Best friends to PR - lando Norris

Bahrain one

Molly POV

Today is media day for the first weekend of two in Bahrain. There have been a lot of questions on how Ferrari are going to do this weekend but I think the whole team knows it won't be as decent as Turkey. It's difficult working for the Scuderia when they aren't performing at their best. It's made Thursdays a day that Charles and Carlos dread.

"Charles it's time to go" I shout as he is in the bedroom "I forget ever week how much work Molly annoys me" I roll my eyes as I drag him out of the room so we can get to his first interview on time. He slips his hand in mine as we wander down to the paddock and suddenly we are swamped by the media. I hadn't thought twice about holding his hand but now I have cameras in my face "are the rumours true? Are you dating? Did you use Lando to make Charles jealous? Was the move to Ferrari to continue your relationship?" I hear all the questions and decide to make a comment "the private life of my driver and members of the team is none of your concern, if you have questions to do with the race weekend send me and email and I will get a response to you" I end and start to walk away "are you being defensive because you are working your way around the paddock? Is it Alex or George next?" I grit my teeth and go to say something but Charles beats me to it "Molly has grown up with us and this sport. She is allowed to live her personal life as she pleases and insinuating that she is a slut is cruel and untrue" he puts his hand on my back and pushes me through the gates.

I hadn't realised I wasn't breathing properly before Charles dragged me into Williams. I hear him asking for George as we enter the hospitality "Charles? Squirt?" I can hear them talking but everything is muffled. George appears in front of me "Mols?" He shakes my shoulders and I seem to snap out of my own head "sorry?" I manage to gasp out "Charles told me what happened, I think you were having a panic attack" I shake my head "sorry for worrying you both" he smiles at me "I'm just glad you are back with us, the media are parasites" I manage a laugh.

Once we make it to Ferrari I spot Will Buxton waiting for his interview with Charles. "Sorry we are late!" I say as he smiles at us "it's not problem, good to see you both" he tells us. Will is one of my favourites he is beyond respectful. He and Charles have a good chat about the season and this weekend. Once they finish up we finally make it to the hospitality building. It's been the longest morning already.

I sit on my laptop whilst Charles is in his press conference. I keep my ear on the questions but as always it's focused on the weekend. The day has managed to get easier as it's gone on. Once we finish up I spot Lando loitering "Lands?" He grins at me "Mols! George mentioned you had a tough morning, I just wanted to make sure you are okay?" I managed a smile "I am now, I definitely wasn't at the time" he frowns "nothing they were saying is true, you know that and we all know that" he tells me and it helps me feel slightly better. I appreciate the fact he has come to check on me all things considered.

I finally get a moment with Charles "Mon Amour, I'm sorry for not being able to protect you today" he tells me sadly, it isn't his fault. "Charles this isn't your fault" he frowns "we would be together if I hadn't fucked up before" I grab his hands "let's not dwell on the past" I tell him "I just want my future to be with you" he responds. My heart swells, I know there hasn't been a day that I haven't been in love with this man.

The weekend goes okay, nothing spectacular. We know that today will be extremely difficult. Our car doesn't suit this track well and it's going to be down to Charles and Carlos to bring the cars through the field.

The cars are lined up on the grid and the lights go out. Charles is far down the pack due to his qualifying position. All seems to be going well till I see a Haas take a sharp turn to the right before smashing into the barriers and suddenly there is fire. The whole garage goes silent, then I hear Charles on the radio "Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, that was a big one, this was a big one is he okay?" I look up to see his engineer looking at the footage "no news yet, red flag, you are pulling up in the pitlane" I can hear the concern in his voice. I know he is thinking of Jules and Anthonie. I rush out to the pit wall, he is going to need me.

He jumps out of the car and rushes to the pit wall "is he out?" The team confirm and I see his shoulders relax. The footage of Romain climbing out of the car is being shown on the screens and it looks horrifying. I'm glad he is out and walking and talking. I spot Charles sitting with his head in his hands and I walk over "Charles?" He pulls me into a hug "I thought he was dead, I saw it in my mirrors, he is a good friend" I know and in this moment that I don't care if people think wrong of me I stay holding him till he needs to go talk in the garage with the team.

After an hour we can go back racing, my heart is racing as I know my 4 best people are out racing here and I can't help but fear the worst.
Following a subsequent Safety Car period at the restart after Racing Point's Lance Stroll was rolled over after contact with AlphaTauri's Daniil Kvyat, it was a relatively simple evening's work for Hamilton – crowned world champion last time out at the Turkish Grand Prix – whose victory never looked seriously under threat from Verstappen, despite the Dutchman shadowing him for much of the race. Perez's retirement on the final laps was great news for McLaren, who claimed fourth and fifth, Lando Norris leading home Daniel Ricardo, while their 22-point haul saw them move ahead of the point-less Racing Point to P3 in the constructors' standings. It has been a good day for Lando and I felt really proud.

I'm with Charles at his post-race interview and emotions are running high. We have had an update that Romain has burns to his hands but that's all the damage. I listen and Charles speaks "It was probably the first time I have felt like this during a race, because I was trying to keep someone behind me and so I saw what happened in my rear view mirrors and when I got to turn 9 I saw the flames, so I was worrying and waiting for news about Romain. I was extremely happy when they told me he was ok, after what seemed like a very long time. Well done to everyone who works on making our cars safe. It's impressive to see what an incredible job they've done! Once I knew Romain was ok I focused on the race again. It was a difficult one for us today, as we were really not quick enough. I had a very good start but unfortunately after that it was all uphill. P10 was the best we could achieve today. We have two more GPs ahead of us now and we'll try to get the most out of them." I know how difficult this has been for him with everything else that has happened.

We finish up and head back to the hotel and the group chat had been going off asking if we can meet in the paddock. I quickly get changed into some cycling shorts and a crop top with a cute camouflage jacket on. Charles is clearly ruffled from today "hey baby" I say wrapping my arms around his waist "mon amour" we stand in silence and I know this means more than any words can say.

We make it down to the paddock it's around 12pm but we are all running on a weird body clock at the moment. I spot Alex and Lando as we walk over hand in hand. I don't miss the hurt that flashes across Lando's face before he puts on a smile "hey guys" i say "hey, what a day" Alex says sending us a smile as we wait for George "hey gang" I hear from behind as I spot him. He pulls me in for a hug "glad we can all be here together after today" he tells everyone who agrees. We spend about an hour chatting and just feeling relieved that F1 is safer now than ever before. It was clear that the Halo saved Romains life today and there is no doubt about it being on the car now.

"the relief we felt when Romain Grosjean got out of his car after that terrifying accident. The fact that he suffered only minor injuries is a testament to the amazing job done by the FIA in terms of safety and the courage and professionalism of all those involved on that front at a Grand Prix. But for the progress made in recent years and above all the introduction of the halo, we might have been commenting on a tragedy." Mattia Binotto