There's Twice as Many Stars as Usual| L.S

14

Charlotte

I woke up to the sound of Mick getting ready for the day's free practice sessions. The room was dimly lit, and I could see him moving around, gathering his things.

"Morning," I said, stretching and rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Morning," Mick replied with a smile. "Are you gonna come with me today or no?"

"Yeah, let me get ready quickly," I said, shifting out of bed.

I grabbed Mick's extra Mercedes shirt and a pair of leggings, quickly heading to the bathroom to freshen up. Within minutes, I was dressed and ready, feeling a bit more awake and excited for the day ahead.

Mick was waiting for me by the door, his bag slung over his shoulder. "You ready?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.

"Ready," I nodded, and we headed out together.

The walk to the paddock was filled with the usual buzz of race day excitement. Fans were already gathering, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers. As we entered the Mercedes garage, the familiar sounds of engines revving greeted us.

I found my spot in the back of the garage, where I could watch the team in action without getting in the way. Mick gave me a quick smile and a thumbs-up before heading over to join the team.

As the morning progressed, I immersed myself in the team's activities, my excitement building as I watched the cars take to the track for free practice. The engineers and mechanics worked with precision, making adjustments and analyzing data to optimize performance.

As I watched the free practice sessions, I noticed all the drivers pushing their limits. Logan was doing particularly well, much better than in Miami, and it made me really happy to see his progress.

As FP1 came to a close, I headed into Mercedes hospitality to grab a water and I decided to take a little walk to stretch my legs.

While wandering through the paddock, I saw Logan in his race suit, just stepping out of the Williams motorhome. He spotted me and smiled.

"Hi, Char," he said warmly.

"Hi, Logan," I replied, returning his smile. I gave him a quick hug, enjoying the brief moment of connection.

"It's good to see you," he said, looking genuinely pleased.

"You too," I said. "You're doing great out there."

"Thanks," he said, his smile widening. "It feels good to have a better session."

"Keep it up," I encouraged him.

He nodded, giving me a grateful look before heading back to his garage. I watched him go, feeling a mix of pride and affection. It was nice to see him doing well and enjoying himself.

Continuing my walk, I made my way back to the Mercedes garage, feeling the excitement and energy of the race weekend all around me. The engineers were deep in discussion, and the drivers were reviewing data, each moment charged with anticipation for the upcoming sessions.

Mick caught my eye and walked over. "Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, just took a little walk," I said, smiling.

"Good," he said. "FP2 will start soon."

"I'll be here," I assured him.

As FP2 began, I settled back into my spot, ready to support the team and cheer for all the drivers. The thrill of the race weekend was palpable, and I couldn't wait to see how it would all unfold.