Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

Bahrain, Post-Race

"And that was quite an impressive first outing for the new Jaguar team, but time will tell if that success can be replicated race after race."

⸻

BAHRAIN
AFTER THE RACE
MARCH

I'm still being slapped on the back and shoulders as we're taken towards the media, for the obligatory post-race interviews. I peel my racing suit half off, letting the top half of it just hang loose around my waist while I'm passed a vest filled with cooling packs to wear. I'm burning up from the heat and the adrenaline as I go over to the microphones. Thankfully, they're all placed on a podium, so I rest one hand on it, leaning slightly against the cool wood.

"Congratulations on a great start to your season, Jessica! Those last few laps were certainly nail-biting, how was it to be going wheel-to-wheel with Kimi Räikkönen?"

I expected this. I've done plenty of little interviews and fun things with sponsors where I've listed the drivers I idolise. To have one of them right on my arse in my first race is perfect for the sports reporters. It generates content all on its own. I run a hand through my hair, yanking out the hairband as I choose my words carefully.

"Honestly, I was bricking myself the whole time!" My laugh is only partially faked. "I mean, when you have someone like Kimi gunning for you, it's going to be scary, but he did a great job in keeping me on form by giving me a battle that really tested both me and the car. If he'd gotten past me, I honestly wouldn't have been too mad about it, he was absolutely in his element today."

I can hear laughter behind me, it sounds like Liam. Hopefully, I can get a chance to dump him into this interview after I've answered a few more questions, because good god do I need to sit down. My legs feel like jelly from the nearly two-hour adrenaline rush I've been subjected to.

More questions are thrown at me, mostly about how I'm feeling now I've got my first race under my belt, how the track felt, the usual things they ask to see what we have to say and to see if there's any potential bad blood amongst the drivers. One person tries to see if I'm really angry at Ocon for earlier. I'm not. Sometimes, what happens on the track isn't a big deal. It's the heat of the moment. It's not the first time I've sworn down a team radio about another driver. It won't be the last.

At some point, Liam does come over to free me from spending too long answering questions. As we head out back to the more private part of the paddock, Oscar joins us, initiating a brief group hug. We're just missing out on Logan and James, but there will be time to catch up as a group later.

"Not a bad start, Jessy!" Only Oscar can get away with calling me that; because I find it hard to stay mad at him for anything. He looks as tired as I bet we all feel. Races in hotter climates do a number on your body.

"Liam did better, up in sixth, the lucky sod." I say, nudging him gently with an elbow. Liam's laugh is nervous, but I can see how pleased he is with himself. He deserves to be, he put in a good performance today. "I'm lucky I didn't take myself out on the last lap."

As I say those words, Kimi fucking Räikkönen walks past. I have never had a chance to speak to him before. I'm too nervous. He does something that makes me turn into that starstruck person again: he pats my shoulder and then gives me a thumbs up as he walks off with Sebastian Vettel, who quickly waves at our little group.

Holy shit.

I get out of the press conference - but that's just because I'm not one of the podium finishers. After an hour with the team, where we congratulate each other and discuss how we feel the race went, I spend some time with Claire, focusing on making sure any aches I have are dealt with. Once I'm free from any obligations, I go and find Mick; he's chatting with Sebastian. I feel so awkward as I try to softly call out to him, having to raise my voice to be heard the second time.