My Brother's Teammate | Lando Norris

Crash

Sunday arrived at the Miami Grand Prix, and the paddock was alive with a frenetic energy that buzzed through the air. Alexis, feeling overwhelmed by nerves and the weight of the day, had chosen to watch the race from the Paddock Club instead of the McLaren garage. The decision had come as a relief, as she knew she needed the comforting distraction of her friends to help manage her mounting anxiety.

She settled into the plush surroundings of the Paddock Club, surrounded by luxury and a panoramic view of the circuit. The tension in her chest was palpable, but Heidi and Carmen were already there to help take her mind off the race.

Heidi, with her warm and reassuring presence, bought Alexis a drink to help calm her nerves, and Carmen, known for her calm demeanour, was chatting about George's recent performance. Alexis listened, grateful for the diversion from her worries.

"I needed this," Alexis admitted, glancing out at the track. "The garage just felt too intense today."

Heidi gave her a sympathetic look. "I get it. Sometimes being in the middle of all the action is too much. You're in good company here."

The lights went out, and the race was underway. Alexis' heart raced as she watched Lando and Oscar navigate the opening laps. Lando's car seemed to lose a few places at the start, slipping back from his impressive qualifying position. Alexis bit her lip, her concern for him momentarily overshadowed by the persistent worry for Oscar.

The laps rolled on, and Alexis' unease grew as she saw Oscar struggling with under braking. His car appeared to be handling poorly, just as he had described. The tension was almost unbearable.

Then, without warning, the screen showed Oscar's car veering off track. A gasp escaped Alexis as she saw him driving into a gravel trap at high speed and crash into the fence. The impact was jarring, and the red flag quickly came out, halting the race.

Panic surged through Alexis as she watched the scene unfold. Her hands were trembling, and her eyes were locked on the screen, willing it to show some sign of movement from Oscar.

Heidi and Carmen noticed her distress immediately. Heidi reached over, placing a calming hand on Alexis' arm. "Hey, breathe. It's okay. The medics will be on the scene right away."

Carmen nodded, her voice soothing. "This isn't uncommon. They'll check him thoroughly at the medical tent. It's standard procedure. They'll make sure he's okay."

Alexis's phone buzzed incessantly with messages. Her heart sank as she saw texts from Lily, as well as her Dad and Nicole, all asking for updates and expressing their concern. The influx of messages only intensified her anxiety.

"I can't keep up with all these messages," Alexis said, her voice trembling. "What if it's worse than it looks?"

Heidi took Alexis' phone and gently set it aside. "For now, focus on what you can control. Oscar is in the hands of professionals. They'll take care of him."

Carmen offered a reassuring smile. "The fact that they've stopped the race is a good sign. It means they're taking everything seriously, and making sure it's all handled properly."

As the minutes ticked by, the Paddock Club felt both a world away from the chaos and a sanctuary amidst the storm. Alexis clung to her friends' words of comfort, their experience and calm demeanour a lifeline in the midst of her fear.

Eventually, a sense of relief began to trickle in as the medics and rescue team worked on getting Oscar out of the car. The screens were momentarily obscured, and the uncertainty gave way to the slow but steady reassurance of the medical team's diligence.

As the red flag had stopped the race, Alexis wasted no time in rushing to the medical tent. She pushed her way through the crowd, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and urgency. Inside the tent was a flurry of activity, with medics and officials moving swiftly to attend to the aftermath of the crash.