Molly has spent her life growing up alongside her best friend Lando Norris who is now racing in his second season for McLaren F1 team. She never missed a karting, GP3, F2 race but whilst lando was achieving his dream she had been studying for hers w...
This week is the Russian GP and I'm terrified to face everyone in the paddock. Charles made this Instagram post
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
@charlesleclerc I'm an stupid. I want everyone to know that I didn't kiss Charlotte Seine she kissed me and it was unsolicited. My heart belongs to @mollylanesF1 and only her. I am going to do everything in my power to win her back.
My heart sank at the post because now everyone will know we aren't together at the moment and I don't want people pity. I've been at the MTC the last couple of days but we fly to Sochi tonight. I'm fully on top of my current emails and I have organised Lando's weekend fully and helped get some of his other commitments. Zak came to check on me before I left "Hey Molly, mind if we have a quick chat?" I feel anxious "of course Zak" he takes a seat at my desk "firstly I want to thank you for all of your hard work so far this week, you have been beyond on top of everything. Secondly I want to ask if you are okay?" I freeze I thought I was getting fired "better than I thought I would be but Lando won't let me sit and be sad at home so I suppose that helps" he smiles at me "you two have such a great friendship and it really helps your work!" I nod "it's been my dream since I was small to work for McLaren like my dad and to do it alongside my best friend is even more special. McLaren is family to me" he stands and pulls me into a hug "and we always will be" I smile at him "I'm looking forward to this weekend" we finish talking and he heads off before I grab my bags and head to my car.
Once I get home I walk through the door and hear Lando singing in the kitchen. I wander through the door and clocks me "Hey Mols, work okay?" I nod at him "yeah, I'm ahead of the weekend and I sorted out a couple of your upcoming engagements" he grins at me "I'm glad you are being productive! Have you spoke to Charles?" I give him a look "he has messaged lots and tried to call but I don't know how I'm feeling" he nods at my response "he has messaged me as well Mols, he is worried about you" I scoff "he has no right to be, I asked for space and he needs to respect that" we finish packing and jump in my car to go to the airport.
We touch down in Russia and I can't say I'm overly looking forward to this weekend. I've focused on work and tried to clear my head. I love Charles with all I have but I'm not sure I can trust him, makes me worry that it was a mistake from the start. Once we are through the security and out of the terminal I feel myself get more anxious. Lando stays by my side and him and Carlos decide to come and hang with me in the room before heading to bed. It's really nice that both of them want to make me laugh.
I have felt so far that I'm a character in my own life. Media day went past without a hitch. I found myself hiding in the hospitality area working instead of sitting in the garage like I usually would. FP1,2 and 3 went well for McLaren and it seems to be a promising weekend. It's time for quali and I head over to the garage to wish Lando good luck. I take a set of headphones and watch the sessions. Yet again Charles is on a flyer and gets pole position for this weekend with both Mercs behind him. Carlos gets P6 and Lando P8 the team are pretty happy with this result. We decided to go for dinner me and Lando this evening and I'm quite excited. We wander down the pit Lane together and I notice that Charles is ahead of us so I slow down slightly, I'm not ready to talk to him just yet. Pierre is walking towards them and they stop to chat. Both me and Lando don't want to talk to these people so he pulls me faster and we cut past them I hear Charles shout my name but I just shake my head and keep walking.
It's race day and I haven't been overly present in the garage or pitlane this weekend. We did post quail interviews yesterday and luckily Charles was too busy to attempt to talk to me but I kept seeing him glance in my direction. I decide it's best for team morale to sit a watch in the garage. At the start Seb managed to get into first place with Charles behind and Lewis in third. It would appear this was the plan from the start but Seb wasn't playing by team orders the team radio suggests that Charles isn't happy about that either. A few laps later and Seb retired with an engine problem leaving Charles to defend against two Mercs who ended up getting a free pit stop under a safety car. But try as he might, Leclerc couldn't get close enough to launch a proper attack on Bottas, while Hamilton was able to cruise away at the front, even having enough breathing space to pump in the fastest lap of the race to secure the extra bonus point. I knew Charles was going to be beyond upset at this result and I make the decision to go and see him. lando walks into the garage just as I'm grabbing my jacket "where are you off to?" He questions "well done for today! Strong performance!" I say avoiding his initial question "thanks Mols but where are you going?" I sigh "to make sure Charles is okay!" He smiles at me "good, he had a pretty rough time out there today" I nod "I will be back in 20 to take you to your post race interviews" he waves as I walk down the pit Lane. I reach Ferrari and hear loud voices shouting from the garage. I spot Mia as I walk over "Hey Molly, I'm actually really glad you are here perhaps seeing you will calm Charles down" I shrug at her "from what I have seen he has every right to be angry, but I wanted to make sure he is okay" she nods "you are more than welcome to go to him" I walk into the garage and see Charles looking absolutely furious he goes to storm past me then realises I'm here "Mon amour?" He questions I look up at his face "Hey Charles, I saw what happened I just wanted to come make sure you were okay" he manages to smile at me "I'm beyond surprised but also glad you are here" he grabs my wrist and pulls me towards his cabin "I need to be back at McLaren soon" I mutter as I take a seat "I know, but seriously thank you" I look at him "I still care about you Charles, and I always will" he smiles "now it's not the time to talk about second chances but would you join me for dinner later" I shake my head "our flight is at 7pm we are pretty much going from the track, I'm sorry" his shoulders sag so I continue "how about we have dinner in Japan, first evening?" He smiles at me "that sounds amazing mon ange" I give him a smile and against all my negative thoughts I give him a hug which takes him by surprise, he wraps his arms around my waist and I cannot deny it feels like coming home. I pull away "I will message you" I say as I head out of the cabin back to do the media for McLaren.
We are in the media pen with the other drivers going from one reporter to another. I overhear Charles' interview where he is cautious about what he says about the race till the reporter says "you seem happier than we expected" his eyes dart to me "I just had a good chat with someone very important to me and hopefully we are back on the right track" I smile before making sure Lando doesn't say anything stupid.
Once we land at Heathrow I decide to send Charles a message
Don't worry too much about what happened this weekend, you are such an amazing talent and that shows. We have just landed in London I thought you might want to know I'm safe. Always here if you need to talk xx
Once I've sent the message I feel my heart squeeze. I miss him but I don't think I can trust him again. I just don't know what to do! We wander to my car and we are dropping Carlos home as well. The whole drive home they are messing about and it's making me laugh and distracting me. Once we get home Lando questions me "how was things with Leclerc?" I shrug "I still care about him, but I don't think I can trust him again and relationships don't work without trust" Lando looks at me sadly "I know Mols and I'm sorry this has happened. I'm always gonna be here whatever your decision" I give him the biggest hug. My phone goes off, it's a reply from Charles
Thank you Mols, I really do appreciate it. And thank you for coming to me this weekend, I really needed you. Again I'm sorry for being an idiot, I'm glad we are going to talk in Japan xx
I don't want to reply so I don't and decide to head to bed. I shout a goodnight to Lando who is streaming. I lay in bed thinking over what's happened in the last couple of weeks and it hits me that I can't be with Charles again, I can't be that open with someone who broke my heart. He knew spending time with her would hurt me even if they were just friends and I realise that my mind is made up.
