ALICE Ch 356

David Croft is locked in.

“This is a one-stop Grand Prix. Hamilton and Verstappen pull away easily while LeClerc and Norris are already making aggressive moves. Nearly a touch between Pattinson and Laakso! What we see commonly in this Grand Prix is the big risks taken early because these drivers know that their mental state will deteriorate with heat and dehydration, and so will response time. Dunham has DRS and wants to use it. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso had a very poor start off the line, and he’s paying for it. Dunham backs off prudently; not so easy to take Fernando on the outside. Meanwhile, Sainz is gaining pace up ahead, and Missy Woodcock no longer has a realistic path to attack because she has Alice Wilde to think about.”

FF1

“Woodcock is losing pace, Alice. Let’s be patient,” Glynda says.

“Patience is my middle name.”

Alice is also losing pace, but not egregiously. Glynda chooses not to mention that yet and scans her screens. Beside her, Lora speaks animatedly to Mio.

“All right, Mio. That’s twice we’ve seen it. She’s terrified of turn 7, so that’s where we take her. You have the pace, but we need to be clean on the bumpers. Mind your tires on 5, we don’t have to worry about…”

“Things are happening ahead of you, Alice. Be cautious. I expect a touch,” Glynda says.

FF1

“Patty, you have to defend.”

“She won’t do it,” Patty says through clenched teeth as she pushes the car close to its top speed on the straight. She’ll go neutral into the corner, and Mio won’t have the balls to risk her tires on those odds. Will she? No. Impossible. She blinks. Despite the padding, sweat still stings her eyes. That’s OK; she knows how to focus.

“Debris possible. Lewis and Max may have touched.”

FF1

“Forget it, Missy! Just forget it!” Alice snarls, jolting as she hits the bumper.

She waits an extra heartbeat, then turns in.

Missy Woodcock yields, and Alice is back on the straight, throttling up.

“Nicely done, Alice.”

“Thanks.” Alice is subdued; there’s some condensation in her helmet that she’s worried about. If it gets any worse, she won’t be taking any more places. It’ll be all she can do to stay on the circuit.

“Mio just overtook Patty, Alice.”

“Nice.”

“Fernando is pitting.”

“How far behind is she?”

“One point five.”

Alice winces. She’d hoped for a slightly larger number. How is Mio moving like that in this car? She feels something and glances down in alarm at her wheel, then looks back up, swallowing with a tight throat.

“Alice. Alice, I’m sorry, but she has the pace. You have to let her by,” Glynda says.