My Formula 1 System

The gap between Montreal and Monte Carlo was unusually short. Sooner than many expected, Monaco was already before them in the season's calendar.

This tight schedule worked in Luca's favor because it granted him an opportunity to access more, quicker answers, especially from Mrs. Hawthorne, whom he planned to catch by surprise.

But as the season's urgency to fit in 21 races in a year pushed Luca's mission forward with momentum, it also fatigued the very community that once whinged for more races. Jetlag, rapid logistics, and constant movement wore down even the most seasoned staff, workers, and teams in general. It was still April, and the campaign had required many to take some deep breaths of exhaustion.

At least Monaco's promise of glitter, glimmer, cocktails, and prestige was something to look forward to. This alone was enough to oil the joints of many and give energy to their limbs to partake in a race that had never been missed since the beginning of modern F1.

The Australian Grand Prix was right after, with up to a 3-week interim period following the Monaco Grand Prix. This felt like a compensation to look out for, too.

Monaco Grand Prix

Location: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Date: April 22

Time: 6 PM

Track: Circuit de l'Étoile (Stellar)

Track Length: 6 km

Total Laps: 60

Track Type: Street circuit

Lap Record: Luca Rennick 1:17.557

There wasn't a week's breath to catch, so there weren't many eventful happenings worthy of note from every team. All ten teams executed their regrouping acutely, rather than a bit more composed like usual.

Many like Trampos had to skip rigorous training sessions and fall back to simple, lenient ones that could still do the trick within a short time. Trampos themselves understood they were now passing through two rounds without full training levels employed and implemented. Monaco was here, and they also had to rely on quick simulations and brief strategy meetings, just as they did for Canada.

Drivers like Luigi had abandoned 'practice' long ago. Sessions for these types of drivers were memory: remembering setups of their supercars, track characteristics in relation to their supercars, and the spontaneous, flexible race strategy required for their supercars.

Staying mentally updated on this, and also on basic telemetry data, team debriefs, and press news, was no easy task. Everything felt condensed, but at the same time, all was nonverbally understood and agreed upon to stay solid until the fog cleared for Australia.

"....Well, five races in, and would you believe it—Antonio Luigi, the reigning world champion, still hasn't won a single Grand Prix this season! Not one! It's been Luca Rennick and Ailbeart Moireach splitting the glory so far; three wins for Luca, two for Moireach, and the champion? He's been on the podium, but never on the top step...!"

"...You have to wonder what's going on behind closed doors at Squadra Corse. The pressure must be immense from the fans, the sponsors, the whole of Italy watching and waiting. This is indeed a worrying trend for the champion...!"

Luigi's forehead was pressed against a heavy bag.

He stood in silence as the muffled sounds of what he'd heard on Race Day in Canada thudded in his mind, echoing louder and louder, as if they seeped out of his head into the gym.

He shut his eyes even tighter whenever any of those words struck him deep. The heavy bag wanted to sway, but Luigi kept it steady with his gloves as he stabilised his own breath too.

The metal door to the gym opened confidently, ruining his condemned thoughts. Luigi glanced to the side to see his sparring partner stride in with haste.

Takeshi was a cool-looking Japanese young man who could attract any girl into K-drama. He and Luigi had met in Suzuka, during the last Japanese Grand Prix that hadn't been featured in quite some time. They had become very good friends from there on.

"Sorry I'm late. I know your race schedule's tight."

Takeshi didn't waste any more time as he removed his hoodie and stripped to his boxers, mirroring Luigi's ready appearance. He put on his own mitts too, nodded to his friend, and then assumed a solid stance.

"All right, let's see what this lion is capable of. Get at me."

Ready to release suppressed frustration, Luigi inhaled before he lunged forward with a flying fist.

******

The last time Luca was in Monaco, he left crowned as the Grand Prix winner, his name roaring through the streets as the victor of the opening race of last season.

He also conquered the opening race of this season too. That's like one of the swiftest ways to cement one's name in Formula 1 history. Luca Rennick, the man with back-to-back starting dominance.

Monaco, with its tight barriers, shimmering marina, rooftop parties, and history-drenched streets, had always felt more than just another motorsport country to Luca. He loved the country and believed he had a strange attachment to it, because every Monaco Grand Prix he'd ever been in had delivered something unforgettable.

Luca and his personal team stuck to their extravagant tradition and lodged in one of the top two most expensive hotels in Monte Carlo. As always, Luca had his personal suite overlooking the heart of Casino Square.

A day later, he attended a closed-door convention with Trampos at the Grimaldi Forum, the same venue that held the previous season's unveiling event. There, he brushed shoulders with a lot of key stakeholders.

On the alert, Luca thought he might see that fox Kim again, or maybe encounter something or someone that might hint at something strange. But everything was quite normal, making him feel like he was losing decimals of sanity minute by minute.

That evening, his presence shifted to the Oceanographic Museum, where a grand charity gala was underway. There, among a swirl of elegance and purpose, he reunited with Max Addams, who had arrived with some representatives of Outback Performance.

Correction—Luca saw Max's parents first! Nate and Claire Addams. They were still the same bright and warm couple he remembered vividly from almost two years ago. They were the ones who acknowledged seeing him before pulling Max, who pretended as if he didn't see Luca.

"Luca! It's been so long!"

"It really has. Didn't think I'd see you two here."

"Oh, we come when it's Max. Even if he acts like he doesn't want us around half the time."

Max's approach was reluctant, and his downbeat look didn't change as he offered Luca a handshake, which Luca accepted sturdily.

"Max, don't be rude. You boys spent so much time trying to outdo each other, you might as well say hi."

Max was forced to say a word, even though it was clear he didn't even want to be present. Typical Max Addams. Luca understood he was never interested in something that had nothing to do with his rise and success.

The Canadian Grand Prix wasn't quite the perfect race for a Canadian. Max finished in P10 after all the support from the home crowd. Luca could never say he'd be surprised to see him sour for two, three, and even four weeks.

"Luca?"

"Max."

"Oh, you two shouldn't act like enemies!"

Max's mother said with a nervous laugh to Luca when Max walked away.

Luca stepped back and slipped his hands in his pockets as he briefly admired the time he had in Formula 2, chasing to supplant Max. Now, that was just the past. He replied:

"We're not. We just don't fake what we're not."

When it was getting late, Luca received a text message from Manuela. He had never received this kind before, so he was a bit taken aback.

'There's a gift waiting for you when you get back to the hotel.'

He immediately shot back a demand to know what it was, but Manuela was tight-lipped, insisting he come see for himself. Luca stared at the screen, baffled. A gift? What could it be?

With a tight schedule that day, Luca didn't even have time to think about it, and he wasn't the type to break routine over curiosity. It wasn't until everything on his calendar had been completed, just around 7 p.m., that he was finally free to return to the hotel.

It was at the hotel's entrance Luca remembered the message. Instead of detouring elsewhere, he decided to head straight to his suite and confront whatever this "gift" was.

Once he arrived at the suite, he realized that it was empty. Mallow and Sara weren't in Monaco yet, but Vance and Manuela were. Vance and Manuela didn't seem like they were present, as he had left them that afternoon.

Luca understood Vance could be running an errand, but Manuela was supposed to be in the lounge, where she typically waited to get briefed on what to schedule, cancel, or cross out next. Her absence pricked at Luca's sense of order. With narrowed eyes, he moved toward the corridor leading to his private room.

When he reached his room door, he noticed that the card reader was already green, indicating the room had already been accessed with the spare card.

'What..?'

Luca became heavily suspicious, filled with unease and caution, but he still opened the door anyway.