I crossed the line in Q3 after giving it all I had. I made no mistakes and did the best I could, it was my best run in all qualifying by far.

YN: "come on tell me how we did."

It was radio silence.

YN: "mike! Jarrad! Someone talk to me!"

The anticipation was too much.

ZB: "yn, 1:41.24, you beat Hamilton's time and go in to P1!"

I hit the brakes hard in disbelief and brought my hands up to my head. I knocked my helmet to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

I looked up again and saw the crowd cheering jumping up and down.

YN: "oh my god boys yes! Yes! Thank you so so much the car was beautiful!"

M: "P1 are you kidding!!"

YN: "ahaha wahooooo!!"

I could've broken the comms at the volume I was screaming.

When I finally collected myself I began to drive again pulling into the P1 spot next to max and Lewis. No Lando unfortunately.

I still got out beaming. After weighing in, having a drink of water and fist bumping everyone on my team, I went to sign the Pirelli tyre. It felt surreal.

Once I got a photo in I was summoned across for an  interview.

R: "and now we talk to yn yln who will be starting on the front row for the first time. Yn how are you feeling right now?"

YN: "I'm pinching myself honestly, this weekend has run so well and the team has done a spectacular job on the car, yeah very happy."

R: "guess it really confirms your plans to stay at McLaren."

I let out a small laugh in the interest of being polite.

YN: "wasn't really ever going to leave to be honest I was just curious to see who was interested. But McLaren have been so good to me, I can't see why I would leave."

R: "starting next to max verstappen are we worried about his aggressive nature on track."

YN: "look I won't lie it will be a challenge to defend against him but at least I'm getting that chance, I think it will be a great learning opportunity for me."

After finishing off the interview char came and found me to take to the press circle.

CS: "brilliant drive today, so proud."

YN: "thank you char, means a lot."

CS: "I wanted to update you on our predicament."

I nodded, I realized I hadn't been asked any questions related to George or lando and I which most likely meant she had resolved it.

CS: "I made a deal with Mercedes of sorts. They've told George if he wants to remain in contention for the seat he has to keep it to himself."

Smart. It was the one thing that man wanted more than anything, an unhealthy obsession. But in order for Mercedes to agree...

YN: "that must not have been cheap."

Char tsked and shook her head.

CS: "no it was not. But it's for the best."
—————————

I finished up all my interviews and found lando at his last slot so I suprised him by hugging him from behind.

LN: "speaking of."

He turnt around and gave me a quick kiss on the mouth which took me back a bit, my breath hitching, but I recovered nicely in front of camera.

LN:  "how flipping quick is this girl huh?"

I laughed at his flattery.

YN: "I had a decent mentor."

His laugh shrilled around the paddock for everyone to hear.

R: "well I'll let you two lovebirds go, good luck for the race."

Lando grabbed my hand and led us back too the truck. We had gotten the hang of this facade. Whilst it still made me nervous to the point where my knees felt weak, it came naturally to us.

YN: "where are you starting tommorow?"

LN: "P6."

He mumbled ashamed. It was uncharacteristic from him this season, And when his team mate rookie was starting first...

YN: "what happened?"

LN: "I had little time to prepare because missy wanted to fucking talk my ear off."

I let go of his hand as he said her name.

YN: "you should've explained to her you are working, it's serious."

LN: "she thinks this is just a fun day out."

He almost ripped the doors off the hinges when we walked into the truck, he was fuming. A part of me wanted to let him find missy like this, break up with her. But for some reason my moral compass prevailed.

YN: "hey! Calm down! She doesn't know any better, go for a walk and get your head on straight before you see her."

His head fell back as he sighed.

LN: "fine."

I shook my head as he stormed off. Why on earth would I do that?

I walked up the stairs to my room and ran into the woman of the hour.

ML: "we need to talk."

YN: "oh..uhm okay, do you wanna come to my room?"

She nodded firmly. I showed her the way, opening the door for her.

YN: "you can sit down if you like."

ML: "no need, this will be quick. I need you to back off Lando more."

I blinked hard, unsure if I was hearing her correctly.

YN: "pardon?"

ML: "I know the agreement and understand but you're going out of your way to kiss him and hug him and flaunt it in my face. You hold hands on the way back to the truck-"

YN: "you were spying on us-"

She put her finger out to stop me.

ML: "I'm not done. You take him out for dinner so he is too tired to do well in qualifying."

I scoffed, this girl was so out of line it wasn't funny.

YN: "you idiot. He had no time to prepare because you took up all his time before quali. People die if they don't get there head right before driving it's a dangerous sport!"

She rolled her eyes at me. I was pretty sure everything just went up and over her blonde head.

YN: "you know what your impossible to communicate with, get out of my room."

ML: "once you swear to me you'll back off from my boyfriend."

I threw my hands in the air. Did she not listen to a single thing I had said up until now, did she not trust Lando when he said we had no choice. If she didn't get it now though, what chance did I have in getting through to her.

YN: "yep, fine."

ML: "okay good."

She nodded, processing something in her head.

ML: "so glad we can be friends again."

She flipped a switch from crazy girlfriend to a happy sweet girl quicker than any car out on track. It was terrifying. She came over and hugged me quickly before she left, I didn't even have time to hug her back.

YN: "what the actual fuck."

I stood there in her absence still in shock. She did not deserve me sticking up for her with lando, she didn't deserve shit. She was as duplicitous as they come and I just saw it right in front of me, being dumb or fake were petty flaws but being two sided was dangerous.

I could only hope lando would find that out on his own.