SAO PAULO, BRAZIL. NOVEMBER 2026.

Soph 🎥

hey jake, me and austin are free november and december so wondering if you could hook us up with paddock passes for your final 3 races?

Yeah of course Soph, I can get you into the general hospitality suite too, not the McLaren one...don't want Thi to get the wrong idea

aha thanks jake, appreciate it
and yeah, good shout. well done on the season so far you two have definitely matured on the track. healthy rivalry this year

Cheers, I'm glad it's back to old ways and we're just pushing each other to be the best.
It's going to be close at the end.

you two are going to be alright whoever wins it?

I'm sure we will be. It'll suck for the other person but I'd hope we'd be happy for the winner.

i'm sure it'll be fine, i've spoken to him and he seems to be on the same page

That's good.
Congratulations on Barbie by the way, great film I watched it with Liv
Dune too, finally caught up on all your stuff

ahhh thank you jake, both were great fun to film! could use with a bit of a break now before i book more roles so spending the rest of the year just relaxing and seeing you and thi's races plus some of jax's games

You've reminded me, I need to message him about his game against the Bengals, it's my weekend off in between Brazil and Vegas and me and Liv might come

ooooh do! me and austin will be there

I'll message him now

alright, speak to you soon jake

Jax 🏈

Hey mate, I've got a weekend off in between races and will be in LA, any spare tickets for your Bengals game?

Hell yeah dude! Soph and Austin are coming too, you want two tickets?

If possible please Jax

Sorted, I'll send it all over soon. Will be good to see you again man

Likewise, should we go out for dinner afterwards?

Definitely

Great
Oh and, have you spoken to Thi recently?

Every now and then, why? You guys on the outs again?

Nah, we're good. Just wanted to check. We've just been keeping to ourselves at the moment...with the season and everything

Gotcha. Is he coming to the game?

Doubt it. His dad's got him on a pretty tight routine.

Sucks

The days before the Grand Prix kicked off, Jake spent all of them with Olivia exploring the city. It was nice for him to just unwind and relax with his girlfriend and just take a moment away from Formula One, especially with how tense this season was.

"Liv," Jake began, having a random thought as the two were sat outside a café with drinks, "are you actually happy to be following me around?"

Olivia was slightly taken aback. "Where's this come from?"

"Don't get me wrong I'm so thankful you're here but I can't help but feel guilty sometimes that I might be holding you back."

Olivia reached over and grabbed Jake's hand. "Listen to me Jake, you're not holding me back. You told me yourself I needed this break to just unwind and relax and I'm doing just that, my idea of relaxing is being with you."

"So you're happy just travelling around the world rather than just being at home in LA?" Jake asked.

Liv nodded. "As long as it's with you."

Jake smiled. "I really do appreciate you being with me Liv. More than you know."

"I'm glad, the last thing I would want is to feel like a distraction for you at races."

"You could never be a distraction," Jake reassured, "you're my good luck charm."

Olivia smiled, appreciating the reassurance. "I love you."

"I love you more Liv."

At the qualifying for the Grand Prix, Jake arrived locked in and ready to perform at his best. As usual, he entered the paddock with Olivia and after team meetings and meeting some of his fans, qualifying began.

He was in top form as he raced around during the session, he was easily quicker than Thierry and the car felt like a rocket ship beneath him.

"And that's pole position!" Rick told him on the radio. "Well done Jake!"

"Let's go! Woohoo!" Jake cheered as he drove his car back from the circuit.

As per usual, Jake spoke to the media after his successful qualifying, he had nothing but a bright smile on his face. "It feels great to be on pole, especially here in Sao Paulo. The car was amazing today, and I'm confident we can convert this into a win tomorrow."

A win was what he needed, he was only two points behind Thierry in the standings now so as long as he finished above the Arquette, he would reclaim his position as championship leader.

Olivia watched with pride from the garage and was there to celebrate his pole position, she tended to keep to herself during race weekends - her main priority was just to be there and support her boyfriend.

Race day dawned bright and clear. The race day anyicipation was in the air as Jake made his way through the paddock. He saw Thierry by the Ferrari garage and exchanged a few words, mainly about the racing and a bit about what they did in their week off. Thierry was unable to relax and was subject to more training from his father, the expectations were heavy on Thierry's shoulder and he showed immense maturity to not let it get to him.

As the lights went out, Jake had a clean start, maintaining his lead into the first corner. The race was on, and he felt in control. But as the laps ticked by, it became clear that strategy would play a crucial role in the outcome of the race. McLaren's pit wall was filled with activity, planning their moves to counter Ferrari's strategy.

Jake was called in for his first pit stop earlier than expected. It was a bold move, aiming to undercut Thierry's stop. However, the timing wasn't ideal, and Jake found himself stuck in traffic when he re-joined the race. He fought hard, overtaking several cars, but precious seconds were lost.

"Fuck Rick," Jake said, "it was too early for the pit."

Rick replied. "We are expecting Arquette to pit next lap so push hard this lap, it'll be close on pit exit."

Jake managed to pass Thierry when him and the other cars pitted and regained the lead but then came the second pit stop. Once again, McLaren's strategy seemed questionable. They left Jake out longer on worn tires, hoping to gain an advantage with fresher tires for the final stint and choosing to pit Lando first. Unfortunately, this allowed Thierry to close the gap significantly, especially with Jake having more laps on his tires than the Ferrari driver. When Jake finally pitted, Thierry was able to pass him and Jake rejoined the race in third position, behind Thierry and Lando.

Fuming inside the cockpit, Jake pushed the car to its limits, desperate to reclaim lost ground. Despite his best efforts, the gap was too much to overcome. He crossed the finish line in third place, watching Thierry take the victory and extend his lead in the Drivers' Championship.

"Fuck!" Jake cursed, hitting his hand against the steering wheel.

As Jake parked his car in parc fermé, he ripped off his helmet, frustration evident on his face. He congratulated Thierry with a curt nod, but the disappointment was hard to mask.

In the McLaren garage, after the podium and interviews, the atmosphere was tense. Jake had a heated conversation with his race engineer, Rick, questioning the strategy decisions. "We had the pace, Rick! Why did we gamble with the stops like that?" he demanded, his voice edged with anger.

Rick tried to explain the rationale behind the decisions, but Jake was too upset to listen. He walked away, needing some space to cool down. The frustration of seeing Thierry extend his championship lead was hard to swallow, especially when he felt a win had been within his grasp.

Olivia was there to offer any support Jake needed but in these situations, she knew it was best to leave him alone. He would need the evening to reflect and come to terms with it before he would reset himself and move on. This was exactly what happened after the race, Jake was quiet afterwards but the next day on their flight to Los Angeles, he was back to normal - ready to enjoy the week off with Olivia and everyone else with Brazil in the back of his mind and all focus to Vegas.

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES. NOVEMBER 2026.

The week between the two races was a rare opportunity for Jake to take a breather. He and Olivia had flown to Los Angeles straight after the race, where they could spend some quality time together away from the pressures of the season.

At Liv's apartment, the atmosphere was relaxed. The couple spent most of their time just relaxing with each other with occasional days out. Their days mainly consisted of going on a run in the morning together before stopping off for some breakfast, coming back and getting ready for the day before doing whatever activities they had planned and finishing with a home-cooked meal and just relaxing on the sofa together.

Jake loved it, he loved the normalcy of it, the fact that this simple routine made him feel like he was just a regular guy with his girlfriend living in LA. There were no expectations, no pressure, nothing.

On Sunday, they had an exciting plan. Jax's team, the Chargers, was playing against the Bengals, and they had tickets to the game. Jake was thrilled; he hadn't had the chance to see Jax play in a while, and he was looking forward to cheering on his best friend.

They met up with Sophie and Austin and found their seats in the VIP section where Hailee was already seated, waving enthusiastically when she saw them.

"Hey guys!" Hailee greeted, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "You're just in time. The game's about to start."

As they settled in, the game kicked off with Jax making some incredible plays right from the beginning. The crowd roared with every pass and tackle, the tension rising with each quarter. Jake watched intently, cheering Jax on as he demonstrated why he really was the best of the best.

During halftime, they caught Jax's eye, and he waved at them from the sidelines. "He's really in his element." Jake remarked, turning to Olivia. She smiled, squeezing his hand.

"He's great out there," Liv agreed, "just like you on the track."

The game ended with a thrilling victory for the Chargers. Jax had thrown the game-winning pass, securing their lead and sending the crowd into a frenzy. After the final whistle, they all headed down to meet Jax, who was beaming with joy.

"That was incredible, mate!" Jake said, clapping Jax on the back. "You were on fire!"

"Thanks, man!" Jax grinned. "I felt great out there. I'm glad you guys could make it."

They decided to celebrate the win with dinner at a nearby restaurant. The group - Jake, Olivia, Jax, Hailee, Sophie, and Austin - enjoyed a relaxed evening, conversing with each other and catching up with everyone.

"So, how's the championship fight going?" Jax asked, taking a sip of his drink and turning to Jake.

"It's intense," Jake admitted. "Thierry and I are neck and neck. Brazil was tough, but I'm focused on Vegas now."

Jax nodded. "I've been watching some of the highlights, some damn good racing out there."

Jake definitely enjoyed the evening, it was nice to be surrounded by the people who mattered most to him. Part of him was upset Thierry couldn't be there, he felt bad for the gruelling routine the Monegasque was currently under but Jake would be lying if he didn't say that it wasn't reaping its rewards out on the track.

After dinner, they all parted ways with promises to meet up again soon. Jake and Olivia returned to her apartment, where they spent the rest of the evening cuddled up on the couch, scrolling through their phones and just enjoying each others company.

LAS VEGAS, UNITED STATES. NOVEMBER 2026.

Vegas was special, three years ago at this race where Jake was racing for Alpine he shared his first kiss with Olivia and he was treating it as their unofficial anniversary.

"Let's go out for dinner on Monday, after the race." Jake suggested, giving Olivia a gentle kiss on the cheek from behind as she was currently sat at the make-up table. "My treat."

"I'd love that." Olivia beamed, her cheeks going pink ever so slightly.

Sophie and Austin had arrived in Vegas ready for the glamour of the weekend so they kept Olivia company who was spending the weekend in a hospitality suite as opposed to the garage which she had become accustomed to doing.

The McLaren team was on a high after securing a front-row lockout in qualifying, with Lando Norris taking pole position and Jake starting right behind him in P2. Jake knew he needed a good result to keep himself in contention for the championship, he was at risk of letting Thierry get one hand on the trophy.

As race day dawned, Jake was laser-focused. The goal for the race was clear: secure a one-two finish for McLaren and convert their qualifying positions.

The race began with a clean start. Lando held onto his lead while Jake maintained his position, keeping Thierry at bay. The first round of pit stops saw Lando pitting first, with Jake following suit a lap later. The pit stops were flawless, and the positions remained unchanged.

However, it was the second round of pit stops that would become the talking point of the weekend. As the race reached its critical phase, the team called Jake in before Lando - having Jake undercut Lando. Jake had a good stop and when Lando pitted the next lap, Jake took the lead and was determined to get it past the finish line in this position.

Over the team radio, the order came through: "Jake, we need you to give the place back to Lando."

Jake's response was immediate and firm. "What the hell? No! I need maximum points for the championship."

"Jake, this is coming from the top. Let Lando pass. Do the right thing." Rick's voice had a hard edge now, conveying the seriousness of the order.

Jake was resolute. "I'm not giving up my position. I've worked hard for this. You should have pitted him first then." he added bitterly.

"That doesn't matter."

"Fuck off, it matters to me." Jake snapped back.

"Jake, you need to consider the team's strategy." Rick tried again, sounding almost pleading.

"I'm in contention for the championship." Jake shot back, his voice dripping with anger. "This isn't the time to play favourites. I need all the points I can get. Lando's not even in the top four."

"Please Jake," Rick begged, "this is a team sport. You need Lando, you need the team."

"Fuck off," Jake cursed, "I'm fighting for the championship. You want me to give up my lead? Not happening."

The silence that followed was deafening. Jake knew he had crossed a line, but he couldn't back down now. His career, his dreams, everything was on the line. The radio went silent, and Jake focused on the track ahead. He could see Lando in his mirrors, closing in, but he held his ground. Lap after lap, he maintained his lead, refusing to yield.

As the race drew to a close, Thierry, who had been gaining steadily, capitalised on the tension between the McLaren drivers. With a few deft moves, he overtook Lando and closed in on Jake. The final laps were a blur of adrenaline and determination, but Jake held on, crossing the finish line first with Thierry finishing second, and Lando third.

In the post-race interview, the questions inevitably turned to the team orders. "Jake, you defied a direct team order to let Lando pass. Can you explain your decision?"

Jake's eyes were steely as he answered. "The team has the wrong priorities. I'm fighting for the world championship. Every point matters, and today, I did what I had to do. When it's as closely contested as it is between two drivers in the championship, you have to think for yourself."

Even Thierry was asked about Jake's defiance. "I would have done the same," he admitted, "it's the harsh realities of the sport. If you want to be a winner sometimes you have to be selfish."

The moment Jake stepped into the McLaren garage after the race, he knew there was going to be trouble. The team's celebration of his win was half-hearted at best, and Jake could feel the eyes of everyone on him as he made his way to the debriefing room.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Lando was on his feet, his face flushed with anger. "What the fuck was that, Jake? You ignored a direct team order!"

Jake shot back, his own temper flaring. "I'm fighting for the world championship, Lando! You think I'm just going to roll over and hand you the win?"

The team principle Andrea, trying to keep the peace, raised his hands. "Everyone, calm down. Let's discuss this rationally."

Lando wasn't having it. "Rationally? We had a plan, Jake. You've jeopardised the entire team's strategy. We were supposed to get a one-two finish!"

Jake's fists clenched at his sides. "Your plan doesn't account for me being in the title fight. This isn't just about the team; it's about the championship. My championship. And how is it my fault you got yourself overtaken by Thierry?"

Lando's eyes flashed with fury. "Oh, so it's all about you now? What about the team? What about our goals?"

Jake stepped closer. "When have the team ever prioritised my goals, Lando? Every time, it's you who gets the advantage. I'm done being second to you."

Andrea interjected, his voice stern. "Jake, you need to understand the bigger picture here. We're a team, and you defied a direct order. This isn't how we operate."

Jake turned to face him, his expression unyielding. "The bigger picture? The bigger picture is that I'm one of the top contenders for the championship. You should be supporting that, not undermining it."

Lando threw his hands up in exasperation. "Undermining? You think everything is about you! Today was a team effort, and you spat in the face of that."

Jake's anger boiled over. "You know what, Lando? Maybe if the team actually gave me the same support they give you, we wouldn't be having this argument. I'm tired of being the second choice, look at my results and look at yours. How you're still getting priority is beyond me!"

The room fell silent for a moment. Zak Brown took a deep breath and intervened. "Jake, this behaviour is unacceptable. We need unity, not division."

Jake's voice was cold. "Unity? How about some fairness for a change?"

The argument escalated, voices rising as accusations flew back and forth. Jake could feel his frustration mounting with every word. He was fighting not just for himself, but for the respect he felt he deserved.

Lando stepped closer, his eyes locked on Jake's. "You think you're the only one who deserves to win? We all work hard, Jake. But you...you just think you're entitled to it."

Jake's voice was a snarl. "Entitled? I've earned every damn point out there. I'm not asking for special treatment, just equal treatment."

Andrea's voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding. "Enough! This is not how we resolve issues. We need to find a way to move forward, together."

Jake shook his head, his anger still simmering. "If moving forward means I have to keep playing second fiddle to Lando, then count me out. I'm here to win, and I won't apologise for that."

The debriefing ended with no resolution as Jake stormed out, his mind a whirlwind of anger and frustration. He knew he had made the right decision for his championship hopes, but the fallout within the team was severe.

Back at the hotel, Jake slammed the door to his and Liv's room, the echo reverberating through the room. He paced back and forth, his hands clenched into fists, his jaw tight with frustration. Olivia sat on the edge of the bed, watching him with a mix of concern and patience.

"I can't believe the nerve of them!" Jake exploded, his voice filled with anger. "I mean, seriously, how can they expect me to just hand over the win like that? I'm fighting for the championship!"

Olivia nodded, her eyes following his agitated movements. "I know, Jake. It's unfair."

Jake stopped pacing and turned to face her, his expression a storm of emotions. "Unfair? That's an understatement. They've been prioritising him all season. I'm not a fucking back-up driver."

Olivia stood up and walked over to him, placing a calming hand on his arm. "And everyone knows that, you let your talent on the track speak for you."

Jake ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Now the whole team's against me. The debrief was a nightmare. Lando was furious, Zak was disappointed, Andrea was livid...it's like they don't see my side at all."

Olivia leaned her head on his shoulder. "They might not understand, but you know who you are and what you're capable of. You've got the talent, the drive, and the heart. That's what matters."

Jake wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "Thank you, Liv. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled up at him. "You'd still be an amazing driver, but I'm glad I can be here for you."

They sat in silence for a moment, the comfort of each other's presence bringing a sense of calm. Jake's mind was still racing, but Olivia's words had grounded him. He knew he couldn't change the past, but he could control how he moved forward.

"I need to talk to the team again tomorrow," Jake said finally, "try to explain my side without all the yelling. Maybe we can find some common ground."

Olivia nodded. "That's a good idea. Just be honest and stay calm. They need to hear your perspective."

Jake sighed. "It's just hard, you know? Feeling like you're constantly battling for respect."

Olivia looked into his eyes. "You've already earned it, Jake. Now it's time for them to recognise it."

He kissed her gently, the tension in his body finally dissipating. "You're right. As always."

She grinned. "Of course. Now, how about we order some food and try to relax a bit? We're still going out for dinner tomorrow night?"

Jake smiled. "Of course, my stupid racing drama doesn't interfere with our plans."

"Perfect," Olivia replied, "I can believe it's been three years since we kissed here for the first time."

"I know right," Jake said, "doesn't feel that long ago. God I had such a huge crush on you."

Olivia giggled. "I know. You weren't subtle stalking through my Instagram."

Jake let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you ever going to let that go?"

Olivia laughed and gave Jake a quick peck.

"Never!"