Part 19 | Pre-Season

The season of 2023 had officially begun. I had spent the last few weeks getting to know Oscar Piastri better and we had actually become great friends.

His girlfriend too, she was the sweetest.

Pre-season testing began today, in Sakhir on the Aramco track.

I adjusted the McLaren cap on my head, I slid it backwards and watched as the drivers tested their cars on the track.

Oscar was doing great, of course he was still adjusting to the Formula 1, but so far he was doing really good.

The whole pre-testing were over three days, today was the absolute first, I was excited as hell.

I stood next to Charlotte, Lando's PR manager as we watched the whole thing.

I had gotten to know Charlotte well over the last few weeks, I had come to admire her.

Hours later Oscar exited his car, I walked up to him and told him about the interviews, we walked together to the media and I stood a few feet from him as the interviewers asked questions.

"How do you feel taking over Daniel Ricciardo's seat this season?" Someone called out, I raised an eyebrow and Oscar started to stutter as he tried to come up with an appropriate answer.

"I'm sorry, but we have to move along" I cut in and give Oscar a small smile. The interviewers grumbled unhappily at the fact that I cut the interview short.

"Thanks" Oscar said with a deep exhale, I nodded his way and stopped by the next interviewer.

The rest kept the questions fair and reasonable, I was pleased with that. Because no way in hell I would let anyone treat Oscar badly.

He worked hard to get his seat at McLaren, it doesn't matter whose seat he got.

I put my hand on Oscar's back as we pushed through the crowd, I looked ahead to make sure we didn't meet any trouble.

Lando walked towards us with Charlotte next to him, his eyes met mine and I tore them away.

"You did good today, unfortunately you can expect a lot of jabs because of whose seat you've replaced" I tell Oscar and he nods understandingly.

"Thank you, really. Jas, you might be the only one who doesn't hold a grudge against me being here" Oscar said and laughed a little.

I felt sad for him.

"It will get better, I assure you. It will, just have a little patience" I say trying to make him feel just a tad better without lying to him.

"I hope so" Oscar said and as we neared his room, Lily his girlfriend met us halfway, the two engulfed each other and I couldn't help but smile a little.

"I'll see you tomorrow, get some rest" I tell him and pat his back before waving bye to the two.

I walk back to the paddock and go to Zak's office. I knock on the door and I hear a come in.

When I open the door I see Lando in there, Zak stands up as well and my brows furrowed in confused.

"Hi, sorry to interrupt. When you have a minute, I would to talk to you" I say and Zak nods.

"I'll find you" Zak replies and I nod before closing the door after me, while successfully avoiding Lando's glare.

Once I close the door I head back out of the paddock, I head out for Ferrari and immediately Charles and Carlos finds me.

"Hey, how did it go today?" Charles asks in Italian, he's breathless, sweating and smiles wider than a child would on Christmas morning.

"It was okay, but Jesus-those reporters are making dirty jabs at Oscar" I say in Italian as well.

Carlos glances back and forth between us and narrows his eyes. "English, people. English"

I chuckle and Charles laughs as well. "We knew it was coming though, so I prepared Oscar as well as I could before the testing" I say and Charles nods.

"Oh, he's having trouble?" Carlos asks and I nod with a small wince.

"A bit, it's not too bad. I do fear it will get worse though, but I will be there to stop it" I say and the two Ferrari drivers nods their heads.

"It's good that he has you, you're protective and crazy when someone you know is getting slammed for something" Charles says and laughs a little while I glare at him.

"I am not protective and crazy, I simply put people in their place when needed" I retort and cross my arms.

"That's a good one, Jams" Carlos retorts and claps my back while laughing. "What? I'm not that bad" I say in disbelief and Charles gives me a 'really' look.

"Fuck off-" I snap and slap the back of his head, Charles winces and only laughs harder.

"You two are impossible, I'm glad it's not me who's dealing with you two children" I retort and once again the two only laughs.

"Jasmine, you have a minute?" Zak's voice makes the two drivers turn more serious, or maybe just hide the fact that they are small children in expensive cars.

"Sure, see you later, idiota" I retort and hit Charles on the arm. I make my way to Zak and we walk side by side towards the McLaren paddock.

"I wanted to talk to you about the whole Oscar replacing Daniel thing, I know it's only day one, but maybe we should do something about Lando and Oscars situation. I talked about with Charlotte and she agrees, we want them to connect for the future races" I explain and Zak nods.

"Whatever you want to do, you two have my permission. Make this team work, that's all that matters" Zak says and I nod with a smile.

"By the way-you did well with the interviews. Nice avoidance with the jabs sent Oscar's way" Zak said and squeezed my shoulder as we made it to the paddock.

"Thank you, I hope it's gonna work out" I say and he nods in agreement. "I will see you tomorrow" Zak says before leaving.

I stand there for a second to really feel everything as I stand in the paddock. I smile a little myself and release a small chuckle before turning on my heel-only to slam into someone.

Something wet and cold drenches my shirt and I gasp as the coldness and I freeze on the spot as I look up.

"Lando-what the hell" I curse out and he glares at me, his shirt is just as drenched.

"Is that Redbull? Seriously? Jesus it's gonna get sticky" I retort with a wince.

"Then watch where you're going" Lando retorts and I scoff and move around him. I had no spare shirts with me-I didn't get far as a hand wrapped around my upper arm.

"Come with me. I know where there's extra shirts" Lando says, his hold of me makes me glance down, then I sigh and let him lead the way, now with a new gentler hold of my wrist.

He pulled me across the paddock and opened the door to a room I hadn't seen before, but then again it was my first week.

"It should be here somewhere" Lando murmured, I nodded and began to look through the boxes.

"I found it" Lando called out not even thirty seconds later. "These got my number on it, is that okay for you?" Lando asked with an attitude at the last bit and rolled his eyes in the process.

"It's fine, asshole" I retorted and grabbed the shirt from his hands. I turned my back to him and groaned in annoyance as I peeled the wet sticky shirt off of my body.

"What are you doing?" Lando's voice wavered and I looked over my shoulder and realized he stood frozen in the spot, eyes on my bare upper body.

"Getting changed, I have work to do" I say in a duh tone before turning my head back to the shirt in my hands.

I slip it over my head and it's a bit oversized but it's perfectly comfortable. I turn around with the wet shirt in my hand when I see Lando had taken his shirt off as well.

My eyes traveled to his chest and stomach, fuck, I could've drooled all over the floor.

"Take a picture it'll last longer" Lando retorted, his eyes darkened as I remained unfazed by his comment.

"Well, if you insist" I made a move to pull my phone out and Lando watched me as he slipped the shirt over his head. "Very funny" Lando retorted as he pulled the edges of the shirt down.

"I know, right?" I rolled my eyes and threw the wet shirt at him. He caught it and scoffed before throwing back, hitting me in the face.

"I swear to god-I will kill-""-What are you guys doing in here?" A voice said, my eyes glares holes in Lando's, his face was inches away from mine.

I could feel his breath on my skin and and his lips looked just as welcoming as they had when he kissed me back then.