My Formula 1 System

[Ding!]

[You have unlocked a new Car Skill!]

[You have unlocked a new Skill:

— Wear Control: 5]

There were a few tire-related Skills Luca had in his arsenal, both operable in their own kind of nature. They were Slipsense and Rainborne for wet weather action, and Gripper for slippery track portions, wet or not. It's safe to say Wear Control turned out to be even more distinct between the two.

Working hand in hand with the Car Attribute, Tire Wear Management, Wear Control—Luca's newest unduplicated skill—could turn out to be very effective and more impactful than its predecessors.

[Wear Control allows host to manage tire degradation with extreme precision, maintaining optimal grip levels over extended stints. It minimizes drop-off in lap performance as tires wear, improving stint consistency, tire heat regulation, and extending effective tire life by 8% up to 40%.]

[In Ascending order of synergy...]

[—Tire Wear Management

—Braking Efficiency

—Downforce]

[Wear Control also supports other Skills]

[—Gripper

—Slipsense & Rainborne

—Corner Chopping ]

Luca was utterly relieved to see that Wear Control wasn't duplicated. If it was, then it would have been a great bummer to his Sync Buff plan. All Self Skills were outright completed to incredible levels, and if the newly acquired Skill was duplicated, then there would be no addition—no addition, no Sync Bar points.

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 100%]

[SYNC BAR COMPLETE]

[Host, Sync Buff can now be used.]

Luca was washed with satisfaction as he could already see the F1 British Grand Prix trophy in his hands. For five laps after the second pitstop, he waited and calculated patiently, even after he was overtaken by the rivals who stopped after he did.

The first mental scoreboard was raised 1–0 after Luigi breezed past him on the third Straight, pulling to the left and slipping by with DRS so perfect. However, Luigi was disappointed because there was no true fight or defense from Luca; even the crowd noticed the lack of frictional tension from the brief duel.

Luca didn't mind in the slightest because he wasn't focused on locking P1 just a few laps after stops. He knew it would be difficult with Luigi and AIlbeart behind, and eventually, they would find a way to slip through. So, what he had in mind was to take the lead at the closing moments of the race with Sync Buff in order to shut down all offenses by crossing the finish line first.

"...It's been an absolutely exhilarating race at Stadhaven—strategy battles, pace swings, unexpected pit sequences, and midfield clashes that have kept every seat on edge. From lights out to now, the energy hasn't dipped for even a moment. But as we approach the final laps, there's that bittersweet feeling!"

"...True! You don't want it to end, not when every second has been so fiercely contested, but the chequered flag is drawing nearer, and so could be the climax of this rollercoaster ride….!"

"WOOOOOHHHHHH!"

"..AND LOOK AT THE CONFIDENCE FROM SQUADRA CORSE…!"

"...Their fans have already begun a premature celebration, flares erupting in red smoke, trumpets and vuvuzelas piercing the air, drums rumbling from the fan stands…!"

"...they can feel it coming! And why wouldn't they?! Marko Ignatova currently sits at P9 after an unbelievable rise from the bottom of the pack! Antonio Luigi holds P1 though at the beckon of AIlbeart! WHAT A RACE! What marvellous driving…!'

In Squadra Corse garage…

"Let's say Marko finishes at P9, we'll be looking at how many points?"

Mr. Campanella asked one of his men, a Strategist with a full beard and heavily receded hair. Campanella's eyes stayed fixed on the feed—so were others'. Whenever a new lap was about to begin, they often stepped out to get that blurry zipping sight of Luigi's Mercedes before returning—tension in the air, creeping fear that something might abruptly go south.

"We currently hold 76, so that'll be 27 more, gaffer…"

The bearded bloke replied logistically, out of instinct.

"102?" Campanella asked, and he was met with a positive reply. A soft nod and a smile—the seasoned Team Principal of Squadra Corse couldn't be more gratified by the performance of his team and their repeated reputation of being one of the first teams to break into three-figure points in the F1 campaign year after year.

"Hope this loophole in red wouldn't try anything funny…"

Mr. Rose said from the side as he walked over to his immediate and only superior, before standing firmly by his left to spectate the feed in real-time too. Together, both shifted their eyes from the W12 to the eerie Z24, wondering if Rennick had finally learnt to stick to P3 or if he'd rebel against their plans like always, and attempt something feral towards the chequered flag.

**Car looks good, temps are stable. You're clear by 3.3 to P4. No pressure from behind, and we've got enough margin. Let's finish strong. Let's just bring it home clean**

This was one thing about Trampos Racing that made Luca love the team so much. Compared to the venomous competition around him, his own garage felt untouched by the madness. It was honestly cute just how they didn't even push or hint at challenging for P1. Just calm affirmations, a steady presence on the radio, and relief that they'd likely seal a podium. For them, P3 was a win. A miracle, even!

Perhaps it was because they hadn't stayed reasonably long in Formula 1 yet to be corrupted by the demons they were competing with. For now, Trampos Racing was just very happy to exist among the big names. And this made Luca actually want to do more, and to deliver them what they didn't dare to ask for: the F1 Constructor's Championship title.

[INFUSION SUCCESSFUL!]

[You have 4 min. 59 sec left for Sync Buff]

For the required selected Car Skills for Sync Buff activation, Luca put up DRS Boost, Silent Restore, and the newly acquired Wear Control.

Luca realized that with Wear Control, he might actually have the chance to consistently execute what he had always dreamt of—a single pitstop per race.

The promise of the Skill was wonderful, further fortifying his car in one of the most crucial parts—tires. With enhancements coming here and there, Luca wondered if he was metamorphosing into a war machine rather than a supercar as he intended.

Not to talk of Silent Restore! This one was completely unfair, even Luca, as the user, had to admit.

As the system stated upon its acquisition, if Silent Restore could silently and automatically repair subtle to significantly damaged car parts while racing… then what happens when the Skill would be completed? What happens when Luca applies Sync Buff to it, taking it to (50) for 5 minutes?

Could that mean he was literally invincible? Could that mean he could choose to crash into anyone, annihilate them like he did DiMarco, and still leave the scene unfazed, without a scratch?

'Oh.. no.'

For the first time, Luca feared for his rivals—feared how dangerous his Skills had become on the track. He wondered what might happen if there was a loss of control somewhere, or if he was pushed to turn the Z24 into a tanker.

'The cost of greatness. I think.'

With 92% of all metrics in his system at (50), Luca advanced to win the British Grand Prix.

"...OH MY—LUCA'S MOVING WITH PURPOSE NOW! That is some speed into Lap 53 from the home straight! HE GUNS FOR AILBEART MOIREACH...!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

Squadra Corse weren't surprised. They knew it!

**Switch Strat Mode 5! Deploy now. Extend gap, Antonio**

Squadra Corse garage began to tousle and squabble, speaking into their headsets, feeding new deltas and deployment adjustments like their lead was already slipping. Luca's advancement was causing a strategic disturbance in the garage of the Italian Kings!

The team was calm and certain as the British Grand Prix was coming to its gradual end. But the Z24's hostile advancement behind Ailbeart Moireach was enough to put great fear in their veins that Rennick wanted to snatch P1 at the last minute.

Trampos Racing, on the other hand, were shocked that Luca wanted more. The way the Z24 surged, hitting max vitals, every single metric climbing, also frightened this German team because they thought Luca had lost control or he just wanted to throw away his race for a reckless move to overtake Ailbeart and clinch P2 before the finish line.

But the team didn't know his sights were set on the black car ahead and not this brown one. And the black car's team undoubtedly knew they were the target.

[Lap 54]

[>>>>

T6-T7┐

| T8

T2–T3┐ |

T4··T5

<<<<<]

"...AND HE'S GOING FOR IT—RIGHT NOW! No hesitation! Rennick pulls out of the slipstream and slings that car down the inside into Turn 6 where Addams and Derstappen clashed earlier….!"

Like a warrior, Ailbeart defended by holding the ideal racing lines and squeezing every corner in defiance to Luca's goal. But Luca made his efforts appear useless. His timing, reflexes, and decision-making were beyond real-world calibration. Luca almost forgot the surreal thrill of Sync Buff, and he wondered when next he might even get to activate it again.

[Slipstream Status: ENGAGING]

Car <— Approaching Slipstream (Minimal aerodynamic effect)

Car <<— Partial Lock (Drag reduction increasing)

Car <<<— LOCKED IN (Maximum slipstream advantage)

[Overtake Window: Optimal]

As the commentary hollered, he pulled out of the slipstream with a fierce dive down the inside. The Ferrari surged ahead, and by inches of front wing to rear wing, Luca escaped a disaster for Ailbeart Moireach. With his car moving at such speed and unable to be damaged with Silent Restore at (50), Moireach would be making contact with a solid rock.

[2nd Position]

"WOOOOAHAHHHHHH!"

Trampos Racing lost their minds! At the pit wall, the team was going crazy, shouting for him to hold the position like his soul depended on it, some screaming inaudible words, and Mr. Grant in particular had knelt down on the pavement, stunned to silence with his hands in the air.

"'WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!"

".....HE'S TAKEN AILBEART MOIREACH! HE'S TAKEN HIM! OH MY STARS! LUCA'S JUST BROKEN THE SOUND BARRIER INTO SECTOR TWO—ARE YOU SEEING THIS….?!"