The roar of the engines echoed across the Circuit Paul Ricard as YN tightened her grip on the steering wheel of her bright blue F1 car. This was her rookie season, and she had just joined one of the smaller teams on the grid. It was the final practice session before the French Grand Prix, and she was determined to prove herself.
As the only female driver on the grid, there was a lot of pressure on her to perform, but YN welcomed the challenge. The journey to Formula 1 hadn’t been easy—years of karting, junior series, and countless sacrifices had finally brought her to this moment. She was right where she wanted to be, and she was ready to fight for her place.
However, the session wasn’t going smoothly. Her times were off, and she struggled to find the rhythm through the high-speed corners. On her final flying lap, she misjudged the entry into Turn 11 and ended up in the runoff area. She cursed under her breath as the radio crackled to life.
"Alright, YN, bring it back to the pits. Let’s review the data," her engineer said, his tone encouraging despite the mistake.
As YN navigated her car back to the garage, she couldn’t shake the frustration. She knew she could do better. After parking the car, she climbed out and removed her helmet, letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. That’s when she noticed Carlos Sainz standing nearby, observing the scene. He was leaning casually against the Ferrari pit wall, his helmet under his arm and a curious expression on his face.
“Hey, rookie,” he called out with a playful grin. “Tough session?”
YN managed a small smile as she approached him. “Yeah, you could say that. I’m struggling with the balance through the fast corners.”
Carlos nodded, his expression shifting to one of genuine interest. “I saw. You’re turning in a bit early at Turn 11, which is causing you to miss the apex. It’s a tricky corner, but once you get the hang of it, the rest of the lap comes together.”
YN was surprised by his willingness to help a competitor. “Thanks, Carlos. I’ll keep that in mind for tomorrow’s session,” she replied, her frustration easing slightly.
“Look, I know how it feels to be the new kid on the grid,” Carlos continued. “It wasn’t that long ago that I was in your position, trying to find my place. If you need any tips or just want to chat about the car, I’m here.”
The offer caught her off guard. “I appreciate that. Honestly, I could use some advice,” YN admitted, feeling a mixture of relief and curiosity.
“Tell you what,” Carlos said, his eyes brightening with an idea. “I’m heading out for a track walk now. Want to join me? We can go over some of the trouble spots together.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Sure, why not? Couldn’t hurt to get a few pointers from a Ferrari driver.”
They started the walk, with Carlos pointing out subtle details about the track that only an experienced driver would notice—small bumps in the tarmac, ideal braking points, and how the wind direction could affect certain corners. As they talked, YN found herself relaxing, enjoying the conversation and the opportunity to learn.
“So, how are you finding the F1 world?” Carlos asked as they reached Turn 11. “It’s a big step up from the junior series.”
“It’s definitely intense,” YN said honestly. “The cars, the media, the expectations… It’s a lot to handle, but I’ve wanted this my whole life. I just need to get up to speed.”
Carlos gave her an encouraging nod. “You’ve got the right attitude. The first year is about learning as much as you can and improving each race. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
Over the next few days, YN took Carlos’s advice to heart. She worked closely with her engineers, analyzed the data, and kept pushing herself to find more speed. During the qualifying session, she managed to improve her lap times significantly, narrowly missing out on Q2. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.
After the session, she bumped into Carlos in the paddock. “Nice job out there,” he said, offering her a fist bump. “You’re getting the hang of it.”
“Thanks. Your advice helped a lot,” YN admitted, grateful for his support.
Race day arrived, and the atmosphere was electric. As YN lined up on the grid, she took a deep breath, reminding herself that this was just the beginning of her journey. The lights went out, and she got a decent start, maintaining her position through the first few corners.
The race was a battle, with wheel-to-wheel action and moments where she had to defend her position aggressively. With a few laps to go, YN found herself in a tussle for P12 with none other than Carlos. She could see his red Ferrari filling her mirrors as he closed in, looking for a way past.
Carlos tried to make a move at Turn 8, diving down the inside, but YN held her ground, leaving just enough space to avoid contact. As they exited the corner, she managed to stay ahead, and they continued to battle for the next few laps. It was exhilarating to fight with one of the top drivers on the grid, and YN was determined to prove she belonged there.
In the end, Carlos managed to get by her, but it took several attempts, and YN finished a respectable 13th. When she climbed out of the car, she was met with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. As she walked back toward the paddock, she heard a familiar voice.
“That was some good racing out there,” Carlos said, approaching with a grin. “You didn’t make it easy for me.”
“Had to make you work for it,” YN replied, a smile spreading across her face. “Thanks for the track walk tips—they definitely came in handy.”
Carlos nodded. “You’ve got the makings of a great driver. Just keep pushing, and don’t be afraid to lean on some of us veterans. We’ve been where you are.”
“Does that mean I can come to you for more advice?” YN asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.
“Anytime,” Carlos said, his grin widening. “Though, next time, I’m not going to go easy on you just because you’re a rookie.”
As YN walked away, she felt a new sense of confidence. She had taken her first steps in Formula 1, and while there was still a long road ahead, she knew she had what it took to succeed. And with the unexpected camaraderie and support from drivers like Carlos, the journey was shaping up to be even more thrilling than she had imagined.
