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THE FINAL RACE OF LAST SEASON

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Formula 1 Pre-Race Show with Geoff Askew and Charlie Amor

Geoff Askew: Welcome to the final race of the Season. The Drivers Championship is buttoned up. River Daniels could crash in turn one and he’d still be on top, much to Lars Bachman’s frustration, I’m sure.

Charlie Amor: No, there’s definitely no suspense our winner today. Xelerate is taking those in a wave of sweeping dominance. With the new engine regulations next season, maybe we’ll see a closer competition, but they’ve been on top so long it’s hard to imagine anything else.

Geoff: [laughs] Hopefully all the contract renewals and seat changes on the grid will help shake things up. But what I want to talk about is the grid shake up that happened today.

Charlie: It is groundbreaking. A very special night for a lot of people. A historic night. For the first time ever, a female driver is on the Formula 1 grid.

Geoff: For those just joining us, John Lockwood got into a scuffle during Q2. It wasn’t a big crash, but small crashes are still crashes, and Johnny is sitting out tonight with a broken arm and fractured thumb.

Charlie: Decent timing, if you’re going to have that kind of injury.

Geoff: I don’t think anyone wants to break their arm, but you’re right. If it’s gonna happen, better to happen at the end of the season. However, the result of that injury is that Vanessa Lennon is on the grid. She’s not even Lockwood Racing’s normal reserve driver. Their official reserve driver is sick, so the stars have aligned for her tonight.

Charlie: Being an Omega myself, I’m over the moon, but I can’t imagine the pressure she’s feeling right now. The first woman in a Formula 1 race. One of three Omegas to ever be on the grid. More than just this race rests on her shoulders. It’s the future of female racing. Vanessa Lennon? She’s got something to prove.

Geoff: Even though the championship is settled, it’s still going to be one hell of a race.

Charlie: If she can get herself into the top ten, she’ll really help out Team Lockwood, who’s in a tight battle with Revas in the Constructors Championship. So any points will help.

Geoff: Hell, if she can get into the top ten after Johnny left her a P-15 qualification? It’ll be a miracle. You know I love an underdog, and I am rooting for her, but getting into the top ten from all the way back there? On her debut? In her first time driving a Formula 1 car? I have to say… I have my doubts.

Charlie: I get that. I really do. Getting into the top ten is a huge feat for any driver, especially with a midfield car. And starting almost at the back of the grid has given her a lot of disadvantages.

Geoff: But if she can do it, she’ll blow everyone’s expectations out of the water.

Charlie: You know Geoff, I think that’s exactly what she plans to do.

My helmet and balaclava were already on, so throwing up would have to happen later. I didn’t like the nerves jangling in my stomach, because I didn’t get nervous. Usually.

This track was one I knew like the back of my hand. I’d driven it countless times. But not at night, and not in a Formula 1 car.

It didn’t matter. As soon as the lights went out, the nerves would disappear, because there simply was no place for fear on a race track.

“Radio check,” I said.

“Loud and clear, Nessa.” Jamie’s voice came through my earpieces. “Gonna be a nice, easy race.”

I laughed, deflecting. “I’m sure you say that to all the girls.”

“Nope. Just you.” He chuckled. “Hold on. Passing the head set.” There wasn’t a chance to ask why before a new voice filled my ears. “Nessa?”

“Shouldn’t you be in a hospital or something?”

“Nah. Got the cast. Wouldn’t miss this. Besides, I’m hoping my injury and you racing in my place might make you give me another chance.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was mainly saying it so everyone listening to the radios would take his words and run with them. No matter how charming he was, John Lockwood was staying my ex. “Not a chance, Johnny.”

“You’re gonna break my heart right now?”

A snort came out of me, but I laughed. “Fuck off and let me focus.”

“Good luck, Nessa.”

“Thank you, but we both know I don’t need luck.”

Johnny laughed and disappeared from the comms, letting Jamie take back over. “All right. Fifty-eight lap race, clear weather on the radar. Looks like some potential for gusting wind in the second half, but everything else is normal.”

“Got it.”

I was in the car earlier than I strictly needed to be, but I felt calmer here. Most of the noise was blocked by the helmet, and I didn’t have to contend with the mess of scents the paddock always was in spite of all the scent cancellers. Even though the track was crowded with people, I felt alone. Which was what I wanted.

People were talking about me. I saw the glances when they passed the car, and no doubt there were already headlines and replays of my career. This was a big moment, and people would be watching to see what I could do. If I could handle the car.

Without a doubt, this race would impact more than just me.

It wasn’t a fair burden, but I couldn’t think about that. All I could think about was the track. I went through it in my mind from beginning to end. All sixteen turns.

“Start sequence is a go,” Jamie said. “Ready for the formation lap.”

No matter how many times I’d driven the simulator, nothing felt like being in the car. The vibration and the force of it. Whatever level you drove at, there was a transition between the sim and the reality.

Which was why this was both exhilarating and terrifying. I’d never driven a Formula 1 car. Not for real.

It was the first time.

Ever.

Johnny had done the practice and qualifying rounds, qualifying fifteenth because of the crash. I needed to make it through the race in one piece, and, if possible, finish higher than I started. It sounded simple and was anything but.

The crew pulled the covers off the tyres and I started to move, following the rest of the cars around the circuit so we could line up for the start. This, at least, felt familiar.

Pulling into my spot on the grid, I took a slow breath.

It was just another race.

Just another race.

Adrenaline surged, making everything clear and crystal calm. “Last car on the grid.”

In front of me, the lights began to go on.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Lights out.

Shit. The car locked up and I pulled it back just in time. This was getting harder.

“Box this lap,” Jamie said.

Finally . The tyres were almost dead. “Confirmed.”

I locked up again on the turn before pit lane and grit my teeth. Lockwood needed to prioritize their actual driver in this race, not their reserve driver. It made sense, but it didn’t make it easier.

The crew was waiting for me to stop, right in the center. The whirlwind went on around me. I took one breath. Two. three, and the car was free.

“You’re now P-17. We’ll regain two positions this lap with more pitting.”

It wasn’t good enough. I needed to get higher. With the new tyres I felt good, and I was now comfortable in the car. No more being cautious. Confidence unfurled in my gut, and that calm knowing I needed finally took hold.

“Safety car,” came the call. “Big accident at turn six.”

Fuck. “How many?”

“I’ll come back to you.”

I slowed, bunching up to the car in front of me and carefully weaving back and forth to keep my tyres warm. “Four involved in the crash. Initial contact and then the others didn’t see the flags in time, skidded off the track and hit the wall.”

“No red flag?”

“They can clear what’s on the track in a couple of safety laps.”

The crash was there on my right, and it looked bad. But I’d also seen worse. “Is everyone okay?”

“Seems to be.”

The two cars I’d slipped behind pitted, and with the four crashed cars out of the race, suddenly I was in eleventh. So fucking close to points.

Eleventh was an accident. Everything else? That would be me.

“Jamie?” I said.

“Yeah.”

“Everything in the car looks good?”

“Everything is green.”

“Thanks.”

“Why?”

I flexed my fingers on the wheel. “Just keep me posted. I’ll take care of the rest.”

He laughed. “Go get ‘em, Nessa.”

Two more slow laps and the track was clear. The safety car was going in, and every racer coming around turn sixteen was ready. Everything narrowed to the road in front of me.

Green flag.

Pressure crushed me into the seat as I accelerated down the first straight. Any cobwebs were gone from my mind, and the car felt like it was mine.

Just another race, and the car in front of me was too slow.

I cut to the inside and took the line, stealing the place.

“That’s P-10.” Jamie said.

“How many laps to go?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Gap to the next car?”

“Three Seconds.”

“Got it.”

There were moments you couldn’t explain as a racing driver. When the mechanics of driving disappeared and it felt like the track was molding to your will beneath the tyres. When you could let everything go and just drive.

This was one of those times.

Another lap, and another, brought me close enough to the next car. Jamie’s voice crackled. “Overtake is available.”

No hesitation. I punched the DRS button and savored the extra force pressing me into my seat as I sailed past, clearing the same corner where the crash had been. The Drag Reduction System reset and started to charge. I would need it again before the race was over.

“Well done,” Jamie said. I heard the excitement in his voice, though he tried to keep it in check. “This pace is incredible. Keep going.”

“Gap?”

“Next car is Ivanov from Revas. Gap is two seconds.”

The laps began to blend together. But I caught the next car. Passed it. The car after wasn’t as close.

“Ten laps to go. Six seconds to Arnault.”

“Is it possible?” I didn’t have to tell him what I meant.

“If you can keep this pace, it’ll be close. Tyres look good.”

“Flat out?” I asked.

“Flat out.”

I resisted breaking on the turns until the point of panic. Just before I wouldn’t be able to catch it. But I had this. I felt it. One more place.

“Five laps to go. Gap is three seconds.”

“Three laps to go.”

The car was in sight, and I was going faster. Pushing it to the absolute limit.

“Last lap.”

I wouldn’t be close enough for the DRS zone, but I could still catch him. Lining up directly behind his car, the slipstream gave me everything I needed. It was the last chicane, and he was right there.

At the last second, I pulled out from behind him and pushed the pedal to the floor, sprinting for the finish line. It was so close so close so close .

We crossed the line and released my breath, heaving air as I waited and slowed.

“Checkered flag,” Jamie said. “And P-7. That’s points on debut.”

Holy shit.

Holy fucking shit.

Seventh place meant six points. On my first race.

I released the wheel and covered my face with gloved hands. My whole body shook, all the adrenaline catching up with me. Even though I was slowing, it was like I was flying above the clouds.

“Incredible job, Nessa. Fucking stellar.”

The people in the stands were on their feet, and even though no one could see it, I smiled so wide it hurt. I needed to say something on the radio. Anything. But everything felt like too much.

Finally, I forced it out, and it would be clear to everyone that I was emotional. “Thank you, everyone. This was an amazing opportunity, and hopefully you’ll see me back on the track soon.”

“We owe you one, Nessa. Enjoy this lap.”

I did.