RED LIGHTS | LANDO NORRIS

The View

"Aurelia! Aurelia over here!"

Lia did her best to ignore the screaming media as she walked back to the garage, fully prepared to hop in the car and ignore the outside world. She just wanted to get on the track.

She adjusted her hat and kept her head straight as she passed them.

Graham leaned in, "Maybe if you just answer one question they'll be happy until after the race."

Lia knew that wasn't a suggestion. She side eyed him before pulling over in front of a reporter for a moment. The others flocked even closer at having her brief attention.

"Lia, do you have anything to comment on the recently released photos of Braxton Montgomery kissing another woman?"

Lia leaned in and smiled cruelly.

"No, not really."

She considered that as her one question and pulled away. She continued to walk towards the garage, making an exasperated Graham trail after her.

"Not exactly what I was thinking of but I guess that's better than nothing."

When they reached the garage she went straight for the car. She was honing in even as her trainer came over and talked her through a few stretches and warm ups. But even he left her alone after realizing she was in no mood to talk.

Zak and the engineers glanced over and saw the intensity in her eyes. Lando was beside them and followed their gaze.

"She's either gonna be a beast out there today or DNF on lap five."

"My vote is on beast," Zak voiced. He patted his driver's back before letting the boy approach his teammate.

He greeted her just as she was suiting up. His eyes watched as her hands moved with aggression and ferocity.

"Hey," he caught her attention, "Today isn't his day. This is your turf and the only things that matters today is you, the car, and that podium."

She met his eyes and found herself admiring the gentleness in them. He was right-Brax wasn't here and maybe that was a sign that he was never meant to be there in the first place. Her team and Lando were all that she needed.

Lia nodded in agreement as he held up a fist. She bumped her own against his before wishing him luck. He returned the wish and turned back to his car.

She watched him walk away, her eyes lingering slightly, before putting in the radio pieces and sliding her helmet on.

"Let's go Lia!"

The prompt shook her out of her trance as she was told to get in the car. She wasted no time in hopping in and was cleared to leave soon after. Her and the other drivers started to make their way to the grid. Thankfully, due to lots of technical errors in some of the other driver's cars during qualifying, she ended up in P7-which was definitely better than P10, but still not ideal.

Lights on.

Lights off.

Go.

Lia felt adrenaline like no other. Determination coursed through her and she overtook with ease coming into the first corner. Zak's wishes thankfully came true as she hunted down the cars in front.

There were several close calls with other cars and the walls but it didn't deter her. Nothing hindered her, not even the pit stop she took later on-which ended up being the team's fastest of the season so far. She pushed the car and herself to the limits.

"And a wonderful overtake by Wren! She's easily passed by Ricciardo in turn three and is she-yes, I believe she is! And she's passed Alonso as well!"