83: Womp womp

Maeve's point of view

The pit lane is full of activity as Q1 kicks off, everyone wants to get out of there when the track is still dry. I pull out of the garage because I too want to benefit from the now still-good track.

RADIO: Okay Maeve, let's get a banker lap in. The track is still good, and conditions are good. We'll keep an eye out for the weather.

MAE: Thank you, Owen.

I swerve through the first few corners, I feel the car's balance and grip. It is extremely important to put in a clean lap right now before the track gets extremely busy. As I approach the final sector I notice some traffic.

RADIO: Slower cars in sector 3, can you see them? Keep your distance.

MAE: Copy, I see them.

I free myself from the traffic, I cross the line with a decent time.

RADIO: P2 for now, behind Max, he is P1. Let's stay focused, Maeve.

After a few laps, I take my loss, pull back into the pits, and keep an eye on the timing screens with my personal tv in front of me. After Logan's P3 last week, he now can't find the pace, together with Yuki, Magnussen, Hülkenberg, and Zhou. They struggle and are now in the drop zone.

Owen walks towards me. 'Good job Maeve, Q1 done. Let's prepare for Q2'.

I nod and smile at him.

Q2 has started and the clouds have grown darker, they are full of rain and it's threatening to fall soon. Owen and I decide, along with our strategist, that we need to go out early to avoid the potential... well... potential? The undoubted rain.

RADIO: Go out quickly, we are going to see rain later in this session.

MAE: It's The fucking Netherlands after all.

RADIO: I liked Barcelona weather better.

MAE: Yea well so did I.

I head out on a fresh set of softs, I use them to get a good lap in, pushing hard. The track feels different, not bad, but not like in Q1 either. I manage to put together a great lap, a competitive lap.

RADIO: P1! No wait... Max just crossed. P2 Maeve, we're looking good.

MAE: Fucking hell, give me Max's stomach bug as soon as possible.

RADIO (laughs): I'll switch the bottles.

I want to go for another lap but then yellow flags are shown in sector 2. Someone kissed the wall, gone off, went 'poof'. The session is halted briefly, I find out the driver who has gone off is Esteban Ocon. Womp womp. When the race resumes the rain starts to fall.

MAE: Is he okay?

I'm not that cold-hearted, guys. I'm nice.

RADIO: Yeah he is confirmed to be fine. Don't worry.

MAE: Just checking on him, I would want someone to check on me when I crash.

RADIO: Don't jinx yourself, Maeve. We're not crashing this season.

MAE: No, it was not my intention to crash.

RADIO: Alright Maeve, we're pitting for Inters.

MAE: Can't you just throw the rain out of here?

RADIO: I wish I could believe me.

The pit team change my tires and I finally head out. The track is slippery but I am good in the wet. I manage to improve my time slightly.

The session ends, and a few big names drop out. Pierre Gasly, Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll, and Alex Albon don't feel one with this track, according to the drop out. They fail to make it to Q3

RADIO: Nice work, Maeve. Proud of you. P2 again.

The final session, the rain has stopped. Yay! The track is still damp. Nay! I decide to keep my Inter on to start with.

RADIO: Go get this banker lap, Maeve. Let me know if the track is drying up. Press pit confirm when you want to switch to softs.

MAE: I know how my steering wheel works

RADIO: Just checking

I push hard on the Inters but this track is drying quickly. I set another decent time.

The 100th in this session, be for fucking real, give me my pole Max Verstappen.

RADIO: P3, Maeve. Behind Norris. Let's pit for softs and just try again. You're doing amazing.

MAE: Mein Gott

With my new tires and the almost dry track, I push the car to its limits. On my flying lap, I nail every fucking corner, the car feels amazing.

RADIO: YES MAEVE! PURPLE IN EVERY SECTOR! keep pushing!

As I cross the line I hear a sigh in my ear.

RADIO: P2, Maeve. Just behind Max. Great effort.

I yell into my radio.

RADIO: Yea sorry Maeve

A mix of satisfaction and disappointment fills me. I wanted pole but considering my efforts P2 is still a strong position.

RADIO: Great job Maeve, amazing. We're in a strong position for the race. Let's not be sad, let us focus on tomorrow.

MAE: Yes Owen, thank you for today.

RADIO: Still want that stomach bug?

MAE (laughs): I'll pass, thank you tho!

RADIO: Anytime, sunshine.

I take a deep breath and I drive into the pits. Tomorrow will be a tough battle if Max continues to race like today, but I'm ready for it.