My Formula 1 System

Trampos Racing had both drivers starting from P4 and P8—fairly solid positions for a team, yet with elite drivers ahead, breaking through would be difficult.

Luca and Ansel were focused on executing the Dual Advance Strategy, where Luca, starting at P8, would adopt an aggressive approach. Ansel, holding P4, would maintain a steady pace, defending his lane against overtakes while scouting for opportunities to advance. The plan hinged on Luca creating chaos in the upper midfield, potentially unsettling the drivers ahead. This would allow Ansel to transition from passive to aggressive, capitalizing on the disruption to claim P3, P2, or even P1.

In summary, Mr. Grant wanted Luca to be fierce out there, and Luca was more than happy to accept such an assignment.

Both drivers emerged from the garage with their helmets firmly in hand. The roar of the circuit outside grew louder, accompanied by the steady shuffle of activity within the garage. The anticipation was palpable as the wait was over. It was time to launch the British Grand Prix. Ahead lay 45 grueling laps of Stadhaven, a race that carried significant weight for every driver and team in Formula 2, especially with points at stake before the season's mid-break.

"... Bueseno Velocità, 13, Max Addams, 67, Daniel Walding...!"

"... Trampos Racing, 43, Ansel Hahn, 21, Luca Rennick...!"

"... Hatcherk Motorsport, 33, Peter De Klerk, 09, Sean Aaronson...!"

The announcer continued, his voice booming through the circuit speakers as he proclaimed the names of the drivers set to race. The roster was locked in; no changes could be made, and each driver announced was required to participate.

When Hatcherk Motorsport's drivers were named, a deafening wave of applause and cheers erupted from the grandstands, noticeably louder than for any other team. Luca immediately took note. Being an English team, Hatcherk's overwhelming fan support was evident, and the crowd's enthusiasm painted a clear picture.

Curious, Luca stepped forward and peeked out from the garage, and his suspicions were confirmed. The grandstands were a vivid sea of Hatcherk's signature orange as banners, hats, and flags waved furiously, transforming that section of the circuit into a wall of energy and color. Even the damp, dreary atmosphere couldn't dull the vibrancy of the display.

It had drizzled a little after the Sprint Race, dropping the temperature even lower and projecting a hazy sheen to the entire circuit. The dampness gave the track an almost reflective quality, with ambient lights casting a soft glow that shimmered against the slick asphalt. Some puddles had gathered, creating shattered patches along the track.

Luca was thrilled to drive on such a layer of challenge. Racing in adverse weather was something he had practiced countless times in simulators, but now he had the chance to prove himself in reality

He rushed back into the heart of the garage where the cars were ready. Ansel had his helmet on already, visor down, engrossed in conversation with the team's lead engineer. Federation stewards moved around the garage, clipboards in hand, conducting their routine pre-race inspections. The Trampos crew gave them space, ensuring everything complied with regulations.

Luca pulled on his own helmet and adjusted the straps, securing it tightly. The garage promptly narrowed to the visible field of his visors and his mind focused. Okay, Luca said inwardly, taking in a deep breath of the helmet's interior scent. He gave a quick thumbs-up to a female crew member who approached him with a tablet, reviewing his own telemetry. The team had just adjusted his brake bias and tire pressures to adapt to the damp track, adding grip for the challenging atmospheric conditions ahead.

"You're spearheading today?" She asked as Luca nodded his head to the info.

He transitioned his nod to answer her question. "Yes. Han will play off whatever chaos I manage to stir," he replied.

"Alright, then," she said, taking her gaze around. "Can we make sure Luca's well suited?"

Before he could protest, several crew members surrounded him, making final adjustments to his suit. They checked for every detail—tugging at seams, smoothing folds, ensuring he was perfectly fitted. Luca sighed, glancing around as the announcer's voice echoed once more through Stadhaven, signaling the time to race was drawing near.

Mr. Grant had already taken his place at his usual viewing post. He had nothing left to say to his drivers as victory was the only thing that mattered now. The garage gradually emptied as the team crew made their way to the paddock, leaving only the main engineers and mechanics behind to assist Luca and Ansel into their cockpits.

Haas walked past Luca, giving him a firm tap on the shoulder and locking eyes with him through his visor. "Please, just help get our lead gap back," he muttered before heading to the paddock without waiting for a reply. Luca was left momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

"...And a warm welcome to our guest of honor today, Sir Anthony Crowley, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, joining us to witness the excitement of the Formula 2 British Grand Prix..!"

As he waited for Ansel, Luca allowed himself a brief moment to study the two single-seaters in front of him, poised in anticipation. The sleek machines gleamed under the garage lights, ready for action. His System confirmed they were prepared, leaving Luca no doubts about their performance.

Ansel soon jogged over, nudging Luca hard in the side. It was a sign of 'let's begin', and Luca took it very well. Together, they moved toward the cars, which had been rolled to the mouth of the garage. As Luca followed Ansel into the cockpit, the cheers from the Stadhaven grandstands reached a fever pitch. The sight of all thirty cars emerging from their team garages created a thrilling atmosphere that electrified the cool air.

[SYSTEM ONLINE...]

[SYNCHRONIZING HOST....]

[SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE]

[Host is now synced with Dallara (F2 04)]

"... It's a cool, breezy day at 62 degrees Fahrenheit here at Stadhaven, London! Good afternoon to everyone tuning in across the world, and welcome to the Formula 2 British Grand Prix!"

"...The cars are rolling onto the grid as we inch closer to lights out. Sean Aaronson sits on pole, Max Addams in P2, and Bellingham at P3. Can Aaronson convert his pole position into another victory on this magnificent, fresh circuit? A win would boost Hatcherk's points total but still won't be enough to edge them past Velocità Jnr for second."

"...And as for our current leaders, Trampos Racing, this race will be pivotal in determining their fate by midseason. With a narrow 16-point lead over Velocità Jnr, they must maximize every opportunity—not just to get one driver to the front but both if they want to regain their dominant lead."

"... Certainly. Ansel Hahn starts at P4, Dani Walding at P5, Oliver Kristensen at P6, Albert Derstappen at P7, and Luca Rennick at P8. With everyone now on the grid, all eyes are on the lights as we prepare for an epic race…"

**We'll be with you every second. Just focus on your driving. And please watch the curbs, they'll be slick from the drizzle**

"Aye, sir," Luca replied, his voice steady despite the tension. Inside the cockpit, the heat was an almost suffocating contrast to the cold, damp atmosphere outside. His eyes sharpened behind his visor, locking onto Derstappen's car positioned beside him on the inside of row 8. As the wet track stretched out ahead, Luca's System provided detailed analytics, aiding him in plotting potential routes for a perfect start.

Luca had this clawing feeling that the upper midfield might give him more issues than Mr. Grant anticipated. Volyinski was right behind him, with De Klerk following close. They weren't elites but that didn't mean they couldn't seize opportunities to overtake.

Luca's gaze instinctively shifted to the gantry as the first red light illuminated, his SomberCore humming deeply, almost in anticipation. The second light flashed, followed by the third, as the crowd's cheers at Stadhaven grew louder, refusing to yield to the tension building across the grid. Then came the fourth light, and the fifth.

For a brief moment, Luca's thoughts flickered to the people who would undoubtedly be watching this race. He knew many people in London he grew up with were before their TV screens, or even present in Stadhaven at the moment.

His mother and sister were surely watching.

Even Mr. Vance, the jerk, was likely at his office, spectating from the comfort of his window.

Luca had everything to prove in this British Grand Prix. He wasted no time accelerating from 0km/h to an alarming 90 km/h once all five lights disappeared.

The grid exploded with the deafening roar of engines, tires screeching violently against the damp asphalt as thirty cars surged forward from their starting boxes.

"...lights out! Aaronson gets a good getaway as Max Addams tucks in behind. Watch out for Ansel Hahn on the inside of Miles Bellingham, but Sean Aaronson comfortably through the first corner...!"

[Endurance +1]

Luca didn't flinch as the 5g force slammed into him at launch. Instead, he harnessed the surge of momentum and acceleration, racing neck and neck with Derstappen for 1.1 seconds before slipping into 7th.

[7th Position]

It wasn't an ideal position. The cluster of cars remained chaotic as the pack barreled toward the first curve—a right-hander. Luca clung to the inside, calculating a move to squeeze past Kristensen while keeping an eye on Derstappen, who was eager to reclaim his lost ground.

[Host is participating in an Official Race]

[ANALYZING AND COLLECTING TRACKING DATA...]

[DATA COLLECTED]

[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:

-Car Speed: 88 km/h

-Heart Rate: 118 bpm

-Operational Status: 90% (Very Good) Continue your journey on empire

-Breathing: Calm & Steady

-Distance covered: 125 m

-Time: 7 sec ]

Turn 1. Turn 2. Turn 3.

**P3** Ansel muttered along the turns.

That's good, Luca mused, though he doubted Ansel could hold it for long. He suspected the leaderboard would shuffle before stabilizing.

The leading cars approached the first straight that cut right through Stadhaven. As a 6km circuit, the first and longest straight likely served as an equality lane. The curve aligned forward, and all drivers knew they could ease off the brake and go for the accelerator this time.

Luca had smartly clung to the interior of the last turn–a right-hander, knowing it would straighten to his favor to the inside lane. He deftly slipped in before Kristensen at the start of the straight. But Luca couldn't easily adhere to swerve trajectory like he could to the system's speed recommendation.

[6th Position]

[Overtaking +1]

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 12.5%]

He cut into Kristensen, but with so much momentum, he edged too far and Kristensen was able to slip out from the right and reclaim P6 within mere seconds.

[7th Position]

Luca was forced to tuck in behind as they officially hit the straightaway. Engines revved with power, all cars surging forward with high speed on the wet track.

His eyes widened as the leading cars—including Kristensen's—blazed down the straight, their tires kicking up walls of spray. Sheets of water arched into the air, shimmering like silver banners unfurling in the rain. The puddles Kristensen tore through sent droplets flying, scattering like stars in Luca's visor.

Luca had no idea the drizzle had amounted a lot of water. He could only imagine the problems it would come with. For the spectators, it was more glory and entertainment, but for him and the other drivers, it was a harbinger of disaster.

**Don't let the spray blind you. Use your wipers if needed**