Chapter 35

I throw on my jeans and a random shurth that I bought with. Just happens to be a Star Wars shirt. I laugh but wear it anyways since it looks cool. I throw on my sunglasses and let my hair down from my messy bun before grabbing my things and making my way out the door of my hotel room. I move past Kimi and Seb talking in the hallway. I give them a small wave before walking into the elevator. "Wait!" I hear and place my hand on the closing elevator door, opening them again. "Thanks." Pierre says as he walks into the elevator. "Sure." I smile back.

"I love your shirt. Star Wars is great." He comments as we feel the elevator move down. "Oh thanks. I though it looked cool." I say with a small giggle. "Well it does. What's your favorite movie?" He asks. "Ooh that's tough. Not the last three though. The most recent ones, those were not too great. I think I'm going to have to go with Attack of the clones or Revenge of the Sith." I say. "Yes. Both are great choices." Pierre says as we step out the elevator. "You want to share a lift?" He suggests. "Yeah. Sounds great." I smile. As we both jump into the awaiting car.

The roar of the fans never seems to get annoying. I don't mind signing all the caps and posters shoved my way as we walk towards the paddock. Pierre also getting stopped many times. Both of us posing for pictures with fans. I actually enjoy it. We make our way past many fans, signing so many different things before walking to the paddock entry gate. "Wow. My hand is cramping now. I think that is the most I have ever had to sign in my life." I say as I scan my pass and Pierre does the same. He laughs. "Just wait till the fans start asking for driver cards. Then you sit there for hours signing the same photo over and over again. Now that is painful." He says making me smile a little. "Oh god, I didn't think of that." I say with a laugh. I hug him goodbye before we part ways to our different garages.

After many interviews and a fan appearance with Max I make my way to the garage. Not before signing a whole bunch of other things. Magazines, caps, flags, everything. I walk into my driver room and begin to prepare for the race. Slipping into my race gear and grabbing my headphones.

I drive a lap around the track, placing my car on the P3 grid slot before jumping out. I stand around chatting to my engineers, waving at the fans and doing a few interviews here and there. Before we are eventually called for the national anthem.

~

The lights go out and I get a good start pulling up next to Bottas. I send it into turn one, sailing past him as he has to yield to avoid contact. I smile a little, proud of myself, as I push on. Pulling away from the rest of the pack.

Once we are about 23 laps in. I hear over the radio. "Ok Hannah, Box this lap. Please confirm." Gareth says. "Ok, copy." I reply, turning into the pit lane. Hoping not to loose my current p2 position. I turn into the pit box and almost instantly the green light is on and I'm off again. "Yes boys. That was fast." I say. "1.8 seconds. Focus now Hannah. Catch Max." Gareth advises and I focus, knowing what I have to do now. As I slip back into my p2 position, just ahead of Bottas now. Building tyre temperature and trying to defend from him will be tricky.

Within a few laps I have caught up to Max. The gap to Bottas now significant. Riding right behind him, waiting for the perfect time to overtake. A gap opens and I lunge for it, but just having to pull back as I was going to go off the track. "Ok, get him next time. Keep trying." Gareth says. "Thanks. Please try to keep off the radio and let me race." I try to say as nicely as possible.

I stay within a second and a half of Max for what feels like forever before I see a orange car in my mirrors. None other than Lando. Great. He tries to lunge past me but I cut him off at the corner. Max pulls ahead as Lando and I fight for second place. Lando tries to take me at corners and me just managing to, safely, cut him off. That was before turn 3 of one of the 15th last lap.

Lando and I race up from turn 2. Neck in neck the whole way. Lando on the outside. As we get to the corner, Lando turns in just as I begin to break. Meaning I sail into the side of the McLaren at just over 150km an hour. Trying to brace myself for the possible shunts coming my way. The impact pulls me forwards a little, my head snapping towards the steering wheel as far as the neck support allows. Both of us skid through the gravel, stones flying everywhere. Straight into the barrier at the far end. My head snaps forward again as we finally come to a stop.

I sit there for a few seconds. Breathing in and comprehending what just happens. "Fuck! Damn it." I yell, slapping my helmet, head in my hands. Upset at the amount of points I just lost there. "Are you ok? Hannah, are you ok?" I hear Gareth say. "Sorry guys." I say first. "Yeah, I'm ok." I groan back. Not feeling too much pain. That's when I look up. What I see makes me jump out the car immediately.