The Team Principal

Seven

Media day went without a hitch. Both Williams drivers did great. Very confident and very positive, which is what we like. The team wants a positive start to the season, so let hope that happens. But whatever the outcome is on Sunday, I'll be proud of the entire team because I wouldn't be able to do such a good job if it wasn't for them being there to help me get through the weekend.

It's now Friday morning, and I was on my way to the track by myself because I needed to sort out some things, such as signing a few documents for the FIA, talking with both of the driver's engineers and analysing the data from testing and comparing it to the data from the last time we raced in Bahrain which was only a few months ago. Looking at the data and comparing it, is to sort of figure out the average timings for each driver.

I spent 2 hours going over the data. It's a good thing that I know how to read it and understand it. Luckily mum and grandad taught me how. By the age of 8, I was able to analyse timings and different types of data. It's surprising how I did it and how smart I was at that age as well.

It's now 20 minutes before the start of the first practice session of the season and I've just done one of my pre-practice pep talks, to help motivate the drivers and the rest of the team, to give them that bit of focus. I headed over to the hospitality unit, to go and grab a coffee and sit at the table outside and scroll through the team's social media pages. After spending 10 minutes looking through the social media for Williams, I walked back over to the garage and walked over to George and we did our handshake and then give each other a hug before putting his balaclava and helmet on. Then I walk over to my Canadian boyfriend, wrapping my arms around his neck and him wrapping his arms around my waist. We look into each other's eyes before leaning in for a quick peck on the lips before putting his balaclava and helmet on.

Both drivers are getting into their cars, I head to the back of the garage to grab a radio and a headset. I attach the radio to the side of my belt and place the headphone around my neck. With 45 seconds before all the cars are allowed out on track, I exit the garage, cross the pit lane and head over to the pit wall and take a seat at the far end.

With all the cars out on the track, the data from the cars was slowly coming through, and the lap times were appearing on the screens in front of me. The times were alright bearing in mind that the Williams cars are not that fast but still have a decent pace. During the first 25 minutes of the practice session, it was decided that we would bring Nicky back into the pits just to check the car before sending him back out. We also did the same with George.

George's quickest time for the first session was 1:34.127 and Nicholas's quickest time was 1:34.340. In the second session, there was a slight improvement in the timings and George's quickest time was 1:32.331 and Nicky's quickest time was 1:33.400.

The rest of Friday went by in the blink of an eye and before I knew it, it was Saturday and it was time to head to the track ready for the final practice session ahead of the first qualifying of the season.FP3 went as well as it could be with George's  fastest time was 1:33.323 and Nicky's fastest time was 1:33.959

Q1 of the qualifying session started, and I was watching the drivers on the screen from the pit wall. The lap times were going in and they were okay. Before the team knew it the first part of the qualifying session was over and Nicky was knocked out and got placed P17, as George managed to out-qualified him. Q2 started and George was doing really well. I turned around for a brief second, seeing my boyfriend talking to his engineer about area's of improvement and what he could do better during tomorrows race. During Q2, George was showing good pace within the car but as he cross the start-finish line at the end of the second part of the session he was knocked and was placed P15 on the starting grid for tomorrows race. With both Williams drivers out of qualifying know, I got up out of my seat on the pit wall and headed back over to the garage to talk to both of my drivers to see how they found qualifying and what they know they can improve on. 

"Nicky, George, how did you both find qualifying?" I asked. "It was alright but I feel I could have had a better pace in the car if I didn't hit the curbs so much" Nicholas stated. "I'm the same as Nicky, Frankie. I had a good pace during Q1 but during Q2, I kept going over the curbs at the tighter turns and slightly missed the apex on a couple of occasions" George said. "Well then gents, we have tomorrow which is where it count but, I am proud of both of you as you both did extremely well," I said with a smile. Both of the drivers pulled me into a group hug, which was really nice. 

Both drivers had to go and do some of their media duties such as post qualify interviews, so I headed up to my office, just to get away from the hustle and bustle of the paddock and the garage. I go to lie down on the sofa, to have a nap, which I really needed.  The only other people that are allowed to come into my office without knocking is George and Nicky but I do let them know in advance if I'm having a meeting in there and therefore they would have to knock. Well... I do put a sign up on the door saying meeting in progress. 

Half an hour after falling asleep, the door creeks open and it was Nicky because, George had already left with his girlfriend Carmen. "Frankie, babe, wake up" Nicholas said is a soft tone. I slowly sat up and rubbed my hands over my eyes. "I'm up, I'm up" I said in a tired voice. 

The Canadian driver saw how tired his girlfriend was, so he sat down on the sofa and pulled Frankie on to his lap and wrapped his arms around her an within minutes of this happening, she fell asleep, with her face nuzzled into his neck. They stay like this for a couple of hours before heading back to the hotel, ready for the big day tomorrow. 

Saturday evening went in a click of the fingers and it was now race day. Every drivers favourite day and my favourite day to be honest. And last night I had the best night sleeps I've had in such a long time and I've never felt so refreshed. So that nap I had in my hospitality office yesterday after qualifying, must have helped. Both myself and my boyfriend got ready for the day, had breakfast, went back to our room and chilled on the balcony for a couple of hours before getting our bags and heading to the track on the teams minibus. 

Upon arrival at the track, I got everyone from the team to gather in the hospitality unit, so that I ould make an announcement. "Good afternoon everyone. I just want to say that whatever happens out there on the track this evening, we have done our best and there is always another race for us to show our improvements but whatever happens tonight, just know that as team principal, I will always be proud of you. That's all for now, so lets go and show everyone what Williams is made of" I said to the entire team. There was an applause before everyone dipersed and carried on with their duties. 

Time went by as quick as anything and it was time to clear the grid ready for the race and I could wait.I headed over to the pit wall, to monitor the race from there. 57 laps of a great circuit, now lets hope for the best as it was LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO, for the first time in 2021. 

The first few laps went uneventful. I could hear both Nicky and George's engineers communicating with them, reminding them that they are on the Two stop strategy and that they need to watch the curbs, as they they don't want any punctures or any serious damage to the cars. George came in on lap 22 and then Nicholas came in on lap 25. I was looked at the screens on the pit wall and looked at the map to see where the drivers are on the track and I could see all the different teams such as McLaren, Alpine, Ferrari and all the others. Lap 47 George came in to change his tyres and by lap 51 Nicky came into the pits but unfortunately had to retire the car with 6 laps left of the race. As the final lap had come to an end meaning the race was over, and I saw Georges car head around to parc ferme. 

Both drivers got out of their cars and done all the post race essentials before they could relax for the evening. The debriefing was about an hour long, talking about how we found the first race of the season, from my perspective, the driver perspective and the engineers perspective and seeing how we could improve for the next race. 

That evening, a majority of us went out for a post race meal to enjoy our last couple of days in Bahrain before heading home for a few days before the next race. I obviously went out with my boyfriend Nicholas, my best friend George and his girlfriend Carmen, Lando and Daniel from McLaren, Max from Red Bull and his partner Kelly, both Ferarri drivers and their partners and couple of other drivers. 

Sorry it has taken me while to update the story, I have just been easing back into Uni life after the Christmas break.

Should I add a social media aspect to this story or not. please comment your thoughts on this idea!