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

Chapter 26: Racing Hearts

The race day in Saudi Arabia started early, and the air was filled with excitement and anticipation. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit was buzzing with energy as teams and drivers prepared for what was sure to be a thrilling event. Jamie woke up before the sun had fully risen, her mind already racing through the day's tasks. She wanted to make sure everything went smoothly, and that meant staying focused and avoiding any unnecessary distractions—especially those with a certain curly-haired Brit.

After getting ready, Jamie made her way to the hotel restaurant where she was meeting Alex for breakfast. As she entered, she spotted Alex already seated at a corner table, casually scrolling through his phone. She smiled and walked over, giving him a light tap on the shoulder before taking a seat across from him.

"Morning, Alex," she greeted, her tone cheerful.

"Morning, Jamie," Alex replied, looking up from his phone and flashing her a smile. "You ready for today?"

"Always," she said with a grin, reaching for the menu. "How was the flight from Bahrain to England? I bet Lily and Logan were lively company."

Alex chuckled, setting his phone aside. "Oh, you know how it is. Lando and Logan kept challenging each other to everything from arm wrestling to seeing who could guess the number of clouds outside the window. Oscar and Lily were trying to sleep through it all."

Jamie nodded, her smile tightening slightly at the mention of Lando, but she quickly pushed any thoughts of him aside. She wanted to focus on the race and her work, not the unresolved tension that had been gnawing at her for weeks.

They ordered their breakfast, and as they waited, they chatted about the upcoming race, the strategies Williams might employ, and how they thought the season would unfold. But after a while, Alex's gaze softened as he studied Jamie, concern evident in his eyes.

"Jamie, are you really okay?" Alex asked, his voice quiet yet probing. "I know you've been saying you're fine, but..."

Jamie sighed, looking down at her hands resting on the table. "I'm okay, Alex. Really. I just... I need to focus on work. It helps keep me grounded, you know? I don't need any other distractions right now."

Alex nodded slowly, though it was clear he wasn't entirely convinced. But he knew better than to push her. Jamie was stubborn, and when she set her mind to something, she was determined to see it through.

"Alright," he said, offering her a small smile. "Just know I'm here if you need anything."

"Thanks, Alex," she replied, returning the smile, albeit with a touch of sadness behind it.

After they finished breakfast, they headed to the track. The day's activities began in full swing, with Alex diving into meetings with his race engineers while Jamie joined the social media team. Her morning was spent capturing photos of fans proudly wearing Williams gear, holding signs, and showing their support for the team. The energy in the paddock was infectious, and Jamie found herself smiling more genuinely as she interacted with the fans.

As the hours ticked by, the race drew closer, and the drivers began to change into their racing suits. Jamie made her way back to the Williams hospitality area to wish Alex good luck before the race.

"Don't do anything stupid out there, okay?" Jamie teased as she hugged Alex tightly.

Alex chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "I'll be fine, Jamie. It's just another day at the office."

"Still, just... be careful," she said, her voice a bit more serious.

"I promise," Alex assured her, giving her a reassuring smile before heading off to the garage.

With the race about to begin, Jamie settled into the Williams hospitality to watch the action unfold. The race started smoothly, with no major incidents, but as the laps ticked by, Jamie found herself growing restless. Deciding she needed a change of scenery, she grabbed her camera and went for a stroll around the paddock, looking for more moments to capture.

As she walked, she heard the faint sound of crying coming from a nearby corner. Curious and concerned, Jamie followed the sound until she found a young boy, probably around six or seven years old, sitting on the ground with tears streaming down his face.

Jamie squatted down to his level, her expression softening. "Hey there, are you okay?"

The boy sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "I... I can't find my parents."

Jamie's heart went out to him. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Ethan," he mumbled, holding up his paddock ticket with trembling hands.

Jamie took the ticket and quickly scanned it. "It looks like you're with the Haas team, Ethan. How about we go look for them together?"

Ethan nodded, his small hand slipping into Jamie's as she helped him stand. As they walked towards the Haas hospitality, Jamie sent a quick text to some of the Williams team members, asking if they had seen any parents looking for a lost child. But no one had seen anything.

When they arrived at the Haas hospitality, Jamie approached a staff member and explained the situation. The staff member looked through the guest list and found a contact number for Ethan's parents. After a brief phone call, the staff informed Jamie that the parents were on their way.

Jamie knelt down beside Ethan, giving him a reassuring smile. "Your parents are coming to get you, okay? Why don't you sit here and have something to eat while we wait?"

Ethan nodded and took a seat, nibbling on a cookie that one of the Haas team members handed him. Jamie stayed with him until she saw his parents rushing towards them, relief etched on their faces. They thanked her profusely as they hugged Ethan tightly.

"It's no problem," Jamie said warmly. "I'm just glad he's safe."

After saying her goodbyes to Ethan and his parents, Jamie made her way back to the Williams hospitality. She arrived just in time to catch the last few minutes of the race. Max crossed the finish line first, followed by Checo and Lewis. Alex finished in P9, securing some valuable points for Williams, while Lando managed to secure P7.

As the race ended, the teams began packing up, and Jamie gathered her things, ready to head back to the hotel. She pulled out her phone and saw a new message from Lando.

Lando Norris: We need to talk tonight. Meet me after the team debrief.

Jamie frowned, her fingers hovering over the screen. She didn't want to have this conversation, not now, not when she was finally starting to feel like herself again. She quickly typed out a short response.

Jamie: No.

With that, she slipped her phone back into her pocket and left the paddock, determined to put as much distance between herself and Lando as possible. She was done letting him affect her mood, her work, her life. Whatever needed to be said could wait—or perhaps didn't need to be said at all.