After a week and a half of cultivating this new structure, Mr. Grant and Ms. Vallotton strongly believed Trampos would perform well in Saudi Arabia, which was just a week away. All F2 teams prepped themselves to resume the championship race weekends and kick off the 9th round of the season, where tensions often heightened. Flights to Riyadh were booked, and equipment was disassembled and packed for transport.
Luca firmly believed he was ready. Just one point behind Max Addams, he planned to top the Driver's Standings for the first time this season. All he had to do was claim pole in the qualifying session and win by starting confidently with Pole Position.
Regarding the qualifying session accompanying the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Federation had set it up, and everyone had been informed prior to their arrival in Riyadh. It was one of the most basic qualifying formats known in motorsport, where all drivers would be on the track simultaneously for 30 minutes. Each driver would aim to set the fastest lap time within that 30-minute margin. The times would determine the starting order for the Feature Race on Saturday.
Although this qualifying session might resemble the one they participated in at Barcelona, it was significantly different. Why? In this session, all drivers would be on track simultaneously, battling for space and the ideal racing line. This contrasted with Barcelona's structure, where each driver had the track entirely to themselves during their timed runs, free from traffic and external disruptions.
Luca was aware of these challenges, which was why he anticipated better drivers in P1–P5. These drivers knew how to navigate through slower cars, contend with varying levels of grip on the racing line, and manage the turbulent air from competitors ahead. In Barcelona, most drivers simply sped through the track, unchallenged.
Luca had his physicality, mentality, and belongings ready for the 9th round. This would mark the beginning of his dominance in Formula 2, as Luca predicted his rise to the top of the Driver's Standings and, simultaneously, an increase in the gap between his team, Trampos, and Velocità. Now, Luca felt more than obliged to perform well for Trampos, especially since Mallow had just informed him they'd sign the contract extension in a private meeting as soon as they landed in Riyadh.
Confidence surged through Luca, and he couldn't wait to navigate the Riyadh Zenith Circuit. It would be a night race, and like Monte Carlo, the Riyadh Zenith Circuit was a street circuit weaving through the magnificent buildings of Saudi Arabia. It was a new circuit, perhaps explaining why it had no nickname yet. If it were a renowned circuit, Luca was certain the name "Stellar" would be fitting as well because of its golden and white lights that spread through the city. The footage they were sent made the track look more cinematic!
44 laps. Pretty small. 7 km? Oh, no wonder. The streets must be pretty long.
Luca pocketed the pictures and slipped his new headphones over his ears, connecting them to his brand-new phone. He cranked up his favorite genre of music, hoping the pounding beats might loosen the knot tightening in his chest—or maybe even his heart.
But the music did nothing. Luca was heartbroken.
Heartbreak wasn't something he experienced often. Maybe that was because he'd learned to expect the worst from people for most of his life, bracing himself for disappointment before it could sting. Yet, it wasn't the grand betrayals that got to him—it was the little things, the subtle ways things could crack. And he never thought it would come from Ansel, his friend.
He never thought heartbreak could feel —not for a fellow man. It all began the other day when Luca arrived unannounced at Ansel's home. Ansel had welcomed him warmly, at least at first. But it was after that when things began to sour.
Ansel had said he'd be back shortly, needing to finish some work. Luca had expected to see him again in ten minutes or so, maybe fifteen at most. But an hour ticked by. Alone in the silent living room, Luca listened to the distant sound of Emma's laughter from upstairs, the only thing filling the void.
He told himself to stay patient. Ansel was probably busier than he'd let on, right? But when the hour stretched into an extra thirty minutes, exhaustion crept in. Luca found himself sinking into the couch, his head heavy with sleep. Confused and unsure what to do, he thought about calling out for Ansel or Laura—but he didn't know the house well. It felt like an intrusion to leave the living room.
Finally, after nearly two hours, Ansel returned to find Luca half-asleep on the couch. His explanation was that the work had actually taken longer than expected, but Luca inwardly doubted it. The spark he'd arrived with had dwindled completely, leaving Luca a bag of stuffed emotions and an ache he couldn't shake.
Ansel stayed for only five minutes, engaging in a quick exchange of pleasantries, before Luca called Sara to pick him up. Ansel had barely sat down when she arrived, but by then, Luca's heart felt more ache than his butt.
"Tell Laura and Emma I said goodbye," Luca said quietly, forcing a polite smile.
With a heavy heart, he slipped into Sara's passenger seat under the fading evening sky, the weight of the visit pressing on him. He stayed silent the entire ride home, staring out of the window at a world that seemed quieter than before.
Remembering it now only made his heart heavier, and hard music was definitely not what his ears wanted at the moment. Yet, Luca disliked somber music, so he simply paused the music player but left his headphones on to avoid any disturbances.
Luca joined the crew on the first passenger flight. The second one would be boarded the following day, but for now, the drivers and management were prioritized.
He saw Ansel, greeted him, and even sat with him throughout the ride. Luca wasn't someone who let small issues create rifts in relationships he had built. He was determined to keep taping the cracks until they were sealed.
The team was informed that after the Grand Prix, whichever team topped the table would visit a renowned go-kart academy in Jeddah. Luca wondered if it was a reward or a responsibility. For him, it was a reward—he liked kids. Just another simple reason to push harder and win his fourth consecutive Formula Grand Prix.