to the finish line || ollie bearman

part 51

i was so angry with myself, thinking that i was at fault for the crash. i didn't even want to go back to the garage, so i stand beside the barrier, behind the fence and watch the race on one of the big screens.

i see one of the prema cars pulling into the pit lane and stopping, not being able to start. i could quite see who it was until i hear the missable "ollie bearman"

"no." i whisper.

he was doing so well, already up 4 positions since i had crashed and was up to p4. i felt devastated for him, yet still angry at myself. ollie didn't deserve it.

i had to go see how he was doing, he didn't look too happy with himself when they filmed him on the camera which was now showing me walking back to the pit lane with my helmet in my hand.

10 minutes later, i find him stood talking to some prema mechanics in the pit lane with a very unhappy look on his face. he sees me and stops his conversation to walk over to me.

"ang." he says, walking faster.

as he gets closer, i put my helmet down on the floor and he pulls me into a tight hug, hand behind my head and my feet off the ground.

"are you okay?" he says, taking hold of my hand but hiding so no camera could see after breaking apart.

"i'm fine, i'm just really angry at myself. it was extremely unnecessary." i say.

"what are you on about? it wasn't your fault?" he says confused.

"jules said that he wasn't sure when i crashed and i was.. well im sure everyone will here it at some point." i say.

"ang, calm down. gabriel got a time penalty for it, the fia said it was his fault. you were on the racing line and he turned into you." ollie explains.

"really?" i say, shocked.

"yes! you shouldn't beat yourself up over these things." he says, smiling slightly.

"i'm sorry... are you alright though? you were doing great until your car stopped."

"yeah it was an engine problem. but i'm fine, it's just disappointing y'know."

"of course, you were doing amazing."

"there's always tomorrow."ollie says.

"i guess."

we part ways, ollie going back to his team and i going to the medical centre for the necessary check-up. the crash wasn't too bad, so i should have to go to the hospital.

1 hour later, i could finally leave the medical centre. i hate that place, it smells so artificial. as i walk out, someone runs up to me. gabriel borteleto.

"thank god i thought i was going to miss you." he says.

"what do you mean gab?" i ask.

"i'm so sorry about what happened on track. i never meant to hit your car." he says.

"i know that, stupid. your my friend." i say, laughing slightly.

"w-wait you don't want to rip my head off?" he says.

"no, don't worry about it. it was just a racing incident." i say, giving him a reassuring smile.

what he said wasn't wrong, i do get very angry with people after things happening in races. but im working on it, kind of. i think if he had come to me before going to the medical centre i might have shouted at him, but it was calming in there even though i hate it.

like, no-one is asking me 100 questions every minute.

"well i've got to go, but ill see you around. and good luck for tomorrow."

"thanks, you too."

finally, i head to my garage and as soon as i get there my mom come over and pulls me into a tight hug.

(italian)

"you scared me! are you alright?" she says.

"yes, mom i'm fine." i say, trying to reassure her and loosen her grip on me because fucking hell i could barely breathe.

once she lets go i hug my dad before talking to them for a little while at repeatedly telling my mom i was alright.

once she finally agreed, i went to find jules to apologise for my language over the radio.

"jules!" i say finally spotting him.

"angel, how are you feeling?" he says.

"i'm fine, but er sorry for language over the radio."

"don't worry, and i'm sorry for making you think it was your fault. i should have known better."

"i guess we are equal then." i say, smiling at my engineer.

"go change, your at aston martin in 20 minutes."

"shit." i say.

"language angel." jules says as a joke.

"fuck off." i reply, laughing a little as i head to the driver room. i had already passed zac talking to someone so i knew he wasn't in there.

30 minutes later i was sat at the aston martin pit lane whilst watching qualifying with mike krack. i love being at the pit wall, its amazing to see how everything works.

once qualifying was over (fernando p4, lance p5) i head into the garage to analysis data with the engineers. i was doing that for about an hour before it was time to head back to the art garage and do some data analysis.

on the way out, i get stopped by mike krack.

"angel, we need to have a meeting with you tomorrow. is 12.30 a good time?" he says.

"yeah, that's perfect. can i ask what it's about?"

"private information, sorry."

"i'll find out tomorrow, don't worry about it." i say before saying goodbye and leaving the garage.

|| authors note ~ hope you enjoy 🫶🏼