My Formula 1 System

The gap gave structure to the leaderboard, the cars holding definite positions as they barreled across the circuit, tires spraying water high into the air. It was a challenging moment for Luca, who struggled to gauge the right time to activate DRS. His System still managed to provide a detailed description of the track but failed to give precise information about Kristensen's car ahead.

Relying on his instincts and the rumble strips curving ahead, Luca quickly braced himself for the approaching bend. He cast a quick glance at his mirrors, noting how the sheets of water kicked up by his tires obstructed Derstappen's view as well.

[8th Position closing in]

[Analyzing optimal entry speed based on current velocity, tire traction, and curvature of the bend...]

[Tire traction: 65%]

[Recommended speed for maneuver: 80 km/h]

The 65% traction didn't look promising, and 80 km/h felt like too much of a drop in momentum. Still, Luca adhered to the recommendation, understanding that it was calibrated to help him and his Dallara adapt to the slick asphalt.

[You have reduced speed]

Luca's tires skimmed over the curb as he clung to the inside line again. The cars had just left the wet straight, allowing visibility to clear up once more. Never relenting, as the team's strategy demanded today, Luca remained focused on overtaking Kristensen's violet Dallara.

Kristensen, noticing Luca's determination, edged closer to the curbs, attempting to block his line as they approached the bend's bottleneck. However, he failed to notice Derstappen exploiting the open outside lane, executing a smooth drift to claim P6 as the left-hander transitioned into a right.

[8th Position]

"...and how about that from Albert Derstappen! A magnificent double overtake to edge closer to the top five…!"

Damn you, Luca thought, directing the insult at Kristensen as the track's transition brought them side by side. Derstappen's black-and-golden Dallara fishtailed slightly after the aggressive maneuver, but it held steady.

P7 was Luca's as the lane curved in his favor. He poked ahead of Kristensen just enough to shift the leaderboard before tackling the final and bendiest curve.

[7th Position]

[760 meters Straightaway ahead]

[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 6th Position]

[You are 2.5 seconds away, host.]

Derstappen managed to hold firm through the bends as the cars weaved through the greenery before transitioning to a straight that led back to the grid.

As soon as the straightaway opened, Luca saw his opportunity. The roar of engines filled the air as all cars hit full throttle.

[DRS Engaged]

His rear wing adjusted, granting him an extra burst of speed. He capitalized on Derstappen's slipstream, an orange spark flashing briefly from Luca's chassis as he surged forward. Luca glided past Derstappen's right side, seamlessly moving ahead as he crossed the grid.

[6th Position]

[2nd lap]

**Good one, mate. Nice racing, nice racing**

[Overtaking +1]

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 25%]

Turn 1 loomed ahead, and Luca navigated it with precision, adhering to the System's speed and maneuverability recommendations. His focus shifted to the holographic number 5 hovering over Dani Walding's blue Dallara at Turn 3. Though Walding was still far ahead, Luca knew that time, consistency, and calculated moves would close the gap.

[9th lap]

[Stamina +1]

**Storm in Fulham. News is that it might come this way**

"It's a big problem, right?"

**Of course. Get ahead early** Mr. Moritz switched to a dual communication channel with both Ansel and Luca. **Both of you. Get ahead early**

Miles had reclaimed P3 from Ansel, and the two were locked in a fierce battle for dominance. Meanwhile, Luca was attempting another overtake on Walding, but the Bueseno driver maintained a better lane advantage through the turns. On the straights, Walding's superior acceleration left him out of reach, even with Luca's DRS engaged. This dynamic left Luca vulnerable to Kristensen, who had reclaimed P7 from Derstappen and was closing in fast.

[13th lap]

Just as Mr. Moritz had warned, the sky grew increasingly oppressive. Heavy storm clouds rolled in with startling speed, their charcoal shade casting deep shadows over the Stadhaven Circuit.

"Fucking hell," Luca muttered, his eyes darting to the ominous horizon. A subtle growl of thunder reached his ears, and the wind began to whip through the circuit.

**We'll keep checking tire traction. Expect lower visibility and wet patches soon—light rain forecast in five minutes.**

A 'Wet Weather Warning' symbol flashed on the dashboard, prompting drivers to prepare for the inevitable slick conditions as they began the 15th lap.

Some teams, like Trampos, debated pitting their drivers early, while others chose to gamble on the weather improving before the conditions became too hazardous.

The threat of rain started to bother Luca, the challenge more fierce than what he was eager to participate in. He gripped his wheel tighter and sped through the wet straight, raising water in the process.

"...the weather is anything but fair today, Jon, and so is the track. The storm clouds are practically breathing down on us here, and it might definitely start playing tricks on the drivers..."

"..you're absolutely right, Steve. Now, they'd have to second-guess their line, their speed, their braking points. Any misjudgment, especially in this weather, could spell disaster..."

"...and with the rain looking like it's just minutes away, we could see some teams scrambling to make those critical tire changes. But here's the risk: you pit too early, you lose ground. Pit too late, and it's a slippery mess out there. A gamble, no doubt..."

[7th Position closing in]

[Host has unlocked Skills to disclose an opponent.]

[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:

-Car Speed: 88 km/h

-Heart Rate: 118 bpm

-Operational Status: 90% (Very Good)

-Breathing: Calm & Steady

-Distance covered: 26000 m

-Time: 19 min. 5 sec ]

Luca's instincts for Corner Chopping kicked in as he neared the bends, with Kristensen pressing him fiercely. Edging to the curbs, Luca braked just enough to align with the recommended speed, gliding toward the bend's apex, marked by Walding's earlier drifting tire marks.

Kristensen followed Luca like a fly into the bend, and Luca was waiting for him as they emerged. With a low speed, Luca hooked abruptly, cutting off Kristensen's building momentum. And as quickly as he braked, Luca accelerated, high but low enough to avoid a tire lock-up.

Luca was able to Corner Chop Kristensen but not Derstappen. The Belgian lagging behind by a mere second had taken full advantage of the bend, outpaced Oliver Kristensen and was now side by side with Luca.

The track shifted into a right-hander, seemingly giving Luca the advantage. Determined to maintain his position, Luca prepared for the turn. Yet, Derstappen proved fiercer than expected, his outside trajectory perfectly lined up with Dani Walding's rear, his nose edging dangerously close to Luca's line.

Luca's eyes flicked to his System's display, instantly processing the data:

[Trajectory Assessment: Right-hander advantage detected. Line integrity at risk from 7th Position's approach.]

[Recommended Action: Enter at 35% throttle; maintain inner apex trajectory. Anticipate 7th Position's outside pressure.]

[Risk Factor: High (collision potential with 7th Position). Adjust for slight understeer at exit to regain position.]

He is trying to do what Miles did to me in Australia, Luca thought, noticing the subtle shift in Derstappen's chassis.

The X trajectory was clear. Within milliseconds, Luca would either drop to P7 or face the consequences of a tire clip—or something worse.

He couldn't risk either option. Decelerating to let Derstappen through would kill his momentum, and Kristensen wasn't far behind. Stubborn and unwilling to lose P6, Luca made a split-second decision.

He veered off track, into the grass, just as Derstappen's nose cut into his line of sight.

[Traction lost...]

"...And Luca Rennick is off the track! But wait—he's back on in seconds!"

[Traction detected...]

Luca's tires wobbled as they tore across the uneven grass. The crowd erupted in a mix of cheers and gasps as he rejoined the track, his unconventional maneuver cutting ahead of Walding's blue Dallara.

P5 was officially his. Walding, who had been frustratingly hard to overtake, was now behind him.

But the roar from the stands wasn't just for the boldness of Luca's move—it was for its illegality. The stewards immediately sprang into action, signaling a review of the maneuver that had just unfolded.

[Reflexes +1]

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 37.5%]

[15th lap]

**Luca, you've been hit with a five-second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage. We're going to need to serve that at your next pit stop**

Luca rolled his tongue in his mouth. He had been expecting Moritz's voice to crackle through the radio, and it had.

"Five seconds," he muttered, his tone half dismissive. Deep down, he felt no guilt. Derstappen had played dirty, and Luca had done what he had to prevent a contact that would end in Derst's favor.

But five seconds was no small punishment. It could mean the difference between holding onto P5 or slipping down the leaderboard. The thought made him sigh, but then his System chimed in with an alert as he speared through the wet track.

[Ding![

[Host has maxed Reflexes Skill!]

[Ding!]

[You have unlocked a Skill:

-Spatial Awareness: 2 ]

Luca's mouth bent to a frown. "You could have given me something more dynamic and rare. I know what Spatial Awareness is, and I'm pretty sure I execute it in every race," Luca said.

[Now host, you have unlocked the ability to increase its starting two-point value, so you can get better at it. Moreover, the more Skills, the better the chances of making Sync Buff in every race.]

Hmmm.

[Spatial Awareness is a Skill similar to Track Awareness]

[Spatial Awareness is an intuitive maneuver that enhances host's ability to perceive and navigate his surroundings on the track, allowing him to sense nearby vehicles and understand his space and lane. This skill slightly affects and improves host's decision-making, helping host avoid collisions and execute overtakes effectively.]

"Oh. Now you put it like this... it looks nice."

**Box, Luca. Let's serve that penalty**

[Operational Status: 60%]

Still holding P5 illegally at the 16th lap, Luca deftly edged to the side of the track, barrelling down to the pitlane.

**Glide in steadily**

The pit crew was ready. He rolled to a precise stop as McCauley raised his hand, signaling the penalty countdown.

[Serving Penalty...5...4...3...2...1]

[6th Position]

Though it was 5 seconds, it felt like an eternity to Luca. He frowned as Dani Walding claimed back P5 while he waited in the pit box.

The moment the 5-second timer hit zero, Trampos' pit crew sprang into action. Tires were changed in a flash, and he could hear the faint chatter of the team as they adjusted the car.

**You're clear**

[Penalty Served]

Luca shot out of the pit box and sped down the pit lane just as Derstappen was barreling toward the same exit point. The world outside his cockpit blurred into streaks of color as he focused on the track ahead.

[Trajectory Assessment: Intersecting Pitlane advantage. Line integrity at risk from 7th Position's approach.]

[Recommended Action: Enter at 80% throttle; maintain downforce. Anticipate 7th Position's outside pressure.]

[Risk Factor: High (collision potential with 7th Position). Adjust for slight understeer at exit to regain position.]

**Get in there, Luca!**

Luca slipped back into the straight just before Derstappen's nose, narrowly avoiding a collision as Derstappen swerved to correct. The both of them fought to regain traction, tires screeching before their engines got their cool.

**Good timing**
Continue reading on empire

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

[7th Position closing in]

"You just know how to raise my BP," Luca said exasperatedly as he entered the turns, hoping Derstappen gets close enough to eat his Corner Chopping.

[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:

-Car Speed: 200 km/h

-Heart Rate: 106 bpm

-Operational Status: 85% (Very Good)

-Breathing: Slightly Elevated

-Distance covered: 32000 m

-Time: 24 min. ]