Wednesday 6th January 2021
After spending a week with the family it was really nice, being able to see my brother, dad and nephew and having a very enjoyable Christmas with one of my dad's famous Christmas dinners, which I absolutely loved. Having cuddle time with my nephew was nice and playing with the toys he go for Christmas. That little boy gets spoiled rotten by the entire family. I even got him a mini race suit to match mine saying Ronnie 74 on the back, which made Phil laugh.
But today, I am in Woking to sign my contract with McLaren but I'm hoping to bump into Lando after signing the contract and tell him the good news. As I'm pulling up to the technology centre, I could feel myself getting more and more excited about being a Formula One driver for the teams I've always supported throughout my entire motorsport career. I've parked my car which is a white BMW 1 series, and I'm now heading into the technology centre to sign this once in a lifetime contract and I walk up to reception.
"Welcome to McLaren, my name is Clara, how can I help you?" The receptionist said
"Hiya, my name is Jasmine Foden, I've got a meeting with Zak Brown at 10:30" I said
"Ah yes, I remember Zak mentioning this. Let me take you up to his office" Clara replied
Clara got up for her desk and took me upstairs to Zak's office. When we get to the office, she knocks on the door.
"Come in," an American voice said
"Hi Zak, I have Jasmine Foden here," Clara said to Zak
"Send her in" was the reply.
Clara stands aside and I walk into the office.
"Hiya Jasmine, come on in and take a seat," the McLaren CEO said
I take a seat in front of Zak's desk and I could see my contract on the desk. I was trying to contain my excitement for joining the team as an F1 driver.
"Okay Jasmine, here is the contract about you joining the McLaren F1 team. It just outlines everything that you have got to do and what you could expect over the course of your contract. I've got to personally say this, I have been wanting you to join the F1 team for so long but I'm just glad your part of the team now" Zak said.
"I'm looking forward to being part of the team. It's been a dream for so long. My twin brother is pleased for me. I was over the moon when he told me he was going to be playing for the senior Manchester City team. I still occasionally play football but sometimes I do cover matches if a player cant play but they make sure that I'm not racing that weekend." I responded
I spent about 10 minutes reading through the contract Zak handed to me, so I understood what I was signing. After reading the contract, I picked up the pen and signed on the dotted line and it was now OFFICIAL! I am a McLaren F1 driver and I couldn't be happier. I handed the contract back to Zak and he also handed me a copy of the contract for me to keep for legal reasons.
"Okay Jasmine, your trainer is Jon, the same as Lando, because I know you two live together. Your PR is Kevin Smith, who was with you during your time when you were a part of the junior team. Now it's official, we will get you sized up for your race suit and all your team wear and then we will get you on the sim and do laps of the Bahrain track" Zak told me. I nodded and headed out of the office, to meet Kevin downstairs near the canteen. But as I was heading towards the stairs, I could see Lando walking into the building.
"Oi Lando" I said in my thick Manchester accent, whilst waving at him from the balcony. I pretty much ran down the stairs and gave my best friend a hug.
"What are you doing here and what are those papers?" my best friend asked me.
"Well I can tell you that I am no longer in Formula 2 but I'm now racing in the big league, as your teammate," I said and I could see Lando's eyes go wide before he pulled me into the tightest hug known to mankinds.
"OMG I can't believe that we are going to be teammates, just like when we were at Carlin. I mean it going to be great, racing with my best friend" Lando said to me.
"I can't wait. I would have told you sooner but I found out on Christmas Eve. I was allowed to tell my family but I couldn't tell you until I signed the contract" I replied
"That's completely understood, so what else have you got to do today?" my best friend asked me
"I've got to have my race suit fitting, along with my fireproofs and race boots and also my team wear. I need to have my photo taken for my McLaren pass and my paddock pass and then got some sim training as well and then I can go home and chill, which means calling Mase and Dec because we have to plan our next youtube video for Mase, Race and Rice" I told Lando.
"I completely forgot that you 3 had a youtube channel. Can I be in the next video?" he said
"Let me check with the others and see if they are okay with it. It's most likely going to be a yes. Bit it would be hilarious to see them on the sim" I responded with a laugh and so did Lando. "Actually let me call them now, I know Dec is with Mase today," I said.
I get my phone out of my pocket to facetime Mason and within a couple of rings he picks up and his face is on the screen.
Jas: Hiya Mase you alright?
Mase: Yeah I'm good thanks. Dec, Jas is on facetime
Then Dec appears on the screen
Dec: Alright Jas?
Jas: I'm great thanks. I'm really great. I've got some news
Mase/Dec: You've got a boyfriend?
Jas: Nope, I'm still single as a pringle
Mase: Then what is it?
Dec: Wait are you at McLaren Technology Centre
Mase: Oh yeah the background looks familiar
Jas: Well I'm not a reserve driver anymore. I'm actually racing in F1 this season.
Both Mase and Dec scream like girls and I could hear Lando behind me laughing
Jas: Also, Lando is here with me
Lando: Alright lads
Mase: Hey Lando
Dec: Alright Lando
Lando: I'm just happy to have Jas as my teammate again
Mase: I bet you are
Jas: Anyway, we need to do another video for Mase, Race and Rice. It's been a while and the last video was Fifa, so this time it can be F1 2020. Can Lando join us this time?
Mase: Yeah Lando can definitely join in
Dec: Oh this is going be great. I'm so going to beat you Jas
Jas: Dec, I highly doubt that.
I turn to look at Lando
Jas: Lando, the last time I played Fifa with them, I beat them and they are professional footballers and they got beaten by a racing driver.
Lando: I bet they were crying
Jas: Oh they were. Dec more than Mase. Dec claimed I was cheating but I wasn't, it was a fair and square match.
Lando starts laughing which causes me to laugh.
Mase: When are we going to do the video
Lando: We could do it tonight on twitch and Zoom?
Jas: Yeah that's a good idea, F1 driver vs Footballers on F1 2020 and may the best win.
Mase: See you two later
Dec: It's on Jassie
Jas: It is so on Rice ball
I hang the phone up and then turn to my best friend.
"Tonight is going to be jokes" I said with a bit of laughter and Lando nodded. We both went on to finish our last bits for the day at MTC before heading home, to set up for our fun evening. Once we get home, we have dinner and then head upstairs to Lando's streaming room and I set up the twitch stream and zoom call ready.
Mase and Dec appear on the screen and we start recording our video from my end.
Jas: Hello and welcome to another video with
Mase: Mase
Jas: Race
Dec: And Rice Rice baby
Jas: Today we have a special guest with us and that is my best friend Formula One Driver Lando Norris
Lando: Hi everyone it's great to be here with these amazing people.
Jas: Mase and Dec it is over to you to explain what we are doing in this video
Dec: Today we have a bit of competition whilst playing F1 2020
Mase: It's footballers against racers and who can get the fastest lap. It's going to myself against Lando and Dec against the one and only Jasmine Foden. The winner from each round will take each other on in the final
Jas: You're going down Rice
Dec: No you are Foden
Lando: Mase, are those two always this competitive?
Mase: Yeah they are.
Jas: Before we started the video we did spin the wheel to see what track we will be playing at and the chosen track is......
Lando: BAKU
I rub my hands together because I know that I am extremely good at this track and I know that it can be a difficult track to navigate.
Jas: Up first is Mase and Lando. Pick your team.
Lando: I'm McLaren
Mase: I'll go with Red Bull
Dec/Jas: Track is set. 3...2...1...IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO.
Dec: Best of 3 laps
Jas: Struggling there, Mase?
Mase: Shut up Jas
Jas: Lan you are acing it mate
The three laps are over
Dec: Lando your time for the three laps was 4:32.045
Jas: Mase your time for the three laps was 4:47.385
Dec: Well done Lando. Now it is time for me to beat Jas
Jas: In your dreams Declan
Mase: Pick your teams
Jas: I'm McLaren
Dec: That's not fair. I wanted to be McLaren.
Jas: Tough titty Declan, can't always get what you want!
Declan: I'm going with Ferrari
Lando/Mase: Track is set. 3...2...1... IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO
Mase: Best of 3 laps
Lando: Dec you alright
Dec: Shut it Lando and let me focus
Lando: Acing it as per usual Jas
The three laps are over
Mase: Jas your time for the three laps was 4:29.885
Lando: Dec your time for the three laps was 5:06.107
Mase: Well done Jas, you now go against Lando. Let's see who the best F1 Driver is.
Jas: Oh it is on. Good luck Norris
Lando: Good luck to you too Foden
Dec: It's the battle of the McLaren, who do you think will win the final battle Mase?
Mase: To be honest Declan, I believe it's going to be Jas and by the look on your face, you want Lando to win.
Dec: You would be correct with that one there Mase
Mase: Best of three laps
Mase/Dec: Track is set. 3...2...1... IT'S LIGHT'S OUT AND AWAY WE GO
Dec: Jas has her focus face on
Jas: Shut it Declan, before I ram the control so far up where the sun doesn't shine
Mase: Now that would be funny
Lando: Honestly that would
The three laps are over
Mase: Lando your time for the three laps was 4:38.996
Dec: Jas your time for the three laps was 4:32.660, meaning you are the winner
Jas: GET IN THERE. Told you I would beat you Declan.
Lando: And that she did.
Mase: Thanks for watching this video and thanks to Lando for joining us.
Lando: It's been a pleasure and I've had so much fun
Dec: Don't forget to like, comment and share
Jas: Also, don't forget to subscribe to our channel and turn your post notifications on
Dec/Mase: It's a goal for us
Jas: It's lights out for me
Jas: See you next time on
Mase: Mase
Jas: Race
Dec: And Rice
Jas/Mase/Dec: Goodbye
I tell Mase and Dec I will call them in the week and that if I don't it means I'm busy with all the stuff I need to do before the start of the season and the car launch. Both me and Lando, went downstairs for a little while, caught up on Grey's Anatomy. I had to practically nag him to watch the show but he's enjoying it. After watching a couple of episodes, we both head upstairs to our separate rooms to get a goodnight sleep.