ALICE Ch 301

Bright lights shine on the simple chair. Val looks chipper enough in her Freedom polo and cap.

“It’s beachier than I expected,” she says with a shrug. “The Netherlands is one of those places that I would have had a hard time finding on a map. I guess that’s a very American cliché, but it’s true. Anyway, I’ve done the circuit enough in the sim that it doesn’t matter. I can drive as fast here as anywhere else.”

“You feel confident?”

“I’m confident in my ability.”

“Interesting word choice. It’s widely believed that the most competition comes from McLaren and Red Bull for you, but some big names like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso remain a threat. On top of that, you have this new unpredictability from FUTA Racing. Alice Wilde and Mio Mido are both tremendously aggressive, and even in what’s at this point accepted as one of the slowest Formula One cars on the grid, Alice fought you a standstill in Belgium.”

Val nods. “I think that Alice is a good driver. But everyone out there is a good driver. And most of them aren’t paying as many fines as Alice has been lately. Anyway, I don’t expect to see much of Alice until she’s in a faster car.”

FF1

Bright lights shine on the simple chair. Glynda Darcy is a picture of professionalism and control.

The producer assumes an almost apologetic expression. “Glynda, the talk about the state of things at FUTA at this point has become downright cartoonish. You have two drivers who appear to hate each other, one of whom we understand to be in a romantic relationship with your daughter. FUTA has parted ways with at least two major funding partners and your lead driver has expressed an intention of leaving the team at season’s end. That very same driver leads the grid in penalties and conduct fines.”

Glynda is unflappable. “That driver has brought home more points than many drivers, found herself on more than one podium, she hasn’t only elevated the FUTA Racing brand, she has singlehandedly made it. Her methods are unorthodox, but she isn’t a quirky, bothersome part of FUTA Racing. She is FUTA racing.”

The producer nods. “And she’s dating your daughter.”

“I understand that Faye and Alice are close.”

“If Faye were to return, would that make FUTA Racing a family business?”

“As lovely as that sounds, I think it wisest to take things one week at a time in Formula One.”

“Does it bother you that your board is exercising so much tangible control over your team’s day to day operations? It’s virtually unheard of, after all. They gave you a rather unconventional pit crew. And their performance, well, it’s clear that they are new to all this. They’re entertainers, not mechanics. What other decisions are they making for you, Glynda? Has your role become symbolic? Is Annette running FUTA Racing?”

Glynda’s eye twitches.