Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I glance at Hendrik, but his gaze is fixed on the screen in front of him, unreadable. He’s not jumping in, not yet.
“Bernie,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “The data shows that tire degradation is significantly higher when the temperatures drop at night. The race won’t be until eight p.m. The expected lower track temperatures will affect tire performance. Going too hard, too fast, will risk overheating or even blistering the compounds.”
“It’s fucking Saudi Arabia. We’re in the desert. How cold can a track get?”
I inhale a calming breath. “It’s not about the track being cold it’s about the track cooling when the sun goes down. It will affect the tires regardless if we’re in the desert.”
Matthieu, who’s been silent until now, shifts in his chair, a smug look spreading across his face. “I agree with Bernie. You’re asking him to drive like he’s racing in a simulator, Bexley. No real driver would follow that kind of strategy unless they’re just too scared to get the job done.”
I glance at Matthieu, resisting the urge to call him out for the arrogance that oozes from his pores. He’s not advocating for Bernie. He’s just making it clear that he’s the preferential driver. He’s more concerned with showing off than with what works in the race.
“Actually,” I say, looking directly at him, “the strategy is based on sound judgment. It’s not about fear, Matthieu. It’s about understanding the reality of the race. We’ve seen high tire wear on this track in the past, and the cooling temperatures will only exacerbate that. I’m managing risk, which is what I’m paid to do.”
“Risk?” Matthieu laughs, his voice harsh. “You think we’re here to play it safe? This is Formula International, not a Sunday drive. If you’re going to manage risk, you’re already a step behind and I have to wonder if you even know what you’re doing.” He then looks at Bernie and winks. “I’m thinking they were just trying to fill some quota of women in the organization since Norcross took it over.”
My blood boils but I don’t react. That’s what they want me to do, so I just stare at the two drivers.
Hendrik shifts in his seat, leaning forward and speaking to Bernie. “She has a point. Tire management will be crucial in these conditions and there’s a reason we employ engineers to look at this data.”
Bernie crosses his arms, still not convinced. “I don’t like it, Hendrik. I need to know you’re not setting me up to fail with this ‘safe’ strategy.”
That’s a somewhat serious accusation to make, as no one would ever set up their drivers to fail. Not to mention, this isn’t a unique plan. Many teams will be employing the same strategy. I have to assume because Bernie is young and hasn’t ever sat at this table with the expectation of running a race, he’s speaking from pure emotion right now.
I clear my throat, bringing Bernie’s attention back to me. “It’s not about setting you up to fail. It’s about getting the best result for the team, considering the circumstances. If you push too hard and lose tire life, you’re not going to get the result we need, and it’s crucial you get a top ten. We’ll make adjustments as the race progresses, but we need to start steady.”
“Whatever,” Bernie mutters petulantly, clearly not thrilled but not entirely resistant. “I’ll go with it for now.”
I turn to Matthieu. “You’ll be taking more risks in the beginning, but we’ll also adjust for tire wear. It’s not just about raw speed—it’s about strategy and making those moves at the right time.”
Matthieu gives me a tight-lipped smile. “Yeah, sure. As long as I’m not holding back while Bernie tiptoes around.”
“Fuck you,” Bernie growls, but I ignore it.
I hold Matthieu’s gaze. “We all have our jobs to do. If we execute the strategy properly, we can get wins for the team. That includes you.”
I glance at Nash, who’s been silent the entire time. His expression is hard to read, but I can see he’s interested in the conversation. While I didn’t expect him to come to my defense—because I don’t need defending, especially from him—I had expected him to give input since he’s raced in Jeddah a few times. But he remains pensive and aloof.
“I think this is settled for now,” Hendrik says after a long silence, clearly eager to move the conversation along. “We’ll keep refining the strategies, but the final decisions will be made at the track based on how things look once we have more data. Let’s get to work.”
The other engineers scurry to do the million things they need to do and Matthieu and Bernie bolt for the door. Nash lags behind, talking to one of the tire guys, and I prepare to head back to my office.