"...Quinto lugar, Ansel Hahn...!"
"...Cuarto lugar, Sean Aaronson...!"
"...Tercer lugar, Albert Derstappen...!"
"...Segundo lugar, Max Addams...!"
"...Pole Position, Luca Rennick...!"
"...Damas y caballeros, prepárense, porque el Gran Premio de España de Fórmula 2 comenzará en aproximadamente treinta minutos...!"
"...Luca Rennick is at pole again for this Spanish GP. Albert Derstappen qualifies for P3 for the first time this season. This is the eighth round of Formula 2 and only seven teams have been mathematically predicted not to win the championship! The top eight could cling to miracles or make it happen themselves."
Luca believed Ansel was now just being unnecessarily distant. If it was his recent form that might be causing this gloominess, Luca doubted it, considering this was actually Ansel's best season ever in F2 when comparing his standings, number of wins, and podium finishes to previous seasons. And Luca was completely sure Ansel never displayed this kind of attitude when he and Denko were teammates. So, what could the problem be?
Usually, he and Ansel would converse before the race about how they would execute their own personal strategies whenever they had the chance. They would even whisper about which rival to target and how to passively force them into a DNF if possible. But now, Luca and Ansel dressed quietly, no words shared, their individual minds racing. Ansel sat on a bench and performed his ritual as usual.
Luca couldn't pinpoint the origin of all this tension, but he had no time to dwell on it, his mind focused on the championship as it was nearing its end. That's why he had the beach day planned out for them.
Sitting at pole, Luca could feel the heat steadily growing in the cockpit, creeping up his feet and spreading to every part of his body as he listened to the majority of the crowd chant a well-known cheer, but in their native language. The first red light would soon appear, and they would officially kick off the Featured Race of the Spanish Grand Prix.
With Max seated on the outside and Derstappen on the inside of row two, Luca was eager to see how this new structure of battle would unfold. Seventy-two laps would definitely not be an easy feat, and with some F1 drivers and managers present in the high glass rooms, one could say the winner of this GP would gain high recognition, especially given the legendary circuit they were competing on.
[Daily Quest has been Issued!]
The quest is the race? C'mon, System, please don—
[-·-EMERGE FIRST OUT OF THIS 72-LAP RACE-·-]
[This will help improve your overall Attributes and Skills, making you use and implement them.]
[Reward for Completing Saturday's Daily Quest: (EXP)
-Straightaway Chopping +3 ]
[Consequence for Failing Saturday Daily Quest: Punishment
-Persistent discharge of watery mucus from nose caused by forced Rhinorrhea.]
Luca blinked twice to make sure he was seeing correctly. This was exactly what he had been waiting for! The System had issued a Daily Quest with rewards that could skyrocket his Attributes, potentially pushing Strength and Intelligence to 20—something he had been striving for all this while.
Luca smiled as his eyes landed on the +3 boosts to Pitstop Prodigy and Chopping skills. "What a great summer gift," he thought, his spirits lifted.
"A runny nose? That's just wild. If I fail this quest, a runny nose would be very bad for me," Luca muttered, shaking his head. The Daily Quest was simple in theory: finish first in Mandalora. But despite starting on pole, Luca wasn't entirely sure how the race would unfold.
He sighed and placed his trust in his abilities to win his third straight Grand Prix, inching closer to becoming the Formula 2 world champion.
The second light flashed on. The third, the fourth.
Max Addams' fingers stiffened on his wheel as he glared hard at the grid lights, awaiting the fifth light and the moment they would all disappear. When the lights finally went out, he gritted his teeth and surged forward, aiming for a harsh early lead. But Luca launched commandingly off the line, taking charge and leading the pack out of their boxes.
[Host is participating in an Official Race]
[ANALYZING AND COLLECTING TRACKING DATA...]
[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:
-Operational Status: 90% (Very Good)
-Breathing: Calm & Steady
-Distance covered: 90m
With Grid Launch, Luca surged ahead with a solid push off the line, sending the Spanish GP into full throttle. Behind the scenes, Mr. Mallow and Mr. Fisher observed from the high glass rooms as the colorful Dallaras wove through the demanding 3rd Section of the circuit. Their conversation revolved around finalizing the lucrative four-year extension for Luca at Trampos. They debated the benefits of securing Luca's talents long-term in the feeder series, discussed his marketability and constant potential for the Constructors' championship contention, and reviewed the financial implications for both sides. Despite minor disagreements, both seemed optimistic about reaching an agreement soon.
Mr. Mallow had earlier informed Luca that they were running on softs today, tires notorious for their quick degradation. The strategy was to pit around Lap 15, then reassess for the next stint. Luca, however, silently wished for harder tires, feeling that a pitstop so early in the race might not be the safest option, especially with Max relentlessly attempting to overtake him at every turn.
Unlike F2 teams, Formula 1 teams often opted for harder tires due to the immense efficiency and power of their engines, which could wear down softer tires in mere minutes. In contrast, B-level engines like the SomberCore were typically paired with soft tires, as they balanced performance effectively. Soft tires were better suited to the power output of B-level engines, providing quicker responsiveness. On the other hand, harder tires, while more durable, could result in slower reactions and response if paired—often just a matter of milliseconds but still noticeable in high-performance scenarios.
The yellow flags waved out during the peak of growing action in the 3rd lap. Luca wondered why as he heard the roar and cheers of the crowd in Mandalora intensify than usual. He deftly adjusted his car's readings to obey the yellow flags as he switched on the radio. "What's happening?"
**Track invasion, Luca. Spectators have overrun into Sector 7**