The Team Principal

Twenty Three

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend went by in a flash. It wasn't the best weekend that the team have has so far this season, with George getting a DNF on lap 48 and Nicky finishing P16. But Frankie pulled the team through and made sure that they stayed positive ready for the next race, which was in France. 

But the two weeks went with a blink of an eye and it was time to head to the French GP down at Paul Ricard. The three practice sessions went well, with Roy Nissany sitting in for George in the first session and he put in a brilliant effort. George was back for the second session. The thrid practice session went without any hitches and it was now time for the qualifying. 

I was walking with Nicky and George over to the garage from hospitality, to get ready for qualifying and I was hoping that the team has a decent qualifying session and that we get positioned well for the starting grid for Sunday's race. As the boys were preparing to get in the car to head out for Q1,I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket, so I pulled my phone out to see that my mum is calling me. I look at my fiance and best friend before answering the phone.

Frankie: Hiya mum can I call you back, as I'm just getting the team ready for qualifying

Mum: It can't wait sweetheart. It's rather important!

Frankie: Why is important because the way your speaking, it's scaring me 

Mum:It's your Grandad Frankie

When I heard my mum say its was Grandad, my mind was going a trillion miles an hour because I wanted to know what was wrong with him and I wanted to know if her was alright and in good health.

Frankie: What wrong with Grandad? Is he okay?

Mum: He collapsed about half an hour ago and was rushed to hospital. He told me to tell you not to come home and to complete this race weekend and come home straight after the race tomorrow.

Frankie: There is no way in hell that I'm staying for the rest of the weekend, not knowing if my Grandad is okay. I am coming home on the next available flight.

Mum: Alright sweetheart . Just be careful when your driving alright and I'll see you in a few hours. Your Grandad has been taken to Didcot community hospital

Frankie: Thanks for letting me know. I'm just going to tell Jost that I'm heading home and that he's in charge of the team for the rest of the weekend and I'm going to have to speak to Nicky over the radio to tell him, I'll see him when he get back , plus I need his car keys. I'll call you once I've landed in the UK. 

Mum:That's fine sweetheart, speak soon, I love you 

Frankie: I love you too mum, bye

I hang the phone up, trying to hold my tears back and head over to Jost, who is sat on the pit wall, looking at the incoming data. I tap Jost on the shoulder who then turns to me. "You alright Frankie?" he asks. "Um, I'm going to need you to manage the team for the rest of the weekend, as I need to head back to the UK because my Grandad has been taken into hospital and I don't want to be way from home if something does happen" I said without my voice cracking. "Thats absolutely fine. Go be with your family, they need you" he replied. I thanked him then I turned to his engineer Jack. "Jack is it possible for me to talk to Nicky over the radio for a second"I asked. "Yeah of course Frankie" Jack replied and I grabbed a headset and pressed the button that would get me straight trough to Nicky. 

Frankie: Nicky it's Frankie, just letting you know that you wont see me after qualify or tomorrow at all 

Nicholas: Why's that Frankie?

Frankie: I need to head back to the UK because of a family emergency and I'm getting the car keys from your driver room, because I need them for when I land at Heathrow. You'll have to car share with George back to the hotel but I'm heading there first to get my suitcase and then off to the airport

Nicholas: That's fine. I'll call you later. I love you 

Frankie; Alright. I love you too

I take my finger off the radio button and thanked jack, before handing him the headset back and leavingthe pit wall and crossing the pit lane and walking through the garage and heading up to my office to grab my bag and then off to Nicky's driver room to get the keys to the hie car and his car which is parked at Heathrow. But before heading to Nicky's driver room, I booked the next available flight out of Nice to London Heathrow. Once that was done, I grabbed both sets of car keys, headed to the hotel to grab my suitcase and make a dash to the airport because, the sooner I get there, the sooner I can be back in the UK and be with my Grandad and the rest of my family. 

I dropped the car off at the hire car place and walked into the terminal at Nice Airport and checked in for my flight home. But as I was walking through the airport, I did notice paparazzi but I wasn't really fased by it. I have just clear security and walked into the departure lounge, so I went to cafe and grabbed a bottle of water and a sandwich, whilst I wait to be called to the gate for my flight. Whilst waiting, I text my mum saying I was just waiting to be called for my flight and that I will be back in the UK within the next few hours. I decided to scroll through Instagram for a little while and I check the teams page and saw some smiling photos of Nicky and George and some serious ones as well. But surprise surprise, there was some of me rushing out of the paddock and some of me at the airport, which kind of pissed me off. But then as I was about to make a post on my Instagram, there was a voice that came over the tannoy.

"Passengers travelling on British Airways flight BA355 to London Heathrow, please make your way to gate number 2"

I got up out of my seat made my way to the gate, hadmy passport and boarding pass in hand ready to show the gate staff and I showed them and then boarding the aircraft ready to head back home. As soon as everyone was onboard, the doors closed and the aircraft was pushed back from the gate and made its way out to the runway and before we knew it, the plane had taken off and was bound for London. Most of the flight I tried to get some sleep, because I knew I needed it, especially with the drive from the airport to Didcot.

As soo as the flight landed and the aircraft arrived at the gate. I was literally up like a flash and ran off the plane and made my way through passport control and then I was so lucky may bag was the first one off the flight. I ran to the car park, unlocked the car, put my suitcase in the boot and got behind the wheel and made my way to the hospital in Didcot. The hour drive is probably going to feel a lot longer.

I was now pulling up to the hospital and I parked the car, put a face mask on and walking into the hospital and up to the reception desk in A+E, which was where my grandad was still waiting. "You alright there, can I help" the receptionist asked. "I'm looking for my grandfather Sir Frank Williams, I'm his granddaughter" I replied. "Oh yes, if your turn right at the end of corridor and then he's in the 5th bay on the left" was the response. I thanked her and made my way to the ay where my grandad was an when I popped my head around the curtain, a smile appeared on my grandad's face, which made me happy. 

"You scared me grandad. Don't do that again, I need you be alright for when I get married next month" I said, as I sat in the chair next to his bed and held his hand. He smiled and nodded and then I turned towards the entrance of the bay and saw the doctor come in. "Well Mr Williams, you blood count was a bit low and so was your blood sugar levels, as we have given you the medication to help bring your levels up, you'll be able to go home now, as long as someone is with you for the next 48 hours" the doctor said before leaving the room. "Mum, I'll stay with grandad for the next couple of days because you've got Nathaniel to look after and I'll call you if anything happens" I said. "As long as you are sure about this, then that's fine" mum replied. The nurse came in and helped my grandad back into his wheelchair and wheeled him out to my car and help him and I thanked them for their help. I placed the wheelchair in the boot and then made sure that my grandad was buckled in and we head for his house. On the way to the house, Nicky phone and I could hear George in the background, so me and my grandad chatted to them both, for a majority of the way home, which was nice.

We got back to my grandad's house and helped him out the car and got him into the house and made him a nice cuppa tea, with a couple of digestive and we just watched some old gamesshows that were on the TV for the rest of the evening before heading to bed for some well deserved rest, which I couldn't wait for.