FOR HIM [Lando Norris] ~ Gridlock Series Stand Alone ~

It's About Love, It's About Loss, It's About Legacy

18 YEARS LATER

We welcome you back to the start of a very exciting season. It's been way too long since we saw the last race take place in Abu Dhabi, and now finally, it's time to get these 20 cars, back on track for the 2043 Formula 1 season. 

That's right Andrew, we look forward to another season, this time, a few surprise rookies in the line up. I was talking to Max Verstappen, Team Principal over at Red Bull, early today and he wasn't as excited about his own line up as he was about the one over in the garage next to him. 

Yes, that's right, McLaren have with them papaya royalty with up and coming world champion, Landon Norris, wearing the very uniform his father wore, some 18 years ago at this very track. All eyes are on him to take McLaren back up to where his father left them all those years ago. 

Over to the pit lane to you now, here's Mick. 

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LANDON

Standing at the entrance to the McLaren garage, waiting for our queue, I twitch nervously at the collar of my race suit. 

"Thank you, Luca. Landon, how does it feel to be standing here today, wearing the papaya and representing McLaren?" 

Mick directs the microphone toward me. 

"It's an absolute honour to be here today. It's something that I have obviously dreamed about since I was a little kid, and yeah, to be standing here and racing against some of the biggest names in the sport, it's really nice, yeah" I try and remember everything my PR agent told me to say and not to say. 

"I remember it well, I obviously came with in a name attached to me as well, being the son of Michael Schumacher, and I felt a bit of, I guess you could say, pressure, to live up to the family name. Do you feel that same sort of pressure, wearing a name like Norris?" he asks. 

I shake my head with a slight chuckle,  "Not at all really. I think I feel more honoured than pressured, I guess. Obviously, Dad did amazing in this sport and I know he loved it more than anything, so I guess, I feel a little closer to him, being here" 

Mick nods like he understands, "And how it, driving in the rival team of your uncle? Did he offer you a seat over at Redbull at all?" 

I laugh again, rubbing my knuckle past my nose, "That's funny. I had Uncle Max in Red Bull, and Charles who was a Ferrari driver, and obviously papaya in my heart, I guess even Uncle Max knew that if it wasn't papaya, it was nothing" 

"Very good. Well its good to see you home. I drove with you father back in the day, and your uncle and Charles, you've certainly got some massive shoes to fill but I saw you in testing, I think you're going to be just fine" he acknowledges. 

"Thanks, Mick" I appreciate, giving him tap on his shoulder and walking away from the cameras. 

"Very well done, that was lovely" Jules, my PR manager, complements as we walk away. 

"Not going to get anyone into any trouble am I?" I mock, sliding my sunglasses off the top of my head and onto my nose. 

"Nope, I think this time you're safe" she jokes. "Your Mum and Charles are waiting for you" 

"Where are they?" I ask, adjusting my head to look further up the pit lane. 

"Down at the Ferrari garages, Charles is saying hi to a few old friends"