Sophia and Mrs. Rennick returned to the UK the following day, and Luca and his team were now in plans on their own return to Berlin.
Surprisingly, Sara and Mallow took the information about his accusation of doping casually, as if it was just one mere high school rumor that could be easily shoved away.
They knew Luca. Perhaps that was why they were casual about it, and they were certain Luca never took any kind of performance-enhancing drug to boost his performance behind the wheel.
It was a rare thing for a Formula driver or any kind of a racer to be indicted on the act of doping. This was because drivers seldom indulged in the act, because even if they enhanced their performance, could they easily do the same to their cars without spending a few hundred millions?
That was why Luca's scenario seemed just fit for it, and the FIA quickly took up the appeal since they rarely get such.
Being in Formula 2, where all drivers were on the same stage of car performance, it was likely for a driver, someone young and ambitious like Luca, to take PEDs to have that edge.
It sharpens the mind, enhances reaction times, and delays fatigue. And these were all crucial factors in a high-intensity motorsport like Formula racing.
A driver on PEDs might exhibit an uncanny consistency in lap times, near-perfect tire management, and an almost inhuman ability to anticipate moves before they happen.
Their endurance would remain high even in physically demanding conditions, such as during back-to-back qualifying sessions or grueling feature races in extreme weather conditions.
And Luca here, had been exhibiting these actions. The FIA didn't have to think twice, for they knew who he was already. Such an appeal wouldn't make sense if a driver like John Roberts was accused.
Unlike Sara and Mallow, Trampos did not take the accusation lightly—especially the management.
Luca hadn't even been the one to break the news. The Federation had already informed the team, likely through a direct call, and by the time he returned, plans were already in motion for an emergency meeting in Berlin.
The entire facility was buzzing with discussion. Everyone understood the weight of being placed on the FIA's examination list. Until Luca was cleared, he wouldn't be allowed to race. It would be a kind of unofficial suspension that could derail his entire season.
Most of the time, these tests took two weeks, and the next race, the Italian Mega Prix, would be in the coming five weeks.
The team would need to get this all settled so they could concentrate on what mattered most, which was victory.
"C'mon, I know Luca," McCauley said. "Because he drank like a beast on Saturday doesn't mean he does the jaja. Who'd tell them?"
Luca remained silent, gripping the water bottle in his hands. The accusation was ridiculous, but he knew how this worked. If the FIA found even the slightest trace of something questionable, his reputation would be permanently stained.
Moritz leaned forward. "Look, this isn't the first time a driver's been wrongly accused. We'll find a way through this. But, Luca… are you absolutely certain you've never taken anything?"
He had always been meticulous about his diet, carefully monitoring everything that went into his body. There was no way he had taken anything close to a PED. This was all because of Sync Buff—his brief but explosive bursts of performance that probably looked suspicious on paper. But that didn't matter now. If they found even the smallest trace of a "substance" in his system, it would only fuel the doubts.
If he got through this, Luca swore he'd take the strictness of his diet to an entirely new level.
McCauley exhaled, shaking his head. "Gaffer says our medical team is gonna run tests on you first. We need to know what we're dealing with before the Federation does."
Dennis nodded. "Smart move. If there's even a hint of something off, we need to get ahead of it."
"And if there's nothing?" another crew member asked.
"Then we prove this is all bullshit and make them regret wasting our time."
Just as Luca had suspected, Trampos' team shared the same concern that Marchetti's appeal wasn't just about a doping accusation alone but was also a strategic move to keep Luca off the grid for the 12th and final round.
With him out of the picture, Max and Velocità Jr. would have a clear shot at the championship.
"They don't even need proof—just dragging this out long enough means Luca can't race."
"If the FIA takes their sweet time with this, we're screwed."
"We're not screwed yet," Moritz said firmly. "First things first: we run our own tests. If our medical team clears you, we can push back before the FIA even gets the chance to make this worse."
Luca leaned back, rubbing his face. "And if they don't?"
Moritz held his gaze. "Didn't you just tell us you've never taken anything?"
Luca sighed. "Consciously? No. Unconsciously? I don't know. What if someone slipped something into my drink? I was on a yacht full of Velocità people—owners, investors, all of them. It's possible, right?"
Silence settled over the room as the weight of his words sank in.
McCauley scoffed. "Damn right, it's possible. If they can't beat you on track, they'll beat you off it. That's how this game works."
"Quit the conspiracy guys, it didn't happen," Dennis muttered.
Luca replayed the last two nights in his mind, trying to pinpoint any moment when something could've been slipped into his drink. He had only taken two drinks outside his table—one directly from the bartender while standing with Ollie, and another at Dan's den.
The bartender scenario seemed unlikely as no one would have expected him to leave his table just to get a drink at the bar. As for Dan's place, Dan had been drinking from the same bottle, so that ruled out any foul play there.
Still, Luca couldn't shake the unease. Even the smallest trace of a substance could ruin everything.
Luca wondered if his system could help. It was the Formula 1 System after all and as a sport system, it should know a thing about doping and all that.
If it had data on his health, it should be able to detect anything foreign in his body.
System display, he commanded internally while the team continued debating around him.
Luca barely blinked as he asked, "System, can you check if I have any trace of a hard drug, an unknown substance, or a PED in my system?"
[... successfully detected!]
[System detects an improper balance of substances within host in the last 72 hours.]
His heart pounded. And what's that?
[System detects excessive alone.]
[System has concluded detection.]
[Results: 87% increase in alcohol presence.]
Luca sighed deeply. He had taken a lot of alcohol in the past days, so this was reasonable.
He was actually clean. No spike, no drugging. Sync Buff was really the suspicion alone.