Written in the Stars I LN4

One

Aurea Alves

Australia 2024 - The First Race of the Season

"Welcome back to Formula 1! Were here in Melbourne for the 1st race back, after the winter break. We have a few big changes to the grid, with new F1 team, Porsche joining, with their drivers, 22 year old  Aurea Alves and 28 year old Alex Albon. Their team principal is the 2009 F1 world champion, Jenson Button and It is lovely to see him back on the grid"

"Deep breaths. That's all you need to do. Breathe"

The only words that go through my head. I'm sat in my car, in P4, after an okay qualifying yesterday.  Max is in front of me, with Charles in front of him. Riccardo is behind me, I'll need to defend against him. 

The formation lap lights go green, and I wait for Verstappen to go. Gentle throttle. Make a small gap. Corner, ease into the next one. Straight. 

I map out the circuit in my head, giving myself instructions. I come round turn 14, before slotting into my space. Its about 45 seconds before the last car makes it's way onto the grid. Breathe. 

Light.

Light.

Light.

Light

Light. 

Breathe.

The lights go out and I slam on the throttle. I instantly get in front of Max, who had a bad start. 

Only 58 laps to go. Great. 

For the rest of the laps I stick to a steady pace. I slowly gain on Charles, distancing myself from Max, who seems to have break issues. 

Lap 24/50

'box now Alves, box box'

Undercut. No one in the top 5 has pitted. Risky but can be worth it. 

I pull into the pits, watching as Max glides past me. 

'where will I come out after this?' I ask Mark, my race engineer.

'P5, if all goes well P5'

I pull into where my team was waiting with my hard tyres. I take deep, needed breaths as my car gets lifted and tyres changed. Thank god. A quick stop. Around 2 seconds. I bolt out of the pit, joining the race in P5, with a car right up my ass. 

Lap 36/58

'Leclerc had a bad pit, your in P2'

Woah ok. Didn't expect that. Ok omg I'm stressing.

'gap to in front and behind?'

'Norris 3.4 ahead, Verstappen 2.1 behind, keep pushing'

I continue where I am for most of the laps until lap 54. I'm coming round, overtaking backmarkers, until I get to Nikita Mazepin. Or Mazespin should I say. He has always had a problem with me, ever since he joined. I don't even know why, I have been everything but mean or rude to him. Everyone knows he's only here because of his dad. I hate people who think their superior to everyone because their parents are rich.  Ugh, ick. 

they show the blue flag, telling him to move out my way, but he stays on the racing line. I constantly try to pass him, earning a scream from me at every failed attempt. I give up and radio in,

'tell this fucking idiot to move OUT OF MY WAY!!'

I shout on my radio, hoping I got my message across.