Racing For Love

Chapter Eight

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we travel to The Paddock - the whole city is buzzing, or maybe it just feels like that because i've drunk 3 coffees already to try and alleviate any feelings of jet lag. We've got a plan in place to cover FP3 and qualifying today, and hope to be able to grab the drivers and team engineers throughout the day.

The windows of opportunity are small since they are busy prepping for race day and doing extra media interviews, but I think our plan is going to work. We're hoping to talk to Davide Romano, the team principal too. As yet, he's evaded us - there's been plenty for him to focus on but to begin with, he didn't understand our strategy, so refused to join in. We've been proving ourselves with each race weekend so it's great news that he's finally prepared to give us some time, and gives extra validity to our team and what we're trying to achieve.

After scanning ourselves in, we head straight over to the Bianchi area - the red motor home shining like a beacon through all the other team areas. It feels like no time has passed since I was here last night with Jono, and my daydream takes me back to those feelings I had after our car ride together, before Matt jolts me back to reality. I have to focus today - i'm already on thin ice this morning, and I have to prove to everyone it is worthwhile me being here.

First up, we go down to the pit lane - all is fairly quiet at the moment - Lorenzo's team have a meeting first after their busy night fixing the car so the garage is quieter - this works for us as we can film content with less noise than normal, and we can clip it all together later. James sets to work with Matt following whilst I log in and check our list for the day. I can feel a presence behind me and turn to see Lorenzo - his skin damp with sweat from an early morning training session, and his chest visible through an open sided vest. I am almost positive that there will be photos of his training session on some of the online forums already, especially the ones with women looking to swoon over the drivers. I can't deny he looks sexy as hell, and even thinking about it, my skin starts to flush.

"Morning Lorenzo - have you been training already?" I ask, trying not to be drawn in by those dark eyes.

"Of course, Miss Annie - It's Race Day - I have a busy schedule." he says as he raises his arms up to grab a beam above his head, stretching those beautiful biceps. "Have you thought more about my offer? Whilst we are in the city, I would like to take you for a drink or perhaps you would like to join me for dinner? I am going to Attica tonight." He asks, looking nervously at me, which I didn't think possible - Lorenzo is perpetually confident, but this vulnerability as he waits for my answer is endearing.

I am desperate to go to Attica but there's a three month waiting list, and three months ago, I was not planning on being here. I imagine Lorenzo has pulled some Formula One strings to get in. As desperate as I am to try it though, I think back to my conversation with Kate this morning, knowing what the right answer is. "I'm afraid I can't Lorenzo. I am only here for a couple of days and I have so much work to do. Sorry" I utter, knowing it's the right decision, but sad that I'll miss out on the experience.

"I understand, it is no problem. I keep trying" he grins and walks off. No doubt tomorrow's paper will show him enjoying a meal there with another beautiful woman, but if it's not me, that's the most important thing.

The day is busy and our schedule is fairly relentless, especially since both Lorenzo and Jono perform well in qualifying - placing at P1 and P2 respectively. There's a lot of chatter around Jono's change of form after his disastrous FP1 and 2, and we film some additional content around his analysis work - I feel like the fans need to know how hard he works behind the scenes.

Since he's not the reigning champion, I feel like he's sometimes overlooked as just the team mate, despite winning championships in previous years. I find myself thinking about how I can help him more than I probably should. So conscious of it, I've started checking with Matt and James whether my ideas are going in the right direction. I make sure we schedule plenty of "Lorenzo content" too for the next few hours as we all work editing today's longer pieces, getting them ready to go live into the evening to maximise our home crowd's engagement.