(Un)Lost: The art of war
Pairing: F12022/3!Grid! x Fem!Driver!Oc
Warnings: DNF’s, angst, a little bit of love, episodes of anxiety, Seb’s retirement, harsh words.
DRIVE TO SURVIVE SEASON 5 - EP. 1 THE NEW ERA
“It’s freezing in here” I said while I was puting my cap in my head, my Williams cap, ready to sit in the famous black chair of Netflix. “Thank you Netflix for make this possible, Bahrain is being cooking itself now” The producer chuckle.
“So, we’re going to let you introduce you and then make you a few questions. Everything clear?”
“Sure” I look for a better position in the chair and look to the camera “My name is Charlotte Robyn-Jones and I’m engineer strategist for Williams Racing Formula One Team” I said with a smile on my face. I saw the people in the back laugh and I copy the action
“You can’t lie to Netflix, kid”
“I think I just did ... Anyway, 1, 2, 3, Monday to Friday, My name is Charlotte Robyn-Jones, I’m 23 and I’m a race driver for Williams Racing Formula One Team” I tilt my head to one side and laugh “Cool”
“So cool. What’s for you to be at the top of the game right now?, obviously avoiding the question that you must be bored about”
“Being a woman is fantastic, except for that thing every month but I can’t complain. I have to say that it’s not easy. You can dream of some things happening but all the same time, If you really wanted, the answer is get up and look for your better options to make things happen.” I gassped and look down and to the camera. “I remenber when I told my dad that I wanted to give it a try in karting and I wasn’t even 6, he looked at me like I was some sort of silly muppet but then he make me promise that I will do great in school and then he will help me with the racing carreer I wanted. The rest is history”
A series of videos of her carreer show up, from her beginning in karts, F4, F3 and her successfull 2021 in F2 finishing as champion, smiling faces all around and obviously a very proud Charlotte.
“You just mention your dad. What about other members in your family? Friends or even a boyfriend?” I look at the producer with a side smile
“You guys are really something else, right?” they laugh “I’m single ready to mingle. I don’t talk to much about my family, I like to be private about that. I almost dropped all this. My family is my priority and two years ago I lost my mom due cancer so...”
“I’m sorry we don’t...”
“No, it’s okay” I smiled to the camera “She’s not here but I still talk about her like she’s just in the back of the house screaming to the dog for being so silly, she’s still here and I know she’s proud”
“Sure she is. Just to finish ... Any expectations for your team. Everybody wanted to see you in a bigger team like Mercedes or Ferrari, did you hear any rumors about that?”
“Well, certanly I did hear, but the thing is, mmm, I always believe that If you wanna prove yourself is better to start from the very bottom, understand the little things and then you’ll find success, almost glory. Being in this sport is so tricky, like, one day you won in Monaco and the next day you’re out of the points or feeling that all your pasion is going out to your body” I see everybody’s faces like I was saying something fascinating “This is sport is like war, you better watch out your back ‘cause even your own team could kill you.”
“So, this is your year to discover yourself?”
“Yes, my bingo card this year will imply me being playing the art of war that is F1″
“Okay Charlotte, this is all for today. We’ll see you along the year”
“Thanks and don’t spill my secrets. Snitches end up in ditches, they say”
I go out of the room straight to the Williams garage. Sure thing is that this year is going to be wild, after what happened last year between Red Bull and Mercedes, man, I really don’t want to be any member of those teams.
“Hello Ms. Jones, everything all right with Netflix?” My PR, Ava asked. She was in Alex side of the garage talking to other people
“Yeah, they’re like school girls” She laugh
“Yeah, sometimes. Today is media day so since you’re ready with your Williams merch, we can start signing some caps and cards and then continue with your schedule. Or do you want to start with press?”
“Up to you really, better doing the easiest first then I’ll face the sharks” We walk to a conference room when I found Alex with his girlfriend and his PR. Last year I met the girl in a tournament in the UK and we have been really close since then.
“Oh hello you, my girl and my boy rocking together this year” Lily said and hug me, while Alex put a false angry face
“Nice to see you Lily and yes, we’re going to rock or better than that” I said she smack Alex shoulder
“See, I tould you she has spirit!”
“I know, I think that everybody saw that video of her running along the track after her win in last year championship”
That video.
Well, you don’t win F2 championship many times in your life, right?
“I don’t know what are you talking about”
“Everybody know you do”
“Shh” I sit next to the pile of merch with my face on it. It’s 9:45 so I have time ‘till lunch and more interviews.
INTERVIEW ROOM @14:20
W/ Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel
“Don’t be nervous, ok? I’m not gonna tell what to answer, you’re smart so answer like a pro”
“Like a pro? So I can say <<inchident>> or even ask about the interviewers plans for the summer?” I showed Ava a side smiled
“Please don’t and you’re going to be in between, your name is on the sofa” I enter the room and saw the amount of people organized in the back of the room with notepads, cameras and tricky looks.
“So, welcome everybody to the second session here in Bahrain, we are here with Lando Norris from McLaren, Carlos Sainz from Ferrari, Charlotte Jones from Williams, Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel from Aston Martin. Welcome to the drivers, we’re going to have a round of questions for this sesion, if that’s ok” I look at the others who nod.
“Hello, this question is for Charlotte” Great. “We want to hear your first impresions of your new team, if you have the chance to meet the other drivers and expectations for your rookie season”
I tried to smiled but I suddenly felt like I wanna dissapear and the lights we’re too bright so I put on my glasses and I hear Lewis laugh and how he copy my action and take the microphone “It’s sunny outside so there’s no need to put the light to bright, thanks guys” And squeezed my hand.
“Yeah, lights, mmm, almost everybody saw me in the car last year when I met the team and my teammate. Everything has been great so far, mmm I spent half of the holidays with the Sainz family, there been close to my mom’s family so, yeah, Carlos and his trainer just help me to get in better shape for this rodeo, something that I’m grateful for” I fist bump with Carlos and laugh “And expectations, well, I prefer to see how it goes after the race, I sent my ideas and questions the past month so I know now that the car is fast and let’s see If we can put Williams on the top again”
Sebastian took the microphone and look at me “Do you know about engineering?”
“Yeah, I finished my degree in mechanical engineering last month, obviously online, so...”
“That’s impresive, kid” answer Sebastian
“Am I the only one scared now?” Ask Lando to everybody. Everybody laugh at that. The interview session went smoothly and not many questions were to me, since Lewis was in the room, the events of november where reminded. Questions about strategies and upgrades for Ferrari and Aston Martin and the chances of McLaren of getting a podium this year. After that, the session ended, Carlos stopped me.
“Welcome officially, girasol” He hug me in the process and we heard a cough
“Are you good, man?”
“Since my friend here it’s so disrespectfull, nice to meet you, yo soy Lago”
“Nunca le enseñaste bien español” I said laughing to the spaniard
“Ciertamente él fue un terrible alumno”
“Please don’t. Back to a common language” I smiled to him and oh boy! such beautiful eyes
“Charlotte, rookie, friend of this guy, fan of dogs, chocolate cake and be on my xbox the whole day” I shake his hand and he gasp
“Marry me”
“In a few years, maybe” I look to Carlos who look at me with wide eyes
“I don’t want him on family holidays, ten moths are too much now” As we were walking through the paddock, a few photographers and fans aproach us. Since Carlando were more famous that I am, so I go straight to my motorhome to lay down for a bit.
What a day.
A few headers on instagram and twitter about the conference
2022 ROOKIE READY TO DRIVE AND BEING A THREAT
CHARLOTTE ROBYN-JONES, NEW SENSATION IN THE PADDOCK
IS THIS THE YEAR OF WILLIAMS?
Mind clear and then start proving myself.
I’m a girl, yes, but right now I feel that I have a chance to be like them, it’s ny time.
A champion, one ready to fight.
I finished my day with more media duties, to 6 pm I was going to wait for Carlos who offer a ride to the hotel. While I was waiting in the parking lot, the papaya pair waved at me.
“Hiya, you must me Charlotte. I’m Daniel, the one with good looks in the team” He said with a smile.
“Nice to meet you Daniel, how you guys doin’?”
“All good, we’re heading to the hotel, ready to kick asses tomorrow?” I saw how Lando seems certanly interested in the question
“I’m feeling normal, but yeah, let’s see tomorrow. My driver arrived so... see ya” I waved at them when Carlos opened his car. Daniel and Lando saw the couple leaving the parking lot when the australian looks at the youngest
“Say it”
“What?”
“Why do you look so shock around her? I mean, even Max who lives in a rock knew about her”
“I’ve been friends of Carlos and I never see her around, it’s weird”
“Ooow, the kid is jealous of the newie” Daniel started laughing and going to his car
“Man stop... I’m not jealous and also I’m a man!”
BAHREIN CIRCUIT @13:45 - FP1 & FP2
“Radio check, please” my race engineer said. Williams had the chance to start fourth in the two practices after Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Red Bull and Alpine.
“ And I thought my heart was detached, from all the sunlight of our past, but she's so sweet, she's so pretty, does she mean you forgot about me? Yeah, yes, I’m going to send you my playlist for the race, what dou you think?”
“We’ll evaluate that after practice”
“It’s not a no, I wil take it”
“Ok Charlotte, 30 seconds to start heating the tyres and whenever you ready, your flying lap”
“Copy”
“Now, we’ll have Williams coming out the pits to start practice, first our rookie Charlotte, fresh out the oven as F2 champion. She’s heating the tyres and has 15 minutes to do a few laps and see how that car goes”
On the broadcast, the faces of the team principals were on screen, with their expectations on the girl and see how she start.
“Ok Charlotte, you can start in the next lap with Leclerc and Ocon in front of you” I pressed the copy bottom. Here I go.
One thing about me it’s that I brake late but my left foot likes to keep itself on the throttle. A girl have to give it all, right?
“I feel like I’m watching the Mercedes W11 all over again. Wow! I can see a future world champion, multiple times If she wanted too”
“That car is fast” said Christian Horner looking to Max’s engineer “What the hell?”
“Definitely it is”
“Toto, even when she brake the car doesn’t go below 170 km/h. what?” Lewis and Bono stand beside the team principal of Mercedes.
“I think that your eight championship have to wait a bit, I can’t believe my eyes”
“That girl is the real Toretto, don´t you think?” asked Yuki to the french man
“I wanna throw myself down a hill to be honest”
“What the f***?, which car is that?, I almost get dizzy” asked Charles over the radio
“That was a Williams, the rookie, she’s 3 seconds faster than you”
“This is going to be a long season. F***”
“Well done Charlotte. With his pace you can certanly win every race this season”
“Haha, good job to everybody from those in the factory to the ones in the garage. What about Alex?”
“As good as you, the difference is 0.337″
“That’s good”
“Yes, we’ll wait for you in the garage”
As I parked, I could heard the applauses from my team and the people around the garage.
And yes.
A very long season ahead.
--
intro
That was fun.
For those who doesn’t speak spanish, here the translation:
Girasol: sunflower.
Nunca le enseñaste bien español: you never taught him Spanish well.
Ciertamente él fue un terrible alumno: He certainly was a terrible student.
Hope you liked it :)
