even though he did look a bit funny, it made Willow forget her P7 result for a few seconds. 

That was until Clara nudged her side making sure that Willow was focusing on the interview. Though she wasn't really. She kept hearing Lando's laughter or voice, and it was actually quite distracting. 

It's safe to say that it was a relief, when Willow's interview finally ended and she was free to go back to the hotel. She did catch Lando still standing by the media pen talking to Carlos, but quickly turned around and made her way back to the hotel. 

-- 

"Hey Willow, wait up!" Willow looked confused behind her at the voice that belonged to Max Verstappen. 

It's not like she didn't like him or the other drivers, she just never really had anything to talk to them about. 

"Uh hi?" She said confused as to why Max was walking besides her with a smile on his face. 

"Do you have any plans tonight?" he asked making Willow even more confused. 

"Why?" she asked as they walked through the paddock. 

"I'm having a party at this club. For the drivers, and some of the girlfriends and a few other people. You should come" he said looking at her. 

"Hm I don't really do parties, Max" she answered. 

"Oh come on. It'll be fun, and besides, it's a good way to destress after a race" he said adding a little wink. 

"I don't know..." she said unsure of what to say. 

"Just think about, okay? I'll send you the information" Max replied patting her shoulder before he turned away and probably went to the Red Bull motorhome. A place where Willow wished that she was going. 

But instead Willow was now in her driver's room wearing black jeans, a team polo and a team jacket as it was time for the driver's parade. A few moments later she walked out of her motorhome and soon found herself on the bus that would be driving around the track. 

She leaned against the railing waving at the fans when she suddenly felt someone's presence besides her. She looked to her side and saw Lando looking at the fans while waving. 

She suddenly found herself starring a bit too much and quickly turned away again. 

"Liking what you see?" her eyes went wide as Lando had clearly noticed her starring. 

"You'd look better in a Red Bull suit or maybe an AlphaTauri suit" she said as a quick comeback earning the boys attention as they looked at each other. 

"So you think I'm good-looking?" he smirked occasionally waving at the fans that cheered for all the drivers. All the other drivers were a bit more spread out while Willow and Lando were now standing alone in the back of the bus. 

"Don't flatter yourself, Norris" she replied rolling her eyes. 

Lando couldn't help but laugh a little before looking at her again, "Have you heard about Max's party?" 

"Yeah" she replied before waving at the fans again. Thank God she wasn't stuck in an interview like Daniel, Lance and George currently were. 

"And?" Lando said with a chuckle. 

"And what?" she asked acting oblivious to his question. 

"Well are you going?" he said in a duh tone. 

She looked at him, "I don't know, probably not" she replied. 

"Why not? When was the last time you partied?" he asked and she thought back to the last time. 

During her winter break she did party with some old friends back in Denmark because she didn't really wanna see her parents but wanted to see her brothers who returned home for Christmas. But after that she just went back to London and began her pre season workouts and preparations and of course winter testing and launching the new car. 

"That's none of your business" she finally said. 

"But you should still come tonight" he said not taking his eyes off of her. 

--

"And it's lights out and away we go" 

Willow was off to a decent start maintaining her position in P7 around the first corner, but still managed to get closer to the Ferrari in front of her. She didn't want to go full on attack mode from the beginning, otherwise she'd damage her tires way too early. 

But lucky for her, not much fighting was needed, when the Ferrari in front of her made a mistake rounding the last corner of the first lap allowing Willow to speed past the car gaining a position. 

"Good job, P6. Gab to Ricciardo 4.3. DRS won't be enabled until lap 3" the sound of Mark's voice echoed over the radio. 

Her job was to catch Daniel before lap 3 and hopefully overtake him with DRS. And that's what she did. Speeding down the DRS zone she had successfully closed the gab and overtook him on the straight line. 

With around 10 laps to go and Willow was fighting hard for her P5 position. The car behind her was breathing down her neck and was closing in. She wasn't sure of the tires would stay on the remaining 10 laps, but she had no other choice and she made a call to stay out. 

Hopefully it was the right call...