|Love 4 Apex| Lando Norris

🏎 9 - Frustration

Rose sat in the back of the garage, wiping sweat from her brow, frustration etched across her face. Free practice 1 and 2 had been a disaster—her performance was way off, and no matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't seem to find her rhythm. She knew she had recovered quickly, but it was clear her body and mind weren't back to 100%.

Lando knocked softly on the doorframe before stepping in, concern written all over his face. "Hey, how are you holding up?"

Rose glanced up, her expression tight. "Not great. I'm way off the pace, and I can't get into the groove. It's frustrating."

Lando walked over and sat beside her, his voice gentle. "You've been through a lot, Rose. It's normal to struggle a bit after something like that."

She shook her head, her voice trembling slightly. "I thought I'd be back to my old self by now. I don't have time for this... I need to be better."

Lando watched her, noticing the way her hands clenched into fists. He could see the frustration eating away at her. "You're still the best, Rose. You just need time. Don't be too hard on yourself."

Rose's eyes welled up, and she quickly looked away, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. She didn't want to break down in front of him. She didn't want to show her vulnerability. "I hate this," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lando scooted closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay to hate it. But don't forget how strong you are. You'll get through this."

She took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in her throat, and nodded. "I know." Her voice steadied, but the weight of the disappointment still hung heavy. "Thanks for coming to check on me."

"Anytime," Lando said softly, giving her shoulder a light squeeze before standing up. "I'll be rooting for you tomorrow. No matter what."

As Lando left, Rose allowed herself a brief moment of weakness, a single tear slipping down her cheek before she wiped it away.

The following morning, Rose tried to shake off the frustration from the previous sessions. The crash and her concussion were still on her mind, but she forced herself to focus. Free Practice 3 was her chance to bounce back before qualifying.

From the moment she took to the track, everything felt off. The car wasn't responding the way she wanted, and her body still ached. As her lap times fell short, frustration boiled over.

"Come on, Rose. We need you to push," her race engineer, Mark, came over the radio.

"I AM pushing!" she snapped back, her voice sharp and filled with adrenaline. "This is all I've got right now!" The frustration and pressure were getting to her, and her words came out more aggressively than she intended.

Mark stayed calm. "Copy that, Rose. Just keep focused, and we'll figure this out together."

After ending the session in P11, Rose sat in the garage, staring at the timing screen. Her fists clenched in frustration. Mark approached her cautiously, sensing her mood but staying patient.

"Rose, we're still gathering data. We'll sort this out," he said, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.

She took a deep breath, her jaw tight. "I'm sorry about earlier," she mumbled, avoiding his eyes. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."

Mark gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay. I know you're giving it everything you've got. We'll get there. Just take it one step at a time."

During qualifying, Rose struggled again. Her lap times were off in Q1, and as she fought to find her rhythm, frustration built up once more.

"Okay, Rose, we need to find more pace in sector 2," Mark's voice came through her radio, sounding more urgent.

"I know that, Mark! I'm already driving on the edge!" Rose snapped, her frustration boiling over. "I can't just magically find time where there isn't any!"

"Push harder, Rose. We need more time," Mark replied, his voice controlled despite the tension.

"I'm already pushing as hard as I can!" she yelled, the anger and frustration clear in her tone. "This car isn't doing what I want! It's a mess out here!"

Mark remained calm, his voice a steadying force. "Copy, Rose. Stay focused. We're adjusting settings, but we need you to keep it together. You can do this."

Her grip tightened on the steering wheel, teeth clenched as she fought to control her emotions. "I don't know if I can!" she barked back, her frustration reaching a boiling point.

"Yes, you can," Mark replied, unshaken. "Take a deep breath. We believe in you, Rose."

His calmness cut through her frustration, and she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she prepared for the next flying lap.

In Q2, something shifted. The adjustments from the team and her growing focus began to pay off. She felt the car respond more smoothly, and her confidence returned in bursts. It wasn't perfect, but it was better. When Q3 rolled around, Rose was ready to give it everything she had left.

In the final moments of the session, she went all in, pushing herself and the car to their limits. Her body ached, but she ignored the pain, focusing entirely on each corner, each acceleration. As she crossed the line, her time flashed on the board—P2.

For a moment, she sat in the car, staring at the time in disbelief. After everything—the crash, the doubts, the terrible free practices—she had managed to pull off one of her best qualifying results of the season. But just ahead of her, Lando had secured pole position.

Climbing out of the car, Rose felt a rush of emotions flood through her. The team cheered as she walked back to the garage, but it was the look of pride on Mark's face that really struck her. He approached her with a smile.

"Told you we'd figure it out," Mark said calmly, giving her a nod.

Rose smiled back, feeling relief wash over her. "Thanks, Mark. Sorry about earlier again. I really lost it."

Mark waved it off with a grin. "You're always giving it your all, Rose. That's what matters."

Lando came over, a grin on his face. "Pole for me and P2 for you! We're locking out the front row!" he said, giving her a playful nudge.

Before she could reply, Lewis approached with a wide grin. "Look at you! Bouncing back after a crash and still managing P2. But I'll be right on your tail. You better watch out tomorrow!"

He gave her a congratulatory pat on the back, his playful words making Rose smile. "Good to have you back," he added with a wink.

Not far behind, Daniel, who had qualified P4, gave her a nod of respect. "Guess I should've crashed last weekend to get up here," he teased with a grin.

Just as Rose started to relax, Franco, came up to her. Without hesitation, he pulled her into an unexpected hug. "Congrats, Rose," Franco said, a wide smile on his face. The hug took her by surprise, especially in front of Lando, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Rose returned the hug quickly, trying to brush off the moment as Franco stepped back. "Thanks, Franco," she replied, still feeling the high from her result.

For now, she allowed herself to enjoy the moment. She had fought through the frustration, and she was back where she belonged—at the front.

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Hey everyone!

This chapter was all about the frustration and determination that comes with bouncing back after a tough setback. Rose is dealing with so much, but she's fighting through it all to get back to the front. How do you think her recovery will play out in the race? And how do you feel about Franco stepping in with that hug, especially with Lando watching?

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more! ❤️