My Formula 1 System

Immediately after the Bahrain Grand Prix came the anticipation for the fifth round—the Brazilian Grand Prix.

There was little time for rest. The team spent a few days recuperating, but celebrations were short-lived as preparations for the long journey to São Paulo began. The logistics were intense—packing, shipping the cars, tuning setups for the vastly different conditions of Brazil.

Brazilian Grand Prix

Location: São Paulo, Brazil

Date: May. 16

Time: 4 PM

Track: Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)

Track Length: 4 km

Total Laps: 70

Track Type: Permanent road course

Lap Record: Davide DiMarco 1:10.540

The Brazilian Grand Prix had a storied history, yet its place on the calendar had been inconsistent. It had last featured two seasons ago, and despite the fact that many like it and its immense popularity, it wasn't a regular fixture like the more prominent European rounds.

Luca had heard so much about the Interlagos Circuit, and he was eager to finally experience it firsthand. The track earned its nickname, "Interlagos," because of its location between two lakes in São Paulo and its high-altitude setting, which added an extra layer of challenge to the race.

Sitting at a staggering 2,460 feet above sea level, Interlagos wasn't just another circuit—it was a test of endurance, skill, and adaptability!

But altitude wasn't the only thing that made this track special. There was a lot more to it.

It was an anti-clockwise circuit with a left-handed layout, similar to the Bahrain International Circuit, but Interlagos was the undisputed OG of all anti-clockwise circuits. The constant left turns put immense strain on the drivers' necks, demanding a level of physical endurance that only a few circuits in the world required.

Just thinking about it made Luca instinctively feel his own neck, wondering if it might twist mid-race under the sheer force of the Gs.

The track was bumpy and uneven. Gone were the smooth, predictable asphalt streaks they'd been enjoying so far this season. In its place, Interlagos offered a rollercoaster of fast elevation changes, sudden inclines, and sharp declines—each one a potential hazard, each one responsible for countless crashes over the years.

And oh! Interlagos was well known for wet races—the Brazilian Grand Prix in general. It felt like 90% of all races held here either started in the rain, ended in the rain, or were completely soaked throughout. Or maybe it was just that rain seemed to always fall here.

Luca had no doubt it would rain on the 16th. The only question was when. Morning, afternoon, during the race—it didn't matter. The team would be affected regardless, because São Paulo's sky looked like it hadn't seen the sun in ages. And with all that water, the track would stay slick for a long time, making every lap a battle against traction and control.

Brazil, in general, was a wet country. High humidity, warm temperatures, frequent cloud cover, and hazy sunsets were all part of its signature atmosphere.

It was a land where nature thrived in abundance, from the dense Amazon rainforest to the vast wetlands of the Pantanal. The climate was unpredictable, with sudden bursts of rain capable of transforming a dry street into a slippery hazard in minutes.

São Paulo, where the Grand Prix would take place, was the country's bustling heart though it wasn't the capital. It was a metropolis with skyscrapers and neighbourhoods who still retained their culture and their passion for motorsport all the way to football.

As Portuguese speakers, Luca had always wanted to find himself in the middle of a Latina neighbourhood or village.

From movies, he'd imagined how delicious the scent of sizzling street food nearby would be. The thought of walking through the narrow streets lined with colourful houses and then hearing samba beats echo from the houses felt adventurous.

He began to gauge his schedule after the race, wondering if there'd be time to slip away, even just for a few hours, to explore the heart of São Paulo beyond the paddock.

Would there be a moment to wander through the old streets, to step into a family-run café where the scent of freshly brewed coffee and pão de queijo filled the air?

Luca was determined to make out some time. Since Mr. Schafer and Isabella were coming along to watch the race in-person, a nice tour around the country would fit.

Even though Isabella was half-Mexican and not half-Brazilian, meaning she could speak a little Spanish and not Portuguese, Luca was still confident there'd be a few Spanish speakers there, creating a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar place.

With a happy personal team—Sara, Mallow and the others—they took their flight to São Paulo, Brazil as the fifth round of the F1 season had officially begun.

From the fourth round, the standings changed in their points, but no team had switched positions. It remained the same from 1st place to 10th place.

PROVISIONAL CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (ALL 10)

Position | Team | Points

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1. | Jackson Racing | 111

2. | Squadra Corse | 80

3. | Haddock Racing | 54

4. | Iberia Grand Prix | 51

5. | Outback Perf. | 43

6. | Bueseno Velocità | 36

7. | Nordvind Racing | 25

8. | Velox Hispania | 6

9. | Trampos Racing | 0

10. | Alpine Swiss F1 | 0.

Jackson Racing sat at 111 points, and with Trampos and Alpine still trailing behind like a couple of lost tourists without a map, it was crazy work!

The Silver Stallions were now a comfortable 31 points ahead of their closest rivals, Squadra. No wonder Luca kept seeing a lot of internet trolling photos and texts from Jackson fans, showing three fingers and one finger raised as jokes.

If things continued to go well for the team in the UK, they might just secure their third consecutive F1 Constructor's Championship.

Switching to the Driver's Standings, there were notable changes as Luca moved up from 6th place back into the top five. The standings had shifted quite dramatically, demonstrating just how quickly a single race could turn things around in an instant.

The competition on the driver's stage was far more intense than it was on the team stage.

PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (TOP10)

Position | Team | Points

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1. | Marcellus Rodnick | 55

2. | Luca Rennick | 51

3. | Antonio Luigi | 46

4. | Hank Rice | 45

5. | Ailbeart Moireach | 40 (+1)

6. | Luis Dreyer | 37

7. | Marko Ignatova | 35

8. | Elias Nyström | 24

9. | Jimmy Damgaard | 18

10. | Davide DiMarco | 18

DiMarco had just edged Denko out of the top 10, claiming the 10th spot. Hank Rice was currently performing the unbelievable, practically carrying Iberia GP on his shoulders.

Many speculated that if the Nevada incident hadn't happened, Hank Rice would have easily been the best driver this season.

As for Luca, his take was different. From his perspective, he believed the need to succeed was likely what was driving Hank.