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

Chapter 21: Tensions and Triumphs

The second day of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend started quietly. The sun had just begun to rise as Jamie slipped into her Williams gear, her mind fully focused on work. She took a quick glance in the mirror, running a hand through her hair and forcing herself to relax. It was Saturday, the most intense day leading up to race day, and everything had to go smoothly.

Lily, as usual, was at Alex's side, helping him stay calm before the big day. Meanwhile, Jamie had settled into a pattern—smiling, working, and pretending Lando didn't exist. Every time she saw him, she would plaster on a polite smile, wave if necessary, and walk past him as if they were no more than casual acquaintances. It wasn't her best idea, but it worked.

And it was easier than she had expected. Lando didn't bother her, and in a strange way, she found a sense of peace in ignoring the awkwardness between them. Their history? Forgotten. Their arguments? Irrelevant. In her mind, he was just another driver on the grid. The less she acknowledged him, the better she felt, or so she convinced herself.

Saturday was always a busy day, and Jamie spent most of her time filming content with Logan. The third training session went well, but Logan nearly lost control of the car in one of the corners. He saved it at the last second, but Jamie's heart skipped a beat when she saw him slide out, almost crashing into the barriers.

After the session, Williams and every other team busied themselves, preparing for the all-important qualifying session. The garages buzzed with activity, mechanics swarming around the cars, final checks and adjustments being made. Jamie sent a silent prayer that everything would go well for the team.

As qualifying began, Jamie and Lily found themselves sitting in the Williams hospitality, their hands tightly gripping each other's. Both were nervous, the excitement and tension of the moment making it hard to sit still. They were glued to the screen, watching the cars fly around the track as Q1 started.

"Come on, Alex," Lily whispered, her eyes wide as the drivers pushed their limits.

Alex had a strong pace in Q1, finishing comfortably in the top 15, while Logan, despite his best efforts, struggled to find the rhythm and ended up P17, unable to advance to Q2.

"Well, at least he gave it his all," Jamie said, squeezing Lily's hand.

Lily nodded, "Logan's got potential. He'll get there."

With Logan out, all attention shifted to Alex, who moved on to Q2. The tension in the room was palpable as they watched him push his car harder. Williams had put a lot of effort into improving their pace this season, and it was starting to show.

"Come on, Alex, you can do it," Jamie muttered under her breath, her eyes glued to the screen.

Alex narrowly made it into Q3, finishing P10 in the second session. The Williams team celebrated in the hospitality, with Jamie and Lily both jumping to their feet, cheering as he crossed the line.

"He did it!" Lily exclaimed, hugging Jamie tightly. "He actually did it!"

Jamie laughed, feeling a sense of relief. "P10 isn't bad at all. He's in Q3. That's a win!"

As Q3 began, the stakes were even higher. The competition was fierce, with the top teams pushing their cars to the limit. Jamie and Lily barely spoke, their attention fully on the screen. Max and Charles battled for pole, with Lando surprisingly close behind them in P3.

In the end, Max took pole, Charles came in second, and Lando secured third. Alex finished in P10, a solid result, though Jamie could tell he wasn't completely satisfied with it.

"Good job, Alex!" Lily and Jamie cheered as he returned to the Williams hospitality after the session.

Alex smiled at their enthusiasm but shook his head slightly. "P10's decent, but I could've pushed harder."

"Don't beat yourself up," Jamie said, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. "You were brilliant out there. It's the first qualifying of the season. Plenty of time to climb up the grid."

Lily nodded. "Exactly! You did great. And besides, you looked super cool out there. That's all that matters, right?"

Alex laughed at that, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Alright, alright. I guess I looked cool."

After changing out of his race suit, Alex announced that he wanted to go congratulate the drivers who had finished in the top three. Jamie and Lily agreed to accompany him, and the three of them made their way to the media booth where Max, Charles, and Lando were giving their post-qualifying interviews.

As they approached, Jamie could feel the tension between Alex and Lando before either of them even said a word. The unresolved fight from earlier still hung in the air, like a storm waiting to break.

Alex, ever the professional, smiled and clapped Max on the shoulder first. "Congrats, man. Well deserved."

Max grinned. "Thanks, Alex. You had a solid qualifying yourself."

"Thanks, but I've got my eye on that front row for next time," Alex joked.

He turned to Charles next. "Congrats, Charles. Great lap."

"Thanks, mate. P10 isn't bad either, you know. You'll be moving up the grid in no time."

Then came Lando. The atmosphere shifted as Alex extended his hand to congratulate him. "Good job, Lando. You're looking fast this weekend."

Lando smiled, though it was slightly strained. "Thanks, Alex. You're not far behind. Should be a good race tomorrow."

They clapped each other on the shoulder, but Jamie could tell there was still tension between them. She stepped forward with Lily to congratulate Max and Charles, exchanging polite smiles and handshakes.

Then she turned to Lando, her smile carefully in place. "Congrats, Lando. P3 is impressive."

Lando cleared his throat, barely glancing at her. "Thanks."

Jamie raised an eyebrow but said nothing, turning to Lily. "We should probably head back."

Alex nodded, sensing the strain in the air. "Yeah, let's go."

As they walked away, Jamie couldn't help but glance back at Lando. He stood there, hands on his hips, staring at the ground as the other drivers finished their interviews. There was something about the way he carried himself that bothered her, but she pushed the thought aside.

On the walk back to the hotel, Jamie turned to Alex. "You and Lando haven't talked yet, have you?"

Alex shook his head. "No, we've both been busy with the weekend prep."

"Well, you should," Jamie said firmly. "It's weird seeing you two like this. You're usually joking around together."

Alex sighed. "I know. I'll talk to him tomorrow, I promise."

Jamie nodded, satisfied with that answer. But deep down, she knew it wasn't just Alex and Lando who needed to have a conversation. There were unresolved feelings between her and Lando too, but she wasn't ready to face them yet. Ignoring him was easier. Pretending he didn't matter was simpler.

But she knew, sooner or later, she would have to confront it all.