Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

Texas, Race Day

I'm gonna pass the fuel leak curse onto Max so that someone else can win :) - @JessicaBond57

@JessicaBond57 :( - @redbullracing

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TEXAS
18TH RACE OF THE SEASON
OCTOBER

The crowd is loud today.

It's still pretty hot, but again, the breeze isn't that bad. Our recon laps went pretty well too. We didn't take our cars out of Parc Fermé, but both Haas and Aston Martin did. That's four people starting in the pit lane. Although I do worry that perhaps this will be a bad sign for both Fernando and Lance, since it was clear during the sprint that their brake troubles weren't fixed.

As I mingle around the pit lane with my mechanics, who are preparing everything, A hand clasps my shoulder; I turn to see Logan with the biggest grin possible on his face. He's almost giddy.

"Guess who's here?"

"Uh... The queen— I mean the king?"

"Better than that!" He giggles like an excited child. "It's fucking Prince Harry!"

"Oh god." I can't stop myself facepalming. "Why? I get the usual celebs and all but... why invite random exiled princes?"

"He's exiled?"

Fuck. I'm going to have to get into that political mess with Logan. Or I can just... pat his shoulder and say nothing. Which is what I'm doing. I really don't have time or the desire to get into drama like that. We've a race to look forward to.

When Logan abandons us to get himself prepared for the race, I head out to the grid to give the car a thorough inspection. A fuel leak meant I had to sit out of the sprint race yesterday, which was disappointing. But it gave me a chance to help Mick again, so I can't be too sour about it.

"Makin' sure we fixed it?" Carlos grins at me as I try to get a view of where the leak had come from.

"I'm just glad we didn't get slapped with a grid penalty for today over it." We could have been. I don't know how the team managed to persuade the FIA otherwise, but I'm not going to complain.

I'm pulling away from the car as I see Brundle approach me, trying to politely ask for a moment. We have to move to the front of the grid for the national anthem, but I'll give him a chance to ask one question. I move closer to be able to hear him over the noise of the packed grid and loud music.

"What's up?" I ask as cheerfully as I can.

"How are you feeling after the fuel leak yesterday? I saw it really seemed to annoy you."

"Yep, was an absolute pain, but it is what it is! Just gonna put my head down and focus on today."

The grid clears out quickly after the anthem. I'm in my car as fast as possible. I've had less time to get used to the track, but I've got confidence in the setup of the car. With both Haas and Aston Martin cars in the pit lane, I get no grid advantage, but it means Fernando Alonso is right at the back, along with Kimi Räikkönen. Two big threats to me are behind my P11 grid spot.

The fan that had been in my face is removed as the mechanics abandon the car and I'm pushed back. I flick my visor down, eyes front for the formation lap.

There's a nice headwind down the main straight. That's good. We want that down here, with the DRS when it's activated. It might push me in some of the other turns, but I'll manage it. I have to, I'm starting next to Tsunoda and behind Ricciardo. They'll get the jump on me if I'm not careful.