ALICE Ch 170

“The Spanish Grand Prix is underway!”

Irina Orlova and Sasha are in Oslo, nestled in a penthouse, watching the race on a projector screen. Irina operates a corkscrew without taking her eyes off the screen.

“Tidy off the line! This circuit begins on a straight that really lets the cars show off! Wilde pushing Flores straightaway! Norris with a bad start, but holding off Verstappen. Sainz attacking Perez! Oh! That was very close coming into the first corner! It’s going to be that sort of race, ladies and gentlemen!”

“Absolutely fearless, that Valeria Flores,” another commentator agrees. “Let’s recall that we have several cars coming in with penalties this weekend due to hardware changes during the week, including Fernando Alonso. And Mercedes in P20 with Akiko Tanaka out with Covid and George Russell in the car this morning! Also, we apologize for the misprint on the standings released yesterday afternoon.”

“And George Russell is not content to stay at the rear! He’s already past Ocon and closing in on Danny Ricciardo. Meanwhile, Valeria Flores pulling away out front while Norris fights off both Red Bulls!”

FF1

“Where’s Lando?” Alice asks calmly.

“He’s busy. You are looking very good, Alice,” Lora replies, all professionalism. It’s too much.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Faye nearly got past Sainz just now. Everyone’s choosing violence, Alice. Stay ahead of it.”

Something is wrong. Lora doesn’t usually try this hard to redirect her.

“You are keeping pace with Flores.”

“I thought we had a better engine.”

“We do. She’s just lighter than you are.”

Alice balks. “Is that a joke?”

FF1

Erica Bruhl sits in the Ferrari pit with the crew, leaning forward, her chin resting on her hands. Normally, a race like this would be her happy place. An unexpected grid, loads of action, and half a dozen close calls within the first three laps.

Today, her knee bounces restlessly and she resists the urge to chew her thumbnail. The rattling of her lanyard is drowned out by the roar of the race and the shouting of the Ferrari team. There’s a lot of aggression out there today. The proper order of F1 has been shaken up. The narrative has been disrupted. Nobody’s where they expected to be at this point in the season, and a new team being second in the Constructor’s Cup has ruffled a lot of feathers.

There is so much to be proven out there. It’s dangerous. These drivers were already under a lot of pressure, but the fear of losing standing only adds to that.

“That’s a touch! Hamilton and Woodcock! Looks like they’re all right! Oh, dear. That might’ve been quite serious. Hamilton moving up! Woodcock rather shaken, I’m sure!”

Erica takes a deep breath.