My Formula 1 System

Since Luca had been advised to refrain from any rigorous car action for about six days, the team at Trampos saw no issue in letting him travel ahead to London for the British Grand Prix. Whether he chose to stay in Germany and rest or fly early to the UK, the choice was his. There would be no drills for him, no simulator runs, no media demands till race weekend began. That was actually rare freedom for an F1 driver at this time of the year.

After weighing his options, Luca decided he didn't want to waste the time cooped up in Berlin, so he thought heading to London might be the more fulfilling option. After all, the British GP was going to be one of the crown jewels of the calendar, and he wasn't sure how long the teams would remain stationed there after the race.

It could be a very short duration. And Luca wasn't certain when next he'd get a stretch of time long enough to spend with his family in London again. This season was more tighter than the last, with more back-to-back races abroad, so Luca knew with his decision, he could afford to stretch his London visit a little beyond what was standard. An extra four to five days, maybe.

Luca made sure he packed his luggage with the same kind of exactitude as if he were officially heading off for a full race weekend. That was how he coded his mind, and not to think otherwise just because he was flying in ahead of schedule. Even though he still had the flu somewhere in his quick recovery, he made sure packed efficiently and without the help of anyone. He also did not skip his meds. It reminded him of his mother, and he quickly made checking her medications in his top three priority when he would arrive in London.

His personal team didn't hold back either, and together, they abandoned Germany prematurely and boarded the Hawthorne 3 bound for London. There were no complaints from any of them concerning the untimely departure. In fact, all of them were more cheery because the UK was a more familiar ground to every single one of them no matter how long Luca remained a Trampos driver in Germany.

So, as the aircraft flew away from Berlin, there was a warm sense of déjà vu that coursed through them.

Their arrival in London went as smoothly as expected and so was their ushering. The comfort of London's air and its familiar grey skies welcomed Luca like an old friend. He hadn't been here for more than a month after signing for Trampos and so, he was bit hyperacute to every impression he perceived.

As always, logistics were airtight; their pre-booked luxury hotel near Southbank was already prepped for check-in, and the staff knew exactly who they were hosting. Luca quietly entered his suite with no intention to rest just yet. He had a reasonable pile of strategy reports, debriefs, engineer notes, guides and car setup sheets all in his inbox, to absorb and rehearse mentally.

While arranging his things, Luca decided to put on the TV. And while he scanned the channels absentmindedly, he paused when he saw a live broadcast of a Premier League match just starting. Luca almost ignored it, but it took more than it was supposed to before he recognised the team jerseys. The red team was Kendall's team, and Kendall was in the lineup!

Luca didn't realize his old friend was having a match today and right now. He knew he wasn't supposed to actually be on track, but the thought of knowing there were other sports currently going on just as F1 was, made him more conscious of the world's vastitude.

'I guess I'm able to watch this race. Will there even be seats left?'

Most of the regular tickets were gone, obviously, but his search turned up a few last-minute hospitality seats. Their prices were steep, but Luca could comfortably settle them. So he did just that. And within minutes, he threw on a thick jacket and organized a route to the stadium.

Luca arrived majorly alone with a handsome gait that attracted a lot of people, mostly high-status women. Despite his sickness, he still commanded attention simply because he was one of the top 10 most popular people on Earth right now. His recognition mandated the swarming of paparazzi, but Dino, whom he came with, made sure he entered the stadium in peace.

There was always a small stir when someone of his profile showed up unannounced, especially at a Premier League game. And since Luca was an ex-driver for Jackson Racing, an English F1 team, his name was still a frequent word that left lips on a daily basis.

Luca met a lot of internal officials and high-status individuals who were very delighted to see him in the same venue. And as the match was still unfolding, the crowd of thousands began to turn their heads mostly because they saw some turning their heads. And those who they saw, were turning their heads because they had no idea why another stand was rousing. But the news eventually spread and everyone got to know, Luca Rennick, professional F1 driver for Trampos Racing was in the building.

By the time Luca climbed the stairs to his hospitality box, the game was already approaching halftime. The leaderboard was 1:0; the blue pride of London, the home team, were leading Kendall's team ruthlessly. Luca decided to settle and watch the rest of the half and the next that would come. His grand cushion directly faced the large stadium, but even though this stadium was large, it still didn't compare to the smallest F1 circuit on the calendar—RBR.

----

The second half dragged on without much change. Though Kendall's team pressed hard and had a few close calls, the scoreboard refused to budge. The home team played a stubborn, disciplined game, and the match eventually ended 1–0 in their favor.

Luca didn't fully grasp the nuances and plays, but his fingers did twitch whenever there was a close call for a goal and the crowd roared. His verdict was that Kendall's team eventually lost steam after pressing too hard.

He remained seated in the hospitality suite for about thirty minutes after the final whistle, giving time for the crowd to thin out and for the post-match protocols to wrap. Once the bulk of the noise had died down, he finally left his box and began the slow descent through the stadium, following the internal path that led toward the restricted zones.

Accessing Kendall's team locker room wasn't smooth. Luca's name opened many doors, but not every steward at this stadium seemed impressed by his motorsport credentials. One or two security points refused him entry outright, asking for formal clearance. But eventually, with the help of a few officials who recognized him and vouched on his behalf, he was let through.

The hallway to the visiting team's section was quiet, with faint sounds of showers and staff voices echoing through. When he finally reached the locker room doors, a coach nodded him in.

Inside the locker room, Kendall's team was quite sour after the race. They were filled with disappointment after losing an important match, and so, the locker room looked exactly like how football locker rooms looked like after a game.

Then the locker room door clicked open, and in stepped someone no one expected. Many of them turned or looked up slowly and unbothered, thinking it was someone familiar within the team's circle or their head manager.

"Gentlemen, we've got company."

Luca stood at the doorpost and let the men recognize him.

"Arrrrhhhhhh????"

Their faces beamed! Stunned. Surprised. Amazed. Confused. Astonished.

Kendall burst out laughing, his whole frame rocking with surprise as he jumped from the bench and stumbled over. "You're not serious!" he shouted with amusement.

Kendall's palm soared into the air and Luca met it with his, creating the greatest and loudest dab ever heard. One by one, the rest stood and Luca met each with the same dab or a handshake for the few who remained sour. He also told them that their performance was solid, spirited, and deserved more than the scoreboard allowed. The room's energy changed just like that.

"Will you have some time later this evening, tonight?" Luca asked when he and Kendall had time together. They had never chilled out since Ansel's demise, and had only communicated on the phone since then. Luca was busy making plans for their chill, while Kendall was just making funny remarks about his new appearance.

"...my mum cooks very well, so we can have dinner too," Luca added, hoping Kendall had been listening.

Kendall took a deep breath and nodded. "Say less, bro. I'm there."

----

Before Luca and Kendall arrived at Clapham to visit Mrs. Rennick, they had already toured around. Their discussion was centered around Ansel as expected, and the burden his death had placed on Laura. They both agreed that Ansel's death had left a cavernous silence, one that no amount of condolences or tribute could truly fill. As his friends, they took it upon themselves to monitor the family together from now onwards.

Luca had already informed his mother that a friend would be coming over, and so, she was ready to receive them. She had also made sure that everything about dining that night was ready.

When the bell rang and she opened the door, her face softened at once, seeing Luca with a black, smiling man beside him.

"Come in, you're welcome."

When Kendall had comfortably settled in, Mrs. Rennick calmly shoved Luca into the kitchen where they often had their talks. Firstly, she checked his temperature and eyes having heard he had caught the flu. Then she asked him if he had seen his sister or his girlfriend.

Luca shook his head, answering no. "I only chatted with Isabella on the phone when she messaged to know if I've arrived," he said.

Mrs. Rennick narrowed her eyes to his reply. "Did she sound sad? Or off in any way?"

"None that I noticed. You know me, mom. I'm not exactly good at picking up all that stuff, especially over text."

Mrs. Rennick exhaled deeply and shook her head. "You've spoilt Sophia to the core," she muttered, half to herself, half to him. "That girl's become a brat. You better go scold and discipline her, Luca. I won't tolerate it if she makes Isabella sad again. Not in this household."

Luca was stunned by the phrase about Sophia making Isabella sad. When he asked his mom about it, she narrated that Sophia and her gaggle of posh little friends had practically ganged up on Isabella at the villa, tossing sly remarks about her being a pick-me, Luca's maid, the so-called wife with no ring, and questioning how long he'd even stay loyal given his lifestyle.

It was clear Mrs. Rennick over-exaggerated, but she wasn't out of point.

Luca thought about this and he didn't like it one bit. But he understood girls were naturally expressive, especially when gathered in their little circles. Words could fly, lines could be crossed, and emotions, sometimes unfiltered, could sting without intention.

When he started dating Isabella, he was certain jealousy would come from both sides. As a man, he could handle his, and so it was his responsibility to protect her own peace.

Although Luca didn't voice his thoughts, Mrs. Rennick could read the quiet corners of his face.

"Do you plan to let this go without scolding that girl?!"

With low eyes, Luca replied, "You've been disciplining her for 18 years. Has she changed? And plus, I'm not good at scolding."

A sigh escaped his mother, but before she could press further, Luca lifted his shoulders with finality. "Peace isn't settlement; peace is resistance. I've got a friend here who's ready for your famous dinner, so let's eat."