My Formula 1 System

Being the third Grand Prix he'd miss this season, Luca had a lot of speculations concerning the final results and points after this evening in Qatar.

Once again, the motorsport world had gathered in a Middle Eastern nation—one steeped in elegance and rich history, much like Saudi Arabia. But unlike the Riyadh Zenith Circuit, a street circuit that carved through the capital, the Al Rihla Circuit stood as a grand stadium of its own, akin to the Hungaro Ring. Yet, what set Al Rihla apart was its cutting-edge design, making it one of the newest and most visually striking circuits in all of motorsport.

A shame he wouldn't get to tear across its fresh asphalt. He'd heard that this circuit had only been constructed a few years ago, following the abandonment of the Sahara Crescent Circuit in Al Rayyan. That track, notorious for its high crash count, had been deemed too dangerous after a generation of racing incidents.

Now, in the capital, Doha, Formula 1 and Formula 2 had arrived for the weekend showdown—so had Luca and Mallow.

Luca knew he couldn't bear to sit at home and watch the race unfold from his living room. So instead, he booked an early flight with Mallow, secured a stay in one of Doha's grand hotels, and got tickets to the 95,000-capacity circuit, determined to witness the action firsthand.

Luca had initially applied to watch the race from the paddock, hoping to arrive with the team, take part in pre-race preparations, and sit alongside them as the event unfolded. To his surprise, Mr. Fisher had flatly refused, insisting that Luca needed not just physical recovery but complete detachment from racing for the same duration. In other words, until he was fully healed, he wasn't to be seen in a Veststar uniform, wearing a team cap—or any team attire at all.

And so, instead of standing among his crew in the paddock, Luca now found himself seated in the grandstands, specifically in Section 4, where the wealthiest and most influential spectators gathered to witness the spectacle in unparalleled luxury.

As he had done countless times over the past weeks, any brief moment of silence or solitude sent Luca spiraling into a storm of thoughts. Seated there, watching the grand circuit fill to capacity, flags waving, and the crowd roaring with anticipation, his mind inevitably drifted back to Trampos—particularly to the most pressing issue discussed between him and the board just days ago.

An issue so significant that its mere announcement had sent shockwaves through the motorsport world, rippling through every Formula 2 news outlet. Right now, in the grandstands, whether Trampos supporters or rival fans, the conversation was undoubtedly the same.

Ansel wouldn't be starting on the grid today.

And no, it wasn't due to a start-at-the-back-of-the-grid penalty which Trampos might have just decided not to play him at all. No—Ansel wouldn't be starting for Trampos in the Qatari Grand Prix or any of the remaining races this season.

Because the board had suspended him.

"…Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the highly anticipated Formula 2 Qatari Grand Prix at the stunning Al Rihla Circuit!"

"WOOOOHH!"

"...we are honored to introduce our esteemed Guest of Honor—one of Qatar's most influential figures, a true visionary and a key leader in the nation's development. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome His Excellency Sheikh Tameem Al-Fayrouz, the esteemed Minister of State!"

"WOOOOHH!"
Your next journey awaits at empire

Luca's eyes drifted to the glass rooms as the aged Qatari man rose to his feet and waved to the crowd.

"...the Formula 2 Qatari Grand Prix will begin in the next hour!"

A Grand Prix were neither Luca nor Ansel would participate in, but Haas and Victor.

Luca wondered if Victor was even prepared for this, as no one anticipated Ansel's suspension. Not even Ansel, Luca was certain.

Mr. Fisher and Mrs. Doyle had explained it as a necessary disciplinary measure—one that had been brewing since the disastrous collision between Luca and Ansel weeks ago. That crash, which had sent Luca down the track and into the barriers, wasn't just an unfortunate racing incident. It had been the direct result of Ansel ignoring team orders, refusing to follow the new strategy, and ultimately compromising both his race and Luca's safety.

At first, the team had been hesitant to act. Ansel was their star driver, after all, a championship contender. But the backlash had been immediate, and the board needed to make a statement to prevent any repetition.

Luca was told he'd pair with Haas for the 11th and 12th rounds, while Haas and Victor would live it out in Qatar this afternoon. Was Victor even ready? He had no choice but to be.

Luca exhaled slowly, staring blankly at the pristine asphalt of the Al Rihla Circuit.

So much had changed in just a few weeks. One moment, he was fighting for the title; the next, he was on the sidelines, nursing fractured ribs, witnessing his teammate-turned-rival suffer the consequences of his own arrogance.

Luca had always wanted to keep in touch with everyone and find out what might be up with Ansel at the moment, but the group chat they'd created had gone dry, and the last messages were those sent before August 14th.

Visiting Ansel was out of the picture, Luca had promised himself he wouldn't do that again.

The screen facing his section flickered to life as broadcasting officially began from Al Rihla Circuit, Doha. The first information that was displayed was the teams' standings which Luca already knew, but when the drivers' standings came next, he sat up to get a closer look.

PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (TOP5) Scroll for more.

Position | Team | Points

-------------------------------------

1. | Max Addams | 145

2. | Luca Rennick | 126

3. | Miles Bellingham | 119

4. | Ansel Hahn | 115

5. | Sean Aaronson | 111

"Pretty bad," Mallow whispered beside him, his eyes scanning the updated standings on the table.

Update 1: Miles had now climbed into the top three, pushing Ansel down to fourth.

Update 2: Ansel's 115 points were now final. No more races, no more chances to score. With his suspension, his championship hopes were officially over. He would NOT be lifting that trophy.

Luca clenched his fist at the thought. It shouldn't have ended like this for Ansel. Even though they were competitors chasing the same title, watching his friend slip out of contention so abruptly was disheartening.

Update 3: Max Addams now had a comfortable 19-point lead over Luca. And with Luca's absence in this Qatari Grand Prix, that lead would inevitably increase, slimming Luca's chance at the final trophy. In fact, it was predicted that Max Addams would win his second consecutive F2 Championship Trophy.

Luca hoped it wasn't too late. A 19-point lead was a very big one, and only the miracles he performed with his system could close it down.

"...P5, Oliver Kristensen...!"

"...P4, Max Addams...!'

"...P3, Sean Aaronson...!"

"WOOOOH!"

"...P2, Miles Bellingham...!"

"WOOOOH!"

"...Pole Position, Albert Derstappen...!"

"WOOOOH!"

Two Squadra Corse Jnr drivers starting at P1 and P2 was a lethal set up. Luca wondered what qualifying activity was carried out to give the grid this structure. He sure hoped Miles and Derst could do something to keep Max away from top points.