ALICE Ch 265

Hungarian Grand Prix Starting Positions:

1. Norris (McClaren)

2. Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Flores (Freedom)

4. Sainz (Ferrari)

5. Hamilton (Mercedes)

6. Woodcock, M. (Williams)

7. Alonso (Aston Martin)

8. Perez (Red Bull)

9. Laakso (AlphaTauri)

10. Bottas (Aston Martin)

11. Wilde (FUTA)

12. Dunham (Freedom)

13. Mido (FUTA)

14. Ricciardo (Haas)

15. Tanaka (Mercedes)

16. Magnussen (Haas)

17. Woodcock, S. (Williams)

18. Pattinson (McClaren)

DNF LeClerc (Ferrari)

DNF Ocon (AlphaTauri)

Glynda mutes the press conference. She and Annette sit in her office at the Paddock, holding coffee that they won’t drink.

“I expected worse,” Annette says.

“Janey Mack, it’ll be worse tomorrow,” Glynda predicts. Having an improvised pit crew is less disastrous for qualifiers. The race will be different.

“She was slow, but still faster than half the field.”

Glynda’s not going to contradict Annette on that. Annette doesn’t really get F1, and at the moment, that might not be the worst thing.

Annette sees Glynda’s expression. That, at least, she understands.

“We’ve lost the Russian support. Diorgasm.” Annette counts on her fingers. “And you don’t expect the car to be fast.”

“To have it back in that state this season…” Glynda trails off and shakes her head.

Annette nods, looking thoughtful. “Then we have to pivot.”

Glynda isn’t sure she likes Annette’s thoughtful look.

“All right.” Annette takes a deep breath. “No more billionaires. At least for now. Talk to some of these sponsors and get a new deal for Alice right away. I don’t care what it is, but bring in some money. We’re losing Alice for sure at the end of the year?”

Glynda spreads her hands. “She wants to win. She won’t be happy with us, and at least three teams will have open seats.”

“Doesn’t she also want to bang your daughter?”

Glynda controls her temper. “She can do that whatever team she drives for, long as Faye fancies her.”

“Right. Guess so.” Annette sighs. “But she’s finishing with us. Good job. That’s loyalty that you can’t buy. Who are we replacing her with?”

“I’d hope Faye, but I have someone looking round Formula Two.”

Annette chews her lip. “OK. Don’t make any promises just yet. You get that deal, and I’ll get you a pit crew. I still have a few things up my sleeve.” She points her finger at Glynda. “For a second there, it looked good. Being a speedy team would have been amazing, but it’s not the only way to be successful. Follow my lead.”

Glynda bristles on the inside, but doesn’t show it. She makes a conciliatory gesture.

“Good. Good, good, good. We can make this work,” Annette murmurs, watching the muted press conference. “How are things between Alice and Mio?”

“They don’t speak.”

“They’ll be starting pretty close together tomorrow. We’ll need a plan. I need these cars in one piece.”

“I’m tired of the sight of Alice’s eejit bake, but she’s ten times the driver that Mio is,” Glynda assures her. “And now she knows better than to let Mio get close. Don’t worry.”