My Formula 1 System-Chapter 606: S3 Chinese Grand Prix. 3
[Slipstream Status: ENGAGING]
Car <— Approaching Slipstream (Minimal aerodynamic effect)
Car <<— Partial Lock (Drag reduction increasing)
Car <<<— LOCKED IN (Maximum slipstream advantage)
[Overtake Window: Optimal]
There was no uncertainty from the Ferrari man. His racing was precise as he boosted his chances of overtaking Ailbeart Moireach.
Once the aerodynamic pull tightened around the Z24, a tug thereafter, Luca locked in <Slipstream Mastery> like a trap on his rival. His rival, Ailbeart, attempted a sharp weave of defense, testing Luca’s nerve and the Ferrari’s balance at top speed.
But Luca refused to lift.
The drag reduction hurled him forward, cameras watching the .25 lag as the Z24 pounced out of the wake on the straight.
[Slipstream Mastery +1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 37.5%]
Ailbeart watched his mirrors fill with red. Suddenly, it emptied before the upcoming corner, sparks leaving Luca’s belly in swagger. P1 changed hands instantly.
[Overtaking Skill +1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 50%]
"...Back in the lead in China is Luca Rennick! Perfection in racing, blasting past Haddock’s champion as if gravity took the afternoon off for him..."
"...Luca Rennick in P1.."
When Luca reclaimed P1, his inactive rival DiMarco exhaled and shifted into his seat. In the booth he was in, he was seen folding his arms in a satisfactory manner.
Was that an exhale of gladness from the Captain? Maybe so.
But DiMarco wasn’t actually happy about Luca’s success, particularly. What he felt was closer to vindication.
Luca was still performing, still dominating, and still towering above the grid as he’d always been. And only a giant at full height was worth toppling when he returned.
DiMarco didn’t want anyone else doing the favors for him, same way he didn’t want Jimmy stealing the spotlight, becoming the new face of Velocita, and jeopardizing his OG standing as the main driver.
The narrative had to remain this way: him personally tearing down the Mazerunner.
So, shine away, Luca. Grow higher. Grow brighter. The higher you rise, the sweeter your fall will be when Davide DiMarco comes for you—and your career.
**Luca, pace is good. You’re currently +0.32 up on last sector 1. Tyres in good window, but I bet you’ll tear it down soon.**
**Keep to your Mode, please. We’re asking for energy saving in Sec 3. You can confirm the diffuser load trace from the opening lap. Car balance still stable, but let’s be mindful of any growing damage**
Since Luca had the lead, Victor in P13, Trampos were focused and concise to keep him there. "Understood," came Luca’s replies.
Mr. Grant and Ms. Vallotton were satisfied with what they were seeing and, more especially, hearing.
Apart from the sound of the engine roaring and leading nineteen others designedly, they liked it whenever Luca had that tone to his voice. It told them all that was needed to know he wasn’t just driving, but sculpting his victory.
As if knowing he was at the center of millions of eyes, Luca raced to dare.
He decided to complete the Daily Quest, [-·-BEAT THE BACK STRAIGHT TIME OF THIS 56-LAP RACE-·-] since he had provisional space as the leading driver to push forward undisturbed.
The Shanghai back straight remained very improbable in its stretch, deceptively simple in appearance, but proven merciless in execution.
Last year, the 92B was underpowered against it. Luca had to micromanage his racing, as every slight hesitation or minor misalignment led to a time slip.
This time, the Z24’s capabilities, in relation to the straightaway’s demands, were more credible.
The car’s sleeker size and improved aerodynamics allowed maximum grip through the subtle transitions of the straight, while advanced ERS deployment from Luca and better <Zero Drag> made milliseconds more manageable.
But the straight still demanded sustained focus, acceleration, and proper timing, meaning the driver himself was more important.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"
[21st Lap]
Moving at 230 km/h, the crowd cheered on as Luca’s machine slid out of T11 erratically.
From the looks of it, the Ferrari man was building up speed along the corners. It was shaking up his rear each time at the curbs, but applying <Gripper> whenever he felt imbalance steadied him.
Pressure from behind also reminded Luca there was not a breathing space. He’d lost the pace to Marko Ignatova in P6, who in turn lost it to Jimmy Damgaard.
If his rivals kept this up, chaos would ensue in the top five—worse with tires wearing and pit stops around the corner.
"...still leading the race, Luca commits early at T2, running wild along the strips, seemingly racing under duress from the Renault a second behind...!"
"...Sector 3, Lap 21 in the Chinese Grand Prix, and the pack is compressed up front!"
"...LUIGI IN P3...!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"
P1— Luca Rennick
P2— Ailbeart Moireach
P3— Antonio Luigi ↑
P4— Buoso Di Renzo ↑
P5— Jimmy Damgaard ↓
P6— Marko Ignatova
A sudden drop from the top three to the bottom five! Jimmy Damgaard lost the leading pace in just seconds!
Luca couldn’t believe it when he glanced at his dashboard. Another glance at his mirrors revealed the combination of colors at each curve of asphalt he left behind, the rhythm of engines crowding at once.
A seven-way dogfight was unarguably unhealthy racing, and he wouldn’t stand for it. One mistake, one twitch, and he’d be swallowed whole.
After checking who had the pace leverage, Luca knew he was prey when the screen read: Antonio Luigi.
To escape, he snapped his Ferrari toward the apex of T13, wishing good luck to Ailbeart against the Black Dread.
[Straightaway ahead]
[1.4km] 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
1.4 km of exposure, the Shanghai back straight. Facing it now, Luca wasn’t unsettled. Twenty laps so far, he’d just been racing through without actually attempting the Daily Quest. This lap was far from greatness, or rather, this lap was aimed at greatness.
Engaging ERS precisely at the microsecond his telemetry aligned, the Sigma Core V1 screamed, sending a shudder of acceleration through the chassis and the driver’s arms and legs.
<Zero Drag> from the engine gave him a great slingshot meter after meter, the G-forces leveling him against his cockpit as the circuit whooshed out of existence.
The commentators were short of words from what they saw.
Luca had been holding a 1.2 sec lead over Ailbeart Moireach just moments ago. But as he allegedly glided over the asphalt from T13 all the way to T14, the gap increased threefold.
[Analyzing 2nd Position’s distance from host and Ferrari (Scuderia Z24)...]
[2nd Position is 3.5 sec away, host.]
"OH MY WORD—LUCA REN-NICK! THAT IS UNREAL!"
"...You’re watching history. That wasn’t just fast—that was inhuman. We have an alien amongst us! Nobody clears that length in 7.2 seconds under race load...!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"
**You’re flying out there, big guy. Solid lead!**
"...That Ferrari is exceeding its projected power curve by a great margin. It shouldn’t be possible for that car to accelerate like this without breaking down at the center!"
"...Rennick is a monster. A pure-bred phenomenon. You give him a straight this long, and he turns it into a runway!"
[Congratulations! You completed Daily Quest!]
[You have received:
— 1. 2 T]
