My Formula 1 System

[15th Lap]

Elias Nyström's crash at Turn 14 was a grievous one. It almost shattered the Audi into pieces, leaving behind fragments and scraps. At the end of Nyström's roll, when the cameras finally captured a stable shot, the majestic machine had been totally morphed into an apocalyptic wreckage.

Nyström could barely make it out of his cockpit.

When he did, he hauled his helmet from his head and spat at the feet of the marshals who had hurried to the scene to assist him.

It was a cataclysmic moment. Nyström thundered that he could walk back to his garage alone, the red flags waving at the edges of the barricades. The other drivers, still speeding through the track, immediately dropped their speeds.

The first DNF of the race went to Elias Nyström. He was going to fly out of Shanghai with 0 points. This meant that heading into round three of the season—the U.S. Grand Prix—Nyström would carry over his deficient 6 points from finishing 7th place in the Monaco Grand Prix.

Luca shook his head. "Great. Now it's time for another controversy," he muttered during the traditional safety car parade rather than the virtual one.

"Oh, 'Luca Rennick causes another driver to DNF. Dangerous driving again? Should the FIA investigate? Luca Rennick has found himself at the center of another tragic incident. The Nordvind Racing driver, Elias Nyström, has been robbed of a potential podium, all thanks to—guess who? Luca Rennick! Is this a pattern?'

Of course it's a pattern. This is the pattern of Formula racing."

Reinforcing Luca's thoughts, Nyström's crash on the tenth lap wasn't the only incident. It was just the first, as two more followed within the next four laps.

These two only required yellow flags, though that didn't mean they hadn't stretched the estimated time for what should have been four simple laps.

The two drivers involved were familiar names. In fact, Luca felt a sting when he saw Ansel's name on the dashboard leaderboard, marked with three Xs.

It almost made him angry, especially when the race replay showed that Ansel was unchallenged—it was just a miscalculation.

As Trampos' only hope, Luca fumed at Ansel for failing to inch closer to the top ten, at the very least. A point was something. Even a single point meant earnings for the team.

XXX—Ansel Hahn

The second driver was Luis Dreyer. That one, Luca didn't mind at all.

XXX—Luis Dreyer

Luca was then informed that Ailbeart Moireach had surprisingly not been penalized despite his contact with Dreyer, which had caused the sweep-out of a tire.

The news itself didn't stun Luca. What did was the mention of Ailbeart Moireach.

The same Ailbeart Moireach who started at the very bottom of the grid—P20?

What the hell was he doing seven positions above his start this early in the race?

P13— Ailbeart Moireach ↑

P14 ↑

P15 ↑

P16 ↑

P17 ↑

P18 ↑

P19 ↑

P20 ↑

Luca didn't want to admit it, but he had to face reality that the middle of the pack was gradually becoming more adversarial than the front, the very place he was pushing for.

With Nyström out of the way, it was as if a thick fog had cleared from his back, only to reveal a whole new threat.

Even under the regulations of the ongoing safety car parade, this threat didn't look any less menacing.

**Safety car leaves soon. Watch your gap to Davide**

P4—Luca Rennick

P5—Davide DiMarco ↑

P6—Denko Rutherford ↑

P7—Jimmy Damgaard ↑

"...We patiently await the resumption of the Chinese Grand Prix, and just look at this pack forming behind Rennick...!"

"...it's a storm, Sam. They're all lined up like wolves scenting blood...!"

Since the safety car parade always bunched up all the drivers, everyone now had a clearer view of each other. Those who had once dismissed Rice and Rodnick as untouchable now saw them within reach.

And finally, Luca could see Luigi again. The holographic #3 vanished since he was that close now.

In essence, Luca, sitting in P4, was the fragile link between two very different tiers of competition.

Once the safety car slothfully pulled away, Hank Rice, who had been leading from the very beginning, was handed control to lead the pack back to the grid and resume Lap 16.

Meanwhile, Ansel and Dreyer heaved deep breaths of frustration as they headed into their team garages, their backs turned to the cameras.

The feeling of being the downtrodden must be really oppressive especially in F1, where teams with superior chassis and tech often held the advantage, took the wins, and dictated the pace of the championship.

And with the HiCEs set to arrive soon, the competition would only become even more cutthroat and skewed further in favor of the bigger teams.

For the teams that knew they couldn't acquire the upgrades, these early races were their only real shot.

Only for DNFs to be handed out like candy this season.

The weave back to the grid was a quiet one, tension hanging thick in the air. Spectators saved their voices for when Rice would pick up the pace after crossing the Start/Finish line.

Jimmy, sitting at P7, wasn't focused on strategy like the others. He was thinking about chaos.

The safety car restart was where the real excitement began. The tires had cooled off slightly, the pack was tight, and one wrong move could spiral into absolute carnage.

Jimmy Damgaard knew that he and DiMarco practiced the Tiered Pursuit strategy where he was Driver B, DiMarco the A.

He wasn't supposed to overtake his teammate in most situations, but that didn't stop him from wishing for a slip-up at his own teammate, one that could give him an edge. He was a selfish driver, after all, and wouldn't hesitate if it benefitted him.

Luca exhaled sharply as all engines wove through Sector 3.

[Longevity: +2]

He silently thanked the system before returning his focus to the cam, his gaze narrowing on DiMarco's Red Bull, trailing him closely.

**Be ready, Davide. The moment Luca moves, you move faster**

"Yes," DiMarco simply replied.

[Turn type: Quick left kink] [Angle: 30°] [Braking Point: None] [Recommended Entry Speed: 250+ km/h] [Optimal Apex: Mid curb]

[Turn type: Medium-speed right-hander onto main straight] [Angle: 90°] [Braking Point: 50 meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: 200 km/h] [Optimal Apex: Inside curb]

[Straightaway ahead]

"...out of Turn 16 they go, clawing at the tarmac, weaving ever so slightly to keep heat in the tires—AND LOOK AT THIS! THEY'RE ALREADY JOSTLING FOR POSITION BEFORE THE GREEN FLAG...!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"

Luca shifted to cover the line DiMarco feinted toward. He narrowed his eyes at his notoriety. "Someone's gonna get a penaltyyyy," he warned.

"...They can't overtake just yet, but the tension is boiling over—HANK RICE IS WAITING, MOVING...AND THERE HE GOES! FULL THROTTLE, FOLLOWED BY RODNICK I! THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX IS BACK UNDERWAY...!"

[16th Lap]