Falling for the Ferrari

The Sky's the limit

Jade's POV

"And it's lights out and away we go" the voice of David Croft fills my ears as I watch the cars race around the Yas Marina circuit on my iPad. The 2018 season came to a close with Hamilton taking first place. My eyes capturing every moment and absorbing every bit of information I possibly can, not that it was difficult for me. My grandfather introduced me to Formula 1 when I was extremely young, being the famous Niki Lauda, a 3 times world champion, he made sure I knew all about the world he grew up in. I was often seen from a young age on the race track with him when he took custody of me after my parents death in a car accident. Motorsport is in my blood, so that's where I find myself today, standing on the pit-lane in Melbourne with a sky sports microphone in one hand, my iPad in the other and Ted Kravitz next to me. At the beginning of the 2018 season I had expressed my interest in becoming a Formula 1 presenter to Lewis Hamilton, I had grown up around F1 and had even completed a degree in mechanical engineering, and I had a choice to make, become an engineer or pursue another career I was passionate about. I stroked out on luck when Sky heard of my interest and asked me to join Ted on the pit-lane as a mechanical advisor, commentator and reporter.
"You good kid?" Ted asked.

"Nervous Ted" I laughed.

"You're gonna do good, just relax, bounce off me and you'll be just fine" he replied. Ted placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a firm pat.

"We have about 30 minutes before we are needed, why don't you take a breather" Ted said.

"Yeah, yeah I think I will" I breathed out "If you need me i'll me over at Mercedes"

Ted nodded and smiled before turning around and talking to the camera crew. I quickly placed my microphone down before speed walking over to the Mercedes garage like my life depended on.

Once I arrived I slipped into Lewis's garage and quickly looked around for him. I made eye contact with him and he smiled before coming over with his arms open. Lewis is like an older brother to me. I spent many years with my grandfather in the Mercedes garage where I  developed a close bond with Lewis who became a rock for me. Along with Lewis, Toto became a bit like an uncle, teaching me the inner workings of an F1 team and kick-starting my interest in mechanical engineering. The loss of my parents took its toll but the Mercedes team became my family, helping me through my grief and helping set me up with a career I had been dreaming about.

"What's wrong?" Lewis asked.

"What makes you think there is something wrong?" I replied as I backed out of the hug.

"You would've had a witty comment by now if you were fine, do not tell me you're panicking about free practice commentary?" he asked, I looked down, biting my lip and rubbing my arms. "Damnit Jade don't doubt yourself, you know more about F1 than most people and you're a whiz with mechanics, you have got this" Lewis assured, smiling at me and rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

"He is right" I heard from behind me, turning around Toto stood with his arms crossed and a warm smile on his face. "You deserve this Jade, Niki would be proud seeing you here."

I smiled back, my grandfather had been suffering with illness for a bit of time now but hearing Toto say he would be proud brought a smile to my face.

"You grew up on the grid J, you know most of the people here, you are respected and you can do this" Lewis said shaking my shoulders with each point he made.

"Alright geez stop shaking me around like a hooker" I laughed, causing a look of humour passing over Toto's face and a snort from Lewis.

"There she is" Lewis smiled."Now get your butt out of my garage, I have a free practice to be ready for and you have a free practice to be ready for"

I just smiled and nodded, "Thank you guys, really I needed that" I turned and walked out the garage and back to where Ted stood.

"You ready?" He asked.

"As I'll ever be" I smiled back. I picked up my microphone, along with my iPad which contains all of my notes about the previous season and where I'll place all my notes for this season.

"Good, now you and I are going to start together then gradually make our way out to interview drivers, we are at the start of the season and you're new to the scene so just now you're gonna stick with me, later on we can see if we can push you out on your own" Ted explained.

"Thank god" I breathed out a sigh of relief, "I was scared you were gonna send me out into the deep end" Ted just shook his head and laughed.

"C'mon kid let's do this"