STYLE; lando norris

07 | post-race

✹ ➶ 𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄 °•⁀➷  ﹏﹏ [调情] ꒦꒷

▍〔  🧺. 〕࿐ ໋₊ ˖ ▍

▅▅▅▅▅▅ 007. ◢◤◢◤◢

The atmosphere in the McLaren debriefing room was tense. Engineers, strategists, and mechanics huddled around, analyzing data and discussing the race. Blake sat silently at the table, her mind replaying every lap, every corner.

Tom, her race engineer, stood at the front, clearing his throat. "Alright, everyone, let's start with Blake's race. Blake, can you walk us through the uh, engine issue?"

Blake took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her. "It started around lap 15. There was a sudden loss of power. Tried to push through it, but it kept getting worse."

The chief engineer, Martin, nodded, making notes on his tablet. "Did you notice any specific indicators or warnings on the dash before it happened?"

Blake shook her head. "No, it was pretty sudden. Everything felt fine up until that point."

Tom chimed in, "We checked the telemetry, and there was a significant drop in power output. Could be a sensor malfunction or something more serious with the power unit."

Blake's voice kept neutral as she continued, "The tire degradation was also faster than expected. It was hard to maintain pace without wearing them out too quickly."

The head of tire strategy, Carla, leaned forward. "We anticipated higher wear given the track temperature, but your front tires wore out much faster than Lando's. Did you feel any difference in handling?"

"Yeah, especially after the engine issue started. The balance was off, and I had to work harder to keep the car stable," Blake replied, her frustration evident.

Martin looked up from his notes. "We'll need to run a full diagnostic on the power unit and check the tire data more closely. There might have been a setup issue that compounded the problem."

Throughout the discussion, Blake noticed Lando glancing at her from across the room, his eyes full of understanding and encouragement. She appreciated the silent support but felt awkward and exposed, her recent frustrations still fresh.

Through the meeting, Blake's mind still lingered on the engine failure and the race's disappointing end.

They moved on to talking about Lando's performance and the meeting came to an end.

Tom wrapped up the discussion. "Alright, we'll focus on these key areas: power unit diagnostics, tire strategy adjustments, and setup optimization. Blake, we'll need your input as we go through the data. Your insights are crucial."

Blake nodded, feeling the pressure but also a determination to improve. "Ok" she replied quietly as she got up getting ready to leave.

As the meeting concluded, people started to disperse. Lando and Blake were the only ones left in the room. It was still quite awkward between the two because of what happened in the media pen.

"You did well Blake, really." Lando reassured with a smile.

"Thank you, lando." The girl smiled as she left the room quietly, not knowing what else to say and knowing if she stayed there for any longer she would be suffocated by the awkward tension between them.

The next few days Blake trained relentlessly with her coach, Dylan. The next race was not too far ahead and was just a week after. It would be a double header to kick off the season.

After hours of grueling training, Blake collapsed onto a bench in the gym, her muscles trembling with exhaustion. Dylan sat beside her, a bottle of water in hand.

"You did great out there, Blake. Pushed yourself harder than ever," Dylan said, offering her the water.

Blake took a long sip, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. "Thanks, Dylan." Blake replied still not feeling herself.

"You okay?" Dylan asks the girl. "I just... I don't know, I don't want to let the team down again." The girl fiddles with her fingers.

Dylan nodded understandingly, his expression sympathetic. "I get it, Blake. But you have to remember, you're only human. Mechanical failures happen, and they're out of your control."

"I know," Blake sighed, frustration evident in her voice. "But it's hard not to feel responsible."

Dylan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Listen, Blake. You're one of the most talented drivers I've ever worked with. You've got the skills, the determination, everything it takes to succeed. But you have to believe it too. You can't let one bad race define you, it's just a bump in the road."

Blake nodded, a sense of resolve settling over her.

"Now, let's focus on what we can control—your training, your mindset. We've got work to do, Blake. And please make sure to get enough rest later. It's good for your mental health" Dylan reminds the girl.

Blake laughs remembering when Dylan messaged her once at 2 in the morning telling her to sleep because he saw her active on Instagram. "Alright, alright."

Once training finally ended, Blake made her way to the lounge, her body weary but her mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming race. As she rounded the corner, she spotted Lando sitting alone on one of the couches, his gaze fixed on his phone.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to approach him. After minutes of contemplating, with a deep breath, she walked over to him.

"Lando," she called softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

He looked up, surprise and relief crossing his face. "Blake. Hey."

She sat down beside him, the silence stretching for a moment before she spoke. "I'm sorry about the other day. I was just so... frustrated."

Lando shook his head. "You don't need to apologize. I get it. This sport can be brutal sometimes."

Blake's eyes welled up with tears. "I just felt like I let everyone down. I let myself down. And then there's you know, social media and all that I just.. I don't know"

Lando reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You didn't let anyone down, Blake. You fought hard, and that's all anyone can ask for. We all have tough races."

Blake couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They spilled down her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands. "I just wanted it to be perfect."

Lando pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. "I know. But perfection isn't always possible. What's important is that you keep pushing, keep fighting."

Blake clung to him, finding solace in his words and embrace. "Thanks, Lando. I really needed this."

He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "Anytime. We're a team, remember? We look out for each other. And were always gonna be best friends, whether you like it or not you're stuck to me" he jokes

Blake smiled through her tears, rolling her eyes at the boy. Even during the serious occasions he never failed to make her feel better. Blake felt a weight lift off her shoulders as Lando held her in his arms.