My Formula 1 System

Towards the 20th Lap, the British Grand Prix had found a very good rhythm. But in plain description: it was a savage race, and so, Stadhaven was anything but calm right from lights out.

The spring air was warm, mild, and delectable. It naturally transported the scent of fuel, rubber, and smoke from one end of the circuit to another in equal concentration than the winter air ever had. The slothful clouds above proved a major factor in maintaining the perfect 21°C, regularly providing shade over different portions of the track. The drivers didn't even notice because of how fast they moved, but the spectators enjoyed nature's exhibit.

Fortunately for the nation of England and its government, what happened last year in the British Grand Prix didn't happen this time. The monarchs weren't chased from their suite, their chins held high as hundreds of Union Jacks fluttered from every post, tower, and grandstand.

Many Italians opposed by planting the il Tricolore or waving massive ones above their heads. But no matter how much they tried, it didn't rival British supremacy. This was their turf, the 4th round, and the way Jackson Racing fans hooted and chanted as a collective populace, it was clear the nationalistic days of Formula 1 were back.

Worldwide, the race was broadcast to every corner of the globe, carried by over 80 international networks with commentary in more than 20 languages. Millions of homes got to witness the chaos and glory, some parts of the world already at night, and others just waking up to tune in.

Back to the race action: the last major flashpoint of the race so far was Denko Rutherford's crash. What an ugly outcome for the home team, Haddock Racing, and one that confirmed Elias Nyström's cunning plan had worked to perfection.

The records of the British GP would state that he—Denko Rutherford—was a punk filled with implacable energy, strangling a veteran's neck until he found himself outsmarted and overextended. The scrape of carbon fibre that followed and his collision with the barriers was the price Denko Rutherford eventually paid.

The crowd erupted with mixed reactions, while the commentators lost their voices narrating the chaos.

"...AND THAT'S A DNF FOR DENKO RUTHERFORD! HADDOCK RACING IS DOWN TO ONE MAN IN THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX...!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

"...FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, RUTHERFORD TRIED HIS LUCK OUT OF THE CHICANE FOR THE STRAIGHT! NYSTRÖM MADE HIM WORK FOR EVERY INCH—AND THAT DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS MAY HAVE PUSHED DENKO INTO MAKING THAT COSTLY ERROR....!"

Mr. Bujas' administration were left aggravated behind Haddock Racing's pit wall. The team didn't even know where exactly to direct their frustration because orders had been heavily sent to Denko before the crash. They were the ones pumping Denko up into reckless aggression, and the crash was the bitter end to what had looked like a promising climb.

The team had thrown away valuable points by letting Nyström drag Denko Rutherford into a battle he wasn't ready for. A sole-driver point was never a good dream for any team, regardless of how powerful the other driver was or how many points he would get in that race. Other teams still had their full duo—Trampos Racing, Squadra Corse!

In comparison between Trampos and Squadra, Squadra Corse was doing much better on every front. For Trampos, Luca held firm in P3, fighting tooth and nail with Ailbeart to stay within striking distance, but Victor… Victor was a slight disaster, more or less depending on how analysts perceived it at 15 Laps.

Starting from P13, he had slipped down the order to P16, unable to find rhythm or pace, and was effectively invisible in the midfield chaos. Every sector time displayed the gap widening, and Trampos' pit wall wondered if this was just going to be another race where they'd rely entirely on Luca to salvage the day. It was a frustrating sight for the German team, especially knowing how much weight their championship hopes carried on Luca's shoulders. This made them feel guilty.

Squadra Corse, on the other hand, were blazing through the British Grand Prix proficiently. Antonio Luigi was untouchable in P1, never once yielding his lead or coming under serious threat. His dominance was matched by the electrifying comeback of Marko Ignatova, who had launched from P19 because of that disastrous qualifying crash, to an incredible P11 by mid-race.

Their performance was solid proof of why they were leading the Constructors' standings and not Trampos Racing.

"...AND LOOK AT MARKO IGNATOVA GO! FROM P19 TO P11—WHAT A CHARGE FROM THE MAN IN COAL BLACK! The midfield is his canvas, and he's painting a perfect picture as redemption for running into the barriers in Qualifiers...!"

"...If he keeps this up, top 10 is a guarantee, and top 5 a possibility!"

Before the 20th Lap, things took a great cinematic turn with foreboding tension. The dance of speed suddenly morphed into opportunistic strikes, and Luca was one of the proprietors.

[Analyzing Ferrari (Scuderia Z24) and host's distance from 2nd Position]

[You are 1 second away, host.]

[Chicane type: Left-right-left-right S-complex] [Angles: 45°, 50°, 60°, 70°] [Braking Point: Small lift before first left] [Recommended Entry Speed: 250 km/h] [Optimal Apex: Sequential, smooth transitions]

"...AND HERE THEY COME—DOWN INTO THE CHICANE! LUCA IS STILL GLUED TO AILBEART MOIREACH...!"

"....MOIREACH TAKES THE FIRST LEFT OF THE COMPLEX, HOLDING A TIGHT DEFENSIVE LINE, BUT LUCA'S FRONT WING IS RIGHT THERE, JUST A BREATH FROM TOUCHING! AILBEART HAS TO BE PERFECT OR LUCA WILL SLIP THROUGH!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

Luca knew this was his time to shine. If there was any opportunity to take P2 from Ailbeart Moireach, it was now. He gripped the wheel tighter, balanced by the stretch of his visor and Ailbeart's Renault wedged in the middle.

[Speed Differential: 0.2 seconds slower than rival]

The R.S.25 was still faster than the Z24, but Luca wasn't fazed by that because the speed and power difference at this stage didn't really define outcomes now if Luca could come this close. With his razor-sharp handling, aided by his Self and Car Skills, he knew one clean exit and a perfectly timed throttle snap could force the overtake.

"...AND IT'S AILBEART FIRST INTO THE LEFT—THE ENTRY OF THIS S-COMPLEX IS A NIGHTMARE TO GET RIGHT, BUT HE'S NAILED IT! LUCA IS RIGHT ON HIS GEARBOX, SWEEPING IN BEHIND WITH A SHALLOW LINE!"

Gripper Skill toughened Luca's tires immediately once he was met with a twitch at the curb. It was a fast first left curve, forcing both drivers to gently yet ferociously snap their wheels while balancing their throttle to glide through its apex.

Luca's exit speed was fiercer, and Ailbeart immediately sensed the Ferrari's nose peeking to the side. To counter, he hugged the inside for the immediate right-hander, cutting off Luca's room.

"...MOIREACH SWINGS TO THE RIGHT, AND LUCA'S TRYING TO SWITCHBACK—!"

[Navigable ERS Deployment +3]

Just like last time, NED kicked in like a lightning rod. Navigable ERS Deployment allowed Luca to redirect stored electrical energy into a sudden burst of power, letting him swing to the opposite side with no lag. It was like teleporting his momentum across the track, an unpredictable snap of speed that conventional throttle couldn't match.

Ailbeart was shocked to see the scarlet Ferrari slingshot from behind his rear wing to the outside line. The sudden surge caught him off guard, his lips parted in awe, but he returned his focus. Luca had instantly appeared on his left, and only a rookie fool would stay side-by-side with the Mazerunner for more than a second.

"...OH, THEY'RE SIDE BY SIDE FOR A SPLIT SECOND THROUGH THE SECOND LEG! THIS IS TIGHT, THIS IS ABSOLUTE WHEEL-TO-WHEEL GLORY...!"

Luca really thought about activating Side-by-Side King. Even though he noticed Ailbeart was avoiding the wing-to-wing encounter, Luca was sure Side-by-Side King would still work effectively. But he had a pause button on it for a very good reason.

In the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first race of the season, Luca had a firsthand taste of backfiring from using a Skill. He almost crashed because of Side-by-Side King's activation, and funny to remember it was even Ailbeart Moireach that was the victim back then.

In order to remain safe, Luca restrained his instinctive urge to activate Side-by-Side King in dangerous zones like this chicane. Instead, he relied purely on instinct and grip, sliding his Ferrari onto the perfect apex for the penultimate right-hander, then cutting across with a decisive burst of throttle—all sponsored with the help of Navigable ERS Deployment.

".....INCREDIBLE—250 KILOMETERS PER HOUR THROUGH THIS SNAKE OF CORNERS, BOTH OF THEM ON THE ABSOLUTE LIMIT! THIS IS WHEEL-TO-WHEEL RACING AT ITS PUREST! RENNICK WANTS P2 NOW!"

With the final left-right turn of the chicane rushing, Luca saw that he had tilted the superiority scale.

[Speed Differential: 0.3 seconds faster than rival]

He couldn't believe he was actually putting up a great challenge to a super car, this High-Intensity Combustion Engine!

Ailbeart's eyes widened as he felt Luca's shadow make a defining move as they crisscrossed in favor of Ailbeart. But Navigable ERS Deployment delivered its last crackling burst of power right at the exit, and the Ferrari's rear end squatted hard, biting into the asphalt and firing Luca forward like a cannonball into Ailbeart's proclaimed line!

P2 — Luca Rennick ↑

P3— Ailbeart Moireach ↓