MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. SEPTEMBER 2026.

With the week off in between Baku and then Singapore, Jake chose to return back to Australia for some much needed home-comfort, accompanied by Olivia.

The reality of Baku had sunk in, his victory in Azerbaijan meant that he had overtaken Thierry in the drivers' standings - a surreal feeling. Although he celebrated it, he knew it was far from over. With seven races left to go and Thierry only eight points behind, the last thing Jake wanted was to lose focus. 

Although his mind was predominantly on racing and how this season was going to go down to the wire and the fact that at twenty-three years of age he had a chance to win his first championship, he made sure he didn't neglect the other aspects of his life - predominantly Olivia.

She was supportive, she had never stopped supporting him, but Jake made the effort to make sure she didn't always feel second best to racing. Sure, at times that was his top priority but that wasn't to mean Olivia wasn't still incredibly important to him.

Liv was perfectly content at the moment just to accompany Jake in this pivotal season, she was currently on a break from releasing music after two consecutive albums and world tours - she was happy to currently take a step back and just go to the occasional media obligation and just be with Jake.

"Babe," Jake called from his bed as Olivia was currently in the bathroom, "I just got an email asking if we wanted to do some joint interviews together."

The two were in Jake's childhood home during their stay in Melbourne, Jake didn't have his own place yet but it was something he was considering. He would either stay in a hotel, one of his friends' places or Liv's apartment. The two had unofficially moved in together but Jake was unsure whether he wanted to get his own place - likely in Monaco where most of the grid resided.

Liv emerged from the bathroom. "What sort of interview?"

"The guys at WIRED want to ask if we want to answer the web's most searched questions about each other." Jake explained.

"Oh! I've seen those videos," Liv exclaimed, "I like them, they're fun. I'd love to."

She perched by where Jake was lying and gave him a kiss to which he happily reciprocated.

"Great, I'll email them now, it might even be today."

It took just under an hour for them to hear back to which the producers said they could shoot the video with the couple later in the afternoon.

"Should we go to the beach before, do the video and then go out for dinner?" Jake suggested.

Olivia nodded. "Sounds great."

It was still early in the day when the two made their way down to the beach near Jake's house. They walked hand in hand alongside the sandy shore with Jake carrying a surfboard and Olivia carrying a picnic basket with some lunch they could have before their video. It was a comfortable silence between the two, the sound of the waves crashing against the beach creating a soothing rhythm.

Jake looked out at the water, a familiar sense of peace washing over him. Growing up in Australia, the beach had always been his sanctuary, he remembered the days he would come down with his parents as they taught him to surf. He was excited to share that part of his life with his girlfriend.

"Are you ready for your first surf lesson?" Jake asked, grinning as he glanced at Olivia.

Olivia looked at the surfboard tucked under Jake's arm with evident nervousness. "I guess...don't have high expectations I'm going to be awful."

Jake squeezed her hand and laughed. "I'll be right with you the whole time."

They set their towels and bags down on the sand before wading into the cool, refreshing water. Jake guided Olivia through the basics, showing her how to lie on the board, paddle, and pop up to stand. Olivia listened intently, determined to get it right.

"Okay, let's try catching a wave." Jake said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. He positioned Olivia on the board and gave her a gentle push as a small wave approached. "Paddle, paddle, paddle! Now stand up!"

Olivia wobbled as she tried to find her balance, her arms flailing for a moment before she tumbled into the water with a splash. She surfaced, laughing, and pushed her wet hair out of her face.

"That was...not as easy as it looks." she said, still giggling.

Jake swam over to her, grinning. "You did great for your first try. Let's go again."

They spent the next couple of hours in the water, with Olivia gradually improving under Jake's patient guidance. By the end of it, she managed to ride a few waves all the way to the shore, her laughter echoing over the water each time she succeeded.

The two laid on their picnic blanket next to each other, soaking in the sun and letting it dry their skin Jake couldn't help but turn and admire his girlfriend. "I love you."

"That was sudden." she smiled. "I love you too."

"Just wanted you to know." Jake said softly, giving her a kiss.

After some quick bites stored in their picnic basket, the two went and after a quick shower at the beach showers, the changed into their clothes they would be wearing to the shoot.

They arrived arm in arm and were shooed off to hair and makeup where small touches were made before they went on camera. Jake wasn't sure what to expect but he was excited to be filming a video alongside Liv.

The two sat side by side in the bright studio in separate chairs and shared a smile with each other before the video began.

"Nice to have you both here," the producer said from behind the camera, "let's just have you guys introduce yourselves and then we can begin and you can answer the internet's most searched questions about both of you."

The two nodded and Olivia went first. "Hi everyone, I'm Olivia Rodrigo-"

"-and I'm Jake Thompson." Jake continued.

"And today we're going to be answering your most searched questions about us." the two said in sync.

The producer handed them the first board, labelled 'Jake Thompson'

"I'm assuming this one is for me then," Jake said with a laugh, "let's see what we've got first..."

Jake peeled off the first sticker, revealing the question underneath.

Does Jake Thompson...

...have a girlfriend?

Jake chuckled and glanced at Olivia who smiled at him. "That's the most searched question about me?"

He continued. "Well yes, I do. Olivia Rodrigo, right here." he said, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"How long have you guys been together for?" the producer asked off camera.

"Nearly three years." Jake said smiling.

They then moved onto the next question on Jake's board.

...like Formula One?

"I sure hope so, considering it's my career!" Jake said with a laugh. "But yes, I love Formula One. It's been my passion since I was a kid, and I feel incredibly lucky to be living my dream."

"Even love is a bit of an understatement..." Olivia joked. "He lives for it!"

...play video games?

"Oh, definitely," Jake replied, "especially racing games. Thierry and I used to spend hours on all the racing games. I've also played some shooters in my time..."

Olivia chimed in. "And sometimes he lets me join in, but I'm not very good."

Jake laughed. "She's being modest. She's actually pretty decent on the sim. If there's a spare seat next season she's your girl."

They continued on Jake's board until it was Liv's turn. Jake watched excitedly as Olivia peeled off the first sticker.

Is Olivia Rodrigo...

...a singer?

Olivia giggled. "Yes, I am. It's my main thing. I love writing music and performing for my fans."

...dating Jake Thompson?

"No, he's just a good friend of mine." she joked.

Jake rolled his eyes. "Ouch, friendzoned."

"Just kidding," Olivia said, looking at Jake lovingly, "I am."

...in a movie?

"Not yet," Olivia answered, "but who knows what the future holds? I love acting, and I'd definitely be open to exploring that more."

"Maybe you'll have to call up Soph." Jake suggested.

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, Sophie Phoenix is a good friend of both of ours and she's super talented. My claim to fame is that I beat her to a role all those years ago..."

"And that's how we met." Jake reminisced.

"Yep, because you stalked my Instagram account." Olivia added.

"She'll never let me hear the end of that."

Finally, the host presented them with a board labelled 'Jake Thompson and Olivia Rodrigo.'

"Questions about both of us," Jake said, "wow, how much time do you guys have on the internet..."

Are Jake Thompson and Olivia Rodrigo...

...married?

Both laughed. "No, we're not married," Jake said. "we're enjoying every moment together and taking things one step at a time."

...fans of each other's work?

"Absolutely," Jake said. "I'm a huge fan of Liv's music. It's what I listen to before races to get hyped up."

Olivia nodded. "And I love watching Jake race. It's so quick and he's so good at it, it's thrilling and definitely gets my heart racing seeing him drive so quickly..."

...planning to collaborate?

Jake looked at Olivia, intrigued. "Collaborate how? Get you in the McLaren?"

"Maybe in a music video or something," Olivia suggested, "who knows? It could be fun!"

"I'm not that great at acting though," Jake admitted, "back in my school days I auditioned for a play to be part of it with Sophie. Jax and Thierry did too, and I was given the role of 'tree three'. Not even 'tree one'! I just stood there..."

Olivia laughed. "I wish I could've seen that."

The video wrapped up and after saying thanks to the producers, the couple left smiling and laughing about the past hour and a bit that had just passed.

Back in the car, Jake rested his hand on Liv's thigh. "That was fun. Thanks for doing this with me."

"Of course," Olivia said, placing her hand over his, "I had a good time, we should do it more often."

Jake nodded, his focus on the road ahead.

"I'm starving," she added, her stomach growling in agreement.

"Let's get some dinner," Jake said, "I know a great spot nearby."

He began driving and not long after they had parked up and arrived at a restaurant by the seaside overlooking the ocean.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jake and Olivia walked back to their car but took a long detour around the beach, their arms wrapped around each other. They sat down on the sand, watching the last light of the day fade away.

"This was nice." Olivia mused.

Jake smiled, wrapping his arm around hers. "Yeah it was."

SINGAPORE. OCTOBER 2026.

Before he knew it, Jake was in Singapore where it was time for the testing Marina Bay Circuit. Jake had mixed opinions about this track, it was gruelling to say the least. The heat made it almost unbearable and Jake had to give it everything not to pass out mid drive.

Alongside Liv, the two arrived on the Thursday at the paddock, ready for the weekend ahead.

"God it's humid." Liv commented.

"Yep," Jake agreed, "feels worse in the car."

Cameras and fans were all around as the two made their way through the paddock and Jake made sure to interact with as many fans as he could, Liv too.

A reporter appeared in from of then. "Jake. How important is this race for you?"

"Every race is important at this stage. Singapore is a tough circuit, but the key is to stay focused and avoid mistakes."

Over the other side of the paddock, Thierry was also being ambushed by reporters.

"Thierry, with Jake having just overtaken you in the standings, there's been a lot of talk about your rivalry with Jake. How do you see it?"

Thierry took a deep breath. "Jake and I have known each other for a long time. We're both competitive, we have been ever since we were kids but we respect each other. This season is all about pushing our limits and giving our best on the track. It's a healthy rivalry. We're both here to win, but we also know how much we've helped each other grow as drivers."

On the Saturday, qualifying began and Jake knew it was crucial to ensure the best possible chance on race day.

"Good luck." Liv wished him, giving him a kiss before leaving Jake alone to go through his pre-race routines.

It felt like hell in the car, he was definitely feeling the conditions of this race but he still managed to set a solid lap time seeing him through to Q2.

The heat felt even worse than before and Jake could feel himself feeling dizzy.

"Jake, the track is clear you can push." Rick's voice came from the radio.

"Ok..." Jake managed to mumble back.

A minor slip in the final sector saw him only just scrape through to Q3. He was in P6, but there was still hope.

In the end, he managed to secure a P3 which was good considering he was in a trance for half of it.

"Hey, are you ok?" Olivia asked afterwards, visibly worried.

Jake ran a hand through his sweaty hair. "Yeah it's bloody tough out there."

Liv placed a hand on his cheek lovingly. "You did well though, I'm proud of you."

"Thank you babe." Jake smiled.

On the Sunday, Jake arrived ready to lock in and give his all in the race. He was dreading the race ever so slightly and the pressure of it all made him feel even worse than he did already. A poor result would cost him the championship as Thierry was right on his tail.

He shared a quick hug with Olivia before he headed to the grid, the girl worried for her boyfriend's well-being. Even being stood in the air-conditioner garage she still felt hot and slightly out of it.

The race began under the floodlights, and the atmosphere was charged. Jake got off to a strong start, holding his position behind Thierry and Carlos who had locked out the front row. The Ferrari duo set a quick pace, but Jake stayed close, biding his time.

As the laps continued Jake felt uneasy and felt his focus wavering, the conditions were getting borderline dangerous and the heat was fogging up his mind.

It took every ounce of strength he had to finish the race but he was unable to overtake the Ferrari duo with Thierry securing the win.

"That's P3," came Rick's voice, "good race Jake. It's tough out there."

No response.

"Jake mate, you there?" Rick's voice came again.

The McLaren driver had stopped mid track and when people caught on, everyone was concerned. Olivia's heart dropped.

"What's wrong?" she called out to the garage. "Is he ok?"

Ambulances rushed out to the track to be met by an unconscious Jake Thompson, the race had taken its toll on him and he had used his final last ounce of energy to get his car past the finish line.

He regained consciousness and after a brief check-up he was allowed onto the podium to collect his trophy before he was immediately sent into another medical check up.

Olivia was by his side, holding his hand. "What happened out there?"

Jake sighed. "It's too hot...I was dehydrated...too focused on trying to overtake that I forgot to drink water."

"Oh silly," Olivia said with a small sigh, looking up at him, "the main thing is that you're ok now. I'm glad you're ok."

Jake had a weak smile. "Yeah...thanks."

"What's up?"

Jake shook his head. "Nothing...just silly racing stuff."

Olivia didn't question him any more. In Jake's mind, a large part of him was thinking about how his result meant that Thierry had narrowly passed him. Sure there were still races to go but it was a hard pill to swallow.

AUSTIN, UNITED STATES. OCTOBER 2026.

The next race was in Austin and Jake knew he needed a solid result if he was to keep the pressure on Thierry and not let him slip away in the standings.

The press conference found himself sat with Thierry and journalists keen to hear from the two title contenders.

A reporter kicked things off with a question for Jake. "With the championship so tight, how are you handling the pressure as we head into the final stretch of the season?"

Jake spoke into his microphone. "The pressure is definitely there, but I like to use it as motivation. Every race is an opportunity, and I'm just focused on doing my best and enjoying the challenge."

Another journalist turned to Thierry. "You and Jake have had some intense battles this season. Has this affected your relationship outside of the race track?"

Thierry replied. "Jake and I have a lot of respect for each other. We push each other to be better, and I think that's what makes this season so exciting. When we talk, we tend to not speak about racing or the season outside of the track, to kind of have that work-life balance."

The questions continued with another reporter asking about Jake's incident in Singapore to which he responded that he was all rested up and ready to go again.

Jake delivered an impressive lap in qualifying, putting him in provisional pole. However, Thierry and Carlos Sainz were still on track. Carlos set a time just slightly faster than Jake, taking pole position, and Thierry followed suit, pushing Jake to third. The Ferraris looked strong but Jake wasn't going to let that set him back.

Olivia knew Jake needed some relaxation before race day so the two spent the night watching movies together with them aim of calming Jake down in a pivotal part of the season where everything was such high stakes. 

Race day in Austin brought perfect weather, with clear skies and a light breeze. As the cars lined up on the grid, Jake felt filled with adrenaline. He started third, with Carlos in pole and Thierry in second. The lights went out, and the race began.

Jake had a strong start, maintaining his position through the first few laps before finding a comfortable rhythm.

"Box now, box now." Rick's voice instructed him.

Jake rejoined in fifth but after a couple more laps, he easily dispatched the cars in front and he was back into third.

"Jake, Ferrari have just instructed Carlos to let Thierry through." Rick informed him.

He wasn't too far behind and he could see in front of him that Carlos wasn't too keen to give Thierry the position, especially at a point where Carlos was close to getting a race win.

On the penultimate lap, Ferraris pleas for Carlos to let Thierry through were finally heard by the Spaniard but as he slowed down to let his teammate through, Jake capitalised and also overtook Sainz.

"FUCK!" Sainz cried into his radio. "This is what happens. What a fucking joke."

Carlos battled hard against Jake but it was clear that the race was between Jake and Thierry with Jake easily fending off Carlos' attacks.

"Final lap Jake, push, push, push." Jake heard from his radio.

"Ok, copy."

He was unable to get past Thierry and as they crossed the finish line Jake couldn't help but feel disappointed at himself.

"It was a good race Jake, well done." Rick said through the radio.

"How many points ahead of me is he now?" Jake asked, his breathing heavy from the race.

"Thierry is nine points ahead of you in the championship."

"Ok." came Jake's voice back, emotionless.

Jake still partook in celebrations, it was yet another podium finish for the young driver but he craved more. He craved winning the championship and right now, that was all that he cared about. He didn't care how many races he won or how many podiums he got.

None of it would matter unless he won the championship at the end of the season.