Gaining Traction | Formula 1

Chapter 41

You guys are going to love me. So, so, much. I just know it. 

My cowriter, Ciara, is currently glaring at me from across the table. I take credit for... half of this chapter. 

She just flipped me off. 

I have such great friends 😃 

Happy reading 😏 

🏎 Istanbul Park Circuit, Turkey🏎 

Alessandro's POV

A>"Guys, I need you to give me something. There is zero grip in turns 5 and 6."

K>"Just need to bring the tires up to temps."

A>"I know that, but the track is too cold."

K>"We'll look into it, flying lap starts at the line."

I huffed, pressing the confirm button. 

It was cloudy, rainy, and cold. I could feel the rear of the car sliding around behind me. I could barely keep the car on track. 

Just as I got back on the throttle out of the braking zone of turn 5, I lost control. 

The rear of the car spun out, nearly sending me sliding backwards into the barriers. 

K>"Everything okay?"

A>"Yeah. Fucked my lap though."

K>"Not an issue, we have time."

As it turns out, we did have time. But I just didn't have the pace. 

"Fucking hell," I muttered, tossing my gloves onto the nose of the car. 

I pulled myself out of the cockpit because I wouldn't be driving in Q3. 

I was starting P15 for the race tomorrow. 

"Sorry about that," Ivan grimaced, patting my shoulder. 

I shook my head in response, my mood immediately turned sour. 

My eyes met Dakota's as she removed her headset, swiveling in her stool to face me. 

"Where did Lando finish?"

"He's P7 for now," she replied quietly, fiddling with the pen in her hand. 

"Fuck," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "How am I that far off the pace?"

"Track conditions aren't ideal, don't sweat it," she said, glancing to the pitlane as Lando's car roared past. 

I focused my attention on Dakota. 

Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, which seemed to be her preferred hairstyle for a race weekend. 

She seemed tired, dark circles creating shadows under her eyes. 

The clicking of her pen drew my attention to her hands. Her nails were usually neatly done, either painted with a nude color, or completely bare. Now they were short, as if she had been anxiously biting them. 

I frowned, scrutinizing her appearance even more. 

Dakota and I had been in contact over the 2 week gap between race weekends. She had convinced me that everything was okay, but now I was beginning to doubt that. 

I jumped when I felt someone tapn my shoulder. 

"Camera's on you. Stop staring at her," Aaron said quietly, his mask covering his lips. I quickly averted my gaze to focus on the mechanics checking my car. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a cameraman training his camera on me before panning out to the cars on track.