My Formula 1 System

[SYSTEM ONLINE]

According to the tight schedule Manuela had mentioned earlier, drills and sessions were set to kick off just the following day.

The Chinese Grand Prix was just around the corner, a Grand Prix that had never been held in six years. A track that had not been navigated for half a decade in the name of Formula 1 would host the second round of the season.

Every team member was required to be present for the next three days of core drills. Luca was pretty certain this same rigorous arrangement was currently taking place in every other team.

In Luca's opinion, the second race of the season would have just the same amount of pressure and skirmish as the first race of the season, if not more.

He was already at the headquarters, very early at 12 PM to begin the day's schedule and include more if the case might be.

For today, Jackson Racing made it clear that there was no rubber burning but calorie burning, meaning that the drills for the drivers wouldn't include being behind the wheel but at the gym and equipment rooms.

Luca sighed. He was really expecting some high-end training maneuvers to be taught, some formations to be learnt, strategies to be mastered, and tactics to be attuned to.

But when he heard what the day had in store for everyone, he practically beamed with excitement.

Instead of formations, strategies, and wheel-to-wheel simulations, they'd be thrusting their bodies to great lengths all in the name of racing.

The team had mapped out an excruciating endurance and strength program, including neck resistance exercises, core stability drills, reaction-time tests, etc.

Luca found himself standing and waiting in the enormous gym and equipment room where all kinds of machines and equipment were located.

The ceiling was high and literally unreachable, bearing bright LED panels. The light from these panels was warm and sterile and, from their great height, perfectly illuminated the rows of top-tier training equipment seated before Luca.

He stood wordlessly, in a Jackson Racing gym t-shirt and shorts, watching some crew members prepare the machines for good use.

These machines were very sophisticated and complicated, some of which Luca had never operated before in his life, having only driven for a poorer team.

So he only spoke when he had a question about their physical appearance, and the crew members would answer, describing and explaining.

Luca nodded and took a deep breath. He also nodded to the three other Jackson Racing drivers—he was yet to even strike a meaningful conversation with—waltzing into the room, the air thick with the scent of disinfectant.

Luca turned to the mirrors that entirely covered one side of the room, serving as the wall itself.

He checked his form—his thighs, calves, and biceps—before giving a nod of approval.

He began to wonder how fervent training like this would further affect his body or maybe his Attributes stats. Perhaps, these excruciating exercises were rugged enough to push Attribute points that were now very difficult to attain.

Luca was just waiting for the crew to be done with the setup. He already had the program, and the system had analyzed and reiterated it.

[SYSTEM ONLINE...]

[System is analyzing and retrieving training program issued to host.]

[Neck Harness Training (Neck & Shoulder Strength) analyzed!]

[Cable Woodchoppers (Core Strength) analyzed!]

[Wrist Roll(Forearm & Grip Strength) analyzed!]

[Ding!]

[Successfully Retrieved!]

"Alrite, all set for you, Luca. Take your time and hit it hard."

"Thank you," Luca replied.

[EXERCISE: NECK HARNESS TRAINING]

[EQUIPMENT: NECK HARNESS / WEIGHT STACK MACHINE]

[Host is required to securely fasten the neck harness and attach it to the weight stack. Controlled head movements in different directions—forward, backward, and lateral—will be performed to build neck strength and endurance, crucial for resisting high G-forces during races.]

[This will be done for 3 sets of 12 reps per direction, focusing on steady movements and maintaining proper alignment to prevent unnecessary strain on the cervical spine.]

"Let's get you strapped in tight," the same crew member said, not taking his leave yet. "You do it yourself, it slips mid-rep."

"Sure," Luca said as he kept reading the system's info.

He sat on the soft stool provided by the machine itself while the crew member helped wrap his head with the thick padded straps, ensuring the harness was a snug fit before securing the weight attachment.

Luca immediately felt the pull of the attached weight. It was firm and manageable for him, but he wondered how it'd be for an average driver.

Luca exhaled and braced himself to begin. As the system just described, he was supposed to move his head in a controlled, measured manner in different directions, yet always opposite to the machine's pull.

So, Luca leaned subtly into the resistance before pulling his head back in the opposite direction. Instantly, the veins in his neck bulged, and he clenched his teeth.

Ahhhhhhh yessss! Luca mused excitedly. Finally! PAIN!

For a very long time now, he had been longing for something that'd actually demand some physical exertion since his Attributes had been making things much easier.

Now, it seemed this weight stack machine was just the thing!

The first rep sent deep strains through his neck, a sharp reminder of just how much strength was needed to resist G-forces in the cockpit.

"That's it. Keep it smooth. No jerking," the crew member encouraged.

Luca grunted in response, powering through another rep. The harness dragged his head down again, but he resisted, forcing his muscles to hold.

Luca's eyes were squeezed shut, his jaw clenched as he powered through the peak of the exercise. His neck burned like hell, every fiber screaming in protest as he fought against the relentless pull of the harness.

But something felt… off. A presence and a shift in the atmosphere of a serious F1 gym.

He squinted one eye open mid-rep just to see a crew member standing in front of him with a phone in hand, the flashlight on.

Videoing him!

Luca's concentration shattered. His head wobbled under the weight as he let out a half-choked breath of disbelief.

"Are you—seriously?!"

Everyone in the gym laughed, even the other drivers. Even Luca, despite his burning muscles and moment of betrayal, couldn't help but chuckle.

[EXERCISE: CABLE WOODCHOPPERS]

[EQUIPMENT: CABLE MACHINE WITH HANDLE ATTACHMENT]

[Host is required to stand sideways to the cable machine, gripping the handle with both hands. With feet shoulder-width apart and a slight bend in the knees, host will engage the core and rotate the torso diagonally, pulling the handle across the body in a controlled chopping motion. This movement mimics the rotational forces experienced during high-speed turns and enhances core stability for better control in the cockpit.]

[This will be done for 3 sets of 12 reps per side, focusing on a strong, controlled pull and smooth return to starting position to maximize core engagement and minimize strain on the lower back.]

After an amusing neck exercise, it was time for core. Cable woodchoppers weren't an alien exercise to Luca. He had done them before using the cable machine he owned.

So, moving like an experienced athlete, he grabbed the handle and adjusted the weight stack before stepping into position to begin.

Mr. Matthews made an entrance once to assess his drivers, giving corrections and motivating words where needed.

[Good job. Moving on to the next]

[EXERCISE: WRIST ROLLING TRAINING]

[EQUIPMENT: WRIST ROLLER MACHINE / CABLE WEIGHT STACK]

[Host is required to grip the wrist roller bar, attached to a weight stack via a cable, and roll it upwards and downwards in a controlled motion. This strengthens the forearm muscles and grip endurance, crucial for maintaining firm control over the steering wheel during long, high-intensity races.]

[This will be done for 3 sets of rolling the weight up and down once per set, focusing on controlled movements to maximize muscle activation and prevent excessive strain on the wrists.]

Before Luca began the next drill, the crew member who had recorded his neck harness training mentioned he was going to upload the video and tag Luca.

Luca laughed and gave the go-ahead, quietly watching the funny video load onto the web.