SURREY, UNITED KINGDOM. JANUARY 2026.

Right before he had left for England with Olivia in January, he was out for dinner with Jaxon and Sophie for his twenty-third birthday. Thierry had even flown out to join them and it seemed like the four were slowly going back to how they used to be. Jake had been participating in a lot more of Thierry's Twitch streams as the two prepared for their return to real-world racing.

Thierry would always hold the guilt of the crash and being manipulated by Sabrina and every day he tried to prove himself worthy of forgiveness. He was still in a tough regimen set by his father, he hadn't yet gotten the courage to say no or to take his career into his own hands. Jake felt bad for Thierry, his father had always been the biggest part of Thierry's career and he knew Jean Arquette would not be satisfied until his son was World Champion.

He had commitments to attend to at the McLaren HQ in preparation for the upcoming season and his much anticipated return. Olivia had joined him, she wasn't planning on releasing music for a while as she was resting from her back-to-back albums and tours. She was more than content to be with Jake and spend all this time with him before her schedule inevitably got busier and there would be less time for the two to spend with each other. 

January in Woking was typically grey and chilly, but inside the McLaren Technology Centre, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. Jake strode through the glass-walled corridors, feeling the familiar excitement of being at the heart of his racing world. Beside him, Olivia marvelled at the state-of-the-art facilities, her eyes wide with fascination.

"Wow, Jake," Olivia said, glancing around, "this place is incredible. I've seen it in videos, but it's even more impressive in person."

Jake smiled, taking her hand. "I'm glad you like it. I've wanted to show you around for ages."

Their first stop was the media suite, where Jake had several obligations to fulfil. A team of photographers and social media managers were waiting for him. The room was bustling with activity, cameras flashing and laptops clicking.

"Alright, Jake, let's start with some new photos for the season." the head photographer said, directing him to a backdrop. Jake posed in his new race suit, the orange and blue colours vibrant under the lights.

Next, they moved on to filming short clips for social media. Jake stood in front of the camera, delivering lines about his excitement for the upcoming season, his recovery, and his gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support. Liv watched from the side, filled with pride and admiration.

"Now for something fun," one of the social media managers said, holding up a whiteboard with various prompts, "we want to get some quick, off-the-cuff responses from you."

Jake laughed, taking the whiteboard. "Alright, let's do this."

He answered questions ranging from his favourite race track to his pre-race rituals. After the media obligations, it was time for a tour of the facility. One of the senior engineers led them through the various departments, explaining the intricate processes behind building and maintaining a Formula One car. This was mainly for the guest, Olivia and not the seasoned driver Jake.

"This is where the magic happens," Jake said, pointing to the simulator, "I've spent countless hours here, fine-tuning my skills."

"I know you love the simulator," Olivia joked, "I can't get you off your set-up at our apartment."

As the tour continued, they entered the workshop, where cars were in various stages of assembly. Engineers and mechanics buzzed around, working with precision and dedication. The sight filled Jake with a sense of belonging - this was his home.

Around midday, they were led to a conference room for what Jake thought was a routine meeting. To his surprise, the room erupted in cheers as soon as he walked in. Balloons, streamers, and a large cake adorned the space. His teammates, engineers, and other staff members were all there, grinning widely.

"Happy Birthday Jake!" they shouted in unison.

Jake laughed, genuinely surprised and touched. "Wow, thank you, everyone! This is amazing."

The cake was a masterpiece - a basketball jersey with his name and his age as the number.

As everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' Jake blew out the candles, making a silent wish for a successful season and good health for everyone he cared about.

After the cake was cut and shared, Olivia handed Jake an elegantly wrapped box. "I have something for you, too." she said, her eyes twinkling.

Jake carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a pair of sleek, black racing gloves. At first glance, they appeared to be a high-quality pair of gloves any driver would be thrilled to own. But as Jake examined them closer, he noticed the intricate details that made them truly unique.

The gloves were adorned with subtle, embroidered initials: 'J & O' intertwined on the back of each hand. On the inside of the wrist, a small heart was stitched with the date they first met - that fateful day in New York when Jake had just found out he was to be Alpine's reserve driver.

Jake's breath caught in his throat. "Liv, these are incredible. The initials, the date...it's perfect."

Olivia smiled, her eyes locked on Jake's. "I wanted you to have something that would remind you of us every time you race. No matter where you are in the world, you'll always have a piece of me with you."

Jake slipped on the gloves, feeling the snug fit and the warmth of Olivia's love enveloping his hands. He flexed his fingers, appreciating the craftsmanship and the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

"They fit perfectly," he said, his voice filled with emotion, "thank you, Liv. This means more to me than you can imagine."

Olivia chuckled. "I had to ask around for the right dimensions, but these guys here all helped me out."

She gestured at the McLaren team who all smiled.

Olivia stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him. "I know how much racing means to you, Jake. And I want you to know how much you mean to me."

Jake held her tightly. "I'll wear them at every race. You'll be with me on every lap. Thank you for everything babe, I love you." he whispered, kissing her forehead.

"I love you too. I'm here for you, forever and always."

As the day wound down, Jake received a FaceTime call from his parents. They sang another round of 'Happy Birthday' and checked in on him, their faces lighting up with joy seeing their son so happy. Olivia had told them about her present for him so they insisted he show them immediately. The Thompsons loved Olivia, they thought she brought out the best in their son and that she was respectful of his career aspirations and understood what it meant to have a passion as big as Jake's.

SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES. FEBRUARY 2026

The air buzzed with excitement as everyone settled into the VIP box at Levi's Stadium in the Bay Area. Olivia, Sophie, Thierry, and Jake were there to support their friend Jax in the biggest game of his career. Alongside them were Austin and Hailee, who were equally excited for the Super Bowl showdown.

The stadium was a sea of colours, with fans cheering and waving flags. The VIP box offered a luxurious comfort to go alongside the anticipation. The group exchanged excited glances, all eyes on the field where the LA Chargers were about to battle it out for the title.

The game started, and it was a tight contest from the get-go. Both teams fought fiercely, and the scoreboard reflected the intensity of the competition. The friends cheered, shouted, and groaned with each play, their emotions riding the rollercoaster of the game.

Jake leaned over to Thierry, his eyes glued to the field. "Jax is killing it out there."

Thierry nodded, his face serious with concentration. "He's got this."

As the game progressed, the Chargers found themselves in a nail-bitingly close situation. With only seconds left on the clock, they were down by four points. The tension in the box was at its peak, everyone on the edge of their seats.

Jax, the star quarterback, took his position. The ball was snapped, and everything seemed to move in slow motion. Jax scanned the field, found his target, and launched a perfect pass. The crowd held its breath as the ball sailed through the air and landed perfectly in the receiver's hands in the end zone.

Touchdown.

The Chargers had won the Super Bowl.

The stadium erupted in deafening cheers. In the VIP box, the friends leapt to their feet, screaming and hugging each other. Olivia and Sophie had tears in their eyes and Jake and Thierry high-fived, their joy uncontainable.

As the final whistle blew, the friends rushed down to the field. They navigated the sea of ecstatic loved ones and players until they found Jax, who was surrounded by his team and the press. When he saw them, his face broke into a wide grin.

Jax's mother, a strong and loving presence in his life, was the first to embrace him. He held her tightly, his voice choked with emotion. "Mum, we did it. Thank you for everything. For believing in me, for all the sacrifices."

His mother smiled, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so proud of you, Jaxon. You've earned this."

Next, he turned to Hailee, who jumped into his arms and kissed him deeply. "You were amazing out there." she whispered.

Jax beamed, his eyes sparkling with joy.

Finally, Jax faced his three best friends, the ones who had been there through thick and thin. He hugged each of them tightly, the weight of the moment settling in.

Jake clapped him on the back. "You did it, man. You're a fucking Super Bowl champion."

Thierry nodded, his expression proud. "You've made all of us so proud."

Sophie wiped a tear from her cheek. "This is your moment, Jax. You deserve it."

The friends stood together in the midst of the celebration, the core four reunited in a moment of pure triumph. They laughed, cried, and soaked in the electric atmosphere, knowing that this was a memory they would cherish forever.

As the night went on, the celebrations continued. The field was a sea of joy, but for Jake, Thierry and Sophie, being there for Jax's greatest moment was what mattered the most. It reminded them of the strength of their bond, one that had weathered many storms and would continue to do so.

In that moment, they were not just spectators or supporters. They were a family, and their dreams were coming true, one incredible moment at a time.

SAKHIR, BAHRAIN. FEBRUARY 2026.

Soon after, in Bahrain, pre-season testing was upon everyone as Jake walked through the paddock in a loose fitting pair of blue jeans and a McLaren-branded top. Olivia had to go back to America for an interview and some media obligations, but was set to reunite with Jake at his first race back - again in his home country Australia.

As he made his way to the McLaren garage one of the media workers in the team stopped Jake. "The Netflix producers want to talk to you."

Jake was no stranger to the docu-series 'Drive to Survive', he felt it odd to see his face a couple times in the last season where he was still with Alpine and was intrigued to see what the upcoming season about the 2025 season would be like. Jake was certain there would be some focus on the Austria crash. He had a sneaking suspicion that the crash and his recovery would be one of the main things the producers would ask - given they hadn't had an opportunity to sit down with him yet.

The camera and lights were set up as Jake made his way to the seat with the infamous clap-board in his hand.

"Can I actually use it this time?" he asked.

The producers and with a smile, Jake sat in the chair and used the clapboard. "I'm Jake Thompson and this is Drive to Survive season...what season are we on now?"

"Season eight."

"Bloody hell that's a lot of seasons."

The room was filled with light chuckles before the producers got to their questions.

"I'm Jake Thompson, driving for McLaren Formula One team."

"We wanted to talk to you about the crash and your recovery. We're planning an episode that focuses on your and Thierry's journey back to the grid."

Jake took a deep breath, settling into the chair. "Sure, I'm ready."

"Can you take us back to that day in Austria? What do you remember about the crash?"

Jake's eyes clouded with memory as he leaned back, his mind drifting to that fateful day. "It's a blur, really. I remember the start, everything feeling normal, then the overtake. It all happened so fast. The world seemed to move in slow motion for a second, and then...well everything went black. It was one of the scariest moments of my life."

He paused before continuing. "When I woke up in the hospital, it was like waking up to a new reality. I was thankful to be alive, but the uncertainty was terrifying. The thought of never racing again, of not seeing the people I care about...it was overwhelming. As drivers we don't ever really clock how dangerous the sport really is until it happens to us, driving at these high speeds is just the norm for us."

"Can you tell us about your recovery process? How did you cope with the physical and emotional challenges?"

"The recovery was tough. Physically, I had to push my body to its limits just to get back in shape. I had a broken leg which meant I had to walk on crutches and go through physical therapy and I'd broken a rib on top of other things. There were days when I wondered if it was worth it, but I had a great support system, they kept me going. Emotionally, it was even harder. I had to come to terms with the crash, the fear, and the anger. But it also made me realise how much I love this sport and how much it means to me. It made me appreciate every moment, every race, every victory and defeat."

The producer leaned forward. "How has this experience affected your relationship with Thierry?"

Jake sighed, a complex mix of emotions crossing his face. "Thierry and I...we went through a lot. The crash strained our friendship to the breaking point. But in the end, we both realised that we needed to at least try move past it. Life's too short to hold onto grudges. We're working on rebuilding our friendship, one step at a time."

"Thanks Jake, that's all we need from you now."

On the first day of pre-season testing, Jake stood waiting in the McLaren garage as mechanics were fine-tuning the car and engineers were huddled over laptops. Rick was speaking to Jake, giving him some final instructions. There were certain things McLaren wanted to test in the pre-season testing days, allowing them to get valuable data that would make their car even more competitive.

Jake glanced at his hands, they were covered by the personalised racing gloves Olivia had given him. He took a deep breath, calming himself down. This was his moment to prove he was ready to return to the sport he loved. Even though he had participated in one free practice session in Abu Dhabi last year, this marked his return to a new season and full-time racing.

"Ready, Jake?" Rick asked, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Jake replied, giving a confident nod.

As he walked towards his car, he noticed Thierry approaching. The sight of his former rival brought a mix of emotions, but their relationship had been slowly healing. Today was Thierry's first time back in a Formula One car after eight months out.

"Hey, Jake." Thierry greeted him with a nod.

"Thi," Jake replied, offering a small smile, "how's it going?"

"It's good to be back. Looks like we both have something to prove this season."

Jake nodded. "Yeah, it's going to be a competitive one. Both our teams look strong, maybe we can challenge Red Bull."

There was a moment of silence between the two but it was filled with the roar of engines and the clatter of tools. Then Thierry spoke again. "I'm glad we're both here, Jake. Let's make this season about the racing, not the past."

Jake looked at him, feeling the sincerity in his words. "Agreed. Let's show them what we can do."

With a nod, Thierry walked back to his garage, leaving Jake to focus on his own preparations. The tension of their rivalry had eased, replaced by a shared determination to succeed.

The first session of the day began, and Jake slipped into the cockpit of his McLaren. The familiar feeling of the steering wheel, the snug fit of the car around him, and the adrenaline rush were exhilarating. He took a deep breath and launched onto the track.

The first few laps were smooth, the car responding beautifully to his inputs. But as he pushed harder, aiming to test the limits, disaster struck. Coming out of a high-speed corner, the rear of the car snapped loose. Jake fought to control it, but the car spun out, sending him off the track and into the gravel.

"Fuck." he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tightly. He took a few calming breaths, trying to steady his racing heart.

"Jake, you okay?" Rick's voice crackled through the radio.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Jake replied, shaking off the frustration, "just a spin. I'll bring it back."

He managed to manoeuvre the car back onto the track and slowly returned to the pits. The team swarmed around the car, checking for damage while Jake climbed out, his heart still pounding.

Rick approached him with a concerned look. "What happened out there?"

"Just pushed a bit too hard," Jake admitted, "lost the rear. But I'm fine. Let's get this sorted and back out there."

After a quick check, the car was deemed fit to continue. Jake climbed back in, determined not to let the spin shake his confidence.

By the end of the session, Jake had set a competitive time aroudn the track and the McLaren team were happy with all the data they had gathered.

That evening, Jake sat alone in his hotel room, scrolling through photos Olivia had sent him from her day. She had a photoshoot as well as an interview which took up most of her day but she also found time to see her friends and go out for a lunch. He replied with a couple photos from his day which Liv appreciated.

Pre-season testing went smoothly and it filled Jake up with confidence that he would be ready for his first Grand Prix back.

This season was going to be his season, he was going to make sure of it.