RED LINE [3]

19:00

Madeline Scott:

RACE FOUR: Japan.

"Someone get Ben on the phone to me now," I stormed through the building, the rain pouring down harder by the minute as the qualifying went on.

I could hear the cars in the background going past the garage as I rounded the corner of the tunnel and was met with an empty garage.

I look around at the mechanics, everyone was wearing their raincoats, hoods pulled up shielding their eyes away from mine as I clenched my hands at my sides, "where are my drivers."

I spoke to no one in particular, waiting for someone to make eye contact with me so I could grill into them – the FIA were launching an official investigation about the cost cap rumours, though I had nothing to hide, it was drawing my attention away from my work.

As well as other things.

My turtle neck sweater was sticking to my neck with slight water droplets running down my skin, having sprinted in six inch heels across the pit into the tunnel, trying not to have a natural shower, my hair was slicked back in a bun, pulling hard on my head as a throbbing pain began to rise in the front of my head. The tights on my legs were sticking and rubbing me the wrong way, wishing I had worn trousers instead of a black mini skirt.

"Anyone?" I flailed my arms around, growing irritated more with every passing second, "I sent them out for a lap to test out the new gear box." Andrew said as he took his glasses off, shaking out his hair in the exit of the garage.

I stalk towards him, the garage silent as my heels clicked against the laminated floor, I place my hand on his shoulder rather firmly, turning him back to look outside.

"Does this look like suitable weather to have sent them out?" my eyes narrowed, the rain causing pools of water to form in the subtle dips of the concreate, a waterfall forming from one of the gutters on the other end of the garage. "We needed to send them out to get a lap time in at least, otherwise we'll be starting at the back of the grid-"

"Call them in now." I spoke sternly, Laura and Axel looking across from the pit lane wall, trying to listen to our conversation over the sound of the rain – I call out to them, telling them the same thing; they exchange glances to each other.

Looking down the pit lane, a few other teams had sent their drivers out, including Ferrari, but the majority were stood huddled in doorways, looking up to the darkening sky. The camera man made his way over to our garage, peering around with his camera capturing the team as they sat on chairs waiting.

A clearing of a throat is heard from behind and I drag my eyes away from Andrew who was shaking his head at the pit wall. One of the office girls passed me a phone, "Ben, I need you to send Amanda down to the garage."

A pause came from the other end of the phone, Ben was head of public relations in Audi. He had done his fair share of other teams in the past, but I needed Amanda for this, I couldn't deal with the stress without her. "Mam, I have tried to get a hold of her before, using your personal budget to try and sway her away from Ferrari, but she is persistent-"

"And I am more persistent. Get. Me. Amanda."

I didn't realise I was stood so close to the poor girl who had handed me the phone until I heard the shuffling of feet behind me – I pass the phone back to her, apologising as I turn to look and see a few more cameras peering into the doorway.

I cover my hand with my eyes, my chest feeling tighter as I looked around the garage – I was responsible for everyone in here, including Maddy and Jack who were basically out on the track swimming.