Fluttershy wants to become a race driver, but is met with disbelief from her friends. But her dream will soon become reality...
A few days before Spring Break in their final year of school, the Mane 7 are talking about what they want to do once they are done. When Fluttershy revealed to her friends that she wants to be a race driver, she is first met with disbelief from her friends. But, her fate changes when she met Franz Tost, team principal of AlphaTauri, who has heard of Fluttershy's driving skills, and offered her a seat with the AlphaTauri team in Formula 1...
Rated T for Teen. This story takes place in an alternate universe, in which Canterlot City is an actual part of the United States, as well as different parts from Equestria replacing other areas of Earth. May contain profanity.
BE ADVISED: This story does not replicate the events of any real life F1 season. Therefore, Max Verstappen is no defending world champion, and Lewis Hamilton has eight world championship titles in this story.
Another point of advice: I already made up the scoreboard for the whole championship, so the winner is already set, but of course, you are going to see it when the chapters pop up.
Driver List: - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) - George Russell (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) - Max Verstappen (Oracle Red Bull Racing) - Sergio Perez (Oracle Red Bull Racing) - Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari) - Carlos Sainz (Scuderia Ferrari) - Lando Norris (McLaren F1 Team) - Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren F1 Team) - Esteban Ocon (Alpine-Renault) - Fernando Alonso (Alpine-Renault) - Pierre Gasly (Scuderia AlphaTauri) - Fluttershy (Scuderia AlphaTauri, replacing Yuki Tsunoda) - Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Cognizant) - Nico Hülkenberg (Aston Martin Cognizant) - Nicholas Latifi (Williams Racing) - Alexander Albon (Williams Racing) - Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN) - Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN) - Kevin Magnussen (Haas) - Mick Schumacher (Haas)
Canterlot City, March 4 2022, 6 days before the Australian GP
It was a beautiful and warm spring day in Canterlot City, and this was the last week before Spring Break. This was also the final year for the Mane 7, who have spent most of their school time together.
Fluttershy, who decided to leave her boots home again, happily walks for Canterlot High. The kind and shy girl has something in her mind once she graduates from high school. Judging by her volunteering for Canterlot's animal shelter, one would think she would run an animal shelter herself in the future. However, after recent experiences, she now had different plans, and she was looking forward to the reaction of her friends.
At the entrance to the school, Fluttershy spotted her friends. "Hi!", she called out to them, at which she was greeted by her friends.
"How are you doing, darling?", Rarity asked.
"I'm doing really fine this morning, thank you.", Fluttershy said a bit shyly.
"I'm glad to hear that, 'Shy.", Rainbow Dash said, and patted her dear friend on the shoulder.
"Well, not too long now until our final exams, and if we get them right, we actually graduate from high school.", Twilight said.
"Yeah! And then... life begins!", Pinkie Pie said, and everyone shared a good laugh.
"Come to think of it, have any of you got an idea what you want to do once we graduate?", Rarity asked everyone.
"I would like to become a scientist in a high-class science lab.", Twilight said.
"My goal is to become a top player in soccer, bringing a top team to victory.", Rainbow Dash said enthusiastically.
"Working in a chocolate factory!", Pinkie Pie said happily, licking her mouth at the very thought.
"I have no immediate plans, but I'll see what I can get.", Sunset Shimmer said.
"Spending time with my family, and bringing my apple farm to the best there ever is!", Applejack said with confidence.
"And I would really love to run my own boutique, creating fabulous dresses for high-class customers.", Rarity said.
"What about you, Fluttershy? What do you want to do once you graduate from high school?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"Hehe, I think you'll be surprised by this, but... I would really like to become a race driver!", Fluttershy said.
The Mane 7 gasped. Especially Rainbow Dash was in disbelief about Fluttershy's response.
"You what? What makes you think that, Fluttershy?", Rainbow Dash asked in curiosity.
"Well, you see...", Fluttershy began...
"You're not gonna believe this, but I actually participated in an Esports Event which mostly was about Formula 1. I was trying out just for the fun of it, but I actually managed to qualify for the finals. When I took part in the finals, I was able to take the top 7 spot. I honestly couldn't believe it. You wouldn't believe how many people were watching this, and I was thinking about backing out in every single moment while I was racing. But on the other hand, I was competing with the very best, and I was bringing honor to our country, so I couldn't stop. I wanted to show the world that there was more to me than everyone thinks..."
"And... I was having so much fun... that I want to become a race driver.", Fluttershy finished.
"Well... Talk about a brave girl striving for more.", Sunset Shimmer praised, making Fluttershy blush.
"Come on, Sunset! Fluttershy, it was just a game! Who knows what would happen if you drive a race for real? A race is unpredictable - and dangerous.", said Rainbow Dash, worried for her dearest friend.
"I know that a race is unpredictable. But the danger is what makes it so fun!", Fluttershy said.
"And also, you hate performing in front of an audience! And I'm sure that a race is no different.", Rainbow Dash tried again.
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "I know that. But I'm rather shy when it comes to stage play when it's just me on stage or the spotlight is shining on me... In a race, when you see 20 cars zipping by with speed, you can't tell who is who unless you look at the TV broadcast.", was the explanation from the shy girl.
"Why, I never thought about you being a race driver. But imagining it is, how should I put it... something out of the ordinary.", Rarity stated.
"Seriously, it sounds like the best - thing - EVER!", said Pinkie Pie in her usual manner.
"And mind if I ask how on earth you got into Formula 1 in the first place?", asked Applejack, a bit curious.
"When I was at Rushing Wind's home, I got to play his favorite F1 game, F1 2020. At first, I was struggling to get going, but as Rush trained me and gave me tips on how to drive, I went faster and faster. And like I said, in the Esports Event, I took 7th.", Fluttershy explained.
"Well, didn't think ya'd be this quick at learnin' new things.", Applejack said.
The bell rang. "Okay, let's get going. I'll see you later.", Fluttershy said, and alongside Rainbow Dash, she went to class.
During Maths class, Fluttershy was focused on an equation, and as she asked Rainbow Dash about something regarding this very equation, the P.A. made a sound, and Principal Celestia's voice was heard.
"Fluttershy, please come to the Principal's Office. It's urgent.", she said.
With a bit of shock, Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash. What would the principal want from her now? Several thoughts, mostly not so good, went through her mind.
"Just go, Fluttershy. Everything will be fine.", said Rainbow Dash, to comfort her.
Fluttershy threw her backpack on her back, and went out of the classroom heading for the Principal's Office. As she walked to the office, she kept thinking about what would happen now. She didn't remember doing anything that could get her into trouble.
Nervously, Fluttershy knocked on the door. From the other side, Celestia called out: "Come in!"
Fluttershy walked in. "You called for me, Principal Celestia?", Fluttershy asked, still a bit nervous.
"Yes. There's someone who wants to talk to you.", the principal said. Then, she turned to the man in front of her. "Sir?", she said.
"Yes.", said the man before turning to Fluttershy, "So, you're Fluttershy, right?"
"Uh-huh.", Fluttershy said, and nodded. "But... who are you?"
"The name's Franz Tost. I'm the team principal of AlphaTauri.", the man said, and continued, "Ever heard of that team?"
"I heard of the team. I remember it being a playable team in Formula 1 games. The Junior Team of Red Bull, am I right?", Fluttershy asked, a bit unsure about what she should say.
"Exactly. And we seem to be in a little problem right now. A few days earlier, our number two driver, Yuki Tsunoda, was involved in an accident.", Tost explained.
"Oh my... I hope he's okay...", Fluttershy said in slight worry.
"He's okay, but he's unable to race for some time. So we need to look for someone new. And seeing that you did a fine job in that F1 Esports Event..."
When Tost mentioned that, Fluttershy's heart slightly jumped. He was about to say something that could fulfil her dream...
"This is... I don't know how to say that... But... How about you want to join AlphaTauri for this year's F1 season?", Tost finally asked.
"Oh my... Really?", Fluttershy asked in surprise, "But... I don't know... It was just a game..."
"No. That Esports Event is more than that. It basically shows that you do have the potential to mess with the best of the best indeed. And you would be the first American F1 driver in a full season since Scott Speed in 2007, and that was 15 years ago.", Tost explained.
"Oh my... the first American driver in 15 years?", Fluttershy said, amazed by this sheer amount of time since an American raced in F1. A thought crossed her mind - she, the newbie at AlphaTauri, the first American driver in 15 years. All focus on her, and no one else. She slightly squeaked at this thought.
"Are you okay?", asked Tost.
"I'm fine... I was just... lost in thoughts.", Fluttershy said.
"Glad to hear that, dearie.", Tost said.
"So... what's gonna happen if I agree?", asked Fluttershy, still a bit nervous from that thought.
"You're gonna race in the most prestigious sport on the planet. When can you make it to Melbourne?", Tost asked.
Fluttershy felt her heart flutter of excitement. This would be the chance to fulfil that dream she pursued. But, she needed some comfort - and a response from a friend.
"Um... I'll tell you later.", she said.
"It's a one-time offer, so don't think about it for too long.", Tost reminded, and Fluttershy nodded before she left the room.
Fluttershy was unsure. She could actually fulfil her dream of becoming a race driver. But what about her friends? She knew from Rushing Wind, her beloved friend, that Formula 1 is very often on tour, and this would mean that she wouldn't have much time for them as well...
But come to think of Rush... Maybe at least one of them will stand by her when she's racing...
She quickly ran to the girls' bathroom, thinking about what to do. As the cold floor on her bare feet gave her a little shiver, she still made up her mind about her decision.
After taking out her smartphone from her bag and letting out a big sigh, she dialed Rushing Wind. After two dialing tones, he answered.
"Hello?", came Rush's voice from the other side.
"Hi, Rush.", Fluttershy said.
"Oh, hey Fluttershy. How are you doing today?", Rush asked his beloved friend.
"I'm doing good, thanks. Hey, um... Mind if I... um..." Fluttershy stuttered, knowing Rush wouldn't believe her if she told her about this amazing opportunity.
"What is it, Flutty? You need to tell me something?", Rush asked in curiosity.
"But what?", Rush pushed, seemingly desperate to know the answer.
Fluttershy let out a big sigh, and finally said: "Today, someone by the name of Franz Tost was here, and asked me if I was interested in joining AlphaTauri for this year's Formula 1 season!"
"You're joking! You're joking, aren't you!?", Rushing Wind said in disbelief.
"I'm not! I think I actually might join Formula 1!", Fluttershy stated.
"Whoa! Wow! That is awesome, Flutty! Needless to say, I'm proud of you!", Rushing Wind praised.
"Aw, thank you, Rush.", Fluttershy said, before going to another topic, "There's just one problem, though..."
"What is it?", Rush asked.
"My friends... What are they gonna do when I'm gone? F1 is a sport where you travel a lot around the world, and it somewhat feels so... wrong to leave them behind just to chase my dream...", Fluttershy said, slight worry in her voice.
"I think you especially refer about Rainbow Dash and me, right?", Rushing Wind guessed.
"Yeah. I wouldn't be able to see them when there's a race every weekend. You told me that there's Practice on Fridays, Qualifying on Saturdays, and the Race is on Sunday...", Fluttershy explained.
"True. But there's not a race weekend every week, you know. In such cases, and when you get to your home GP, there's a high chance you can come home for a few days again.", Rushing Wind said.
This calmed Fluttershy down a bit. Knowing that she would get to visit her friends every now and then, especially after her home grand prix, gave her a bit of safety and confidence. "Say, um... You also said that an F1 driver would need a race engineer on their side... Do you..."
"Do I want to be your race engineer? Well, I'd never say no when it's about you.", Rush said.
Fluttershy smiled. She knew that she was talking to Rushing Wind, and he'd do anything to help her, whether the going gets tough or not, and even in a circumstance like this, he would never say 'No' if it's about Fluttershy.
"And by the way, I know a guy who can give us a bit of backup. When and where is the first race supposed to be?", Rush asked.
"It's this week, in Melbourne.", Fluttershy said.
"Melbourne? Wasn't that-- oh, right. Bahrain and Jeddah were cancelled. We got a 20-race calendar this year, and Melbourne is the season opener this year.", Rushing Wind said, "But nevertheless, I'm down. And about your friends, tell them you're going to join F1. I'd be very proud to see you in an F1 car anytime soon."
"Okay, see you soon.", Fluttershy said and ended the call. Now that Rushing Wind was fine with it, she only needed to tell her friends, and then, she had to tell Franz Tost that she was in.
"You're gonna WHAT?", asked the Mane 7 in surprise. Before they went to the cafeteria for lunch, Fluttershy told them about her plans, and about the opportunity she has.
"Uh-huh. I'm actually gonna join Formula 1 this week. My first race will be in Melbourne, and I'm so excited to begin!", Fluttershy said in excitement.
"Huh, sounds cool. But isn't Formula 1 a sport where the drivers and teams are on tour a lot?", Sunset asked, a bit in disbelief.
"Yes," Fluttershy said, "but two GPs are held here in the States, so after those, I might get the chance to spend a lot more time with you after the races are done."
"But Fluttershy, are you actually serious about this?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yes, Rainbow. I'm gonna travel the world and compete in the most exciting sport on the planet!", Fluttershy said, getting more excited by the minute.
"Fluttershy, Formula 1 is a dangerous sport! Haven't you seen what happened to Max Verstappen last year?", Rainbow asked in huge worry and showed Fluttershy the clip from the final lap of the Abu Dhabi GP 2021, in which Verstappen's engine and car exploded at the last corner after said driver tried to push to the finish line as fast as humanly possible while suffering a severe engine issue.
Instead of a shocked reaction that her friends expected, Fluttershy remained calm, but frowned, and said: "I know. Rush has told me about it. But Verstappen is someone else, a showman trying to win by any means necessary, even if it puts his life or the life of others at risk. If this happened to me, I would've retired the car."
"Even if it was the final lap?", Rainbow Dash asked in surprise.
"Yes. It's just to be safe.", Fluttershy responded.
"Rainbow, maybe we should trust Fluttershy. You know what she said - bein' a race driver is her dream.", Applejack said.
"I know, AJ... But what if she gets into a terrible accident and gets hurt? I wouldn't wanna imagine this scenario...", Rainbow Dash said, tears already building up in her eyes, "Fluttershy... I don't wanna lose you... You're one of our dearest friends..."
"Aw, Rainbow. You won't. You will be proud of me.", Fluttershy said, trying to comfort Rainbow a bit... which helped.
"Did you already ask Rush about it?", Twilight asked.
"I did. And he said that he'd be glad to be my race engineer, and he'd also bring some backup.", Fluttershy said.
"Well, if Rush is so well-organized with F1, I would accept that challenge. After all, it does sound like quite the task to drive and worry about the car, and when you have a race engineer to let you know about troubles with your car, it sure takes some pressure away.", Rarity said.
"Yeah! And who knows, if Fluttershy wins, I'll throw a Formula-1-Winner Party for her!", Pinkie Pie said, already excited to see Fluttershy race.
"Those cars are technical masterpieces. And I know that Fluttershy wouldn't drive reckless, so maybe someone like her might get the most out of these race cars.", Twilight added, also imagining Fluttershy taking an F1 car to the limit, while still staying in the limit.
"Rainbow, AJ is right. You should trust Fluttershy. I'm very sure that she won't get into an accident in her first race.", Sunset said to give Rainbow Dash some comfort.
"Okay, I'll trust you. But Fluttershy, when you get into the race... Please be careful out there.", Rainbow Dash said, still with worry in her voice.
"Aw, don't worry, Rainbow. Rush said that most drivers in F1 are very talented, so what's the worst that can happen?", Fluttershy said, with confidence in her voice.
August 28 2022...
FORMULA 1 Rolex Belgian GP 2022 - Round 12 - Spa-Francorchamps
"The race in Spa-Francorchamps is entering its final stages, and it looks like a clear win for Red Bull."
"Okay, Checo. Gap to Hamilton is 2.7. You're looking good."
"Now Max Verstappen against Lewis Hamilton, eight time world champion."
Going into La Source, Verstappen dives down the inside of Lewis Hamilton, who quickly moves to the outside.
"Whoa, Verstappen is always going for it, isn't he?", said Lewis Hamilton over the team radio.
"Pierre Gasly, the French lone gun, dominating the middle field right now."
"I can't get by. Give command to defend.", said a frustrated Pierre Gasly, stuck behind one of the Ferraris.
"Verstappen now behind Sergio Perez, so far a great race for the Red Bull team."
As Verstappen slowly closed in to Sergio Perez, he knew he'd be behind him anytime soon.
"Give Checo order to let me by." - "Understood, Max."
"AlphaTauri's 26 is defending the position."
The AlphaTauri with the number 26 held themselves well against the midfield pack, defending the position wherever possible.
"You're doing great, 26. Keep this up.", said Jeff, the race engineer of AlphaTauri's 26.
"The race has entered the final lap, and this looks like a one-two for Red Bull!"
"Man, I can't get by! What the fuck is he doing?", said Verstappen, almost at the brink of rage as he heads into Eau Rouge alongside Sergio Perez.
"Max Verstappen now trying to pass!" - "He's going for it!"
As both Red Bulls entered Eau Rouge, Sergio Perez was outside, but wasn't aware of Verstappen's proximity.
"They're heading into Eau Rouge now!" - "Contact!"
The contact caused Verstappen to spin and rushed into the wall, terminally damaging the car, and the wreck flew back onto the track, in front of George Russell's Mercedes. And then...
"Verstappen has lost it! Russell has no space to dodge! Oh, what a terrible accident! Ricciardo in the wall! Pierre Gasly sliding right over the grass field! Max Verstappen is out of the race, AlphaTauri's 26 is damaged! There's debris everywhere on the track! This is unbelieveable!" - "Half the drivers are out of the race, and it looks like at least two need medical assistance."
10 terminally damaged cars were at Eau Rouge, a few cars were heavily damaged, but could still keep going. Then, all focus shifted to the AlphaTauri in P5.
"Wait a second, Ant! AlphaTauri's 26 is heavily damaged, but they don't retire the car! They want to keep going!" - "What a confidence from AlphaTauri's 26!"
LAP 22/22
Fluttershy just barely managed to get through the carnage in Eau Rouge, and is now sat on P5, with a damaged bodywork. Her front wing and her tires are still intact though.
"Okay 26, you have to retire. There's too much debris on the track.", said Jeff, Fluttershy's primary race engineer.
"Negative. Keep the car in the race. Repeat, don't retire.", said Rushing Wind, who also was on the radio with Fluttershy.
"Rush, the 26 is severely damaged, and Pierre's not responding. Is he okay?", Jeff asked.
"Pierre's okay. He just got out of the danger zone.", Rush said, "You just focus on the race, Fluttershy."
"Will do, Rush!", Fluttershy said, with unusual confidence in her voice.
"Let me know once there's more to tell. Can you confirm the strategy?", Jeff asked.
"Hey, half the drivers are out. If we continue on now, we're getting a good chunk of points. We can't stop now!", Rushing Wind said, trying to shed light onto the situation.
"Alright, 26. Finish the race.", Jeff said.
"On it.", said Fluttershy.
"Go, go, go!", cheered Rushing Wind.
Fluttershy went into Les Combes, and had a little struggle to keep the car stable thanks to the underbody damage, but it was still fine. She knew how to keep the car under control when the floor is damaged. Into Turn 10, she spotted 4th, which was Charles Leclerc with a damaged wing from the accident. Using a good exit from Turn 11, Fluttershy caught the Ferrari driver before going into Pouhon. Out of the turn, she spotted Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in 3rd and 2nd.
"Keep going, you're doing good, 26. You got this!", Jeff cheered.
Fluttershy managed to catch Alonso before going into Campus, and coming out of Turn 15, Stavelot, she got close to Lewis Hamilton, before she caught him with a very good exit out of Turn 16, placing her in 2nd.
"Just a few more corners! You can do it!", Jeff said, as Fluttershy headed for the Bus Stop Chicane.
Under braking, she caught Red Bull driver and race leader Sergio Perez, taking first place. With a good exit out of Turn 20, out of the Bus Stop Chicane, she took the checkered flag and won the race in the most unpredictable scenario possible.
"Awesome! P1, that's the race win! Well done, Fluttershy!", Rush praised his dear racer.
"Whoohooo! Yes, yes, yes!", Fluttershy cheered as she drove her victory lap and then back into the pits. That final lap certainly changed everything, and this will most likely be a day to remember. Not just for her, but also for the drivers. One moment of aggression from a top-class driver caused a huge accident, which drove her to a huge success in one of the toughest tracks in the calendar.
As Fluttershy was heading to the podium with Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton, she was being cheered by the crowd, and her team.
"Here she is, the lady of the hour, Fluttershy!" - "A resounding victory, and a fantastic success for this exceptional driver!" - "You got it! This race will most likely be one to remember for the ages! And this girl has got a fantastic career ahead of her."
Fluttershy received her winner's trophy, and celebrated alongside the other two podium finishers. And Crofty was right - this is a race that Fluttershy will remember forever, not just because she drove to her maiden win, but because she survived the carnage caused by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Fluttershy is in her room in the AlphaTauri garage. She looked quite nervous. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, 'Shy. Mind if I come in?" It was Pierre Gasly, her teammate.
"N-no, not at all. Come in.", Fluttershy said.
Pierre opened the door. "Hey. How are you feeling?", he asked.
"Nnnervous...", Fluttershy said unsure, not knowing what to do once she was in the car.
"Don't worry, 'Shy. This is just Practice, so we won't be pushing at 100% for long durations. This is just about getting used to the car, gathering some data for the race and the factory teams... And the rest is just bragging rights.", Pierre explained.
Fluttershy sighed. "I can't do it... Just why did I agree?", she asked in slight fear.
"Hey. Back when I was around your age, I was also scared of a race, because I didn't know what would happen. You survive the race, or you fail trying. And from what I heard, I think you do have the talent to handle that car.", Pierre said.
Fluttershy felt a bit encouraged. "Are... are you sure?", she asked.
"Of course I am. I went through the same deal like you did, and look at me. I got a win to my book, AlphaTauri is happy with me, and I feel confident. And I also seek the chance to rejoin Red Bull anytime soon.", Pierre said.
Fluttershy smiled. She was happy to have someone like Pierre to back her up. "I'll do my best today. And who knows what's gonna happen?", she said.
"That's the spirit!", said Pierre, and patted Fluttershy on the shoulder. "Alright, see you on the track!", he said, and left the room.
Fluttershy let out a big sigh. "Come on, Fluttershy. You got this.", she said to herself, trying to give her courage.
FORMULA 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2022 - Round 1 - Practice
"Welcome along, then, to the first Practice session of the new Formula 1 season. This will be a thrilling hour, with the drivers testing out their new cars, which are far different from their last ones, thanks to the latest reg changes. Now, the light's about to go green, so let's join the action trackside."
"Alongside with me, of course, is Anthony Davidson. It's great to have you with me here today. Now, what can you tell us about this year's driver lineup? There are a few new faces, as well as some well-known ones, right?"
"You're definetly right, Crofty. There have been some interesting driver moves lately. So, who do you want to start with?"
"Let's talk about Fluttershy, the new driver at AlphaTauri."
"You're right, that's someone to keep an eye on."
"If anyone followed last year's F1 Esports Event, you know how great she was, and that she certainly has some talent behind the wheel. Interesting enough, she was trained by one of the greatest race drivers on the west hemisphere, a man named Rushing Wind. Now, we know she didn't win the Esports Championship, but the talent in precise and clean driving that is required in this sport is something that might get her far this season."
"This very young AlphaTauri driver isn't the only new face we see in this season, right?"
"No, in this season, the fans get to meet Guanyu Zhou, a very promising Chinese driver. Then, regarding other driver moves, George Russell has moved to Mercedes, and joins the eight time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, whose former teammate, Valtteri Bottas, moved to Alfa Romeo following Kimi Raikkonen's retirement. Then we got Danish driver Kevin Magnussen, Alexander Albon from Thailand, and finally, Nico Hulkenberg. Now, speaking of him, there's been some recent controversy about former Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel. During winter testing, he received a number of penalties, among them one for being involved in a serious crash with Yuki Tsunoda, who now sits in hospital. That was a nasty sight. Sure, on the questions regarding the incident, they kept a professional attitude to Vettel, but I can hardly imagine that this was also the case behind closed doors. I think that Hulkenberg is pretty delighted to be back in the seat and will seek to start his push for his first ever podium in Formula 1."
As Fluttershy sat down in the car, suddenly, a voice spoke to her.
"The first race of the season is always difficult for us trackside, but also for the team at the factory, as this is the first time that the car is driven since winter testing. The more constant your mileage is, the happier we'll be.", the voice said.
"Whoa! Who was that?", asked Fluttershy, a bit startled.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. The name's Jeff. It's good to have you and your friend onboard. Now listen, I don't know how race control would react if they knew you were a girl, so I'll be referring to you with your driver number, which is 26 in this case. Got that?", Jeff asked.
"Okay...", said Fluttershy, a bit unsure.
"I know you want us to talk to you with your real name, but the first thing we gotta do is make sure that no one knows about you. F1 is similar to pirates - it's normally just men, and female pirates conceal themselves with men's clothing. But don't worry. As long as you'll keep the truth to yourself, you'll be fine.", Rushing Wind said.
"Okay, the track is clear at the moment, so what do you say you take some laps and tell us how the car feels?", Jeff suggested.
"Of course. Get me going!", said Fluttershy in determination, excited to get out on track.
"Okay. The track is still green at the moment, so take some laps to get the tires up to temperature, and feel your way around the track.", Jeff said as Fluttershy fired up the Honda engine and the AlphaTauri car is being put onto the tires.
With one last big sigh, Fluttershy drove out.
As she headed for the pit exit, she looked at the steering wheel. Rushing Wind has already explained the numerous functions to her, but getting used to might take a bit of effort herself. She did know where the pit limiter button was, so once she reached the exit, she pressed it and started to accelerate as normal.
Rainbow Dash was right - this truly felt entirely different from the game she played at Rush's home. It was just her, and the beast of a car she needed to tame. Fluttershy decided that it would be the smartest to take one slower outlap to get used to the car as well as to the functions of the steering wheel.
She also heard from Rushing Wind that these cars, unlike in the game she played, had neither traction control nor anti-lock brakes available, so she needed to adjust.
As Fluttershy then came down to the start/finish straight, she accelerated faster, opened the DRS, and started her first hotlap on the Hard tire compound.
It was just like she anticipated - the car had insane acceleration, and she approached the first turn faster than she thought. She decided to go for a couple hotlaps to get used to the car at high speeds, as well as to the track. It wasn't easy. From what she heard from Rush, the Hard tire compound had the lowest grip, which meant slower acceleration, but cornering grip is still present, and it wasn't less.
As she completed a couple of hotlaps around the Albert Park, Fluttershy got used to the car further and further. Rush also told her over the radio that she should keep an eye on her tire temperatures. As long as the carcass temps are in the optimal operating window, which was 92 to 100 degrees Celsius, the tires would have the best grip. Thanks to the latest reg changes, which reduce the temperature of the tire blankets, it was harder to get your tires warm without losing too much speed, but it was something everyone had to get along with, even her.
After she completed her fifth hotlap, Jeff radioed in: "Well, 26? How is the car?"
"Good. And I think I got to grips with this beast now.", Fluttershy responded.
"Very good. Come into the pits so we can analyze the data.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy did as she was told. In the meantime, there were more drivers on track, among them Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and even Sergio Perez.
Back in the pits, Fluttershy took a look at the data on her dual-monitor that was put on the car once she was back in the garage.
"Say, 26... Now that there are a few cars on track, how about you go out on a fresh set of Mediums and try out the Race Strategy Program? This will be useful to gather data for the race so we can calculate a good race strategy for you.", Rushing Wind suggested.
"Sure. I'd love to!", Fluttershy said in enthusiasm.
Said and done - the Medium tires were fitted to her car, the car was fueled up for 8 laps, and she was sent out.
"Now, about Race Strategy - treat this program like a race simulation. Try getting a few good laps in so that Jeff can calculate a good strategy for the race. Also try for overtakes should the need arise.", Rush explained.
"Okay, I'm on it.", said Fluttershy, and as she came onto the final straight, she accelerated and started the simulation.
As she raced over the track, she felt the difference in grip with these Mediums. They have great grip, so she can accelerate faster than with the Hard compound, and the tire life is also pretty good.
She approached one of the slower cars, Mick Schumacher in the Haas. Out of turn 12, she went into his slipstream and caught the German with a neat move into 13.
"Good job, nice overtake.", Jeff said.
She completed her first lap quick enough, with a 1:22.704. "Great lap, you delivered just what we asked for. Keep this up!", Rush cheered.
And Fluttershy did. She raced over the track with grace, passing Alexander Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, and even Lando Norris during her Race Strategy laps, and always seemed to improve her times. A 1:21.470 in Lap 3, and a 1:21.108 in the last lap of the program were her best ones.
"Program complete, and a job well done! We got some excellent data with that run, so come back into the garage and I can take you through the numbers.", Jeff said.
When Fluttershy returned to the garage and the car was brought in, she got out of the car and took a look at the data with Jeff and Rush.
"Now, from looking at these numbers regarding tire wear, you should be fine for the race if we attempt a 1-stop strategy with Soft and Hard.", Jeff explained.
"Sounds good, but so far, we only have data for Hard tires. We didn't collect data for Soft tires yet.", Rush reminded.
"True, and that's where Practice 2 will come in later this day. We're going to run Qualifying Pace as well as Tire Management, both on the Soft compound tire. Based on this data, we will enhance the race strategy further, and we can anticipate where we could potentially qualify on the grid.", Jeff explained further.
"To be fair, something like Q2 would be fine for a rookie in their first race, if you ask me, Jeff.", said Rush.
"Q2? What is that?", asked Fluttershy, unsure about all this data.
"I'll explain this to you, Flutty. In Qualifying, there will be three sessions - Q1, Q2, and Q3. After every session, the bottom five are eliminated from Qualifying, and they'll start on the positions they qualified for. Those who advanced, they have a chance at advancing further, and if you get into the Top 10 in Q2, you have a chance for the Top 10 shootout, where it's about taking pole position.", Rushing Wind explained.
"Oh, I get it now.", Fluttershy said.
"Take a breather. We'll gather more data in Practice 2.", Rush said.
"Okay.", Fluttershy said.
Her first practice, and it went so well. Fluttershy was certainly beaming with excitement and joy, and she couldn't wait to get back in the car for Practice 2.
PRACTICE 2
Some time later, the second practice session was underway, and everyone at AlphaTauri, including Fluttershy, was eager to begin. She climbed into her car, got buckled up, and Rushing Wind radioed in.
"Okay, Fluttershy. I hope you are feeling refreshed, because we got a lot of work to do. We need to collect data for the Soft tire compound, so we are going to run Qualifying Pace, as well as Tire Management, both on the Soft tires. And if you want, we can save Fuel and ERS Management for the final session.", he explained.
"Alright.", Fluttershy said, "So, what should we start with?"
"Nobody's out on track yet, so I suggest to start with Qualifying Pace, since the track still has its share of rubber on the track, increasing grip.", Rushing Wind said.
"Okay. Get me going, then.", Fluttershy said. And just like that, the mechanics lowered her AlphaTauri with the number 26 to its wheels, and she was sent out.
"Now, about Quali Pace, this is one of the most interesting practice programs of all time, as this will give us data about where we could be on the grid, as well as a potential pole time. Don't worry about your tires, just give it all you got in one quick run, okay?", Rushing Wind explained.
"Alright, I got you.", said Fluttershy, and as she came close to the last two turns, she enabled Hotlap ERS Deploy, opened the DRS on the straight, and started her hotlap.
With low fuel load, Hotlap Mode, and DRS, the car accelerated like a rocket, and it clearly showed. Out of Turn 9, the car got close to 310 km/h so quickly, until she had to slow down for the swerving turns 11 and 12. Then, through the final sector, Fluttershy maintained a great pace, ending her run with a time of 1:19.325.
"Great lap, 26. Come back into the garage, and we can take a look at the data.", Jeff said.
Back in the pits, Fluttershy analyzed the data with Jeff and Rush.
"Now, from looking at this data, this time should be sufficient for Q2, maybe Q3 if you're lucky.", Jeff said.
"Would be a solid result for someone who just gets started in F1, to be honest.", Rushing Wind said.
Fluttershy smiled. Starting close to the top 10 might be a good thing, as this gives her the chance to fight for her first point. And debuting with a points finish is something any driver can be proud of.
"Potential pole time is at 1:18.2, so I don't think we will reach that. The car is not capable of challenging the top pack yet. The only thing we can do is hope that some drivers drop out of the race, or that the drivers in front of us make a mistake.", Jeff explained.
"True. The AlphaTauri is normally no car for a championship contender.", Rushing Wind said.
Fluttershy knew that too well. When she played F1 2020 back at Rushing Wind's house, she always liked to drive with the Mercedes, and she always dominated the races with it. But now, she was in an AlphaTauri, which was far from what she knew from the game.
"Okay, 26. Get back in the car. Let's continue with Tire Management.", Jeff said.
Back in the car, a new set of Soft tires was fitted to Fluttershy's car, and then, she was sent out again.
"Alright, in this program, we want to make sure that you can manage your tires throughout a lap, so try to keep wear minimal in the turns. Be especially careful when accelerating at the apex of a turn, you hear me?", Rushing Wind said.
"Okay.", said Fluttershy, and when she hit the final straight, she started the practice program.
Through the first two turns, Fluttershy noticed that the car became unstable on the rear.
"Whoa!", she said, startled by the sudden rear end swing.
However, the entire first sector didn't go well, as the rear kept going wild when accelerating.
"Something's not right. The car is very slippery through sector 1.", Fluttershy said.
"Yes, confirmed. The DRS is stuck open, you need to come in so we can attempt a fix. Box for repairs.", Jeff said.
Back in the pits, Fluttershy received her third and final set of Softs for Practice. Also, the mechanics worked on the rear wing.
"Is that the reason why the car was so slippery?", asked Fluttershy.
"Yes, it was. When your DRS is stuck open, you do have way better acceleration, but thanks to the latest regulations, DRS is more effective than ever, so you'll have a lot less rear downforce if you open it.", Rushing Wind said.
A few seconds later, the mechanics succeeded in closing the wing. "That should do it!", one of them shouted. Then, Fluttershy was released back onto the track.
"Okay, keep in mind, you won't be able to open the rear wing for some time. We're trying to sort this issue out, so just make the best of it.", said Jeff.
"Copy.", said Fluttershy.
Now with the rear wing down again, the car felt way better. And even without the help of the DRS, she managed to keep tire wear at a low level. The first lap ended with a barely fast enough time, and low tire wear. And shortly before her third lap in the program, the DRS was working again. And then, she pulled out a great lap, along with low tire wear.
"Program complete, and a good job indeed. We got some valuable information out of that.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy went back to the pits and took a look at the data.
"Now, judging by this data, if we put it into the race strategy, doing a one-stop strategy with Soft-Hard is now not at all impossible to do.", Jeff said.
"Great work, Flutty. This data is exactly what we need. I'm sure that this will be an interesting race.", Rushing Wind said, slightly excited.
"I'm excited too, to be honest. I can't wait to show what I can do out on the track.", said Fluttershy, happy with her performance today.
"Now, we don't have enough time for another program, so I guess that's it for today.", Jeff said.
"Seems like it. You did good out there, Flutty. And tomorrow, we can move on to Practice 3, for the last remaining data.", Rushing Wind said.
"Thank you.", said Fluttershy, and went back to her room with Rush.
At night, Fluttershy prepared herself to go to sleep. She didn't have her pajamas with her, so after getting out of her overall and taking a shower, she changed into her casual outfit from back at home. It felt light enough to not give her heatstrokes in bed, so she thought this was sufficient.
Before she went to bed, her smartphone rang. It was Posey, Fluttershy's mother.
"Hi.", said Fluttershy.
"Hey, Fluttershy. How are you doing Down Under?", asked Posey. She has heard about Fluttershy joining F1, and therefore knew about the first race weekend.
"I'm doing fine, thank you. Did you watch Practice?", Fluttershy asked.
"I did, and I have to say - no matter where you will come out in the race, I'm proud of you, my dear!", Posey said.
Fluttershy giggled. "Aw, thank you.", she said.
"Just promise me that you'll be careful when you're out on track, okay?", Posey said.
"I will, Mom. Don't worry.", Fluttershy said.
"Okay. Good night, my darling.", Posey said and ended the call.
Fluttershy put her smartphone on the table, grabbed her plush bunny, and climbed into her bed. It certainly felt so different to sleep in a foreign area she was absolutely not used to, but this seemed to be every driver's business, so she had to put up with it. She closed her eyes, and thought about the upcoming day...
PRACTICE 3
Fluttershy entered the pit garage, and is being met with Jeff and Rushing Wind.
"Good morning, Fluttershy. I hope you slept well.", Rushing Wind said.
"I did, surprisingly. I feel pretty good today.", Fluttershy said.
"That's good, because there's a lot to do today. We need to collect some more data, and soon after, there's Qualifying coming up.", Jeff said.
"He's right. And I suggest we get started as soon as possible.", Rushing Wind said.
Fluttershy nodded, put on her helmet, and then climbed into the car.
"We got one fresh set of Medium tires remaining, so we need to make the best out of it while we can.", Jeff said over the radio.
"Exactly. There are two programs remaining - Fuel and ERS Management. What do you say should we start with, 26?", asked Rushing Wind.
"I say we start with Fuel Management.", Fluttershy replied.
"Okay. Fire up the engine, we're starting soon.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy did what she was told, and after a few moments, she went out onto the track.
"Now, about Fuel Management, this will ensure that we don't run out of fuel while we're in the race, so we want you to focus on fuel saving techniques like Lift-and-Coast to save as much fuel as you can. But remember, you still need to beat the target time.", Rushing Wind explained.
"Got it.", Fluttershy said, and began her first lap.
She tried out what Rush said to her - lifting the throttle, and coasting towards the turn, overall shortening the braking distance. This in turn allows for a safer approach into a corner, as she won't be coming up with high speeds.
The first lap went well, with a good fuel efficiency. The second one went even better, with a faster time while still having the same efficiency. And finally, she topped it all with a fast lap with better efficiency.
"Great job, 26. We got some good data on that run, so come back into the pits and we can take a look at it.", Jeff said.
On her way back into the pits, Rushing Wind suddenly radioed in: "Okay, red flag, red flag. Drive back to the pits."
"On my way.", Fluttershy said.
Back in the garage, Fluttershy got out of the car. "What does a red flag mean?", she asked her beloved friend.
"It means that there was a severe incident on-track, causing the session to stop. Let's see who was responsible.", Rushing Wind said.
Looking at the TV in the garage, they could see that Nicholas Latifi in the Williams has lost it in the first two turns and slammed into the barrier.
"Oh my... Is he okay?", Fluttershy asked, a bit worried.
"He just got out, so I'd say he's okay. Can't say the same for the car, though.", Rushing Wind said.
The Williams with the number 6 sure looked like it took a strong blow. The front wing was off, the front left tire has fallen off, and the car overall didn't look too good.
A few minutes later, the wreck was brought out of the way, and Practice could continue.
"Okay, let's get back to business.", Rushing Wind said, "There's still ERS Management to take on."
"Exactly. Let's get to it, 26. This will also deliver some important data.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy jumped back into the car and fired up the engine before she, once again, drove out of the garage.
"Now, about the ERS Management test, this is about managing your battery charge and keeping under the target laptime. The more efficient you are with your battery charge, the better the score will be. Use the Overtake Button on your steering wheel for maximum power, but be advised that energy will drain rapidly.", Rushing Wind explained.
"Copy.", said Fluttershy, and began the first attempt.
It looked simpler than it was - she could switch between no deploy and Overtake Mode, by the push of the Overtake Button on her wheel. But from some experience with the game she played at Rushing Wind's house, she knew that it would be the smartest move to use Overtake Mode on DRS straights, which is mostly used to counter attackers who try to overtake with DRS. However, Fluttershy also knew that the long fast section heading for Turn 11 also is pretty fast, and therefore, a good spot to make use of the Overtake Mode.
And on her first shot, Fluttershy got the data that the team wanted.
"Awesome job, 26. We already got the data that we wanted. Come back into the garage, and we'll look into it.", Jeff said.
When she returned to the pits, Fluttershy got out and took a look at the data.
"So I see you mostly used the Overtake Button on the DRS straights. And you also deployed energy after Turn 9, on the long, speedy section heading for 11.", Jeff said.
"Keep in mind, Flutty - the Overtake Mode is most useful if you accelerate. You shouldn't waste it when you're close to your top speed. It's just like with Nitro in cars that I drive on the road.", Rushing Wind said.
"Okay, I get it.", said Fluttershy.
"Alright, I think we pretty much got the data that we need. We should be in with good knowledge for the rest of the weekend.", Jeff said.
"Good to know. That means we can save the car a little bit more stress, gaining on reliability.", Rushing Wind said, "That reminds me, Fluttershy. I think it's time I tell you something about the engine itself."
"Okay, shoot.", said Fluttershy.
"Now, this V6 Turbo engine, manufactured by Honda, has a very high power output. I'd say it's even on par with Ferrari regarding pure performance. This means that this engine gets more power than any other power unit in the field, giving us the edge in high speed circuits, just like Melbourne is.", Rushing Wind explained.
"However, I have seen that Honda engines are usually unreliable. In 2020, the engine of an AlphaTauri went up in flames in 1 out of 10 races, same deal with Red Bull.", Jeff added.
"Yeah. So it's the best move to save the car as much stress as possible to avoid these things happening during the race. And also, we don't want something like Abu Dhabi last year.", Rushing Wind said.
Fluttershy gulped. She remembered the clip. That Red Bull that Max Verstappen drove was also fitted with a Honda powertrain. So what would be if what happened to Verstappen, would happen to her? She'd burn to death, and nobody would ever hear from her again...
The Dutchman was lucky, that was certain, otherwise, he wouldn't be here today.
Fluttershy shook off this dark thought. What happened in Abu Dhabi was history. Now she had to focus on the upcoming Qualifying, which sure might become interesting, and she was also keen to see where she would qualify on the grid for tomorrow...
FORMULA 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2022 - Round 1 - Qualifying 1
"Welcome to Melbourne. Qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix should begin any moment now."
"Soon, we're going to see what these new cars are capable of. What can we expect in the upcoming Qualifying?"
"I think we all agree that the package that Ferrari and Red Bull created is going to be very powerful today, but I wouldn't completely write off Mercedes and McLaren right now. We know that they have the talent and the resources to get done with all problems. They may be starting off slower, but I expect them to get in some big updates for the first or second race in Europe."
QUALIFYING 1
Fluttershy sat down in the car, ready to take on Qualifying.
"Okay, now we're getting real for the first time.", Rushing Wind said over the radio, "Are you excited, Flutty?"
"I sure am, Rush!", Fluttershy responded.
"If there are any last minute changes we should put to the setup, tell me now, because once you drive out, we have to roll with it. The Parc Fermé rules say so.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy knew about that. Once the car takes to the track for the first time in Qualifying, major setup changes are restricted. Thanks to the Practice sessions, Fluttershy was able to tell what could be done to get the absolute power out of the AlphaTauri. And now, she was ready to take on the first hotlap at the full limit of the car.
"I'm ready. Let's get out there and show them what we got!", Fluttershy said, quite determined.
"Okay. Take one outlap to warm up the tires and brakes, and then give it all you got!", Jeff said.
The AlphaTauri with the number 26 was lowered to the tires, and then, Fluttershy drove out.
She made sure to first get the car to temperature. The tires were cold, but due to the tire blanket regs, it made sense, so she needed to take a few corners aggressively to get the heat into the tires and brakes.
She managed to do it well, and before she hit the final straight, she turned on Hotlap mode, and started her first lap.
The car sure felt different from Practice - it had a very low fuel load, the fuel mix was different, giving the maximum amount of power, hence the MAX mix, and the acceleration and speed was insane.
"I'm sure Rainbow Dash would enjoy being in F1. Those cars are truly fast.", Fluttershy thought as she raced over the track. In the DRS zones, a speed of 320 km/h was not at all impossible, and it truly showed. Already the first lap was really quick, with a 1:20.185 to her name.
Back in the pits, Fluttershy took a look at the standings. She was 13th, and she was close to the drop zone. Of course, dropping out in Q1 wouldn't be the standard for an AlphaTauri, but 16th would also be neat for a rookie in her first race.
However, Fluttershy wanted to go for more. When the track was clear, she said: "Hey, can you give me a new set of Softs? I want to try for a second lap."
"Copy, 26. We're on it.", Jeff said.
A fresh set of Softs was fitted to Fluttershy's vehicle, and then, she was sent back out to the track.
Thanks to a bit of rubber on the track, Fluttershy was able to use it to her advantage to run a much faster lap than before. The car felt way better out of turns, and it does what she tells it to, turning in at just the perfect angles so she could race over the Albert Park with true grace.
Her second lap in Q1 resulted in a sub-1:20 laptime.
"Okay, your best lap is a 1:19.7. Good work out there. Come on home into the pits.", Jeff said.
Back in the pits, Fluttershy decided to stop and take a chance. As the first session in Qualifying came to a close, a few drivers improved, but not enough drivers improved to send Fluttershy into the drop zone!
"Very good. You're in 14th, Fluttershy.", Rushing Wind said, "And that means, we're moving on to Q2."
"Yes!", Fluttershy said, punching her fist into the air. She had no idea that she could get into Q2 on her first Qualifying session of the season. The next session will be about trying to get to 10th, but someone like Pierre sure was tough to beat if both were in the same car, and he was more used to it than she was.
However, Fluttershy was happy that she advanced into Q2, meaning she could try to get a good position for the race. And maybe, just maybe, she can actually get into Q3...
QUALIFYING 2
Back in the car, Fluttershy wanted to get going when Jeff suddenly radioed in.
"Okay, I know you're eager to get out, but you need to be patient for a few minutes. We're trying to zero in on an oil leak.", he said.
An oil leak was never a good thing. If this happened in the race, Fluttershy would suffer a terminal engine failure for sure. And a mechanical failure in the first race is never a good thing.
Thankfully, the issue in the lubrication system was quickly fixed, and Fluttershy could now head out to the track, even if she now was the last one to start a lap.
After warming up her last fresh set of Soft tires, Fluttershy began her lap. It went pretty good, even though there was a slight mishap close to the end of the first sector.
Suddenly, Jeff radioed in: "Red flag, 26. Drive back to the garage."
Another red flag, so Fluttershy knew that something awful must have happened.
"What happened?", she asked.
"Looks like an Alpine lost it in 11 and slammed into the wall.", Rushing Wind said over the radio.
"Oh my... I hope he's okay.", Fluttershy said.
"He looks okay. Just taking some time to get out of the car.", Rushing Wind said.
As Fluttershy went through said turn, she saw the blue and pink car with the number 14 in the wall. She also made sure to save her tires as much as possible so that wear would be lower.
Back in the garage, looking at the replay, Fluttershy saw that it was Fernando Alonso who lost it. She knew from Rushing Wind that Alonso was a really good driver, so the crash confused her. Such an experienced driver, and he crashes in Qualifying. Something must have gone horribly wrong with his car, it seemed.
A few minutes later, the session was underway again. And then, Fluttershy went for a big risk.
"Hey, can you fit me the second set of Softs from Q1?", Fluttershy asked.
"Sure. Why though, 26?", Jeff asked.
"If we don't make it into Q3, at least the current Q2 set will have lower wear.", Fluttershy said.
The second set of Q1 Softs was fitted to Fluttershy's car, and after that, she went out again. Of course, the used set of Soft tires had less cornering grip thanks to the wear. However, with a more offensive approach on some turns, she was able to get in a really quick time for tires like these - a 1:19.183.
"You do know that even if you get into Q3, you got the free choice of tires. The latest regulations removed the restriction to use the Q2 tires on the start if you qualified in the top 10.", Jeff said.
"Oh, I didn't know. Maybe we can get another lap in on the Mediums.", Fluttershy said, certainly unaware about the new rule. When she used to play F1 2020 at Rushing Wind's home, the case always was that the tire set used to get into Q3 had to be used at the start.
"Better hurry it up, then. Time is running out.", Rushing Wind said.
Fluttershy quickly got back into the pits. Then, she got the Medium compound tires fitted to her car before she was sent out again. Time was running out - she could maybe get one last hotlap in before time is up, so it was all up to her.
Unfortunately, as Fluttershy ran over the track on her outlap, she already knew that a better time wasn't happening - the Mediums had less grip, therefore resulting in slower acceleration. Cornering felt better, that was obvious, but she was overall slightly slower.
The second lap ended with a 1:19.290. No improvement could be found, and time ran out during her hotlap, so the session was now over.
"Okay 26, time is up. That is P12, P12.", Jeff said.
"Whew. I got into Q2 at least.", Fluttershy said.
"True, and you got a good time to put you into 12th.", Rushing Wind said, "Come back into the pits, and then we can watch Pierre as he fights for a position better than 10th."
Fluttershy did as she was told. And back in the garage, she, Rush, Jeff, and the mechanics watched the third Qualifying session, in which Charles Leclerc manages to get pole position, ahead of Perez, Verstappen and Hamilton. Pierre, however, was not so lucky, with an awful time of 1:19.329, slightly worse than Fluttershy's time in Q2, and it gave him P10.
P10 and P12. Points were definetly in range for both cars, that was certain. And for Fluttershy, finishing her F1 debut with a points finish would be a great way to start her journey in the merciless world of Formula 1.
FORMULA 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2022 - Round 1 - Melbourne
"No more testing, no more practice, this is the real deal, and it's make or break, here in the Albert Park in Melbourne, home to the Australian Grand Prix since 1996, and host to Round 1 of this year's FORMULA 1 World Championship."
"We'll be racing today in the State of Victoria, and our drivers await 16 corners, a track length of 3.3 miles, and an average lap speed of 120 miles per hour. Accidents are almost inevitable thanks to the close proximity of the barriers, and recent history shows us that a Safety Car is not at all out of the question."
"Here we go then, it's 2022, and this will be a fantastic year to behold. Lewis Hamilton is seeking to improve his record of championship titles even further, with now eight titles to his book after the dramatic finale of Abu Dhabi, in which Max Verstappen lost his title chance, and almost his life, when a severe engine failure caused the car to explode. And speaking of teams, Aston Martin are looking for a fresh start after that horrible last year, Ferrari going in as a team that went out strong in Practice, and Williams and Haas also look pretty powerful out there today, so maybe we get to see one or two point finishes from those teams. Anthony Davidson is with me to bring you the lowdown before the first race, it's great to have you here."
"Thank you, Crofty. I can't wait to see these new cars in action. The latest regulation changes bring a lot of interesting new chances for all teams. Judging by their performance, Ferrari and Red Bull look pretty strong out there, Mercedes are trying to get to grips with the new regs, and the fight for the middle field can also be quite interesting, with AlphaTauri and Alpine looking to challenge McLaren, but also the backmarkers shouldn't be counted out, especially Haas, who also hope for a better year than the last one. But the main thing we're here for, is pure racing action, and I expect to see every driver go to the absolute limit until the checkered flag comes down."
STARTING GRID
"Off the back of a fantastic qualifying session, here's how our starting grid looks for today's race.
1. An immense lap from Charles Leclerc yesterday puts him on pole position... 2. With Sergio Perez alongside.
It's almost time for the lights to go out, so let's head down to the track and get this grand prix underway."
STARTING LINE
Fluttershy is in her car, sat in P12, two positions behind her teammate Pierre Gasly. As she prepared her mind and body for the start, Rushing Wind radioed in.
"Okay, here we go, Flutty. Your first race in Formula 1. How do you feel?", he asked.
"Nervous... and a bit hot, to be honest.", Fluttershy said.
"Don't worry. It's common in this sport. Those overalls you wear are meant to be fireproof, and that's why they feel a bit hot on your body. Just don't forget to drink! You have a water bottle in your car that should last until the end of the race, so get a sip of it every now and then.", Rushing Wind explained.
"I will, Rush.", Fluttershy said.
"60 seconds to the Formation Lap.", Jeff radioed in.
"Now, you should know, your teammate is always the first benchmark of your performance, and since he's not too far ahead of you, try to catch him before the race ends.", Rushing Wind said.
"I'll do my best. He won't know what a young blood like me can be capable of...", Fluttershy said.
"30 seconds to the Formation Lap.", Jeff said.
Everyone moved away from the grid, only the cars remained. Fluttershy looked to her right, and into her right mirror. She was in 12th, and Pierre was just up ahead. She knew that a good start can be a good first step to beating her teammate in her first ever F1 race.
As the light turned green, the polesitter drove off, and following him, everyone else did so too. Fluttershy carefully watched, and when she saw Alonso drive off, she hit the clutch, brought the revs up, and accelerated also.
"Okay, how was the pull away? You'll have a bit more grip at the start, but now we need to get the tires up to temperature. Don't forget to warm up the brakes as well.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy did as she was told - she attempted weaving left and right, just like the other drivers did, and it worked - the tires got warmer and warmer as everyone moved around the track behind the polesitter, Charles Leclerc.
About two minutes later, Fluttershy arrived back at the starting grid and placed her car in position for the start of the race.
"The rest of the grid is forming up. Be patient and watch for the lights.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy looked into her mirror. Everyone else lined up, and then, the starting light sequence began...
LAP 1/29
As the first light came on, Fluttershy hit the clutch and tried to keep the revs in an optimal window so that she would get a great start off the line. Once all five lights were on, Fluttershy watched them carefully, her heart beating quickly from excitement and tension...
And as the lights went out, Fluttershy released the clutch! The car leapt off the line and already caught the Alpine of Fernando Alonso, who looked like he got a terrible launch, and Pierre Gasly ahead of her also got off to a great launch. As she raced behind her French teammate, she was now in P11, she already made up one position off the start, and was now looking to get past her teammate, who was right in front of her.
"Great start, 26. Let's keep up the momentum.", Jeff said.
LAP 3/29
Not much happened on the first few laps, save for a few overtakes. As she raced over the track, she knew that Pierre was already pulling away a bit, so beating him won't be easy. However, she still needed to get used to the car when fueled up. The car felt a bit heavier, obviously, but it wasn't too bad. She managed to keep up with Pierre.
"Okay, let's try to close the gap to Pierre. You got this.", Rushing Wind said.
"On it, Rush.", Fluttershy said, filled with determination. This determination made her go a little bit faster. She couldn't wait to finally get past Pierre and beat him in her first race in Formula 1.
LAP 5/29
Fluttershy got a little bit closer to Pierre, even if it was just about a tenth in those two laps. Pierre sure was a powerful teammate, and he wouldn't want to lose against someone who is just in her first race.
"It's still early in the race, so anything can still happen.", Fluttershy thought, knowing she can match with Pierre if she kept going fast like that.
Near the end of the lap, Jeff said: "Norris comes in for his stop."
"This early?", Fluttershy wondered, "Why?"
"Most likely struggling with his tires. He sure looked pretty slow out there.", Rushing Wind said.
Whatever the reason, that was another free position for both her and Pierre, but there was still a bunch of laps to go. But Fluttershy slightly laughed at her thought. She knew that anything can happen, but this?
It was going to be a thrilling race, that's for sure.
LAP 7/29
Once again, Fluttershy was able to get closer to her teammate. May have been just two tenths in the last two laps, but any little bit gets her closer to Pierre. A confident look formed on her face - she sure was a bit faster, and as she progressed, she got faster and faster, and got slightly closer in Sector 1.
Suddenly, Jeff said: "There's been an incident on track, but the officials aren't pushing for a safety car right now. Just be careful out there."
"What happened?", Fluttershy asked.
"I think that a McLaren hit an Alpine from what I've seen. Looks like Ocon.", Rushing Wind said.
As Fluttershy got close to the end of the lap, her position jumped to P9. So it was Ocon who came in for a new front wing. But another position up for both AlphaTauris.
LAP 10/29
Fluttershy seemed to finally get a bit more closer to Pierre. She still wasn't within that one second, but since their cars were equal, it was all about skills, and because Pierre has been in F1 for a few years now, he was obviously the better driver.
As Fluttershy came to the end of this lap, she noticed that Pierre was going into the pit lane.
"Pierre is coming in for his stop.", Jeff said.
Fluttershy stayed out one more lap, but then, she'd have to pit as well. She needed a very good inlap now.
"Your pit window is now open.", Jeff said as Fluttershy started Lap 11.
LAP 11/29
During her inlap, Fluttershy tried to push as hard as she could. The tires still felt decent, but it wouldn't be too long until they are off the cliff, and she noticed it into turns 11 and 12, which sent her very slightly sideways, but she still caught it.
"Box this lap.", Jeff reminded.
Fluttershy drove into the pit lane, and made sure to brake in time so she wouldn't shoot speeding into the pit lane. In the pits, she got a set of Hard tires, and was then sent out again.
"Go go go!", Jeff said, and Fluttershy drove back to the track.
"Okay, stay clear of the white line on the exit. We will receive a penalty for dangerous driving if you cross to the track.", Rushing Wind said.
Fluttershy made sure not to, and once she was back on track, it was time to hunt Pierre down.
LAP 16/29
Fluttershy kept repeating the racing line she has been holding for a couple of laps, and it always got easier as the car got lighter thanks to the lower fuel load, but Pierre is still a bit far, although the gap seemed to get lower as time passed.
"Pierre is 3 seconds ahead. Come on, you can catch him!", Rushing Wind said.
This motivated Fluttershy. Knowing that her beloved friend believes in her, she tried for some more offensive moves into certain turns, and always succeeded, shaving off tenth after tenth from the gap to Pierre.
As Fluttershy flew by for the next lap, the position jumped to P10, so there must have been some pitstops in this lap. Probably the two cars who stopped very early.
LAP 17/29
Fluttershy was still in P10, and was looking to get closer to her teammate Pierre, when Rushing Wind suddenly radioed in.
"Be aware, there's been an incident in the next sector. No overtaking through the yellow flags.", he said.
"What happened?", Fluttershy asked in worry.
"You'll see it once you get by.", Rushing Wind said.
Heading into turns 11 and 12, Fluttershy knew what Rushing Wind meant. Max Verstappen's car was parked, smoke coming from the exhaust.
"Whoa! What is that?", Fluttershy asked when she saw the smoke from Verstappen's vehicle.
"The barbecue for after the race, a nice and juicy red bull.", Rushing Wind joked.
"Haha! Good one, Rush!", Fluttershy said. She just couldn't help but laugh. Yet, she still had to focus on the race. That incident gave her a position, but she still had to catch Pierre.
LAP 20/29
As Fluttershy kept going, she definetly got a little fraction closer to Pierre, most likely thanks to her fresher set of Hard tires.
"Rush, how close is Pierre?", Fluttershy asked.
"Pierre is 2 seconds ahead, and you seem to catch up by one tenth per lap.", Rush responded.
Her teammate is close, that was certain, but she was running out of road - it was just 10 laps to go, so she hoped for a little miracle.
LAP 23/29
Fluttershy kept on and got closer and closer to Pierre, and now she finally seemed to get closer to the one second window needed for DRS.
"Hey Rush, Pierre's slowing down I think.", she said.
"Copy. There seems to be a battery problem with his car, so go for it if you can.", Rushing Wind said.
A battery problem in the first race? Fluttershy knew that these components already are very slightly worn, but a technical fault in the first race? She has also seen the mechanical failure on Verstappen's end, but knowing that it can hit her too worried her a bit.
She shook off the thought and concentrated on the target in front of her, and that is to catch Pierre.
LAP 25/29
Two laps later, and Fluttershy was now very close to the one second gap that she wanted. It seemed like Pierre's battery issue still wasn't fixed, meaning he was still very slow.
Coming towards turn 11, she was now able to close the gap further with DRS assistance, before she then kept herself behind the French driver to make the move on the final straight.
And out of the final turn, she activated the DRS and went into Pierre's slipstream.
"Yes, yes, yes yes yes, YES!", she called out, as she flew past her teammate.
"Great work, 26. Now let's hold on to that.", Jeff said.
There were still 4 laps to go, so there was still a very slight chance that Pierre would catch her. But Fluttershy didn't let that thought slow her down.
LAP 29/29
On the final lap, Fluttershy was now in P7 after catching Albon, who pitted on the penultimate lap, but Pierre was catching up again, although a bit slowly. Nevertheless, he clearly had the better pace out of the two.
"Pierre is behind you. Do you want to let him pass?", Rushing Wind asked.
"No! I'm gonna try and beat him to the finish! We're so close, we can't give up the position now. Also, there's no one dead ahead.", Fluttershy said.
"Good point. Okay, hold the position to the best you can.", Rushing Wind said.
As the two AlphaTauri cars raced over the track for the final time, Fluttershy knew that Pierre would get closer. Coming in hot for turn 11, Pierre got into the one second window and got closer to the shy girl.
The teammate battle came down to the final sector, in which Fluttershy was still leading, and then, out of the last turn, Pierre had a slight moment of oversteer, but caught it. However, there was no passing the 26 now.
And Fluttershy crossed the finish line, securing position 7.
"Great job, 26! That is P7. P7.", Jeff said happily over the radio.
"Wooo! Let's go! First points for us!", Fluttershy cheered.
"Pierre finished behind you, in P8. That's 10 points for us. Great work from the both of you.", said Rushing Wind, also happy that Fluttershy managed to secure a points finish in her F1 debut.
Fluttershy hummed a little tune as she drove her inlap and parked her car behind the person in 6th, which was George Russell. Then, she got out and headed for her garage to celebrate the points finish with her team.