Right On Track

Chapter 4

Qualifying was off to a good start.Both Kiara and Max got Red Bull past Q1 and easily managed to avoid being eliminated.By the end of Q1,Logan Sargeant and Alex were out,both Williams failing to continue onto Q2.Yuki and Nyck found themselves eliminated by the end of it as well.And Lando,too.But just as most people started to assume that Ivy could not get herself into Q2,she crossed the line and set the a time that allowed her through and kept her safe.Both Ferrari and Mercedes had also made it through too.
Q2 began and Kiara was glad to have a good start.However,her teammate wasn't so fortunate.
"That's Max with a mechanical issue."Santiago informed her as she continued on.
She wondered to herself about what position that could leave the Dutchman.The mechanical issue had occurred right at the beginning of the session and Kiara soon realized that it would put him at P15 on the starting grid.
Kiara was now trying to set the time she needed to move on to Q3.The main straight soon came into her view.She crossed the line and waited for Santiago to inform her about the time set.
She made it into Q3,finishing Q2 with the fastest time set.
The other drivers that had not made it through included Nico Hülkenberg,Zhou,Valterri and,of course,Max.
Kiara also knew that Charles was to serve a grid penalty because of alterations made on his car after the incident at Bahrain.The monogesque driver,no matter how fast during qualifying,would still serve that penalty.
During Q3,Kiara pushed a little more.Even as she drove,she knew that she could set a good lap time.
And when she crossed the line,Santiago informed her on the radio that she had,in fact,set the fastest time so far.
She waited for the rest of the cars cross the line,hoping that she was the one to take pole.
After a few moments,Santiago reported on the radio."That's pole position.Good work,Kiara."
Kiara let out a sigh of relief and Christian came on the radio."Excellent work,Kiara.A fantastic result."
"Thanks,everyone.Good work."She said.
Just as she aimed for,she would start at the front of the grid for the race the next day.
She got out of the car and received many pats on the back as she met the team.Max,who was still in the garage,didn't look as if he wanted to talk about the incident with his car.Unfortunately,he would have to do so when confronted by the journalists.

"Kiara!"Lydia scolded as Kiara ducked past a journalist that had,despite already asking her questions,still followed her for more.
"What?"Kiara said,avoiding the woman that had been trying to press more information out of her.She made her way through the paddock,Lydia trying to get her to slow down while she walked.
"I know that the press can sometimes be frustrating,but I need you to listen-"
"I stood there and answered her questions for God knows how long."Kiara crossed her arms."If it was some other journalists the next time,I would have stayed."And she also tried to avoid any mentioning of a certain question that had been asked,the question involving a specific driver.
"Besides,"She added."She seems to have caught Pierre already."
Lydia looked over her shoulder,then shook her head."He already seems on edge."
"Exactly."Kiara said,carrying on forward to the Red Bull hospitality.
She paused at the base of the small staircase that led inside,then glanced back.Someone had called her name.
She soon spotted Ivy nearby,waving her over.
Her smile was wide as she jogged down the steps and met up with the McLaren driver.As soon as she reached the bottom,Ivy hugged her with with a grin.
"You couldn't save me a spot with you at the front?"She joked.
Kiara put her hands on her hips."Now that I'm thinking about it...I should have maybe pushed Fernando into the barrier."
Fernando,who was walking past,put a hand on his chest."I am offended."
She stuck out her tongue at him and he laughed while continuing his stroll past.
"Why are you speaking to the enemy?"Lando questioned and approached."Plus,right outside their-"
Ivy playfully shoved him away with one hand."If you're saying that,then I suppose you're not allowed to speak to Carlos outside the Ferrari hospitality."
"There's a difference."Lando smiled and pointed a finger."We were teammates."
"And so were we."Kiara gestures between herself and Ivy.
"In F2."Lando chuckled.
Ivy sighed."You just don't give up,do you?"
He winked with a thumbs-up."You already know it,Ivy."
She rolled her eyes and turned back to Kiara as Lando left.
Kiara arched a brow.
"What?"Ivy demanded.
"Nothing."Kiara raised her palms in defense.
Ivy frowned and shook her head."Ki,no."
Kiara shrugged."I didn't say anything."
"He is my teammate."The Australian driver tried to make herself clear."First get yourself sorted out."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me,Ki."
Kiara knew that Ivy was only joking,but she couldn't help but feel offended while thinking about a previous event.
"Look over there."Ivy said while Kiara tried not to show anything bad in her facial expressions.
Ivy pointed to another part of of the paddock.Kiara asked."What?"
"I want you to first look at that before you talk about me."Ivy said,a smile creeping on to her lips.
Kiara turned to where she pointed and said."I don't see anything."
Ivy clicked her tongue."I'm talking about Carlos-"
"Other than trash."Kiara interrupted without looking away from the other driver that stood a few meters away.
Ivy sighed."Nevermind"
Kiara only heard Ivy's footsteps and properly noticed her departure when she tore her gaze away from the Ferrari driver she promised herself to best in the championship.
She looked over her shoulder to where Lydia waited at the top of the short stair case and turned to enter the building.