This chapter contains a few lemony bits in the middle of the chapter...
Jimmy couldn't believe it. He had locked up his tyres, and got himself stuck in the gravel trap of the Les Combes chicane. He had done a mistake that was expected of a Formula 3 first year driver. Not a Formula 2 and 3 Champion!
"I'm sorry guys" he called out over the radio. "I fucked up."
"Its no problem. A Safety Car has been declared so they can recover your car." Al replied over the radio.
Jimmy got out of the car, making sure to put the steering control back in its drivable position. Looking at the wheels, he saw that he had got his rear wheels stuck in the gravel, and his floor resting on the kerb, beaching the car.
Heading to the fence, he saw that the marshals were getting ready to work, ready to recover his car. The yellow flags were being waved, and cars were slowing down to ensure that they did not crash into his stopped car.
As he got to the fence, he saw that there was a scooter with a driver, ready to take him back to the Alfa Romeo garage. Jimmy hopped on board, and before long he found himself back in the pits area.
Walking back into the garage, he headed over to his Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur.
"I'm sorry boss." Jimmy said apologetically. "I really didn't mean to do that. I just locked my tyres up, a rookie mistake."
"We all make mistakes." Vasseur replied. "It's what we learn from them that matters."
"Yeah, like not locking up my wheels and getting beached!" Jimmy laughed.
"Well, you know the rule now; don't lock up your tyres." Vasseur smiled. "Everyone in the field has done it, and everyone will do it again. It's part of racing."
"Just remember Jimmy," Al said, heading over to his brother. "A good driver makes the right decisions under pressure, and learns from his mistakes. A great driver doesn't make the same ones twice."
"Thanks Al, I'll keep that in mind for next time." Jimmy said, hugging his brother. "Ah, well, I suppose I better do the usual bits and bobs that come after a retirement from a race, eh?"
"Yeah, you know what the TV lot are like, they'll have a few questions for you no doubt. And the usual weigh in as well."
Jimmy headed to the TV pen, where he saw that he was being called over by Ted Kravitz, who was going to interview him for the "international" television feed.
"So you know the procedure, yeah?" Kravitz asked.
"Of course." Jimmy answered. "I'm ready when you need me to be."
"Good, good."
It would be about 10 minutes before the director of the international feed was ready for the interview to commence.
"So, you ended up getting stuck into the gravel trap, and beached your car?"
"Yeah, it was a rookie mistake, one that I don't normally do. I suppose it was because I was just determined to overtake the Aston Martin of Scorpius Malfoy in the chicane, that I managed to lock up my tyres, leading to me going into the gravel."
"Some would say that your rivalry with Scorpius Malfoy is a bit like the Schumacher vs Senna rivalry that was happening in Formula 1 during the late 1990s."
"Yeah, but it's not." Jimmy stated. "No matter how much I dislike the man, and even though I find him arrogant and annoying, the fact remains that he is a damn fine racer. He has a bit more experience than I do, a year more, however I just want to do my best. In the end, that's all any of us can do."
"Would you say that part of the problem is that your father has recently become the Team Principal of AlphaTauri, and that Scorpius Malfoy, is backed by his father, Draco Malfoy, the elder of the two being the owner of Aston Martin?"
"If I'm honest," Jimmy said, thinking carefully what to say, "There has been a bit of a rivalry inside and outside of Formula One between the two families. The Malfoy family only got into the business of owning a team because my own grandfather had considered buying the Marussia team, back in 2015, however decided against it. That and the Potter family having had what is now 3 generations of drivers in the sport."
"And how does this affect the relationship between you and Scorpius Malfoy?"
"It doesn't." Jimmy said, looking back at the interviewer. "The only problem I have with him is how his attitude is towards me. There again, a few other drivers in the paddock are not as friendly with him either. But as I said, it was just a rookie mistake that I made, one I intend to learn from."
"Okay, thank you."
"Thanks Ted."
As the Sky Sports F1 reporter left him, he could see the F1:Drive to Survive documentary team was filming him. He knew that there would likely be an interview with him, a "confessional" so to speak, after the race.
Sighing, he headed back to the Alfa Romeo garage, to sit where his girlfriend, Alison, was.
"You ok?" she asked, rubbing his hand.
"Yeah, I'm just frustrated, that's all."
"Don't worry. You're a good driver." she said, kissing him on the cheek. "Sometimes things will just happen."
He smiled, glad to hear her words.
"Well, I'm just glad you're here." he said, squeezing her hand. "I do love spending every minute I can with you."
"Same here," she said, smiling. "You know, a few weeks and I'm back off to Uni, back to the grind. Just promise me one thing?"
"Yeah?" Jimmy said, curious.
"We'll Facetime as much as we can."
"Yeah, although I'm going to miss you using me as a pillow!" he joked, causing the two of them to laugh. "Thank goodness my sister isn't here, she'd be trying to wind me up about how 'soppy' we are together."
"Yeah, but Hugo is just as bad!"
"At least Al isn't." Jimmy said, watching his brother work. "You know, I don't think Al has been happy... well, since he finished college."
"Why?"
"Its... its not my place to say really. I just know that there is a couple of things that he hides, or in one case tries to hide." Jimmy said. "Just like how I know Rosie, despite her brains and taking after my mum, sometimes can make bad decisions. And Hugo... well, he's just a pain in the neck at times."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Jimmy said. "Look, I've said too much about Al. It's not my place to say about the one thing I do suspect, but if its true, then if he's happy, then I have no problem at all - all I worry about is what the media say, but otherwise, he's my brother no matter what. Anyway, when the race has finished, I'll no doubt have the usual post-mortem, and then we can head back to the hotel."
"Sounds good. We still doing that trip into town tomorrow? I really wanted to have a look around."
"Well, it depends, especially as we're off to Zandvoort next week, and then Monza the week after, but hopefully yeah." Jimmy said. "When is it again that you'll have to go back to Oxford?"
"Should be just before Monza. I need to get accommodation for the year sorted and all that. And then after Monza its only 6 more races"
"Yeah. After Monza its only 6 more races until we have the winter break." Jimmy said. "Six more. Will you be coming over to Switzerland for the week after Michaelmas ends? I know the boss has a surprise for the first couple of weeks for me and Valtteri."
"I'll try my best," Alison said, looking at him. "But it depends on what I have left to do by then. I want to try and get ahead of myself if I can, at least then I don't have to worry about falling behind."
"I'm just glad that you're here with me." Jimmy said.
Alison gave him another hug, and kissed him passionately on the lips.
That evening, Jimmy and Alison were laying on the bed in their hotel room. They had just watched some TV, and now they were cuddling up to each other after watching a film.
"This is nice," Alison said, stroking his chest.
"Yes," Jimmy agreed, pulling her close to him. "I just love being able to sleep with you."
"Me too," Alison said, kissing him on the cheek. "I'm glad that we're here together."
She leaned in closer to him, and gently touched his lips with hers. As they kissed, his hand started moving under her t-shirt, caressing her skin. She moaned softly as his fingers began to move down, feeling the smooth flesh of her stomach.
After a few moments of kissing, he moved his hands down her sides, and then under the waistband of her shorts. He stopped when he felt the soft fabric of her panties. Her hands were moving up and down his chest, whilst his hand slid under the top of her panties, touching her silky skin.
"I want you so badly," Alison whispered, biting his ear. "I need you right now."
Jimmy couldn't resist her words, and pulled her back towards him, lifting her hips off the bed, and then he took hold of her underwear.
"Take them off." Alison whispered. "Please."
Jimmy slowly peeled them down, and Alison gasped as he ran his hand over her mound. With his fingers he teased her, and soon she was moaning, crying out with passion.
"Oh God," she groaned. "I need you inside me."
Jimmy wasted no time, and got up off the bed. He unzipped his trousers, and let them drop to the floor. Alison didn't waste any time in climbing on top of him, wrapping her legs around him as they kissed again.
His hands found their way to her breasts, massaging them, as he pushed himself inside her. She moaned again as he entered her, moaning louder as he thrust in and out of her.
Soon, she was writhing underneath him, her legs shaking as he pounded away. His thrusts became faster, harder, deeper.
"More," she begged. "Harder."
Jimmy obliged her, pounding into her as hard and fast as he could muster. He was soon reaching his climax, and Alison cried out, shuddering as she came in waves.
"Did you enjoy that?" Jimmy panted, as he slowed his pace, the two of them falling onto the bed, Jimmy still inside of his girlfriend.
"Oh yes," Alison said. "Very much so."
"I'm glad to hear that."
They stayed like that for a while, both of them recovering from their intense coupling. Eventually, Jimmy kissed her.
"I love you." he said.
"I love you too." Alison replied.
"If I wasn't here..."
"We'd Facetime?" she said, giggling. "And probably still be doing something like this?"
"Hell yeah!" Jimmy said, smiling. "Although it might not be quite as hot!"
"Not many people can keep up with you." Alison laughed, kissing him yet again.
After a couple of hours of recovery, Jimmy and Alison got dressed, and headed to the restaurant, both of them having shared a shower 'to conserve water'. Upon arriving, they were greeted by a waiter.
"Welcome to The Grill Room." the waiter said, taking their coats. "Can I take your order?"
Both of them looked at the menu, and ordered their meals. Whilst they did so, the waiter excused himself, and returned with their drinks. Both of them sipped their drinks for a moment before placing their orders.
"What would you like to eat?" Jimmy asked Alison.
"Hmm, I don't know... what do you fancy?" she said, looking at the menu.
"Well, I know what I do want!" Jimmy said, wiggling his eyebrows, "But that will have to wait until we're back into the room!"
"Is that a promise?" she said, giving him a smirk.
"Absolutely."
Alison giggled as the waiter looked at them.
"Seriously though, I'll have a steak." Jimmy said, after consulting the menu. "Medium-rare please"
"I'll have the same." Alison added.
"Excellent choice." the waiter said, before leaving them to pass the order to the kitchen.
Jimmy and Alison sat there for a little while longer, enjoying the glass of wine, whilst they waited on their food to arrive. After a few minutes, their steaks arrived, along with another bottle of wine. Jimmy paid for it all - after all, he'd earned it!
"Here's to... here's to love" he said, raising his glass.
Alison raised hers and toasted with him.
"Love." she echoed. "To love."
The two of them took a sip from their glasses, and then placed them on the table. They ate in silence for a few moments, savouring the taste of their meals.
"Mmm, this is delicious." Alison said, licking her lips. "Do you think we should have dessert?"
"Hell yeah, depends on what is on the menu" Jimmy responded, smiling.
"Well..." Alison said, "You did promise me something..."
Jimmy couldn't help but smile at her.
"Well, I suppose we could take dessert in our room." Jimmy said, as Alison stroked his inner thigh with her foot.
"Oh yes!" she exclaimed, "Let's do that!"
Once they had finished eating, the waiter cleared their plates away, and asked if they wanted a dessert menu. Declining, the waiter went off to collect the bill.
Eventually he came back with the bill, and Jimmy paid for the meal. Leaving the restaurant, they ran towards the lift, leaving the receptionist to mention something about 'young love'.