Tangled in Trophies- Lando Norris

27. Races

Evangeline was perched on a stool in the McLaren garage, her eyes fixed intently on the screen in front of her. The air buzzed with tension as the cars raced around the Imola track, engines roaring and tires screeching with every turn. She could feel the heat of the cars as though they were right in front of her, even though she knew she was safely tucked away inside the garage.

Her fingers gripped the edge of the metal bench she was sitting on. Every lap, every overtaking maneuver sent her heart climbing, and she found herself holding her breath without even realizing it.

The cars were a blur of color—reds, blues, and silvers whipping around the corners, engines growling and gearboxes shifting in perfect sync. The crowd was alive outside, but here, in the McLaren space, the sound of the cars and the hum of the pit wall radios drowned it all out. Evangeline could feel her pulse quicken with every lap, her eyes darting between Lando's McLaren car and the leaderboard on the screen.

It had been a chaotic race from the very beginning. Lando had started strong, battling for position early on but had fallen behind in a few tense moments. Now, with just a few laps remaining, he was in second, locked in a fierce battle with a red car from the Scuderia team.

Come on, Lando, she thought, her breaths coming short and fast.

She could feel the pressure in the air, the sharp focus in the garage as Lando's name was called over the radio. Every move mattered now. Her body was rigid as she watched him approach the final straight, his hands gripping the wheel, his focus absolute.

The sound of his car roared in her chest, faster and faster, engines screaming as he pushed the car to the very limit. Evangeline could almost feel the vibrations in her bones as he hurtled toward the finish line.

The final corner came, and her breath came out in a sharp gasp.

"Let's go, Lando," she whispered under her breath.

The cars raced toward the finish line, Lando's car in perfect sync with the track, pushing hard, fighting every inch. For a second, she thought he could make it, that he might pull ahead. But in the end, he crossed the line in second place, just behind the Ferrari that had held the lead all the way to the finish.

The sound of the cars dying down brought her out of her own trance. She exhaled, her shoulders dropping as the tension left her in waves.

"Second place!" someone in the McLaren garage said, voice loud with excitement and relief.

Evangeline allowed herself a small smile, though her breath was still shaky. She couldn't imagine how Lando must feel after such a race—so close, yet just out of reach.

The team was already buzzing with energy, mechanics and engineers exchanging high-fives and congratulating each other. The radio crackled again as Lando's voice came through, cool and steady, acknowledging his position and offering thanks to the team.

She could see him now, his helmet still on, his hands on the steering wheel as his car came into view. The team was already waiting for him, ready to pull him into their celebration and strategic discussions.

The whole scene felt surreal, fast-moving, chaotic, and beautiful all at the same time. Evangeline could barely believe she was here, watching all of this from just a few feet away.

She could see Lando's smile as he stepped out of his car, helmet in hand. There was a look of pride, exhaustion, and relief on his face all at once. He'd done well, she thought.

"Not bad," she murmured to herself with a soft chuckle, feeling the adrenaline from the race still buzzing in her veins.

As Lando approached the McLaren team, waving and laughing, his eyes caught hers for a moment. She could feel his gaze, sharp and calm, as though he were searching for her reaction. She tried to return his look with confidence but knew she must still look a little breathless.