Hearts on the track

Cap. Ten

Today is race day at the Bahrain circuit. My first race.

As I head to the paddock, my heart is filled with emotions. The previous days have been intense, with free practices and qualifying session that left me exhausted. Carlos managed to achieve P8 and Charles P5. Both the team and the drivers did a great job, and we continue to work towards a better performance today in the race.

Over these past two days, my work has been more backstage, and honestly, after the heated discussion with Charles, still vivid in my mind, it was the best thing to do.

Those words hit right at my deepest insecurities. No matter how much I try to hide it, and even though I know I bring great value to the team, I was more affected than I expected.

That man gets on my nerves. He seems to know my deepest secrets and how to twist them all. However, today is an important day for me and my career. The team recognized the value of the new strategies I presented in the previous days, and they invited me to be part of the main team at the pit wall during the race. It's a significant gesture, and I'm eager to prove to everyone, including Charles, that I have a lot to contribute.

The atmosphere among all the journalists, content creators, fans, and famous figures is overwhelming. It's a feeling of confusion but also accomplishment. Seeing everyone come together for the same purpose is something unique. Something very magical to see and feel as well. The sun is almost setting on the horizon, producing orange hues in the sky, and everyone is bustling around, getting ready for the magical night.

Since my outing with Lando and his friends and with the whole weekend's busyness, we haven't communicated much except for some hugs and waves when we see each other. The outing definitely left me with a smile on my face and made me confident. I don't let myself overthink the moments that made me feel butterflies in my stomach because I don't want to create expectations. The probability is that he's like that with all his friends, right?

As the race approaches, my emotions are in turmoil. There's a mix of fear and excitement as I take on this new responsibility at the pit wall. I feel ready to prove my worth, both to the team and myself. And perhaps, amidst this storm of emotions and rivalry, I will finally discover who I truly am and what I want to achieve in this highly competitive world of Formula 1.

I review all the points for tonight as I head towards the team building's bar in search of a coffee, or two. A night race may have its positives, but for my sleep routine, it's definitely not an advantage.

I leave the bar not only with coffee but also with some sandwiches for later. I decided to skip dinner to avoid feeling nauseous due to nervousness, although it might make me hungry, you never know.

The pre-race preparation begins, and the excitement fills the place. People bustling around, fans screaming with excitement, mechanics working, and the artificial lights starting to shine on the circuit. I search for the two drivers as it's important to convey the data and new analyses that the team has prepared to them. I find Carlos with his engineer near the car, and a smile lights up his face when he sees me.

"Hey, Sophia, how are things? Ready for the race? I heard you're going to be one of my voices on the radio today, is it true?" he asks, showing contagious enthusiasm.

"Yes, I will be, and you'll see that everything will go well. I brought some additional analyses that can help us optimize our strategy" I explain some points to him for the race, and he takes the opportunity to ask questions and review the strategies for today's race. In the end, I pat his shoulder and say encouragingly, "I'm sure you'll do a great job."

"Let's rock it today!" then he focuses his attention on his personal trainer, and I move to the next garage.

Now it's time to face Charles, and my legs feel weak. My breathing becomes heavier, and I have to force myself to stay professional. How difficult it is to pretend that nothing happened during the next few hours?My answer is: extremely difficult because as soon as I see that tall figure in the process of putting on his racing suit, my heart betrays me, beating faster. I hate that I love his appearance. Ugh.