The Race Isn't Over. It's Only Just Begun.
As the lights faded over Abu Dhabi and the season’s final race was complete, Noura Kassir sat with the faint realization that her world too had stopped moving. She did everything she said she was going to & then some. 218 points & a 7th place finish in the standings. She proved that she belonged, that she's one of the best in the world, & most importantly, that she can sure drive a Formula 1 car.
She was a rookie who had outrun the odds and the ghosts of her own doubt. Maturing from the struggles in F2 with ART GP, & then the sudden snub from every F1 team, sans KICK, that she wasn't ready for the next level, she was set out to make a statement. She ran the races, made the podium a few times, & earned a trophy in the process. The numbers should have spoken for themselves. They should have been loud enough to echo across every team's boardroom in F1: That Noura Kassir has what it takes to be a world champion.
However, she will quickly find out that the numbers don’t speak. At least, not to those who make the calls.
"Thank you for visiting with me today, Noura." her agent told her as the two agreed to discuss her future as an F1 driver.
"I hope you've been enjoying the time off."
"It's nice to get a break from time to time.. So, what are we looking at?" Noura responded, anxious to jump right into the details.
"Right. Well, the offers are in.. KICK, of course wants you back.." her agent said.
Noura nodded as she allowed her to speak more.
".. & Haas, Alpine, Racing Bulls, Williams have made some very convincing offers as well..”
Noura nodded her again before lifting her hands from the table.
"And? Is that it...?" Noura replied, her voice visibly cracking as she turned her attention to the papers on the table.
"Uh, yes... I'm sorry, Noura. I know you wanted a seat at one of the better teams.."
"Not even Aston Martin? Lance Stroll literally finished with 1 point this season. One point!"
"No Aston Martin. No Ferrari. No Red Bull. No top team."
She leaned back in her chair before following up with another question.
"What about Lewis Hamilton? Is he staying at Ferrari? We all thought for sure he was going to retire."
"..Umm. Hamilton is rumored to be going to Red Bull & replacing Yuki."
"Okay... & that leaves an empty seat at Ferrari.."
"They've already offered it to Bortoleto.. I'm sorry Noura. I really tried to gather you an offer that would make you as excited as you were when we had this discussion last time.."
Noura didn’t answer. She watched a bead of condensation slide down her glass.
"Look, you did everything right.. But sometimes, that’s not what they’re always looking for."
She picked up the papers & looked over the offers. She thought to herself, maybe this was what it meant to be fast in a slow world. To move with purpose, while the ones in charge still hadn’t noticed.
"I'm staying. If KICK believed in me from the beginning, then that's who I want to drive for."
Without hesitation, she immediately signed her name & jumped up from her seat.
"One last thing.." she said as she put her coat on & looked her agent in the eyes.
"They're all going to regret this decision. Next season, I'm not holding back."
Her agent nodded, visibly witnessing her client at one of her lowest moments since they've met.
Kassir thanked her one last time & turned to leave.
Outside, the evening had folded into itself. She walked past the cafe window and caught a reflection of herself, blurred by glass & doubled by neon. For a moment, she almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back.
Maybe that was what the F1 season had done to her. Turned her into something else. Something faster, something more determined.. something lonelier.
She slipped her hands into her coat pockets and let out a big sigh before walking in the direction of her hotel. The men who made the calls would go home tonight believing they’d chosen correctly. She may have impressed with her rookie season, but after all of the accolades, she realized she still hadn’t arrived anywhere at all.. but deep down she knows that the road would always make room for her, even if she has to take it for herself.
As the lights faded over Abu Dhabi and the season’s final race was complete, Noura Kassir sat with the faint realization that her world too had stopped moving. She did everything she said she was going to & then some. 218 points & a 7th place finish in the standings. She proved that she belonged, that she's one of the best in the world, & most importantly, that she can sure drive a Formula 1 car.
She was a rookie who had outrun the odds and the ghosts of her own doubt. Maturing from the struggles in F2 with ART GP, & then the sudden snub from every F1 team, sans KICK, that she wasn't ready for the next level, she was set out to make a statement. She ran the races, made the podium a few times, & earned a trophy in the process. The numbers should have spoken for themselves. They should have been loud enough to echo across every team's boardroom in F1: That Noura Kassir has what it takes to be a world champion.
However, she will quickly find out that the numbers don’t speak. At least, not to those who make the calls.
"Thank you for visiting with me today, Noura." her agent told her as the two agreed to discuss her future as an F1 driver.
"I hope you've been enjoying the time off."
"It's nice to get a break from time to time.. So, what are we looking at?" Noura responded, anxious to jump right into the details.
"Right. Well, the offers are in.. KICK, of course wants you back.." her agent said.
Noura nodded as she allowed her to speak more.
".. & Haas, Alpine, Racing Bulls, Williams have made some very convincing offers as well..”
Noura nodded her again before lifting her hands from the table.
"And? Is that it...?" Noura replied, her voice visibly cracking as she turned her attention to the papers on the table.
"Uh, yes... I'm sorry, Noura. I know you wanted a seat at one of the better teams.."
"Not even Aston Martin? Lance Stroll literally finished with 1 point this season. One point!"
"No Aston Martin. No Ferrari. No Red Bull. No top team."
She leaned back in her chair before following up with another question.
"What about Lewis Hamilton? Is he staying at Ferrari? We all thought for sure he was going to retire."
"..Umm. Hamilton is rumored to be going to Red Bull & replacing Yuki."
"Okay... & that leaves an empty seat at Ferrari.."
"They've already offered it to Bortoleto.. I'm sorry Noura. I really tried to gather you an offer that would make you as excited as you were when we had this discussion last time.."
Noura didn’t answer. She watched a bead of condensation slide down her glass.
"Look, you did everything right.. But sometimes, that’s not what they’re always looking for."
She picked up the papers & looked over the offers. She thought to herself, maybe this was what it meant to be fast in a slow world. To move with purpose, while the ones in charge still hadn’t noticed.
"I'm staying. If KICK believed in me from the beginning, then that's who I want to drive for."
Without hesitation, she immediately signed her name & jumped up from her seat.
"One last thing.." she said as she put her coat on & looked her agent in the eyes.
"They're all going to regret this decision. Next season, I'm not holding back."
Her agent nodded, visibly witnessing her client at one of her lowest moments since they've met.
Kassir thanked her one last time & turned to leave.
Outside, the evening had folded into itself. She walked past the cafe window and caught a reflection of herself, blurred by glass & doubled by neon. For a moment, she almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back.
Maybe that was what the F1 season had done to her. Turned her into something else. Something faster, something more determined.. something lonelier.
She slipped her hands into her coat pockets and let out a big sigh before walking in the direction of her hotel. The men who made the calls would go home tonight believing they’d chosen correctly. She may have impressed with her rookie season, but after all of the accolades, she realized she still hadn’t arrived anywhere at all.. but deep down she knows that the road would always make room for her, even if she has to take it for herself.
