Behind the Pit Wall: Jamie Albon's Challenge // Lando Norris // F1

Chapter 20: The Calm Before the Storm

The alarm buzzed at 7 AM, pulling Jamie from the light sleep she'd fallen into the night before. She stretched, her muscles still a bit sore but her mind feeling clearer than it had in days. It was the first official day of the Bahrain Grand Prix, and despite everything that had happened in the past week, she was excited. Today marked the start of the new season.

She showered quickly, letting the water wake her up fully, and pulled on her Williams team gear—a blue Williams shirt and fitted jeans. After putting on a light layer of makeup and slipping into her favorite Nikes, she grabbed her purse and phone and headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant.

As soon as she entered, she spotted a sea of blue and white Williams shirts and green Alpine uniforms. Both teams were up early, filling the room with excited chatter. Jamie's eyes found Alex, Lily, and Logan sitting at a table near the window, laughing over something as they ate. She approached them with a bright smile.

"Good morning!" she greeted them, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Alex raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her upbeat mood. "Someone's in a good mood today. What's going on, sis?"

Jamie shrugged, grabbing a plate from the buffet. "It's race weekend. What's not to be excited about?"

Lily smiled softly, though she looked at Jamie with curiosity. "It's nice to see you back to your old self again. We were getting worried."

"I just needed some time, I guess," Jamie said casually, though she knew it was more than that. She had made a decision—a firm one. Lando Norris was no longer going to take up space in her mind. She would treat him like any other driver, nothing more. Their complicated history was officially behind her, and she wasn't going to let him dictate her emotions anymore.

Logan nudged her with his elbow as she sat back down. "Glad to have you back. We missed the happy Jamie."

Jamie grinned and dug into her food. "I'm here, aren't I?"

They talked about the upcoming sessions as they ate, Alex and Logan teasing each other over who would perform better. Jamie listened, genuinely laughing at their jokes, though her mind occasionally drifted back to her resolution. Could she really just forget everything and treat Lando like any other driver? She was determined to try.

After breakfast, they made their way to the paddock, walking in a group with some of the Williams and Alpine teams. Kika, who was carrying her little dog Simba in her arms, joined them for a few minutes.

"So, who's your bet for the season leader this year?" Kika asked as she adjusted Simba in her arms.

"Red Bull," Jamie said without hesitation. "Ferrari will probably put up a good fight, and Mercedes will be there, but I think Red Bull will dominate."

Kika nodded thoughtfully, while Lily chimed in, "Don't count out the underdogs, though. Williams might surprise you."

Jamie smiled at her friend's optimism, but deep down, she knew the top teams would be hard to beat. As they arrived at the paddock, Kika said her goodbyes, heading off to Alpine's hospitality, while Jamie and Lily made their way to Williams'.

Once inside, Jamie immediately dove into work mode, meeting with her colleagues to plan out the day's content. She and Danielle were assigned to cover Logan and Alex's media interviews, so Jamie grabbed her camera and phone, ready to capture as much as possible.

Logan was already waiting when she approached him. "You ready for your close-up?" she teased, holding up her camera.

"Always," Logan grinned. "You just make sure to get my good side."