My Formula 1 System

"...WELL, ISN'T THIS A SIGHT! THE SKIES ARE WIDE OPEN OVER MELBOURNE AT THE START OF MAY, COMPLETELY AGAINST FORECAST…!"

"...NO ONE SAW THIS DOWNPOUR COMING, AND SUDDEN AS A THUNDERBOLT, THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX HAS BEEN FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN…!"

── 🏁 RACE CONTROL DISPLAY ──

⁕ Grand Prix: George Park Circuit

⁕ Weather: Light Rain

⁕ Track Temp: 24°C | Air Temp: 20°C

⁕ Lap: 23 / 45

⁕ Race Time: 00:39:28

"...we can expect some skidding here, and some wheel locks. It's an unbelievable scene here in George Park! The rain looks light, but the corners are glistening with puddles, making the braking zones dangerous. Strategies are being ripped apart here…"

[Retrieving pitstop info...]

[Service Time: 2.22 seconds]

[Front Tires: Soft → Intermediate]

[Rear Tires: Soft → Intermediate]

[Setup: Adjustments Applied]

[System's prediction: 12 sec—15 sec]

[Host's pitlane Entry and Exit: 12 sec]

"...that's a touch longer in service time for Trampos Racing and Luca Rennick. Could it be they weren't only swapping rubber…?"

"...there might've been some extra setup work, maybe an adjustment to adapt the car for these wet conditions. If so, it could pay off later, but it definitely cost him a couple of seconds now…"

In the cockpit of the red Ferrari rejoining the track in P3, Luca relaxed his shoulders with a slow exhale. He mentally reactivated S&R, Gripper, and also Spatial Awareness before settling back into rhythm.

**Luca, can you confirm? Temperatures should be stabilized now. You're not feeling the overheating anymore, right? All systems look good on our side**

"Copy. Feels fine. Much better," Luca answered, pleased that he and the team were able to solve the overheating issue without him losing podium ground.

**Understood. Sorry again for the earlier trouble—we'll take full accountability for that. But you're back in the fight now, P3**

**Rain's here, so conditions will swing. Be aggressive when you can, but careful with the grip. You've got this**

Luca nodded as a new wave of confidence filled him, reassured now that the team had stabilized everything. Victor wasn't overheating either; he had taken his stop very early because he didn't stand a chance to handle such a problem like Luca could.

Fortunately for Victor, he was the first driver to get wet compounds swapped since the rain arrived right in the middle of his service. Willing to seize the opportunity, Trampos capitalized and prepared Victor for the slick conditions.

Victor, who fell to P20 after that stop, climbed back again to the dismay of SIX rivals, who simply had no choice but to leave the track and get their rubbers changed.

"Booyah!" Victor cheered for himself, though the slick asphalt was starting to get to him. Still, he was pushing through, flying flags, and taking positions for himself and his team.

Those who managed to return before he snatched spots—like Yokouchi Yūichirō, who was right ahead of him in P13—definitely couldn't match his current momentum or his confident pace.

"...it looks like green markings on those tires. Luca is on Intermediates. That is a bold call from Trampos, but is it wise? Look at the spray down the home straight—the track does look like it requires full wet compounds…"

"...if the rain keeps hammering down, it won't be so genius. A big risk from Trampos here in Australia. Rennick could be skidding in the next lap or two…"

The commentators' intuition wasn't wrong at all. They were right when they said Intermediates were a gamble in this situation.

George Park had sections of simple corners and hairpins that would soon be soaked if the rain increased over time. Other areas had become fast-flowing, a thin sheet of water glistening like mirrors. In such mixed conditions, it was hard to say if wets were compulsory, because even Race Control had yet to make such an announcement.

Luca would gain a speed advantage with the inters over other drivers on wets, but he would be left vulnerable to aquaplaning. Wets, on the other hand, assured better safety.

But this was what others were seeing, and not what Luca himself was seeing; that was why Trampos were wary when he requested Intermediates.

Aquaplaning, skidding, traction loss, loss of control—these factors of a wet race were only applicable to the average driver, not Luca himself.

Why worry about aquaplaning if Gripper, which had been maxed out, was capable of clutching onto any type of tarmac? Why worry about skidding if Slipsense & Rainborne at (20+) never succumbed to any wet weather?

For due process, Luca had Intermediates on, but he wasn't going to lose extra speed and flexibility for wet compounds unless Race Control made it compulsory.

P1– Jimmy Damgaard

P2– Marko Ignatova

P3– Luca Rennick ←

P4– Ailbeart Moireach ↑

P5– Buoso Di Renzo ↓

"WOOOOOOOHHHHHH!"

"...Ailbeart Moireach in P4, Buoso Di Renzo in P5…!"

"WOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!"

The stands shook as Haddock Racing supplanted their derby rivals, Jackson Racing, in P4. Di Renzo really didn't stand a chance against Ailbeart Moireach, although both of them had just returned from the pit lane almost simultaneously.

At first, Di Renzo had the upper hand on the outlap because of the JRX-97's accelerative capability and good recovery. But with time, the R.S.25 gradually developed into its full-fledged proficiency, shutting down the silver Ferrari as water splashed from their tires in their rage.

**Big rival behind,1.7, Ailbeart**

[Analyzing 4th Position's distance from host and Ferrari (Z24)...]

[4th Position is 1.6 sec away, host.]

Although Ailbeart Moireach had restrained his supercar to match the meticulous requirements of the wet track, he was still fast regardless.

Luca, on his outlap, focused on warming his tires as quickly as possible through the now-cold track, while also recovering full momentum to escape the Scotsman.

[...maximizing traction on damp lines.]

[...predicting hydroplane zones within 0.3s of entry.]

[...enhancing control and braking stability under spray.]

[Host is conquering wetness. Momentum building. Advantage imminent.]

The green-striped Intermediates, influenced by Gripper and S&R, weren't joking around as they bit firmly into the slick Melbourne tarmac.

In sprays, water parted ways as the Ferrari cut through like a bullet, never missing her racing line.

As the four wheels rotated, their grooves dispersed the thin film that would've sent other cars skating sideways. The Z24 held strong, and it was building momentum in its outlap.

[Analyzing 4th Position's distance from host and Ferrari (Z24)...]

[4th Position is 2 sec away, host.]

"...whoa. Ailbeart Moireach thought he had Luca pinned down after the pit exit, but the Italian is pulling away—much quicker than expected...!"

"...Those intermediates are absolutely switching on for him, they're clearing the water beautifully! That's a statement of intent right there from Rennick. Remarkable traction, and it's keeping him away from Moireach's clutches..."

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

[24th Lap]

**Luca, fantastic job. Keep building on it, rain or no rain**

[Analyzing Ferrari (Z24) and host's distance from 2nd Position]

[You are 1.3 seconds away, host.]

Marko Ignatova's Mercedes was right up ahead, bearing the #2 holographic crest in Luca's system, and he had no doubt Squadra Corse was already throwing strategy orders on how to keep him behind no matter the cost.

But Luca was sure that he would get to Marko before this race phase dwindled away, or before the rain stopped.

After one full seasonal campaign in F1, Luca had come to realize that Marko wasn't really the best driver when it came to wet conditions.

The Brazilian GP last year was still fresh in Luca's memory as he remembered how he crashed Marko at the drop of T8 in Interlagos, just by racing pressure alone.

Marko Ignatova was the driver who had crashed into Luca the most times in Luca's F1 career—a surprising stat.

This made Luca wonder if Marko had mentally registered him as an inevitable threat, and himself, an inescapable victim to the Mazerunner's wrath.

The thought of this boosted Luca's morale, and he pushed harder, believing it would be a waste of time to stay low and calculated if Marko had already registered himself losing P2 to him.

[25th Lap]

[Analyzing Ferrari (Z24) and host's distance from 2nd Position...]

[You are 0.9 seconds away, host.]

"...From shaking off Ailbeart Moireach, Luca Rennick is now charging up to Marko Ignatova in P2! The rain, the spray, the slick surface—none of it seems to faze him...."

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

At this point of 0.9 sec delta, Marko was pretty much aware and alert of Luca behind, looking to claim P2.

Contrary to the expectations of the roaring Squadra Corse fans who wanted him to defend the spot fiercely, Marko was advised to focus on keeping his own race tidy with clean lines on the slick track.

George Park's twists and turns were still a factor no one dared to rule out.

**Marko, don't over-defend against Luca. Struggling with him in this condition will only cost you control**

**Hold lines perfectly. Let's see if the rain fully eases off; it's already showing signs of backing away. Copy?***

"Copy. Holding it steady. I'll keep him behind as long as I can," Marko replied.

Luca himself was on the same approach here: clean lines, careful navigation, safety over power. But the thing was that he was still faster regardless, and this reflected in the shrinking gap.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

The entire lap was taken by both drivers nose to rear, but once the home straight came into view again, Luca's blood boiled like that of a dragon.

He couldn't waste this opportunity at all.

What if Marko were to fight back in defiance on the straight? Then Luca would throw whatever was required in his arsenal at the Russian.

Suddenly, he remembered that it was indeed Side-by-Side King that crippled Marko Ignatova in Interlagos last year; the rain only amplified his peril.

The Australian GP was turning out to be a mirror of the Brazilian GP. Marko didn't look like he was willing to give up P2 so easily after many races of subpar performance. And Luca? Luca looked like he was running on hard drugs.

The Mazerunner made up his mind not to hesitate to attack his rival. After all, a DNF of a Squadra Corse driver would benefit his team, Trampos.

Squadra Corse had been meriting dual points from both Luigi and Marko, and this was what had been keeping them at the top of the standings.

If the Mazerunner could just chip off one of them while the other, Luigi, was down the pack....