Lost and Found

Chapter 6

With a nod in her stomach, Sara watched as Anthoine was stationed on the eleventh slot on the grid. She had also forgotten how nervous she would get at the start of a race. She was nervously tapping her foot on the floor, but the sound was overshadowed by at least the tapping of three more people.

Everyone was nervous.

After a decent first qualifying, Anthoine had possibilities to improve in the race. He had the skills to make up places, who knew where he could finish.

The start went smooth, at least, it did for Anthoine. He got off the line and into the first corner, he had made up three places.

"Go Thoine!" Sara yelled in excitement and once again, she wasn't the only one to cheer. It was something that made Sara smile. They were so close as a team how could that not make someone smile. They wished each other the very best, looked out for each other and worked together like an oiled machine.

It was in lap 9 that Anthoine made up another place, Sean Galael spun off the track, letting Anthoine by – just like so many other drivers.

The nerves did slightly settle when things started to settle down in the race and Sara started to enjoy the overtakes. Anthoine was comfortably in seventh place and even when the pit stops happened, things didn't change much up at the front.

Pierre: How is he doing?

Sara: Aren't you supposed to be paying attention to your debrief?

Pierre: Yes, so tell me quickly so they won't notice I'm not paying attention

Sara: He's doing great. Up in p7 now, the pit stop went smoothly.

Sara: Correction: p5, he just overtook 2, one on the right, one on the left and while being pushed off the track into the dirt

Pierre: I'm going to have to rewatch that move ain't I?

Sara: DEFINITELY!

Sara smiled proudly. That was Anthoine on his best. Just moving past both Delétraz and Matsushita like it was nothing. He just breezed past them, even when he was forced to move onto the dirt.

Eventually, Anthoine finished in fourth, after having passed Nyck de Vries in one of the final laps. She pulled out her camera to catch Anthoine climbing out of the car and interacting with his team. He was hugging most of them to say thank you for the car and pit stop. He then walked up to Sara who was standing a little away and hugged her as well. His helmet was pressed against her head in the embrace.

"You did great! It's just a matter of time before you will join Pierre up there."

"So I am doing well 'down here'?" Through his opened visor, she could see the mischievous glint in his eyes. She pushed against his shoulder and snapped another photo. She looked at it and smiled. If she continued like this, she would have a great scrapbook put together. "I am going to have to go to a debrief, do you want to stay here or are you going to Pierre or wander around?"

"I was going to see what Pierre is up to, if he's busy I will wander around." She winked. "Good luck." She mouthed and then walked away with a grin. She walked down the paddock again and smiled when she saw the papaya orange of McLaren. Maybe she could run into Carlos?

She sneaked a look at the McLaren motorhome when suddenly, someone behind her cleared her throat.

"Are you spying on us?" She jumped in the air, clutching tightly onto her camera. "Sorry!" It was Carlos. Something in his eyes told her he wasn't as sorry as he claimed to be.