KARMA | Lando Norris

2

The drama is giving

ADEERA SANTIAGO

"Santiago. The McLarens are closing in behind you." My gaze swiftly landed at my side view mirror, I saw Lando blocking Oscar while the young Australian tried to overtake him. "What's happening with them?" I asked in amusement and confusion. "I'm not sure. But from what I had heard, their team is ordering Lando to let Oscar through." Camilo answered. I laughed after hearing that. "Lando's being asked to let Oscar through? This is exciting." I cheered on the radio.

Lando Norris was once a nice bloke, well before he got the wdc title last season. The guy's obsessed with winning, ever since he won his first race. Whenever he's at p2 or p3, McLaren's like hell. He'll start spreading evil throughout the garage, cursing and blaming everyone around him. But before his first win, he really is the sweetest lad, the darling of the grid. He's a gentleman, going around the paddock in his free time and offering help to anyone. But that once upon a time nice Lando Norris is now long gone.

"Adeera, please focus on the race. Norris is closing in on you." Camilo spoke a bit loudly on the radio after a long minutes of silence as I got into turn 6. I was startled a bit by the loudness of his voice. My shock affected the way I steered the wheel and the two McLaren's ended up overtaking me in that one turn. "I'm sorry" I sighed in disappointment as I went full throttle, trying to regain p1 with only 5 laps left and a 0.344 gap against Oscar who's currently in p2.

I sped up in the last 3 laps as I watched the drama unfold in front of me. Lando was slowing down in the distance letting Oscar pass through. I took it as a chance and stepped harder on the accelerator, setting the race's fastest lap. I let out a relieved sigh as I crossed the checkered flag in p3. "That's P3 Santiago!! Well done." Camilo announced on the radio, the screams of excitement of the other strategists and engineers being heard at the background. "Welcome back to the podium, Adeera. Congratulations" Toto greeted. I shrieked in excitement and utter streams of Thanks.

I am back baby!

I drove around, waving at the crowd excitedly. I'm back at the podium! In your faces reporters in the media pen! After I parked the car at the back of the 3rd position sign, I quickly got out of the car and ran to hug Valentina who's already waiting for me open armed. "I'm proud of you, Ad." she congratulated. My smile grew wider hearing those words.

Me being at p3 meant that I am the first one to be interviewed. Woohoo. Another interview. I removed my helmet and placed it on the table. I ran my hands through my long wavy hair and let it fall down while I took a sip from my water bottle. My eyes lit up when I saw Oscar. "Congratulations Oscar!!" I greeted in excitement as we high fived. "Congratulations as well" he replied with a bright smile. "First win! That must be so overwhelming!" I exclaimed. "Yeah, a lot to take in." He said smiling, but the hint of unsatisfied is evident in his voice and facial expression. I took a glance at Lando who was at the other end, talking to one of his mechanics. I was about to speak my mind to Oscar when I heard my name. "That's your cue." He said gesturing for me to walk towards the interviewer.

Oscar and I grew up together, we met when I was 15 and he was also 15. Ever since we raced against each other at karting, we've become inseparable. I got into formula 1 and a year after, he followed. I am genuinely happy for him and his well-deserved first win. However, I know for a fact that the way he won today isn't his ideal first win. I know for a fact that he felt like his first win was handed to him, when in fact he worked hard for it and McLaren's shitty strategy is the one to blame on the outcome and why he won like that.

The crowd cheered as I approached the interviewer. "P3 Santiago! Welcome back! Great race!" He exclaimed. "Good to be back." I replied with a warm smile. "You did such an amazing job back there, you almost won. But what happened at turn six?" He asked. "Turn six was a real bummer. What happened back there was, I was startled by a radio message and I uh— sort of lost control over the steering wheel because of my shock." I ended with a small laugh. "Good job today though, started at p2 and ended at p3. Well I'm not going to lie to you, some thinks that you'll end up finishing the race outside of p10 again."