JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA. MARCH 2024.

"You're going to be amazing on the tour Liv, I'm so proud of you." Jacob said, when he was dropping Olivia off at the gate where her flight back to LA was. It was a bittersweet goodbye, although they were both doing things they loved, they wouldn't be able to see each other for a couple months at least. They'd obviously gone a period without seeing each other before, but that was when they were friends. In a relationship, it was completely different.

"Go smash it," Jacob continued, "I'll call you as much as I can because I want to hear all about it."

He was genuine, he truly did have an interest in Liv's career and wanted to see her succeed. He wished nothing but the best for her and was excited to see her achieve her dream.

"Thanks Jake," Olivia replied, reaching up and giving the taller boy a kiss on the lips, "I'll text you when I land ok?"

Jake nodded, trying hard to suppress any negative emotion he was feeling right now. "Ok, text me when you get back to your apartment too."

He gave Olivia another kiss and then waved her off as she made her way through and began to board the plane. As for Jacob, he had to make his way to another gate as he was flying back home to Melbourne to both spend time with his family and prepare for the next Grand Prix in the calendar - the Australian Grand Prix.

The flight was fairly relaxed, Jacob had become accustomed to flying so it was merely like taking a taxi or a train somewhere. His parents both came to pick him up and he was staying in his childhood home for the duration he was here in Australia.

"First home race as a F1 driver, how do you feel champ?" his father asked him, glancing at Jacob through the rear mirror of the car.

"Pretty excited actually," Jake replied, "I hope I can get a result."

"Well your grandparents are coming to watch with us so no pressure darling." his mother said endearingly, to which Jacob just smiled.

One of the benefits of a home race was that his family could easily access and watch him in person and Jacob truly valued that.

Back at the family home, Jake felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. The familiar creak of the front door, the smell of his mum's cooking, and the warm, comforting atmosphere all reminded him of times back in his childhood.

Over the next few days, Jake balanced his rigorous training schedule with quality time spent with his family. His mornings began early with intense workouts to maintain his physical condition. He ran through the quiet streets of his neighbourhood, the cool morning air invigorating him.

"Working hard, as always." Marcus remarked one morning as Jake returned from a run, drenched in sweat. "Nothing's changed."

"Gotta stay sharp, dad. The competition isn't getting any easier." Jake replied with a smile, grabbing a towel and wiping his face.

"We can go out in the garage in the afternoon, some strength and reaction training." his father said.

"Yeah sounds good dad."

After a gruelling workout with his father where he did a mixture of drills that kept his reaction times up to speed and a full-body strength workout with the free-weights the Thompson's had in their garage, Jake was finally able to relax.

They were currently enjoying a home-cooked meal his mother had prepared, gathered around the dining table.

"So, how's the team treating you at McLaren?" Marcus asked, passing the salad.

"It's been fantastic, really. Everyone's incredibly supportive. It's a big change, but I'm loving every moment." Jake said, taking a bite of his food.

"And how's Olivia?" Emmeline inquired, a knowing smile on her face.

"She's good. Busy preparing for her tour. We talk as much as we can," Jake replied, his expression softening at the mention of Olivia. He told his parents, there wasn't much he didn't tell them. They were such influential figures in his life.

As race week approached, Jake's schedule became more demanding. His training intensified, with early morning sessions focusing on strength, endurance, and reaction times. He spent hours in the simulator, familiarising himself with the Albert Park Circuit, not that he needed to do much. He already knew the ins and outs of the circuit growing up around it.

On top of his physical preparation, Jake had quite a few media duties. He attended press conferences, where journalists bombarded him with the usual questions about his performance, his goals for the season, and his thoughts on racing in his home country.

"Racing in Australia is always special. The support from the fans is incredible, and it gives me that extra boost." Jake said during one press conference.

He also participated in fan meet-and-greets, signing autographs, taking photos, and engaging with the enthusiastic home fans. The energy and support from his fellow Australians was immense and everyone could see, and it fuelled Jake's determination to perform well on race day.

"I'm finalising the set list," Olivia said excitedly during one call, Jake had been calling Olivia as much as he could despite the vast time difference, "I think the fans are going to love it."

It made him happy hearing how excited Olivia was about everything, she had given him tours of the bus she would be travelling in around the States and told him about all the outfits she planned on wearing. One of the reasons he liked her so much was because she was just as passionate as him, but just with something else.

As race weekend drew closer, Jake's schedule was packed. He attended more media engagements, including interviews with major networks and appearances on popular talk shows. Each interaction was an opportunity to connect with the fans and share his excitement for the upcoming race.

One evening, he had a special interview with a local news channel. They filmed a segment at the family home, highlighting Jake's journey from a young karting enthusiast to a Formula 1 driver.

"Growing up here, racing was always a part of my life. My family's support has been crucial in getting me to where I am today." Jake said, looking into the camera with a smile.

The final days before the race were a blur of activity. Jake had strategy meetings with the McLaren team, finalising the race plan and discussing potential scenarios. He also spent extra time in the simulator, ensuring he was as prepared as possible.

Throughout it all, the support of his parents kept him grounded. Marcus and Emmeline attended every event they could, beaming with pride at their son's accomplishments.

He arrived at the Albert Park Circuit early on Saturday, a sense of anticipation mingling with the brisk Melbourne air. The familiar surroundings of his home Grand Prix filled him with a blend of nostalgia and excitement. As he made his way to the McLaren garage, he spotted Thierry, leaning against the Sauber hospitality area, looking contemplative.

"Thierry!" Jake called out, his face breaking into a wide grin as he approached.

Thierry's expression brightened at the sight of his friend. "Jake! Good to see you, mate." he replied, pulling Jake into a warm hug.

Jake had offered for Thierry to stay at his whilst he was at Melbourne but he politely declined and said he needed to stay with the rest of his team.

"How's everything going?" Jake asked, genuinely concerned.

Thierry sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "It's been tough. The car's just not where I want it to be. We're struggling with pace, and it's frustrating as hell."

Jake nodded sympathetically. "I hear you. Keep pushing, though. Things can turn around quickly in this sport."

Thierry gave a tight smile. "Yeah, I know. Just wish I had a more competitive car. I think I'm deserving of one."

"You've got the talent, Thierry. Just keep fighting. Your time will come." Jake said, patting his friend's shoulder reassuringly. It was clear that Thierry wasn't all too happy at Sauber and wanted his first season in F1 to be at a team at the top, not a team that was currently bottom of the Constructors' Championship.

They parted ways, wishing each other luck for the race ahead. Jake headed back to the McLaren garage, where the team was already alive with activity. He focused on the task at hand, mentally preparing for qualifying.

The start of Q1 brought unexpected drama. On his out lap, Jake immediately sensed something was wrong. The power delivery felt erratic, and his heart sank as he radioed in.

"Rick, something's off. I'm losing power." he said, his voice tight with concern.

"Copy that, Jake. Bring it back to the garage." Rick responded calmly.

The team sprang into action, diagnosing the mechanical issue with practiced efficiency. The minutes ticked by agonisingly, and Jake paced nervously in the garage, his eyes flicking to the clock, he wasn't sure if he could get a lap in and that would result in him starting at the back of the grid.

"Hang in there, Jake. We've almost got it." one of the mechanics assured him and all Jake could do was sit in the garage and wait.

With only minutes left in Q1, the car was finally ready. Jake strapped in, determination etched on his face. This was his one shot to make it through to Q2. He pushed hard, the familiarity of the Albert Park Circuit guiding him as he navigated each corner with precision.

"And that lap puts you in P10, Jake. You're through to Q2." Rick announced triumphantly over the radio.

Jake let out a breath of relief. "Thank fuck. That was close. Thanks everyone for getting that sorted so quickly."

In Q2, Jake's confidence grew. He found a rhythm and managed to put in a solid lap, ensuring his place in Q3. Thierry, unfortunately, couldn't find the pace and was knocked out, qualifying P14. Jake felt a pang of sympathy for his friend but knew he had to stay focused.

Q3 was intense, Jake knew he had to deliver a perfect lap. He pushed the car to its limits, each turn executed with surgical precision. As he crossed the line on his final lap, he heard Rick's voice in his ear.

"P3, Jake! Fantastic job!"

Relief and elation washed over him. Lando, his teammate, had secured P5, adding to the team's strong performance.

In the post-qualifying interview, Jake couldn't stop smiling. "The car felt fantastic today apart from the small issue at the beginning. The team did an incredible job getting it ready, and I'm confident we can get a good result in the race."

Thierry, on the other hand, was visibly frustrated in his interview. "The car just doesn't feel right. We've got a lot of work to do."

Race day arrived with Jake feeling nervous yet extremely excited. The atmosphere at the Albert Park Circuit was electric, with fans cheering and waving flags - Jake was definitely feeling the home crowd support.

As the lights went out, Jake had a strong start, holding his position in P3. The race quickly turned into a battle of strategy and skill.

Jake found himself in a fierce duel with Max Verstappen for the lead. Max defended aggressively, pushing Jake wide at one point, causing their cars to make contact.

"Box, box, box." Rick called over the radio.

Jake's heart sank as he pitted, dropping down to P6. But he didn't give up. He pushed hard, overtaking car after car, determined to make up for lost ground.

With a combination of skilful driving and an effective strategy, Jake clawed his way back into the top three. As the race neared its end, he found himself in P3, just behind the leaders.

When he crossed the finish line after what felt
like eternity, the realisation hit him - he had secured his first podium in Formula 1. The emotions surged through him as he climbed out of the car, the cheers of the crowd echoing in his ears. He stood on top of his car and cheered, the euphoria filling him.

Standing on the podium, Jake felt on top of the world. The view from the third step was incredible, the result of years of hard work and dedication. As the champagne sprayed, he savoured the moment, knowing it was just the beginning of what he hoped would be a successful career.

In the post-race interview, Jake remained composed despite the earlier incident with Max. "Max defended hard, but that's racing. I'm just thrilled with my first podium. The car felt amazing, and that's thanks to everyone in the team. This is a huge step forward, and I can't wait to build on this."

As Jake left the circuit that evening, he felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement for what lay ahead. He called Olivia, sharing the good news.

"I did it, Liv. I got my first podium." Jake said, his voice filled with pride.

"I saw it all. I'm so proud of you, Jake! I knew you could do it." Olivia replied, her happiness evident.

"God I wish you could've been there." Jacob said, not even clocking about how selfish he might've sounded.

Olivia's voice went quiet. "Yeah...me too."

"Thank you for watching though, and still supporting me." Jacob said, quickly trying to make Olivia not feel bad.

"Always."

Jax 🏈

Congrats Jake! First podium of many 👊🏻

Thanks Jax, appreciate it mate

Soph 🎥

it's the most jake thing ever to have your first podium be at your home race. very cliche! super proud of you though, i'm so happy for you, you deserve it all

Hahaha thank you Soph. Thanks for sticking by me through it all 😄