My Formula 1 System

This was exactly how the next two laps played out.

For the very next lap: while Luigi rekindled himself, pestered by Damgaard too, Ailbeart Moireach made his stop. In correspondence, DiMarco snatched P1, Luca took P2. In this case, Moireach fell to P5 because Damgaard had been quite close to Luigi before he rejoined.

P1— Davide DiMarco ↑

P2— Luca Rennick ↑

P3— Antonio Luigi ↑

P4— Jimmy Damgaard ↑

P5— Ailbeart Moireach ←

The following lap, it was more of the same situation. However, Marko Ignatova was fast, but not fast enough to breach DiMarco's reentry. So, after DiMarco's pitstop, he (DiMarco) fell to P5, and Luca ultimately claimed the topmost position and began leading the entire pack.

P1— Luca Rennick ↑

P2— Antonio Luigi ↑

P3— Ailbeart Moireachi ↑

P4— Jimmy Damgaard ↓

P5— Davide DiMarco ←

[1st Position]

Although Luca held P1, no one decided to make a fuss about it because they all knew it was more likely to change than remain permanent. He hadn't made his first stop of the race yet, and he had a herd of inevitable danger approaching him.

But still, commentary couldn't help but kiss his ass:

"...And can you believe this?! Luca Rennick is leading the Bahrain Grand Prix! From eighth to first! This is turning into a masterpiece!"

But that excitement had its limit. Because just behind him, Luigi was hot. And it was obvious.

"...Of course, let's not forget Antonio Luigi—now in P2 and moving with real purpose."

"...He's regrouped. He's charged. And he's coming fast. "

".. Rennick might be in P1, but how long can it last...?"

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

[2nd Position is 1.5 sec away, host.]

**BIg rival. Antonio, 1.5 sec away**

Luca was aware that the FiammaVeloce Pro would evaporate this distance into nothing. So, his calculated analysis was that he would clash with the fellow Italian in Sector 3. And unfortunately for Luca, Sector 3 was quite open, featuring a straight and smooth kinks for turns. All these supported Luca, yes, but in the case of Antonio Luigi, the Black Dread…

It was even worse.

Maybe if Luca could hold him off, Luigi would have to redirect his attention to Ailbeart Moireach, who was also close by. Not to mention DiMarco in P4 now, after simply switching positions with Damgaard.

Luca couldn't believe he was leading three beasts!

His duel with Luigi didn't go exactly as he thought it would. The W12 was just so unpredictable mostly because this was the first time Luca was actually competing against it.

On the straight after T13, Luca refrained from using Straightaway Chopping. First of all, he wasn't sure it would work, because Luigi seemed invincible to the Corner Choppings he had executed earlier in Turns 11 and 12. Secondly, if it did work and Luigi reacted late, he would be cooked. With such explosive power from the FiammaVeloce Pro, Luigi might not be able to stop himself while moving at such blistering speed on the straight from hitting the wall—Luca.

[2nd Position]

"...Antonio Luigi retakes the lead! That's P1 again for the reigning World Champion..!"

"...He lost it. Now he's got it back. That Mercedes—my goodness—unstoppable on the charge.. !"

"...Luca Rennick falls to P2, but what a defense he tried to put up...!"

"WOOOOOOHHHHHHH!"

Mr. Campanella raised his arms in victory as the Squadra crew celebrated.

P1— Antonio Luigi ↑

P2— Luca Rennick ↓

The super drivers refused to let Luca rest. He did his best to hold off Ailbeart Moireach in Turns 14 and 15.

[Turn type: Tight Left-hander ] [Angle: 80°] [Braking Point: 90 meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: 130 km/h] [Optimal Apex: inside curb]

[Turn type: Medium Right-hander ] [Angle: 60°] [Braking Point: 110 meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: 140 km/h] [Optimal Apex: Outside curb]

Alas, halfway through the home straight into Lap 25, Ailbeart powered through, but he wasn't able to complete the overtake. Luca masterfully locked him down with Side-by-Side King!

"WOOOOHHHHH!"

"...OH MY WORD—IT'S WING-TO-WING! IT'S A DRAGGING DUEL FOR THE LINE...!"

"...That's pure racing instinct—neither of them backing off..!"

Without delay, Ailbeart was affected by Side-by-Side King, succumbing to it so easily that Luca didn't even see the difference between a normal and a super driver.

While moving at outrageous speed toward Turn 1, the Scotsman gave Luca the helm in the side-by-side battle, losing almost full control in the process.

"Yes."

A happy Luca was glad to have emerged victorious, but that joy was short-lived. Distress immediately shadowed his triumph as he realized he was in grave danger!

Instead of Ailbeart Moireach skidding away elsewhere like expected of a victim of Side-by-Side King, he was skidding straight toward Luca's side. Half a second later, his Renault was smooching the Scuderia Z24!

The crowd couldn't believe what they were seeing, thinking Ailbeart might've done it on purpose!

"...WAIT A MINUTE—HE'S TOUCHING HIM..!"

"...THEY'RE MAKING CONTACT! MOIREACH IS KISSING THAT FERRARI...!"

"...WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING?! WAS THAT INTENTIONAL...?!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

Luca, most especially, couldn't believe it. They had just crossed the start/finish line, and he was ready and set to lunge for Turn 1, when Ailbeart hugged him lifelessly and began to lazily shove both of them toward the barriers.

**You're under physical duress!**

"Damn it!"

Luca had no choice but to deactivate Side-by-Side King entirely. He had to relinquish the mental grip he had on Ailbeart, who in turn would, hopefully, let go of him before they both smashed into the barriers in the very first race of the season.

And in a desperate last-second effort, while the world watched in frozen silence, Luca dived straight into Turn 1's runoff. Ailbeart, on the other hand, who had just snapped out of the stupor, gripped his wheel tight, regained focus, and yanked hard to the right to avoid the crash!

Both Luca and Ailbeart scraped the barriers with a flurry of sparks as they split apart like a 'V' !!

"WOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"...OH MY GOODNESS—CONTACT! CONTACT, AND THEY'RE BOTH ALIVE...!"

"...HOW DID THEY NOT END UP IN THE WALL?! ARE YOU SEEING THIS...?!"

"...I'VE NEVER SEEN A SPLIT RECOVERY LIKE THAT BEFORE IN MY LIFE...!"

Luca's heart pounded wildly inside his chest as the Z24 rumbled down the runoff, wheels twitching and grip unstable. Ailbeart continued on the racing line still disoriented, but somehow managing to stay out of the wall.

**Car is fine. Are you alright?**

"Yes. Yes, I am."

**Thank goodness. That was harsh!**

**You're on Turn 1's runoff. You're slower and will rejoin approximately 5 seconds after entry. Stay sharp**

"...AND THAT'S LUCA TAKING A DETOUR THROUGH THE RUNOFF—BUT HE'S STILL ALIVE IN THIS...!"

"...THIS RACE HAS LOST ITS DAMN MIND!"

"...HE'S NOT DONE YET, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—HE'S STILL IN IT...!"

What had just happened was blood-pumping, an instant so intense it had everyone on their feet, with adrenaline surged to the utmost peak it could possibly reach.

Luca was still focused on the race, now more than ever, in fact, because he was acutely aware he had just lost the position to Ailbeart. And being on the runoff meant he would most likely lose even more in exchange for safety.

Who was even next coming?

P4 — Davide DiMarco

"...OOHHH MY—LOOK OUT..!"

"...Could they intersect?! Could Luca and DiMarco meet at the very crossroad where Surmann crashed earlier...?"

"WOOOOHHHHH!"

A smile tugged at DiMarco's lips as he approached the very scene where Luca and Ailbeart had previously dispersed in pure cinema. How did both drivers even escape that severity without losing a shard of carbon fibre?

**Big rival, Davide. Adjust at intersection**

Adjust?

Until the sun rises in the West and sets in the East, Luca Rennick would never 'adjust' or any similar form of submission for DiMarco or anyone else. He could already sense the barbarian's intention: DiMarco wanted them to intersect deliberately. And that contact? DiMarco definitely had the upper hand, not just with the fastest car, but with a stronger chassis frame as well. It's called Red Bull's speciality.

A dark tone faded across Luca's face as he approached the intersection, the arrows on the barricade pointing him toward the very direction of doom, while DiMarco stormed out of Turn 1 with blistering speed.

"...AND THEY'RE APPROACHING AT THE SAME TIME—ARE YOU SEEING THIS...?!"

"...HOLD ON! HOLD YOUR BREATH—THIS IS GUTS AND MADNESS...!"

"System, launch Exchange Feature."

[Activating Exchange Feature….]

Perhaps, it was time to temporarily give his car a portion of his high Strength and Endurance.