Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

Spain, Race Day

@SchumacherMick starting in P13, @JessicaBond57 starting in P8! - @JaguarF1

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SPAIN
7TH RACE OF THE SEASON
JUNE

Despite the concerns off the track, Mick and I are in high spirits. We know what we need to do, and it's easy. We're prepared for the potential of rain, and during free practice we went out whilst the track was greased by the light storm, giving us the extra awareness of how to handle those nasty parts of the track that can send us flying into the gravel traps if you make the tiniest of mistakes.

I zip up my black and white race suit, giving Mick a thumbs up across the back walkway of the garages. He reciprocates, flashing that killer smile of his as he turns to speak to his engineer.

"How sure are we about the forecast?" I ask Mateo as he approaches me. He gives me a shrug, which isn't the answer I want to hear. I don't push on getting an answer, pulling on my balaclava and helmet. A glance to my right reveals to me there's a camera focusing on my preparation for today. I've become quite used to ignoring them, but just this one I wave briefly before turning my attention back to Mateo. "Are we sticking to Plan A?"

He nods again, shielding his mouth from the camera with a hand. "Absolutely. The quickest strat is still to go soft, hard, hard. The other option will be soft hard soft. Some might go for mediums, but we'll keep you updated as we go. We shouldn't need to change our plan."

"What are the orders if Mick catches up? Are we sticking to team racing, or...?"

"As long as you don't throw Mick in the gravel, Oliver doesn't care what you two do."

With that imparted, Mateo heads off to the pit wall, and I take my chance to run some quick recon laps. The track feels no different to Friday, really. It's not a huge slip risk anymore, but turn five is still trying to make me slide. It's making everyone cautious. I make a mental note to avoid taking it as tightly as I could; ahead of me I've just witnessed James nearly snap and go flying into the gravel as a result.

Once I'm up and at the grid, car jacked up and being prepped, I hop out to speak again with Mateo and let him know how the car is feeling. On my way back to the grid, with twenty minutes to go, I decide to go and speak with Charles. He's leaving the grid as all the VIPs mingle around, and I don't blame him; it can get a bit much.

"Hey! Charles!" I call at him as I get close enough to be heard. He pauses to let me catch up, giving me a warm smile. "What happened in qualifying?"

His face twists into mild discomfort. I worry for a moment that I've overstepped by asking. I haven't any ill intent; his Q1 exit was a shock. I don't see why it could be his fault at all, so I'm curious as to what went on with the car.

Or perhaps Liam spoke too harshly to him...

No. Get that out of your head, Jessica.

"Eh, it was not a great day. Had some issues, they had to replace some parts so I got a penalty, but we're starting at the pit lane anyway."

"Oh shit." The words fly out before I can engage my brain-to-mouth filter. Charles laughs at me, I think, but he doesn't seem to be mocking me.

My attention is stolen by Max, who points behind me, back to the grid. I take the hint that he wants a conversation, likely over by his car, and follow him. We briefly discuss the ongoing drama that my team - and by proxy his own - are having to deal with, but it quickly descends into a more casual conversation, about mundane things. He tells me the latest silly things his cats have done, and he offers to catch up after the race is done. There's no hint of him giving away anything about what's been going on. If Liam has spoken to Daniel and Charles, they either haven't told him, or he's doing the same thing as me: trying to ignore it all for now.