It has been a week since the preseason testing and I am excited for once. Sure it is a mix of nervousness and excitement but it is a new opportunity for me to help the team. There is a catch with that though. During the preseason testing, the team found more issues than we would care to admit. The odd thing is Mick doesn't seem too bothered about it. I can tell you for a fact that I am. After all, if anything goes wrong my team and I will be left to pick up the pieces. Before you can say anything I am not having a go at Mick. I'm just a little stressed at the moment. Right now I am prepping the car for the first free practice. The good thing for me is we haven't left Bahrain so I don't have to change much.

"I came bearing gifts," Mick's lead engineer remarks as he passes me a cup of coffee. I know what he is really after.

"Thank you. Before you can ask, everything should be ready. It depends on Mick," I give him the short version of the story. The only person that would really be interested in the full story is Guenther. Speaking of the devil, he strides in with Mick and Nikita in tow. I use that as an excuse to take the coffee and leave. I am quick to join the pit crew who are discussing how they think the race is going to pan out.

"I think Yuri or Morgan will be the better people to ask," One of the crew members responds to what was said before. I take a sip of coffee while I wait for the others to notice my presence. It feels odd not being with them as a part of the pit crew.

"So Morgan, what do you think? One or two stops?" One of the other pit crew members asks. Hmm. A good question. I formulate an answer as I swallow the sip of coffee in my mouth.

"One. Providing Mick and Nikita don't get flat spots. Although we should be having this conversation on Sunday," I basically deflect the question. There is not that much that we know. Not now at least. After a brief conversation, I head back to the car to get back to work. Before I do I finish the cup of coffee. Thankfully it was only a small cup. The good thing is it has given me enough of a boost to get the rest of the work done as safely and as quickly as possible. It doesn't take long for me to feel the eyes of someone watching over me. I look up from my work to find Mick watching over me. The first thing that I notice is the fact that the only piece of gear that he isn't wearing is his gloves. With that, I helped him into the car. I can see Mick's squinted eyes. It suggests a smile on his face. As soon as Mick gets his gloves on I give the signal for my team to clear the car. After a brief pause to make sure the others are out of the way I send Mick out with a gesture. Now that Mick has been sent out I take my usual spot on the pit wall next to Yuri.

"Well it's going to be a long one," Yuri announces. He seems just as bothered about the situation as I. Actually, he is in a worse position than me. After all, he is the lead mechanic of the title sponsor's son which means he would feel the pressure from both of them to get his work right.

"We just need to strap in. we have a whole season ahead of us," I responded. There is not much that we can do. As my Grandpa said, we need to weather the storm ahead. I turn my attention to the data in front of me. It looks like the adjustments we've made seemed to have worked. Well for Mick that is. Nikita on the other hand has ended up in the runoff.

"Der'mo," Yuri curses out of sheer frustration. Well, it could be worse. It could be the race. I just hope that thought is not foreshadowing. After forty-five minutes the first free practice session has come to an end and I have decided that I am going to see if I can help Yuri. It is the least that I can do.

"I'm telling you Morgan it doesn't matter. I only have to check for damage plus you have Mick to help," Yuri is insisting that he will be fine. I'm not buying it.

"Ok. I was just trying to be helpful," I say playfully raising my hands in surrender. There is not much that I can do. After three hours of work, the day has come to an end and I am glad about it. There was a lot of work that had to be done but that's normal for me. Tomorrow will be where the fun is. It is the day after and I find myself in charge of an all hands on deck situation. It turned out that Yuri was unable to get the car fixed. The poor guy spent all night working on it. At least it will go quicker with more help. The issue with that is I have to get Mick's car sorted. Not that it matters as I know my team is capable. It's just the fact that I am the lead mechanic or as the press would say the number one mechanic. The good thing is I had the feeling that this was going to happen so I came earlier than I had planned.

"I owe you an apology Morgan," Yuri announces as he peels away from the car.

"Why?" I ask.

"I should've accepted your help yesterday," He says as he slumps down on one of the chairs belonging to one of the pit crew members. He is dog-tired.

"Don't worry about it. There was a lot that you weren't expecting. Plus you know that I am happy to help regardless of whether or not you need it," I responded. I flag one of the pit crew members down. I am quick to ask for a cup of coffee for Yuri.

"Well I'm going to see if my team needs anything," I excuse myself. I join my second in command who seems content.

"The only thing that needs to be done is starting the car," He gives me a small report. Thankfully everything is under control. The thing with starting the car is that we have five minutes before we have to do it. With that, I head to the hospitality area. Aside from a couple of VIPs, the area is largely free. I reckon that the VIPs are here as guests of Dmitry Mazepin. I get a nasty feeling from them. Oh well, there is nothing that I can do about it. After a few minutes of chatting to the press officer and nibbling on a snack, I make my way back to the garage. I might as well get the car started a couple of minutes early. After a quick walk, I made it back to the garage to find that my crew had the same idea.

"I thought we could get the car started earlier," My second in command remarks.

"Well you read my mind," I confirm as I get to work with the rest of my crew. After ten minutes of work, we are finally joined by Mick. He looks like a puppy with a new toy. It doesn't take Mick long to get his balaclava, helmet and gloves on. With some help, he gets into the car. I find myself glancing at the clock. We have one minute left before the pit exit light goes green to signify the start of qualifying. Time seems to slow down but the clock hits zero. As soon as it does I gesture for Mick to leave the pits. Here goes. I am quick to join the others at the pit wall. After fifteen minutes the bottom five have been set. There is only one surprise from that round. Mick is in fifteenth place. A ripple of cheers flows through the crew on the pit wall. Even Guenther has a slight smile on his face which is saying something. It is the day after and the mood on the grid is tense. There is one good thing about this race. We have a driver that will be starting higher than nineteenth place. Right now Mick is busy giving a pre-race interview while I do some last-minute checks. After two minutes of work, the time has come for me to help Mick into the car. Again he has the puppy dog look on his face. Mick basically leaps into the car.

"Thank you," Mick says as I help him to get comfortable. I just give him a thumbs up.

"Ok everyone we have two minutes before the race starts," Guenther reminds us via the radio. With that the media personnel and most of my team scatter. In a minute it will be our turn. I make one last quick check of the car to put my mind at ease.

"One minute," Ok that is the cue for my team to leave. As soon as the tire blankets come off I make a beeline to the spot on the pit wall. After the rest of the minute goes by a single light comes on signifying the start of the formation lap. Good luck Mick. After a tense minute and a half, the last car which belongs to Nikita fills the last spot. The red lights come on one by one. The tension on the pit wall has reached its peak. Lights out. Everyone seems to be getting a good start. Well everyone except Nikita.

"You idiot," I catch Yuri uttering as Nikita spins at the third corner. That means there will be a safety car. I also notice that the look on Guenther's face has changed. Like Yuri, he is annoyed. I am in a different position. With all things considered Mick seems to be doing quite well. After forty-five minutes the time has come for the first and hopefully only pitstop. I give the go-ahead for the pit crew to get ready with the next set of tires. To my surprise with the aid of the pit stop, Mick comes out a few milliseconds ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

"Yes. Come on Mick," I find myself uttering. If Mick keeps fourteenth place it will be the highest position a Haas car has finished in for a while. After forty-five painfully tense minutes, it has come down to the last lap. Sebastian has put up a hard fight but it seems as if Mick has managed to hold on. The tension on the pit wall dissipates as Mick crosses the line. It is looking like the team will be celebrating well into the night.