On Track For A Legacy (Formula 1)

The Agony of Almost

That first qualifying session, gives every team the opportunity to see where your car is in the order. And that is absolutely critical.
- Claire Williams
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1st qualifying session

(Ayra's P.O.V)
The morning of my first qualifying session feels surreal. The Bahrain sun beats down on the circuit, casting long streaks of sunlight on the tarmac, but inside the car, all I can feel is the sharp focus I've been building toward this moment. The noise of the crowd outside the paddock, the hum of other cars as they warm up in the garages, it all fades into the background. It's just me and the machine now. I take a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel, and feel the car hum beneath me. My hands are steady, despite the nerves bubbling just below the surface. I've done this a thousand times in practice, a thousand more in the simulator, but today feels different. Today, it's real. I get the call over the radio that it's time to head out. "Copy" I answer to the call and I pull away from the pit box. The engine's growl filling the space around me, and roll down the pit lane toward the track. As I enter the first corner, the tires are still cold, the car's responsiveness a little sluggish. But as I push the throttle just a little more, the world starts to narrow down to just the line, just the turns. Like I'm driving in a tunnel. It's all I've ever wanted—this focus, this rhythm. The laps fly by, each one a little faster than the last, each one a little closer to the limit of what I can do. The car feels good, almost like it's responding to my thoughts. There's a moment—just a fleeting second—where everything clicks, where I feel the car under me like I'm inside it, an extension of my own body. My heart races, but the nerves begin to dissolve, replaced by the steady pulse of adrenaline. The radio crackles. "Keep pushing, Arya. You're looking good". I nod, even though they can't see me. I push harder. The track opens up before me, the car settling into the flow of the corners, the tires gripping the asphalt just right. Every turn feels like it's flowing into the next, no hesitations, no doubts. By the time I cross the finish line, I made it to Q2. I'm breathless, every muscle taut with the effort, but something feels right. I've given everything I can, and now all I can do is wait for the other drivers to cross the line. The cool-down lap feels like it lasts forever. The radio gives me the usual updates. Valterri Bottas out in Q1, Lewis Hamilton through to Q2. Same for Sebastian and Fernando. With every name, I get closer and closer to not going through to Q2. "Tsunoda faster in sector 2" my engineer comes through. And then finally comes the answer, confirming if I've gone through to the second qualifying. "Tsunoda 1:30.11. You're through to Q2". I smack my steeringwheel in excitement "yes, let's make it count". I park the car in the pit box, the tension in my chest eases, but only a little as I wait for Q2 to start.

2nd qualifying session

The break between Q1 and Q2 drags on, and inside the car, I can’t seem to settle. My hands are fidgeting on the steering wheel, my feet tapping restlessly against the pedals. I’ve made it to Q2—my first time—and while it’s a big step, it’s also the moment where I need to prove that this car belongs in Q3. Every second that passes feels like wasted time. I can feel my heart racing with anticipation, my nerves starting to tangle with excitement. I hear the radio crackle and my engineer’s voice cuts through the tension. "Stay in the garage for a bit longer, Arya. We’re still monitoring track conditions". I bite my lip, trying to hold back my impatience. "Copy" I reply, though every fiber of my being wants to hit the track right now. The car is ready, I’m ready, and I just want to go. The heat outside feels suffocating, but it’s the tightness in my chest that’s the hardest to bear. I see cars leaving for their out-laps, the sound of engines revving outside, and it only fuels the restlessness inside me. I glance at the monitor that shows everyone laps time.

1) VER : 1:29.165

2) LEC : 1:29.374

3) RUS : 1:29.407