My Formula 1 System

Yup. Luca called it. The sleep didn't better his state. It made it worse.

At the first sunburst of day, Luca's hotel room remained quiet when he usually got up early. Morning yolk fully broke, and he was still under the thick layers of his duvet. The nausea didn't leave at all; instead, it evolved into a complete sickness.

Luca felt like his dreams were totally affected by the sickness too because they made less sense than usual dreams, and were disjointed without clear synchrony.

He stayed in bed through 8 AM with the fever, and his skin felt more sensitive like the leaves of a shameplant. His eyes throbbed, and every muscle ached, which was the primary source of his discomfort.

Fortunately, there was little headache, but if Luca could trade some symptoms for a headache, he would. The simple act of breathing was now laborious, and that persistent cold-hot feeling made him question the physical elements of his reality.

[SYSTEM ONLINE...]

[Host has missed Thursday's Daily Routine]

[Detecting Host...]

[...Successfully Detected!]

[Ding!]

[System detects abnormal deterioration in host's health metrics.]

[Vitals Unstable: Core temperature elevated | Pulse rate inconsistent | Focus retention: below 60%]

[Host's high Physical and Endurance Attributes have delayed the full onset of symptoms. Good job, host!]

[However, current system analysis confirms: VIRAL INFECTION]

[Symptoms detected: fever, nausea, muscular ache, auditory fog, and fatigue-induced disorientation.]

[Recommendation: Seek medical attention immediately.]

By 10 AM, Luca knew he had to force himself up in order to go for the checkup that was scheduled today. He reached for his phone and called his emergency, Manuela, with trembling hands.

After that, he rolled over and let his feet drop to the floor. With as much strength as he could muster, Luca shuffled to the door of the hotel room with bedsheets and wrappers tight in his grip. He managed to unlock it, and then reversed his journey back to the bed. But this time, he sat on the edge of its foot, still shivering.

He couldn't believe he was sick. He wanted to recall when last, but that must be long ago before he started racing, so the many events of his racing career had clouded his memory.

A few minutes later, the door swung open with no lock resistance. Mallow and Manuela barged in without hesitation. Luca expected them to be still dressed in their nightwear, but they were already ready to leave the hotel, dressed curtly in their signature attires.

With one look at Luca's pale face, Manuela and Mallow knew that the illness was now a major matter. They crowded him with concern, inspected him, before Manuela sent herself back into the corridor outside of the room, saying she was going downstairs to request the hotel's medical emergency team.

Mallow, meanwhile, placed his hand on Luca's back, guiding him slowly toward the bathroom. "C'mon, let's not wait till you pass out. Take a bath," he said. "I'll lay out your clothes and check your messages. Anything urgent, I'll sort it."

While Luca managed to take a shower, Mallow moved around the grand hotel room with focus. He began to pack up Luca's belongings, open his secondary device to check for any important notifications, and also attended to Luca, giving him anything he needed while in the bathroom.

By the time Luca left the bathroom, dressed and ready to leave, the hotel medical emergency had already arrived with Manuela. They wasted no time because this was Luca Rennick in question—champion of Germany, their beloved nation.

The bath had temporarily cleared away most of the symptoms, but on the bad side, it amplified those that were left. Without wasting a moment, Luca allowed the medics to handle him. They were led by a prominent head in navy, and the man checked Luca with skilled fingers and sharp eyes.

At the end, he didn't offer a concrete diagnosis on the spot, but he prescribed two fast-acting medications to help stabilise Luca's system until the scheduled examination.

A strip of small white pills and a hydration supplement were handed over, and Luca, ever the calm listener, took both without protest.

Gratitude was exchanged quickly but sincerely between both parties. Mallow and Manuela gave nods of thanks and also offered handshakes. Soon after, the room was cleared and Luca's team had gathered their things. With sunglasses shielding his tired eyes, Luca stepped into their private SUV and they left the hotel around a few minutes to 1 PM.

They had a quiet drive to the clinic, but Luca's dry coughs here and there regularly broke the silence. Mr. Winter's private sports clinic institute was in the middle of the upper-class metropolis in Berlin, so it wasn't a long drive. Luca had been to the clinic many times for periodic checkups, so Mr. Winter was a friend, not only a physician.

Because of their close relationship, Mr. Winter was very concerned when Manuela informed him that Luca had become more ill. So, he made his way outside the facility to wait for their arrival. Once they showed up and pleasantries were quickly exchanged, Luca was led to the examination suite where he was assessed in an orderly hurry.

Mr. Winter decided to work alone and began by checking the essentials—his temperature, breathing pattern, pulse, even how quickly his body reacted to touch. After that, he drew a small vial of blood to run a quick test for flu or any lingering virus, and also checked how hydrated he was. The verdict of the last was poor.

After that, a nurse hooked Luca up to an IV drip that made his arm feel chilly. Mr. Winter also instructed the nurse to conduct breathing routines for him in order to unknot his internally tightened chest.

Mallow and Manuela watched from the side as Mr. Winter delivered the result calmly: post-thermal depletion combined with a viral load. Remember the heat wave from the Qatar Grand Prix? The heat wave had stripped his immune system bare, and a mild flu strain saw the opportunity and quickly settled in.

So, although Luca had endured the heat wave's peril on the track, his immune system was affected and likely, some other drivers too or anyone else that was in Lusail. And perhaps during travel or during celebration, he had picked up the flu that was causing the illness. The illness wasn't dangerous, Mr. Winter assured them, but it was enough to explain the lethargy, nausea, and overall crash in stamina.

Mr. Winter then proceeded to prescribe a straightforward course of medication including another IV infusion that evening, antiviral regimen and anti-inflammatories to help his muscles and joints recover.

At conclusion, Manuela received the full medical statement from him starting from checkup procedures, diagnosis, prescriptions and recommendations. All these needed to come to the knowledge of Trampos' own medical crew because Luca was a Trampos driver, and his health was their concern too. Mr. Winter, who wasn't new to the order of things, complied and gave her the necessary details.

'After a race like that, I believe I'm bound to pay the price for crossing the finishing line first,' Luca thought wittily when him and his team left the clinic after the second drip.

It wasn't yet nightfall by the time Luca was done at the clinic. The sky still held onto a pale amber hue, streaked with traces of drifting clouds. Mallow took the driver's seat while Luca eased himself into the passenger side. Manuela had another errand to attend to, so it was just the two of them this time.

In the sense that Luca's home was quite far from the clinic, they considered it to be a short journey, coupled with the heavy traffic at some places. Luca was feeling more human again after the drips, so he engaged in a conversation with Mallow in their usual tone and typical topics.

At some point, Mallow turned on the radio, and an old pop-soul anthem began broadcasting. This was a song that had ruled the airwaves over a decade ago, as popular as the word popularity could reach. Luca and Mallow instantly recognised the song as the car was filled with its tunes. Luca remembered it from when he was about to begin middle school, while Mallow recalled the days when he was still dating his ex-wife, thinking he was in love.

As they approached Luca's estate, the chorus rose, and without planning it, both of them sang along like cats in the middle of the night.

"If I lose you now, I lose myself forever…...!"

The two men laughed to their full at the end of the song just as Luca alighted from the car in front of his property. Luca exhaustedly waved Mallow goodbye before entering the house and preparing to go to bed for a more active day tomorrow than today.

He didn't forget to add the song to playlist, and even with sore eyes, he also managed to play three full games in his career mode of F1 Monoposto before he fully retired for the night.

---

The next morning was pale and golden in his property, a strange new change in early morning aura. Luca saw it as a fresh beginning for spring, so he rose warmly with grace at his exact wake-up time. He was still far from a hundred percent, maybe around sixty, but that didn't mean sleeping in wouldn't amplify the illness and the fever.

He still felt that internal cold and fever, but he could stand and walk properly. But he didn't push his luck, so he skipped his Daily Routine again and spent the time instead, walking the massive distance of the acres of land until he could see the next neighbours about a stone's throw from the spot.

Fruit slices, bread, and light tea was his breakfast, and then he took the morning round of his prescribed medication before heading upstairs to dress. It was around twelve when he gathered his things, tidied his hair a bit, and prepared to head out. He was going to the Trampos HQ.

Today was drills, and Trampos were already aware of his sickness, so his presence wasn't required. But Luca wanted to come anyways, check in, keep the rhythm and also let Mr. Ammerman and his crew assess the flu and know exactly if it might affect the team.

By some minutes to 1 PM, Luca was already at Trampos HQ, having driven himself in his sleek black Jaguar. He walked straight past the main buildings and briefing quarters and headed instead to the medical suite. The staff were already informed of his condition thanks to Manuela, who had emailed Mr. Ammerman a detailed review of Mr. Winter's earlier assessment.

Mr. Ammerman, with his experience and ice-calm temper, took Luca into the assessment room without a word of complaint. They didn't need to run as many tests this time because Mr. Winter's notes were comprehensive. So, they just re-scanned his respiratory function and monitored a few stress markers. After the short process, Ammerman confirmed the same conclusion: the heat wave had overtaxed Luca's system and left his immunity wide open to a viral strain.

"Another week of rest and proper medication, and you'll be just fine," Mr. Ammerman said to Luca after all was checked. He fished out Luca's and the team's real concern, and he was happy to be the one to provide relief to all. "And let's not worry. You'll be ready in time for the British Grand Prix."

Luca simply nodded with relief, happy that this season's campaign was still under his control.

British Grand Prix

Location: London, England

Date: March 24

Time: 3 PM

Track: Stadhaven

Track Length: 6 km

Total Laps: 55

Track Type: Permanent race circuit

Lap Record: Marcellus Rodnick 1:13.456