Under the Microscope (Book One of Three)

Chapter 30

LOL I decided on a double update cause I didn't do it yesterday! 

Thanks for all the reads and votes btw! Can't believe I'm on 4k reads already and yeah :) thanks hope you enjoy!

Also I know I have this as a Max book and it's not that much about him, in my mind he's the endgame....but it's the distant endgame...so yeah! I think it's cause I mainly struggle to write the romance part without cringing and I enjoy trying to get into the head space of a driver so I find that bit a lot easier!

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I'm standing next to the silver car on the grid, waiting patiently for the other cars and drivers to arrive. The driver's parade had been slightly awkward as I kept on accidentally catching Max's eyes, but I pushed it to the back of my mind, my focus on his teammate. Perez was starting third, three places ahead of me and I felt that if I could somehow figure out a way to challenge him in the race it should hopefully help me to secure the Alpha Tauri seat for next year. Slowly but surely the grid began to fill with people, but I just stayed still at the side with my headphones on, letting the adrenaline build.

My race suit was half undone and hanging from my waist and my hair is down, swinging slightly in the wind, but my beats were keeping it out of my face. As much as I joked about it the other day, the all-black outfit is extremely hot, and the ice pack vest I have is essential to stop me from dying from the heat. I'm aware that I might look kind of weird as I lean against the wall by the track, sipping my straw to my water bottle, and just staring at my car where it sits in front of me. Given my choice of music, I'm also feeling rather cinematic, the dramatic boom of the drums as I blast the music is psyching me up as my focus just continues to increase.

I woke up hyper-focused this morning, from the moment my eyes opened I was in a zone that I hadn't been able to access since F2. Knowing I was actually in with a shot of the podium had me determined in a new way. JC used to refer to me as the Lioness when I got into moods like this. Purely locked in on the cars in front of me, ready to pounce. Purely methodical and basically unstoppable. Being in an uncompetitive car along with the nerves at the beginning of the season had stripped me of that this season, but today I was locked in. I paused my music about to ask JC a question as she was stood next to me when I realised, she was in conversation with Toto.

"-in the zone so unless it's critical I wouldn't advise you break her focus until she is ready for it."

"That's good, no?"

"Very, she hasn't been like this yet this season. It's pushing her. She's in Lioness mode. Hunting time." JC explains and I see Toto nod out of the corner of my eye as I pull my headphones around turning to JC and Toto.

"All good?" I ask Toto and he nods, face stern and matching mine.

"Do you want to go over anything for the race?" He offers and I shake my head, tapping my temple lightly with my index finger.

"Got it all up here, don't worry," I say and he nods before just walking further up the grid to Lewis. "How long till we go?" I ask JC.

"13 minutes, waiting on the RB cars to make it out." I nod and pull back on my headphones, walking to the inside lane of the car, JC trailing behind me. At that moment the people behind us part and the two Red Bull cars are pushed through the middle of the grid. My eyes narrowed in focus when I saw Max pass me before I shake my head lightly and refocus my eyes on Perez's car behind him. That's the goal, Verstappen is another year's issue. I see Horner walk up behind the cars and he meets my eyes. My face doesn't change, and he offers me a small nod, before taking a look around and walking over. I take my headphones off, the music still blasting through.