second chances ~ ollie bearman (2)

part 111

when coming out of the pits, i came out in p14. to say the least, the pit stop was not good. and i was extremely stressing out.

"my race is even more fucked!" i say angrily, defending my position to lawson behind.

"angel it's okay, we still have another 23 laps to go. the pack is bunched up, the rain can play to our advantage here."

"i need to scream."

"go on." jules replies, and i do exactly that. i wouldn't be surprised if the cars around me heard it.

"done?" jules asks a moment later.

" yes, let's fuck these bitches up." i reply, readjusting my hand on the wheels.

"1.363 to the car ahead."

whilst most of the cars on track were struggling with the heavy rain, i was gliding on through the pack. it wasn't long before i was in p5, with 8 laps of the race to go. angel a year ago wouldn't even recognise myself, i never expected myself to be this confident in the rain.

"okay angel, lance is in p2 currently. leclerc is 0.946 ahead in p4. it is critical you overtake him soon."

"what is lance's gap to norris?" i reply, pressing my foot down harder into the accelerator.

"13.253 currently."

"is he closing it? can he close it? he hasn't done his time penalty jules, can lance win?"

"we are trying angel, okay? worry about your own race."

"i don't have anything to worry about jules, why the fuck would i be worried?"

"language- and focus on driving!" jules says, and i stay silent as i focus my whole attention on the ferrari ahead of me.

we were less than a car length away from each other, i could practically smell him. that's a lie, i can't smell anything in the car. we were side by side for a few corners, i didn't have the advantage of drs because charles had drs too. i had to complete the overtake using my own strengths.

"come on angel; you've got this kid."

"shut up!"

i press my foot down further, moving ahead of charles. as we headed down the first drs zone we both opened the drs wing, being as fast as we could. as we go into turn 5, i take the inside line, expecting to defend what hopefully would be p4, when there was no red ferrari in my mirror. p4

"okay angel, leclerc went wide. focus on piastri ahead now. this is all that's stopping us from a podium."

"gap?"

"1.026."

"okay."

the number of laps was going down and down, i still hadn't overtaken oscar. there was times i almost did, but the rain was making it tricky. oscar was one of the best drivers on the grid, i knew it would be hard to overtake. but i had hoped i would have more than two laps to do it.

"come on angel. you can do it. think about it. this could be the last podium for lance, make it memorable." jules says.

as we went into the second drs zone, oscar was no longer in drs range to lance ahead. and i was in drs. finally, i overtake oscar using the drs advantage and leave him a good gap behind. p3.

"that was good angel." jules replies.

what a race. i wouldn't be surprised if i find 30 wrinkles from stress on my forehead afterwards.

the final two laps were a breeze, nothing major happened. and lance helped to give me drs so i wouldn't have to defend on the very much dead tyres i had. and just like that, i crossed the line in p3.

"that is p3 angel! amazing race, absolute masterpiece."

"thank you, thank you to everyone in the team. but this is about lance, so let's not forget that yeah?" i say, as i catch up my teammate ahead- or well he slows down to me.

i give him a thumbs up, as he returns it and we drive around the track side by side, pulling into the pit lane with him ahead. and the number four mclaren was already lined up in p1. that would have been me, that should be me.

i climb out the car and walk over to lance, who was already celebrating with our team.

"thank you angel." he says, smiling at me as i pull him into a hug.

"no, that was all you mate." i reply, as he hugs me back.

he couldn't stop smiling, i knew what this meant to him. i also knew what this race win could have meant to me. if i won today, i would have been fourth in the drivers championship.

from the corner of my eye, i see lando walking in our direction, so i head over to the fia to be weighed. i was about to head away, when i get called over by another member of the fia.

"are you feeling alright? any dizziness? loss of sight?" they ask with a notepad

"yes, yes i'm fine." i reply, before answering a few more questions whilst taking off my helmet and balaclava.

these questions were a part of the decision that let me stay racing. i find it completely pointless.

"okay, thank you, your free to go." the person replies, before walking away.

i spot ollie not too far away, and begin to head towards him, before getting directed away towards a car. gods sake.

lando was already sat inside, and lance was heading over. i quickly put my helmet and gloves down on the p3 stand, and grab the bottle of water before making my way over.

lando was sat on the right hand side, and i didn't really want to sit beside him, but i didn't want lance to be squished in the middle, so i took the middle seat.

|| authors note ~ two parts in two days!!

hope you enjoy! ❤️