Falling for the Ferrari

The elevator

Jade's POV

Heading down to the grid with Ted, I make sure my microphone is switched on and my earpiece secure. This is the biggest moments of my career, my first race. I see the camera man give the signal that Ted and I were about to go live. I roll my neck, shake my shoulders and prepare to start.

As the camera focuses on us, Ted and I wander the pit-lane, looking for drivers, team principals and FIA officials to talk too, even the occasional celebrity if we can. Turning my head I notice Lando standing with his drink in his hand, finding the perfect opportunity to cash in his promise to me.

"And if we move towards the 8th place on the grid we will find rookie Lando Norris" I say, speaking towards the camera and moving with Ted across the grid. "This driver here has promised me a conversation so I am here to drill it out of him"

"I should've known you'd cash that in." Lando jokes, moving himself slightly to speak to us.

"Of course I am, I'm using our friendship to steal interviews" I said slyly and humour lacing my tone. "So focusing on the race, what are you looking to do today?"

"I think not crashing out would be a good start" Lando jokes, causing a laugh to come from Ted and I.  "And a points finish would be nice, get my F1 career off to a good start."

"You of course have raced this circuit in Formula 2, how do you feel about this track?" Ted asks.

"I quite like the track, it's a slightly easier track which allows us to familiarise ourselves with the car but also offers enough complexity to show points of where improvement can be made"  Lando responds, looking quite collected and prepared with his answers.

"Wow Callrisian, you've really revised your answers. Did you have them written in a notebook?" I joke.

"Says the girl who walks around with that iPad, clutching it like it contains the nuclear launch codes" Lando jokingly fires back.

"Touché Norris" and we wrap our interview up quickly once we hear Will calling him back over to the car.

Over the course of the grid walk we have a chance to talk with Fernando who I would say is  a funcle to me. He used to pick me up from the Mercedes garage and help me understand about a driver's role in developing a car. He, Sebastian and Kimi had gotten close to me over  the years. Respect for my grandpa and my charming ability as a youngster had made it impossible for them to not like me, quite often we were all seen eating lunch together during  race weekends before I became a commentator. Plus Fernando said I was the only person he had seen that was able to make Kimi smile. Along with Fernando, Ted and I made stops  with Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll, asking them about how confident they were on the track. Not long after we bumped into Guenther, who provided an interview that was quite amusing. I enjoy being able to have a joke with the teams and it is even better when they play along. Pointing out that Guenther could have a career as a 'clown' if being a team principal didn't work out certainly brought a smile to his face. As Ted and I notice we have time left for one more interview, my eyes are immediately drawn to grid position 5, where a certain Monasque also seemed to be looking at me. Ted notices where I am looking and begins to make his way over to Charles, myself following closely in tow, careful to avoid the massive amounts of people.

"Good morning Charles, excited for your first race as a Ferrari driver?" Ted asks.

"Good morning guys" Charles replies, "I am excited, the track looks nice, the car feels fast and I think i'm in a pretty good position for starting"

"Do you feel the pressure to succeed today? It is of course your first race as a Ferrari driver and you of course are one of Ferrari's youngest signings in history." I ask.