My Formula 1 System

Luca and the team remained in Monaco for three to five days after race night before returning to London.

He packed his things carefully, making sure the trophy was securely tucked in. The team had departed at different times over the past few days, but Luca had arranged his return for the 21st.

Rolling his bags behind him, he stepped out of the hotel room and into the hallway. The moment he stepped out, Manuela was already catching up, practically jogging in her heels to match his pace.

"The jet will be ready in three hours," she began rapidly, barely taking a breath as she flipped through her phone. "The car's down. I have to ask now if you plan to make a stop you haven't informed me about. Now will be the best time to squeeze it or them in."

Luca kept walking. "Nope. Straight to London."

Manuela was trying her best to walk just as fast as Luca. She had expected this pace, but not when he came exploding out of the hotel room.

"Can you please slow down so I can do a headcount on your bags? We arrived with four—I only see three now, Mr. Luca."

"Relax," Luca said, slowing down just a bit as they turned the corner toward the elevator. "Everything's here. The fourth bag was mostly empty, so I folded it into this bigger one," he said, lifting the black box briefly.

They stopped in front of the elevator, and Manuela, still scanning his luggage, seemed unconvinced. Luca sighed. "What about your stuff?"

"In the car already," she replied.

The elevator dinged, and Luca motioned for her to step in first before following. As they descended, Manuela prepared to continue rattling off his schedule when she noticed him unzip his duffel bag.

"You need a mask?" she asked instinctively.

Luca nodded.

Without missing a second, she pulled a fresh black mask from her purse—just the color and texture he liked—and handed it over. Once he put it on, she resumed.

"You'll have no rest this week. Jackson is insisting on a team celebration this Sunday—a gathering to mark Ferrari's victory."

"That sounds great," Luca said. "That's actually a break in itself."

"But the next day is another gathering. A serious one this time," Manuela continued. "Drills and sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday."

Luca nodded, absorbing the information. Rest wasn't going to be an option. The calendar was packed, and every team had to make similar adjustments.

The Chinese Grand Prix was next, scheduled for early April, and they were already in late March. That left only a few weeks—maybe even just days—to prepare.

To be sure, Luca interrupted Manuela while she spoke. "What's the exact date and details for the next race, the Chinese Grand Prix?"

Chinese Grand Prix

Location: Shanghai, China

Date: Apr. 10

Track: Shanghai International Circuit

April 10 was less than two weeks away. Way too close.

"Also, the prelude dinner—"

Luca frowned, then scoffed with a smirk. "Already?"

"Yes, already!" Manuela huffed. "It always takes place after the first race of the season... I think."

"Where's it being held? And why is it so late? Everyone's leaving, no one's going to attend."

Manuela shrugged. "I don't know why. Tight schedules, maybe. But it's right here in Monaco, the day after tomorrow."

"Then we're not attending," Luca said flatly, keeping his chin up as the elevator doors slid open.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"But as the Grand Prix winner—"

"The FIA and the press can fuck themselves on this one," Luca cut in as they stepped out of the elevator. His sharp swear words nearly made Manuela burst into laughter right at the elevator threshold.

He continued, "After five DNFs and a rookie winning the season opener. How do you think the atmosphere at that dinner will be?"

Manuela recovered from her laughter, stepping in beside Luca as they walked down the ramp. To their right side, there was a stunning garden of the hotel. It was green as green could be, and almost surreal in its beauty.

"Not good, I think," she answered.

Luca nodded, reaffirming that they wouldn't be attending the prelude dinner.

They stepped down from the ramp and onto the hotel's premises, waving brief goodbyes to the staff who waved back. The breeze quickly caught their hair as they moved toward the car.

Manuela hastened her speech, knowing Luca would eventually shut himself off the moment he got into any transport, lost in his music.

She could already see his MP3 player and earpiece clutched tightly in his hand, as if someone had tried to snatch them away from him before.

After her final rundown, she ended with what she considered the most delightful update.

"What else—oh! The team's throwing a small celebration when we get back. Nothing huge, just a 'Yay, Luca didn't crash' gathering," she said.

Luca chuckled as they reached the car.

"It was Ms. Sara who titled it," Manuela added, watching as he peered into the driver's seat through the tinted window.

Mr. Vance slowly lowered the window and gave a nod. "Luca."

"Mr. Vance," Luca replied.

"Champion?"

"Let's go," Luca said as they got into the car.

Mr. Vance smoothly rolled the car out of the hotel's premises. The inside of the car was silent and was freezing cold due to the AC.

In no time, the car quickly settled into the rhythm of actual driving, and Luca shifted.

Manuela sighed. "And there he goes."

Luca had already unfolded his earpiece, and he was already tapping at his MP3 like a ritual. "Actually," he said, breaking the silence just before putting on his earpiece. "Let's make a stop."

"Wait, what? You said we were going straight to London."

"I changed my mind."

Vance glanced at him briefly through the rearview mirror. "Where to?"

Luca stretched his arms, exhaling. "Harbour Road. I need to pick up something."

Harbour Road was a well-known district that was home to well-known luxurious buildings, firms and establishments including the Le Grand Palais from last year, where he vividly recalled buying a PlayStation with Ansel.

Manuela raised a brow. "Pick up what?"

Luca glanced at her once, dismissing the question. He then relaxed and tuned into his music.

Surely, it wasn't nice to travel outside the country and don't get gifts and return empty-handed without getting anything for his mother and his girlfriend still in the UK.