RED LIGHTS | LANDO NORRIS

Bahrain

"Welcome to the Bahrain Grand Prix...the first race of the 2021 Formula One season!"

Cameras panned into every garage, watching as teams prepared for the first race of the year. Anticipation and excitement was in the air as the drivers got ready.

The McLaren garage was bustling about. Everyone had a job to do or places to be-everyone except for Lando and Lia. The two of them were besides each other in the back, stretching and hydrating per usual.

Neither were talking since Lia had headphones on, completely honing in. Lando didn't mind since he too needed a second to get in the zone. But they relished the comfort of their company, finding better peace together rather than apart.

When it was time to go, they did their ritual before splitting.

"Good luck Wren."

They shared a short fist bump.

"Good luck Norris."

They split and went to their cars. Lia's trainer came up and took her water and headphones away before she suited up and got in the car.

She was soon rolled out into the pit exit lane behind Nikita Mazepin.

"Radio check."

"I'm tempted to touch Nikita's car."

"Negative. Very expensive."

"If he makes another comment about me being a woman I'd be happy to pay it."

"Understood."

The cars in front were instructed to drive out to the grid. Lia was lined up besides Charles, putting her in P4. He gave her a short thumbs up before the lights started to turn on. She returned the gesture and flipped her visor down.

"It's lights off and away we go!"

All of them sped to the first corner. Esteban was behind her and almost didn't break enough, barely turning out of the way to avoid collision. She cursed in French, to which Duncan merely acknowledged it. He was starting to wonder if he should learn these words with how frequently she said them.

The entirety of the first sector was filled with everyone trying to get past one another. Lia maintained her position until sector three. Sebastian and Carlos had both passed by her.

She continued in her position until she was told to box several laps later. She went into the pits and came out another spot behind.

"Maintain pace please."

She scoffed in clear frustration. Maintain pace in P7?

"Why? If we're not going to race then we might as well retire."

There was a short pause as she caught up to Lando in front of her.

"Defend your position. Lando has primary."

She understood having him take the lead. But currently neither of them were pushing the pace they needed to. Their strategy shouldn't simply be to defend in the midfield.

Lando felt the same way, having received instructions to keep Lia behind him.

"Why? If she wants to race then let's race. As long as we don't take each other out."

Another pause came over the radio as their engineers discussed.

"Copy Lando. Lia has been told. Go race."

Both drivers were firmly told the expectation of not hitting each other. Not that either of them had intentions to anyway.

Lando got close to Sebastian in front of him. He seemed to be losing pace on the straights, which allowed both McLaren's to overtake. They continued on each other's tails for another twenty laps; neither moving in position. Each time Lia got close to Lando, he managed to pull away on the turns.