My Formula 1 System

Luca returned to the facility and back to the crew, spending the rest of the day relaxing around the hotel and the small track nearby. Some of the team members had planned to attend the F1 race at 4 PM, but the Circuito del Barca–Raval was completely filled and sold out. Even the exclusive reserved sections were fully occupied as notable figures from around the world flew in to witness the F1 Spanish Grand Prix in person.

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With no access to the race, the team decided to entertain themselves within the venue. Others opted to stay in their rooms to unwind. Around 3:30 PM, after a satisfying lunch, Luca felt a wave of fatigue and decided to head back to his room. On the way, he paused for a moment outside Ansel's door, hesitating as if he was debating whether to knock. He shook off the thought, swiped his key card, and entered his quiet, cool room.

Once inside, Luca immediately turned on the TV. Like many others, he wanted to watch the Spanish GP too, so he let the pre-race coverage—recaps, analytics, debates, and interviews—play in the background while he prepared a snack to enjoy during the race. He predicted the event would officially conclude around 6 PM, giving him a solid two hours of entertainment.

From the kitchenette, Luca returned with a classic Italian panino, resembling a homemade burger but with a simple and flavorful combination of cheese, tomato, and a slice of ham. Satisfied with his creation, he walked back to the main area, closed the curtains to block out the warm afternoon sun, and sank into the bed with the remote in hand.

The television buzzed to life, informing him that the volume was at 100%, though it could go up to 300%. Luca left it as it was, dropping the remote slowly as an intriguing F1 data graphic flashed onto the screen:

PROVISIONAL TEAMS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (TOP5) Scroll for more.

Position | Team | Points

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1. | Jackson Racing | 150n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

2. | Squadra Corse | 141

3. | Nevada HanSama | 125

4. | Bueseno Velocità | 106

5. | Haddock Racing | 102

Luca's jaw dropped open. Wow! Such competition! Everyone is a freaking threat! There's only a 48-point difference between Jackson and Haddock?!

He stared at the standings in disbelief, marveling at how tight the competition was this season. And to think he considered the F2 championship intense! These F1 teams swapped positions after every GP as if it were a game. Just before the Hungarian Grand Prix, Squadra Corse had led the standings, but Jackson Racing had upended them with Rodnick's stellar P1 finish.

Shaking his head in astonishment, Luca focused back on the screen as Mandalora's track was shown from a bird's-eye view, with its 200,000-capacity stadium buzzing with activity. The sheer spectacle of it all had him hooked. It had been a while since he'd watched a live race brimming with this much tension, and he was more than ready to dive in.

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Luca woke up feeling noticeably more refreshed and active than he had the previous day. As he rose from bed, his mind replayed the thrilling race he had watched the previous evening and the late-night discussions he'd shared with the team in the lounge.

The Spanish Grand Prix had been an absolute spectacle, crowned by Bueseno Velocità's rising star, 23-year-old Jimmy Damgaard, securing his first-ever Grand Prix victory. It wasn't just a personal milestone for Damgaard—it also catapulted Velocità to third place in the championship standings. The race was defined by split-second decisions, daring overtakes, and moments of sheer brilliance from the drivers, with Damgaard capitalizing on every opportunity, and he even outpaced his teammate, Davide DiMarco, to claim the win.

Luca couldn't stop marveling at the intricacies of the race. The stark difference between A-rated engines and the B-tier SomberCore in terms of raw power fascinated him. Yet, the sheer skill level of the drivers made it nearly impossible to discern which cars truly held the upper hand. The blend of cutting-edge chassis designs and human talent blurred the lines between machinery and mastery, leaving Luca marveled.

After getting dressed in swim shorts and a t-shirt, Luca packed his beach essentials—towels, sunscreen, and other necessities. Before leaving, he switched off the TV and lights in his room and made his way downstairs to join the rest of the team.

Luca joined the team as they headed toward the bus. They were still discussing about the most amazing race in the whole of motorsport so far this season, and everyone wanted to air their opinion on what transpired through the 72 Laps. Luca made a deliberate effort to walk beside Ansel as they approached the bus, angling for a seat next to his teammate. His plan actually worked, but the ride to the beach passed in silence, neither of them saying a word.

Trampos, infact, weren't the only F2 team seeking to unwind by the Mediterranean Sea before returning to their respective bases across various countries. News had surfaced that several other F2 teams had planned similar visits to Barceloneta Beach on Monday. Recognizing the significant influx of high-profile racing teams and the potential crowding with civilians, the Barcelona Municipal Beach Authority stepped in to ensure a smoother experience for everyone.

To accommodate the influx while preserving the serenity of the beach, they made the decision to restrict access for that day solely to the F2 teams and their staff. This arrangement struck a balance between exclusivity and capacity, as Barceloneta Beach's vast expanse was more than adequate to host all the teams who had applied without feeling overcrowded.

Each team was allotted their own "wing" or designated section of the beach, ensuring a level of privacy while still fostering an environment for casual mingling between teams. With this organized setup, the F2 teams could enjoy their day under the sun, free from interruptions, while locals and tourists were politely redirected to nearby beaches for their day out.

At least, Trampos was the only top-tier team from the standings to head to the beach. This created a relaxed atmosphere, free of the tension that might have arisen if rival teams had shown up to keep watch from across the sands.

Within minutes of their arrival, Luca spotted Harry, and the two friends quickly reconnected. It wasn't long before introductions followed—Luca introduced Harry to the Trampos Racing crew, while Harry introduced Luca to his own team, OLAC. Their meeting naturally led to the teams mingling, and before long, a casual beach competition was arranged between Trampos and OLAC.

This was precisely the kind of activity that piqued Luca's interest. As the preparations for the games began, he let his gaze drift across the beach, searching for Ansel. He finally spotted him seated calmly beneath an umbrella, deeply engrossed in the book they'd picked out together back in Monte Carlo.

Luca exhaled softly. This wasn't how he'd envisioned things. With the entire Trampos crew now present, rather than just himself, Ansel, and Harry, he wasn't sure if he could lift Ansel's mood as he'd hoped. He had wanted an almost quiet surrounding, but the beach was far from that now.

A beach ball rolled to Luca's bare feet, interrupting his thoughts. A female crew member, dressed in a bikini, jogged over to retrieve the ball as he bent to pick it up. "Soccer, volleyball, or dodgeball? Choose one," she said. As the winner of Saturday's GP, everyone wanted Luca to choose their first game today.

He flashed a smile, snatched the ball back playfully, and ran toward the crew, his toes digging into the warm sand.

"Volleyball! Let's go!" he shouted.