Different Lanes

7.

If you had asked Charlie what she thought she'd be doing today, racing in an F1 qualifying session would have been the furthest thing from her mind. Yet here she stood in front of both Toto and James deliberating.

"Charlie" Toto tapped his finger impatiently, "we're going to need an answer"

"And soon" James added, "we've seen the data from testing around here and you're quick, even without the upgrades".

"We wouldn't be asking you if we didn't think you could do it" Toto smiled. God they were desperate.

Charlie stared at the both of them for a moment, toying up the two options she had. One she could say no, and go back to her desk at the far end of the garage to watch the race and collect data for George (and Kimi) or she could get in the car finally achieve a life long goal she had once thought was never going to happen.

"What happens if I say no?"

"We're down one car for the actual race" James was tense. It had been a recent rule change that if a car didn't race in qualifying it couldn't even line up on the grid for the race.

"And if I say yes?"

Toto grinned, "I'd kiss you"

Charlie laughed, "I'll pass on the kiss, but......" she paused for a moment, "yes. I'll do it. I'll drive"

James let out a deep breath. "Thanks Charlie, we won't forget this"

"You better get ready then" Toto's smile had grown in size, "I've got the mechanics fitting out the seat now"

"Huh? But you didn't know if I would do it?"

"Charlie", Toto sighed, "I know you, you're never one to back down from a challenge. Now go! Susie has your race suit in her office"

"Okay", Charlie nodded before heading out. Holy Shit!

* * * * * *

"We've got 15 minutes left of the session Lando, you're currently sitting at P5 with Sainz in P1 and Oscar in P2 0.100 in front."

"We can catch them", Lando gripped his steering wheel. He was currently halfway around the circuit on his out lap. "I've got a few places I can pick up some time".

Entering the straight, he floored it. Pushing the car to its max as he sped down to the first turn.

Hold the brake. Hold.... Hold.

Following the racing line to perfection, Lando accelerated back up to max speed. Though he now lived in Monaco, no track felt more like home than Silverstone. He'd grown up with dreams of racing on this track. Even back in his karting days, he'd beg his dad to bring him to all the races here and when he'd finally managed to race it himself it was an experience he'd compare with winning.

Sailing through turns 4,5 & 6, his race engineer crackled over the radio, "Nice, we've just set the fastest first section. Keep it up"

"Rodger" Lando replied. He just needed to focus. Starting P1 at Silverstone would be so sweet, and it would put him in an ideal position to finally win his home race.

The next section of the track raced by with him navigating the corners to perfection. He'd been told Max had set a blistering pace but there was still a very good chance of him finishing a close second. After him the only driver left to go was Hamilton.

Flooring the accelerator again out of the last turn he hurdled across the line.

"Congrats Mate, that's P2. Only 0.078 off Verstappen".