My Formula 1 System

[22nd Lap]

[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:

-Car Speed: 260 km/h

-Heart Rate: 110 bpm

-Operational Status: 55% (Fair) Find adventures on empire

-Breathing: Calm & Steady

-Distance covered: 132,000m

-Time: 40 min.]

After forty minutes of driving through the Riyadh Zenith Circuit in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Luca finally considered an immediate pit stop, momentarily pausing his pursuit of Miles' P1.

Similarly, all thirty drivers began adjusting their cars, communicating with their engineers and pit crews to ensure seamless stops.

"...After 22 arduous laps here at the Riyadh Zenith Circuit, we're finally seeing a flurry of pit stops as drivers respond to tire degradation and fuel strategies. Every single car might be heading into the pits in these crucial moments—oh! Three drivers are already barreling down the pit lane toward their pit boxes. Miles Bellingham holds the lead, and Squadra Corse Jnr has begun moving in their garages..."

"...Certainly, when he pits, he could lose that lead, with Rennick following close behind."

"...Look at this! Bellingham AND Rennick are calling for the pit. We could see a train of cars heading toward the pit lane!"

**You'll box before Han, okay?**

"Alright, copy," Luca confirmed, his focus unwavering as he tailed Miles through the final turns, the faint glow of the leader's rear lights slicing through the dimly lit circuit.

He couldn't help but wonder how it would play out in the pits. If both he and Miles stopped simultaneously, it would be a race not just on the track, but in the pitlane—a test of efficiency and precision. Luca knew that whoever emerged first would likely hold P2, with Ansel inevitably taking P1 since his pitstop was scheduled for the following lap.

Speaking of Ansel, Luca had remained composed while trailing Miles, mainly because Ansel was the car behind him. And according to strategy, Ansel wasn't allowed to make any impactful moves against Luca—no overtakes, no unnecessary pressure. So, Luca was safe in P2 and could fully concentrate on chasing P1, as long as Ansel stayed put.

As they approached the pit lane entry, the glowing number "1" on Miles' car vanished as he committed to the stop. Miles smoothly peeled into the brightly lit pit lane, his car's rear lights blinking under the floodlights before disappearing into his box.

Luca followed instinctively, adjusting his chassis and preparing to dive in after him. His tires screeched faintly against the asphalt as he steered toward the pit lane entry.

**No, stay out! We're not ready!**

What?

Luca reacted instantly, jerking the wheel back onto the main track. His tires protested with a violent wobble, but he fought to regain control, gripping the wheel tightly as he barreled into Turn 1.

[Agility +1]

"What the heck happened?"

**Sorry, mate. The crew wasn't in position. Next lap, next lap. Han will pit the lap after that**

Ah, fuck it, Luca thought bitterly.

"...Oof, there must've been some miscommunication in the Trampos garage! Luca Rennick was all set to enter the pitlane but had to swerve back onto the track at the last moment! That's going to cost him valuable seconds, especially with Miles Bellingham already in for his stop!"

[1st Position]

Luca shook his head. He wasn't supposed to be in P1—not yet. If he had pitted alongside Miles, he could have leveraged his Pitstop Prodigy advantage to leave the pitlane first, comfortably retaining P2. Then, when Ansel boxed on the next lap, Luca would have taken P1 for good, a position he could defend with fresh tires and a clear track.

Now, however, the strategy was in jeopardy. Max, currently out of sync with their pitstop plan, would likely inherit P1 as soon as both Luca and Ansel pitted.

"Oh! Goddamit!" Luca muttered, a short wave of frustration moving through him. He channeled the frustration to his wheel by gripping it tighter.

Pit uncoordination was a common occurrence in motorsport, something Luca had learned to adapt to over time. It was part of the chaos that defined racing, but even so, it didn't make the experience any less frustrating. He recalled watching an F1 Grand Prix that took place years ago where a similar misstep had caused utter dismay for Jackson Racing star, Marcellus Rodnick.

Rodnick was leading in a certain Monaco Grand Prix when the whole thing fumbled his lead, prompting him to pound his wheel in frustration afterwards.

"...Max Addams in P4!"

"...capitalizing from an early pit, he outpaces Aaronson and Derstappen!"

"WOOOOOHH!"

**Addams is behind Miles now. Big big problem**

Damn! How did he get so close?! Now that's the Max Addams I know, Luca thought, leading the pack into the 23rd lap.

[23rd Lap]

The next lap arrived, and Luca braced himself, knowing he'd likely lose P1. But what about P2? Would Max be able to capitalize on the gaps left by his and Ansel's pit stops?

[Analyzing 2nd Position's distance from host and Dallara (F2 04)...]

[2nd Position is 1 sec away, host.]

If Ansel was just a second behind him, then Miles was likely two or three seconds behind Ansel. Factoring in cold tires after the pit stop, Luca estimated that a four-second buffer might suffice, placing Miles approximately five seconds behind him—and Max, perhaps seven or eight seconds further back.

Perhaps Pitstop Prodigy would render all these calculations irrelevant, shaving precious seconds off his stop and giving him the edge he needed.

**Now, we're ready**

"Okay," Luca responded firmly, preparing for the entry.

"...and finally, it seems like Trampos has sorted out their coordination. Luca Rennick is diving into the pits!"

As soon as Luca boxed, Ansel surged into P1 as planned. For the 4.1 seconds Luca sat in the pit box, allowing his team to restore his car's Operational Status from 50%, he could feel the tension build as his rivals zipped past. First, Ansel flew by, maintaining momentum. Seconds later, Miles followed—though with slightly less speed.

**Clear**

And now, Max Addams was barreling down the stretch toward Street Turn 1—Luca, meanwhile, was just leaving the pit lane.

[Operational Status: 95%]

"...And after dropping to P6, the reigning champion is climbing the leaderboard with ferocity! He's charging straight toward Rennick, who's just exiting the pits—oh my! The battle for the top three is about to ignite!"

[Trajectory Assessment: Pitlane disadvantage detected. Line integrity at risk from 3rd Position's approach.]

[Recommended Action: Enter at 60% throttle; maintain intersection apex trajectory. Anticipate 3rd Position's outside pressure.]

[Risk Factor: High (collision potential with 3rd Position). Adjust for slight traction loss at exit to regain position.]

[3rd Position]

"...Luca Rennick slots in first for P3—but it's not over! Max Addams moves to the right for Turn 2!"

Luca's tires screeched as he accelerated through Turn 2, holding a defensive line to block Max's aggressive move on the inside. The Dallara twitched slightly under pressure, but Luca maintained control, forcing Max to pull back and reposition for the next corner.

Max stayed close, leveraging his momentum through Turn 3, where the track narrowed, putting intense pressure on Luca's rear wing. The champion darted to the left, searching for a gap, but Luca responded by tightening his line, leaving no space for an overtake.

[4th Position closing in]

Approaching Turn 4, Luca attempted Corner Chopping, but Max was freaking too resilient—even though Luca's timing was near-perfect. Max tried again, this time diving to the outside line, and that was when Luca caught him in his trap.

[Corner Chopping +1]

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 50%]

"What's wrong with him?!" Max thundered in his helmet as Luca's red brake lights flashed abruptly, cutting off his momentum like a slice of cake. "I'm not crashing in another race!"

With a very well-executed Corner Chopping, Luca managed to pull ahead by a fraction, controlling his exit speed and roaring out of Turn 4 in triumph, securing P3.

[You are picking up speed]

Down the short straight that was once a pedestrian road, Luca cut into Turn 5, maneuvering around the tallest skyscraper in sight. Little did he know, Max had remained well within DRS range when Luca chopped him off, and now, he was closing the gap fast.

Without hesitation, Max attempted again, and Velocità Jnr supporters roared for his victory this time around. Luca heard the cheers—and he was ready to disappoint them. The 25th lap would soon begin, marking three laps into the second half of tonight's 44-lap race. Luca wasn't willing to drop down the leaderboard. Every action taken with his chassis, every maneuver supported by his SomberCore, now mattered more than ever.

**Maintaining ground through the tunnels. Emerge not only first, but with stability**

The first tunnel's dim glow engulfed them as Luca darted into the entrance, his focus unshaken despite Max looming large in his mirrors. But once they were fully inside, the tunnel lights flickered, plunging them into moments of darkness.

For a brief stretch, they straightened out within the tunnel, and Max capitalized on his full awareness of Luca's position, activating DRS with precision and efficiency. His car surged forward, pulling alongside Luca, the whine of his SomberCore exerting extra energy, its reverberations bouncing off the tunnel walls.

"Ah. No, no, no," Luca whispered, instinctively preparing to rule their duel with Side-by-side King—but Max didn't even give him a chance.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"…Max Addams takes P3!"

"WOOOOOHH!"

[4th Position]

Luca felt the sting of the overtake but refused to back down. He weaved aggressively, staying tight on Max's rear through the narrowing confines of the tunnel, rounding its last turns as the exit loomed ahead, spilling brighter lights onto the track.

Max burst out first, clearing the next turns before they reached the fourth straight—under the bridge and above the waters.

"DRS, yeah?"

"Yes!" Luca replied, itching for payback.

[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 3rd Position]

[You are 1 seconds away, host.]

[Speed Boosted!]

[Slipstream Mastery +1]

[You are 0.5 seconds away, host]

"WOOOOOHH!"

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 62.5%]

[DRS Engaged]

"…Luca Rennick is going all out to take back P3! It's impossible for Max Addams to maintain it! Rennick is right beside him again! Down the bridge! They go into the third sector!"

[Strength +1]

Max Addams' hands trembled on the wheel. His focus faltered—not from a lack of skill, but from disbelief. The Luca Rennick he had dismissed at the start of the season was now matching him stride for stride. A single point separated them in the standings, yet here they were, fighting on equal footing. He couldn't believe a new challenger had arrived in Formula 2. How did this even come to be?!

"This can't be real," Max muttered under his breath, catching a glimpse of Luca's car from the corner of his eye.

"…AND THERE IT IS! Luca Rennick takes the inside line into Turn 13! Max Addams has no answer for this! Down the slope into Turn 14, Rennick has the advantage—AND HE RETAKES P3!"

"WOOOOOHH!"

**Good job!**

[4th Position closing in]

Max Addams wasn't letting this slide. He stayed glued to Luca's rear, chasing relentlessly as they darted into the second tunnel.

"…Max Addams isn't giving up! He's in the slipstream, closing in, waiting for the perfect moment to strike! Rennick needs to stay flawless here—one mistake, and Addams will pounce! AND NOW INTO THE SECOND TUNNEL THEY GO! Luca Rennick holds onto P3!"

[Host has unlocked Skills to adapt to reduced visibility in artificial lighting]

The tunnel lights were dimmer than usual, the darkness amplifying the roaring echoes of their SomberCores as they pushed full throttle. The flickering lights briefly illuminated the tunnel's arrowed signs—left turn incoming. Luca swiftly adjusted his line, while Max followed, using only Luca's brake lights to gauge his own approach.

[4th Position has closed in]

**Stay calm! Don't touch!**

Luca refined his trajectory, the tunnel's tight walls making every maneuver critical.

"WOOOOOHH!"

"... Albert Derstappen meets the barriers! Is the car still alright?!""

"WOOOOOHH!"

**Update. Derstappen swerves wrong while battling Aaronson. He bumped the steel barriers, but I think he's getting back into it**

"...Sean Aaronson in P5!"

"WOOOOOHH!"

[Host successfully executed Night Mastery!]

[Good job, host. You have successfully defended your position. Keep it up, host.]

Max Addams was stunned. He had found himself swallowed by the tunnel's darkness, his depth perception thrown off—but Luca? Luca had navigated the turn flawlessly, slicing through the exit and emerging into the floodlights.

"Haa! Eat my smoke!!!"

"…BRILLIANT DEFENSE FROM LUCA RENNICK! Addams had no room to maneuver! Rennick exits the second tunnel still in P3!"

[Han just made Lap 24. He's heading into the pits.]

"…And the inevitable has happened. With a struggling car, Ansel Hahn heads into the pit lane from P1. Unchallenged, undisturbed, unapprehended… Miles Bellingham TAKES P1 in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix!!"

"WOOOOOHH!"

Luca surged up the leaderboard.

[2nd Position]