In the Speed of Love - English Version

chapter II

"**I don't aspire to be like other drivers; I want to be unique in my own way.**" — Lewis Hamilton

Phuwin was backstage at the second free practice session, watching everything with Love. They were attentively monitoring the screens as the cars completed their fast laps on the track. Prim and Book had done the same during FP1 and had recorded their activities with Nando that morning. Phuwin and Love would record theirs later, after the activities ended, this time with Pond.

Phuwin hadn't seen Pond in person that day but knew he was working hard in the garage, adjusting the car with the mechanics. Now, he only watched him on the monitors, impressed by Pond's speed and precision on the track.

Love, beside him, was filming everything with her phone. "Sara," she called out, "can you explain to Tommy's followers how a free practice session works in Formula 1?"

Sara, the media manager, smiled and nodded before starting her explanation. "Of course, Love," she said enthusiastically. "Free practice sessions are an essential opportunity for drivers and teams to fine-tune the car and prepare for the race. We usually have three practice sessions: two on Friday and one on Saturday before qualifying. During these sessions, teams not only work on strategies and experiment with different tire compounds, but they also adjust the car's settings to achieve the best possible performance. It's a crucial time to gather data and make all the necessary adjustments before what really matters: qualifying and the race."

While Sara spoke, Phuwin listened attentively, but his eyes remained fixed on the screen, where Pond completed another fast lap. He could hardly believe the complexity and intensity of what was happening. Everything seemed much more intricate and strategic than he had ever imagined.

Love noticed Phuwin's focused attention on the screen and gave a slight smile, leaning in to tease him gently. "You're really into this, huh?"

Phuwin rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh, you know how curious I am," he replied in a lively tone. "It's all so different from what I'm used to. I guess I'm just... soaking in the experience." He shrugged, and she smiled.

With a playful grin, she said, "Yeah, it really is an interesting world."

Pond was driving with fierce concentration, feeling every turn and straight as an extension of his own body. He was relieved and satisfied to feel that his hard work, along with that of the engineers and mechanics, had paid off. The car was faster, lighter, responding perfectly to his commands.

As he accelerated down the main straight, he felt a wave of satisfaction. This was what he sought: the sensation of being in sync with the machine, pushing the limits and striving for perfection. But suddenly, something changed. A slight vibration in the steering wheel, almost imperceptible at first, began to grow.

"This isn't good," Pond thought, pressing his lips together. He tried to maintain speed, but the issue became apparent. The car started losing power.

"Team, I feel something's wrong," Pond said over the radio, trying to stay calm while guiding the car to a safe spot. "I'm losing power. What's happening?"

There was a moment of silence, followed by quick, tense voices on the other end.

"We're checking, Pond. It seems to be a fuel system issue. We're analyzing the data now."

Pond closed his eyes for a second, trying to control the frustration building inside him. He had given everything, and seeing the car fail again was a hard blow. "Understood. I'm stopping the car," he responded, his voice heavy with disappointment.

He carefully maneuvered the car into the escape area, feeling the frustration intensify with each passing second. Finally, he stopped, turned off the engine, and leaned back in his seat, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.