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

Chapter 25: Silent Storm

The next two weeks blurred together for Jamie as she focused on her work, determined to put as much distance between herself and Lando as possible. The Williams team packed up in Bahrain three days after the race, splitting into two groups. Some flew back to England to prepare for the next leg of the season, while others, including Jamie, headed directly to Saudi Arabia.

Jamie chose to stay with the Saudi Arabia team, knowing that the extended stay would give her more time to create content and gather material for Williams' social media channels. It also served as a convenient excuse to stay busy and avoid the emotional storm brewing inside her.

She kept in touch with Alex, Lily, and Logan, sending them updates about her work and the beautiful but intense atmosphere in Saudi Arabia. The country's vibrant culture and the excitement of the upcoming race gave her plenty to share, and she threw herself into her job with renewed focus.

But even as she worked, Lando's presence loomed large in her mind. He wasn't physically there, but his messages were a constant reminder that their last conversation—or lack thereof—was far from over.

Lando had sent her several messages over the past two weeks. Each one was more insistent than the last.

Lando Norris: You can't keep running away, Jamie.

Lando Norris: Ignoring me isn't going to make this go away.

Lando Norris: Just scream at me or punch me if you have to, but stop pretending like I'm a stranger.

Jamie read each message as it arrived, but she never responded. She didn't want to engage, didn't want to open that door again. Lando made her head spin, made her feel things she didn't want to feel—anger, confusion, even a sliver of something that felt dangerously close to affection.

No. She couldn't let herself go down that path. Lando was a playboy, a constant flirt, and someone who didn't take things seriously. He was the last person she needed to be tangled up with, especially now, when her focus should be on her career and her own well-being.

So, she left his messages on read, letting him stew in his frustration.

On Lando's end, the silence was infuriating. He could see that she was reading his messages—those tiny gray checkmarks turning blue—but she never replied. The thought of Jamie, someone who had always been fiery and never backed down from a fight, now ignoring him like he was nothing more than an annoying mosquito, drove him mad.

Lando replayed their last interactions over and over in his mind. He knew he'd crossed a line during their argument, but he hadn't expected Jamie to shut down like this. They had argued plenty of times before, and she had never been one to hold back. Her silence now was like a slap in the face, a cold reminder that he'd pushed too far.

Determined to fix things, Lando tried to catch her attention in the paddock. He'd see her in the distance, her head down as she focused on her phone or camera, and he'd start to approach her, but she always found a way to slip away before he could say anything.

It was infuriating, and it made him realize just how much he missed their usual banter—even their fights. He'd never thought he'd miss arguing with Jamie, but here he was, desperate for some kind of reaction from her, even if it was just to yell at him.

The days in Saudi Arabia were long and exhausting. The desert heat was relentless, and the work to prepare for the race was intense. Jamie found herself working late into the night, editing videos, scheduling posts, and ensuring that every piece of content was perfect. It was easier to focus on that than on the gnawing sensation that something in her life was out of place.

As the days passed, the drivers and teams began arriving in Saudi Arabia. The energy in the paddock grew more intense as the race weekend approached. The circuit in Jeddah was challenging, and everyone knew that this race would be crucial in setting the tone for the season.

Jamie watched from a distance as the drivers arrived, trying her best to maintain her composure as she caught sight of Lando among them. He looked focused, but she could see the tension in his posture, the way his jaw tightened as he spoke with his team.

He didn't try to approach her this time, and for that, she was grateful. But she could feel his eyes on her whenever they were in the same space, like a weight pressing down on her. She kept her head down, focusing on her tasks, refusing to let him break her resolve.

But despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.

The night before the race, Jamie found herself sitting alone on a balcony overlooking the city. The lights of Jeddah stretched out before her, a sea of shimmering stars against the dark canvas of the desert night. It was beautiful, but it did little to calm the storm inside her.

She thought about Lando's messages, about the way he'd looked at her in Bahrain, and about how everything had spiraled out of control so quickly. She didn't want to feel this way—conflicted, angry, hurt—but she couldn't help it. Lando had a way of getting under her skin, and no matter how hard she tried to ignore him, he was always there, lingering in the back of her mind.

Jamie sighed, running a hand through her hair as she tried to clear her thoughts. Tomorrow was race day, and she needed to be focused. She couldn't let Lando, or anyone else, distract her from what was important.

But as she sat there, staring out at the city, she couldn't shake the feeling that the tension between them was like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. And when it did, she wasn't sure if she would be ready for the fallout.