Nevermind - Tsunoda x Gasly x Ocon

🏎Chapter 5 🏎

"Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin', but half of them ain't lookin'
It's going on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin'."

- Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio

🏎

•Pierre's POV•

Saturday, Spain GP.

This morning I took my car and went straight to Charles' hotel. I told him about Yuki, I needed to talk to someone other than my partner. Charles offered me to take his hotel room, when I pointed out that he seems to be spending the night with someone else. I refused;

Now I re-start from zero with Esteban.

The little affinity we had begun to have has completely disappeared.

However, I do not want us to become enemies again as before, after the states in which he saw me. I questionned myself and I think I'm beginning to understand why he hid Yuki's health from me.

Since a fire broke out in the McLaren hospitality, we did not have access to ours. Despite that, the last free practice of this noon went well, I did not stay on track for long but I am ready for the qualifying.

For once, I feel like I'm up to the task. Sushi must be proud of me.

I look at the Spanish sunlights, trying to think of something other than the clouds of problems that surrounded me. I put on my helmet and prayed before getting into the car.

I'm out of the pit lane from the start, along with everyone else. The warm-up goes smoothly, I feel every vibration of the car, every roar of the engine reminds me of the unbearable noise of last week.

I'm going for several fast laps. The sensations are good, the car responds well. I'm among the best and the team decides to take me to the pits. A quick look at the timing screens shows me that I'm in a good position, but I know it won't last. Obviously, I'm quickly down below the top 10 while others improve their times.

Two minutes before the end of the clock, I'm betting on a last lap. I know I have to get out of the game. I go back, the pressure is maximum. Every turn is crucial, every acceleration is millimetric. My heart is racing but I'm still focused. I move to Q2. A temporary relief, but a victory in itself.

The car is moved back to the garage, to warm up the tires while I stay cool. The mechanics are busy around me, adjusting, checking, optimizing every detail. I take a few moments to refocus, to breathe deeply and release the tension.

The minutes are fast passing. It's time to get back on track. In the pit lane, Esteban who also passes in Q2 waves at me to encourage me, which makes me smile. The tyres look perfect. I'm going again. The track is warmer now, more slippery. The other pilots are just as determined, but I feel it's my moment. Despite yesterday, I give everything I have when I see the checkered flag. When I finish my turn, I know I pass because I'm told on the radio, followed by a "The two Alpines are in Q3 for the first time of the season."

Wow.

Is this progress, or just luck?

The final part of qualifying is always the most intense. It's where everything happens, where every millisecond counts. Whatever my result I'm already happy to start in the top 10. I don't know if it's pressure or motivation but I'm proud.

I go out for my first lap. The grip is perfect, the car responds to every command. It still needs a last effort.

With the end of the session announced, I finish my last lap. Each straight line being an opportunity, I cross the finish line and I wait. They tell me my time. 1:11.857. P7. I feel relieved, it's a good starting position.