My Formula 1 System

The cause of the uproar at Hungaro Ring was yet another crash. An Avidavis Motorsport driver had lost control and plunged straight through the barricade—no contact, just an outright miscalculation. The crash was severe enough for the rear of his Dallara to catch a wisp of blue flame. The fire crew swiftly intervened, though the flames barely lingered on the wings.

Luca was in the midst of executing an important move when Moritz announced the call for the safety car—the third time this race. He groaned in frustration, his momentum forcibly stalled as he fell in line behind Max while the track was cleared.

As they lined up, Luca noted that Max Addams' car was within the proximity needed for the Advanced Bundle to analyze. He initiated the System's scan, grinning as the performance metrics populated.

[Performance Metrics:

Top Speed: 300 km/h (100 km/h) (300 km/h—100km/h in the last five seconds) (20km/h each millisecond)

Acceleration: 3.5 sec (0—100km/h) (28.57 km/h per second)

Max Power: 620 HP

Aerodynamic Efficiency: 1.5 ]

[Operational Status:

Fuel Level: 52%

Tire Condition: Worn

Telemetry Status: Active

DRS Availability: Not Engaged ]

Luca's grin widened. The fuel level, the worn tire condition, and the overall operational status told him everything he needed to know that Max Addams would have no choice but to pit soon. With Luca trailing so closely, only a flawless, one-second pit stop could save Max from losing the lead.

"...and we're back to green! Hungaro Ring cleared, race resumes...!"

[3rd Position closing in]

"...The safety car is in, and the field is unleashed once more! Max Addams controls the pace as they barrel down the main straight..."

[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 1st Position]

[You are 3 seconds away, host.]

**Keep close. Get ready to seize the chance—I can almost feel the burn of his tires. Trust me**

Luca held his line tight behind Max's as they tore down the main straight. With time, he felt the whoosh provided by Max's rear wing whip to the side of his own Dallara. There was no drag at his front wings, prompting 100% effectiveness of his SomberCore's power on his speed.

[Slipstream Mastery +1]

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 75%]

[Speed Boosted!]

[You are 2 seconds away, host.]

"... Rennick is within DRS range now. One mistake from Addams and he'll take the position one with ease..."

"...I don't think he'd be making a mistake, Steve. Max Addams is tearing away from the track, his car needs many changes and surely, Luca Rennick will claim P1 in this Grand Prix..."

[You are 0.8 seconds away, host.]

**Confirmation from Velocità, he's heading into the pits**

The cameras cut to Addams as his car veered off the main straight and peeled into the pit lane. His crew scrambled into action, but before Max had fully committed to the pit stop, Luca shot past him and headed into the turns.

[1st Position]

[Overtaking Skill +1]

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 87.5%]

"...Luca Rennick leads the Hungarian Grand Prix!"

**You own P1 again. Good Job. Excellent job. Stay steady**

Luca exhaled deeply as he powered through Turns 5, 6, and 7. The sun had sunk below the horizon now, and its orange glow was being replaced by a bluish-gray sky that loomed over the circuit. He had reclaimed his position, and Oliver Kristensen had seized P2, relegating Max to P3 just ahead of his teammate, Dani Walding. Max managed to exit the pits quickly enough to avoid slipping further to P4.

Settling his nerves, Luca drove fast but steady, weaving deftly through curves and bends. His focus shifted momentarily to his most critical display.

[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL-TIME:

-Car Speed: 285 km/h

-Heart Rate: 107 bpm

-Operational Status: 75% (Fair)

-Breathing: Slightly Elevated

-Distance covered: 190000m

-Time: 55 min ]

[40th Lap]

Luca activated the radio, his thoughts now fixated on the necessity of another pitstop. As the F2 standard chassis, Dallaras often relied on soft tires, typically requiring two or three stops per race depending on the number of laps.

"Tires still have life, but we're on softs, and I don't want to gamble too long."

**Copy, Luca. We're aiming for a stop at Lap 45. Tire degradation is on target—at least, you're managing them well. We'll box for another set of softs unless conditions demand otherwise**

[Current Lap: 41]

[Tire Degradation: 43%]

[Estimated Wear by Lap 50: 72%]

Luca bit his lip, his focus shifting between the track ahead and the subtle drag he felt from his car's handling. The contact with Miles earlier had clipped his front wing—not visibly damaged, but enough to spark doubt. He could already feel a slight imbalance, particularly in the high-speed corners where aerodynamic precision mattered most.

Would it worsen over time? Who knew? But the thought of losing precious seconds to a front wing replacement at the pitstop made him hesitate.

Meanwhile, Kristensen had clawed his way into contention, sitting solidly in P2. For the first time this season, the usually mid-pack driver looked like a genuine threat, clearly eager to push harder and claim P1. Luca couldn't blame him, let alone underestimate him.

At least Pitstop Prodigy would help, Luca thought, toggling the radio again to speak.

[42nd Lap]

"How long will a front wing change cost us?"

**We aren't an F1 team crew, Luca. Maybe 8-10 seconds. I know there's a slight issue with the downforce—we've noticed. It was the bump, right?**

"Yes."

**You can't manage?**

"It might be a problem. We won't know until later."

Moritz hesitated. **We'll try to be quick, then**

[Analyzing 2nd Position's distance from host and Dallara (F2 04)...]

[2nd Position is 4 sec away, host.]

[System's prediction: that value might remain constant]

Luca began calculating. An 8-10 second pitstop—reduced somewhat by Pitstop Prodigy—plus another 1.5-2 seconds leaving the pitlane, and perhaps 0.5 seconds stabilizing back on the track.

He needed more of a gap to Kristensen to cover the deficit.

Glancing at the side mirror, Luca tried to study Kristensen's car. Unfortunately, the violet chassis was too far to analyze, though the confidence with which it approached suggested its Operational Status was strong.

Sighing as he led the drivers out of Turn 12 and onto the straight, Luca muttered under his breath. "Who would've known, Oliver? Who would've known."

[45th Lap]

**Your call**

"Yes."

**Roger. Box, then. Telemetry shows reduced downforce on the front wing affecting your cornering. It's good you suggested it—it's not catastrophic yet, but in a few laps…**

Luca already knew. He had a deep connection with any single-seater he synchronized with. Flashing his lights to signal the team, he braced himself as the pit entry loomed ahead. His tires peeled into the pitlane as the milliseconds delta between him and Kristensen began to shrink.

The crew moved with choreographed precision as Luca boxed. Wheels popped off and fresh tires were fixed into place, while the new front wing waited.

It took long even with Pitstop Prodigy. "Come on, come on," Luca muttered under his breath as the crew finished the wing change. He caught a glimpse of Ansel seated at the paddock. He wanted to ponder on his teammate, but the tires clicked on, and the green light flashed above him.

Luca hit the throttle once the car dropped from the jack, feeling the familiar power surge of his SomberCore beneath him. He shot out of the pit box, the red-and-black Dallara roaring into the pitlane, both the crowd and the commentary cheering through Hungaro Ring.

Luca hoped he was fast enough to slip back in, maybe miliseconds before Kristensen, who even had Max Addams glued to his tail. But Kristensen was taking none of it, he had his Retona car move with a surge of momentum, letting Luca have the small gap behind him.

[2nd Position]

"...for the first time ever in the championship, Oliver Kristensen of Retona Racing is leading the race! He now holds the top spot, weaving like a maniac! And if he defends well, he might grab those points...!"

"...Kristensen has played his cards perfectly today, positioning his F2 04 at strategic points after Hahn and Bellingham's crash... He will have to hold on now, the relentless pursuit of the two giants–Rennick and Addams–is clawing up to him..."

**You can still take it back, don't worry, mate**

"I know," Luca replied, positioning himself right behind Kristensen's Dallara. He also had in mind Max Addams was right behind him. A threat he was? Yes.

[Analyzing 3rd Position's distance from host and Dallara (F2 04)...]

[3rd Position is 3 sec away, host.]

[System's prediction: that value might change and decrease, not in your favor]

"I know."

[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 2nd Position]

[You are 2 seconds away, host.]

[Speed Boosted!]

[You are 0.7 seconds away, host.]

"...oh, and Luca Rennick is going to try to snatch back P1 once again, going for the outside line...!

[Calculating host drift exit...]

[.... successfully calculated]

Luca's car weaved into P1 smoothly at Turn 10, but a brief loss of traction unsettled his rhythm. Kristensen capitalized instantly, seizing the lead with a sharp inside maneuver.

"... Kristensen is holding steady at the bottleneck of Turn 11, but Rennick is relentless! They are inches apart and engines are screaming in effort!"

Experience more tales on empire

Luca found himself behind Kristensen again, but he wasn't willing to stay there for long. His System announced:

[Straightaway ahead]

Luca's instincts sharpened, as he knew that would be a perfect chance to create a gap after overtaking. His eye moved about through the apex of Turn 12. He needed a good, nearly perfect exit as Kristensen was executing a surprisingly good defensive broadening.

[Track Span Analysis: 3.2 meters wide (inside lane available)] [Optimal Racing Line Calculated: 2.4 meters]

[Car Width: 1.9 meters] [Margin for Error: 0.6 meters (0.3 meters on each side)]

[Possibility of Overtake: 84% success rate] [Risk of Wheel Contact with Rival: 10%]

"I'll take it!"

"...there, Jon, Luca Rennick is trying again.... going through the inside line before the main straight!"

Kristensen did very well to defend, but that's all he could do if he wanted to avoid a possible 10-second penalty. He had taken the middle, most conventional lane, while Luca nosed his chassis through the recommended space provided by his System. He deftly tilted his wheel, his tires grazing the curbs as the track signs signalled the apex of the last turn.

Luca slipped in before Kristensen, keeping a good traction as he emerged into the straight first.

[1st Position]

"...and Luca Rennick is back in the lead of the Hungarian Grand Prix! What a masterful cut through Turn 12! Kristensen is now chasing as Rennick surges forward!"

"Yes! Let's go!" Luca muttered, pumping himself up.

**Good job**

[You are gathering speed]

[Spatial Awareness +1]

[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 100%]

[Reflexes +1]

[Ding!]

[Power-up failed!]

[Sync Bar is currently full]

[46th Lap]

[SYNC BAR COMPLETE]

[Host, Sync Buff can now be used]

"That's what I'm talking about," Luca whispered, glancing at the fully charged Sync Bar. There was no better feeling than filling it up, knowing he could deploy it when the moment was right.

[2nd Position closing in]

[ACTIVATE SYNC BUFF?]

[Y / N]Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"How far is 2nd Position from me?"

[Analyzing 2nd Position's distance from host and Dallara (F2 04)...]

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

[System's prediction: that value would increase in your favor due to Sync Buff]

"And what if I don't use Sync Buff?"

[Analyzing 2nd Position's distance from host and Dallara (F2 04)...]

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

[System's prediction: that value might remain constant in your favor]

[ACTIVATE SYNC BUFF?]

[Y / N]

The prompt reappeared, but Luca hesitated. At Lap 46, there were still sixteen laps to go. A Sync Buff typically lasted only 5 to 7 laps, which meant exhausting it before Lap 53 might leave him vulnerable in the race's closing moments.

Luca wasn't willing to risk it. Who knows? Anything could happen within those few laps left till 62nd, stripping away his second straight Grand Prix win he already had in the bag. With quick mental calculations, he decided he'd hold off until Lap 55 to activate the Sync Buff for maximum impact.

[ACTIVATE SYNC BUFF?]

[Y / N]

Luca dismissed the notification and focused on his driving.