My Formula 1 System

The first team touched down in Riyadh around 7 PM after a long 6-hour haul on a direct flight. The Saudi Arabian sky had shades of deep orange and purple, making it look both beautiful and surreal.

Disembarking quickly from their flight, Trampos was greeted by warm, dry air and escorted by a team of local coordinators. Immigration formalities were seamless as always, expedited through a dedicated VIP section for international sporting delegations.

Once outside the terminal, sleek, black SUVs awaited them, flanked by security personnel. Saudi Arabia was truly taking things to the next level! The luxurious convoy drove through the well-lit streets of Riyadh, passing towering skyscrapers and intricately lit mosques, showcasing the city's unique blend of modernity and deep tradition.

They arrived at their designated accommodation. Just like the royal treatment so far, the place was stunning, reminding Luca of their stay in Bahrain. It was ostentatious and tailored precisely to Trampos' needs... and wants.

They checked in efficiently and settled into their pre-arranged rooms. Some immediately left their rooms, heading to the opulent lounge for refreshments, while others, like Luca, began unpacking to prepare for the week ahead.

As always, Luca stood for a moment to take in his hotel room. Damn! I guess this beats Barcelona's.

A king-sized bed stood at the center, flanked by large windows revealing sweeping views of Riyadh's skyline. Jewel-toned fabrics draped every piece of furniture. "Elegance" seemed like an understatement.

The luxury even affected Luca's sleep, leading him to one of the deepest, most uninterrupted slumbers he had ever experienced. He had hoped to dream about the qualifying activity and how he'd drive, but the plush mattress pulled him into infinite unconsciousness.

The following day was dedicated to regrouping as the second team arrived late in the morning.

Dressed in casual attire, Mr. Grant and Ms. Vallotton gathered everyone together to address the team. They reminded them of their objectives: to continue adapting to the new structure and to extract maximum performance in the upcoming race.

Luca and Ansel were assigned to focus on self-drills, particularly with the simulators provided, to sharpen their skills ahead of the next day's qualifying session. During the briefing, Mr. Grant announced that both drivers would be free from the Tiered Pursuit strategy during qualifying, allowing Ansel to aim for top positions without restrictions. However, he clarified that the Featured Race would strictly adhere to the new team structure.

Both periodic drivers acknowledged this with sparse dialogue passed between them. Ansel was determined to use this opportunity and possibly win pole. With this, he might start the race at P1, defend well—if he could—and finish at P1 without having to participate in the Tiered Pursuit strategy he really didn't like.

After wrapping up the day, the team returned to their respective hotel rooms.

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[SYSTEM ONLINE...]

[Host should begin his Daily Routine] Stay tuned for updates on empire

Luca jumped out of bed after a perfect sleep. Today was Wednesday, qualifying day, and the session was scheduled for the afternoon. He needed to move quickly.

He sprang into action, starting the day with a quick but satisfying shower before throwing on his usual light workout outfit. Grabbing a protein bar that had been provided to him, he headed down to the hotel gym for a short cardio session and some stretches after his usual exercises. No full session today.

After working out as quickly as he could, Luca returned to his room to continue his Daily Routine. He took another shower, refreshed and energized, and settled down for breakfast. Eating calmly, he found himself drawn to the vase on the table, decorated with intricate Arabic designs. It was so captivating that he picked it up to examine the patterns more closely, tracing his fingers along its delicate artistry.

After breakfast, he took a call with Mallow and Sara, who had just landed in Riyadh. During the conversation, Mallow reminded him that the next day they would be meeting with Trampos Racing's financial representatives—also in Riyadh—to finalize his contract extension. Luca responded positively, mentally marking it on his calendar.

It was time to prepare for the drive to the Riyadh Zenith Circuit and get everyone ready for the qualifying session. The crew assembled in the hotel lobby, casually dressed but focused, before boarding the team bus. The drive to the street circuit was quiet, the desert scenery rolling by as the city's modern architecture loomed on the horizon.

Upon arrival, the circuit was calm, as expected for a closed qualifying session. A few F2 teams had already arrived, with most still en route. F1's qualifying would take place the following day.

Luca and Ansel headed straight to their designated area, suiting up into their Veststars for the drills ahead. Meanwhile, the crew unloaded equipment and set up their workspace, ensuring every detail was meticulously covered. Cars were prepped, simulators fine-tuned, and team discussions flowed efficiently. Luca reviewed his strategy for the day with Mr. Grant and Ms. Vallotton while Ansel worked on his own plans.

As the day progressed, the street circuit's paddocks came alive with the presence of all fifteen F2 teams. Garages bustled with activity, and marshals announced that the qualifying session would soon begin, intensifying the flurry of preparation.

Luca and Ansel completed suiting up in tense silence. They grabbed their helmets and stepped into the garage. Since this session was strictly individual, there was no team strategy to discuss or orders to give. Still, the engineers offered small tips and insights, hoping to provide their drivers with a slight edge in securing favorable positions for the race.

All drivers were required to be on the track simultaneously, with their starting order determined alphabetically by their last names. This setup created a temporal grid that leveled the playing field, as each driver had to navigate the same conditions at the same time. This was a fair setup since the objective wasn't to finish first, but to set the fastest lap.

Luca and his Dallara were positioned somewhere near the bottom, on the outside of row six. At least, he was before Max Addams. Ansel, however, was upfront, at P2, a very good spot regardless.

The grid lights flashed on and disappeared after five chimes, signaling the start of the qualifying activity as all drivers bolted out of their boxes, eager to set the fastest lap of the afternoon.

Luca struggled to find clean air on the crowded street circuit. He pushed his Dallara to its limits, carefully navigating the tight corners and maximizing speed on the straights. His laps were consistent but lacked the explosive edge needed to break into the top positions. With 30 minutes on the clock, he had time to improve, though traffic from slower cars occasionally disrupted his rhythm, forcing him to compromise his lines.

Ansel, starting with an open track, displayed impressive control and focus. However, as time progressed and more cars crowded the circuit, maintaining high speeds and weaving through the traffic became increasingly difficult. Max Addams, undeterred by the congestion, drove aggressively, carving out space and relentlessly pursuing the fastest lap.

Though the grandstands of the circuit were empty, spectators perched atop towering Arabian buildings watched the action unfold. The roar of engines echoed through the streets, a symphony of speed and determination. Team members cheered on their drivers from the paddocks as the clock ticked down. By the 15-minute mark, Albert Derstappen had set the benchmark with a blistering lap time of 1:39.803.

In this qualifying format, drivers were allowed flexibility in their approach. They could make pit stops or even halt on track momentarily, provided they didn't compromise their opportunity to clock the fastest lap within the 30-minute session. The number of laps completed didn't matter—whether Driver A managed 15 laps, Driver C completed 12, or Driver Y only achieved 10 laps. What truly counted was which driver recorded the fastest lap time when the clock ran out.

[Agility +1]

At the 22nd minute, Luca's best time was 1:40.122. Frustrated, he sighed and took his car down the pitlane, becoming one of the few drivers to pit during the session. He felt something was off with the chassis, yet system diagnostics showed no issues, and operational status seemed normal.

"Let's just get rid of the tires," he told Mr. Moritz as he approached Trampos' garage.

The pit stop was fast and efficient. With fresh tires, Luca re-entered the track, ready to begin his 11th lap. Finding a stretch of open track, free from traffic, he seized the opportunity.

With laser focus, Luca attacked the circuit, shaving off milliseconds in every sector. His car, now gripping better with the new tires, responded seamlessly, allowing him to corner sharply and accelerate powerfully on the straights. The roar of his engine echoed his determination as he approached the final sector, the clock ticking down.

Crossing the line, the timer flashed on the screen: 1:39.792—a new fastest lap. The session ended simultaneously, securing Luca the pole position… once again!n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

**Yes! Yes! Simply lovely! Simply lovely! Good job, Luca**

[Activity completed]

[Fastest Lap: 1:39.792]

"Yes! I did it. Say it, system."

[Congratulations, host.]

[You have acquired a Pole]

Trampos cheered for Luca as he drove round the circuit once more before peeling into the pitlane. He managed to break Derstappen's fastest lap score and now, Luca has proved once again why he was just a point below Max Addams in the standings.

Speaking of Max Addams, this qualifying activity took a whole new turn as the F2 veteran could only get a lap time that put him in P4. And Ansel, he drove as fast as he could with the determination to get the pole, but he managed to get P3 which was quite the upgrade. He was bummed Luca claimed Pole Position again, wondering why he just couldn't through a qualifying activity.

By the end of the afternoon, the grid for Saturday's race was set:

P1—Luca Rennick

P2—Albert Derstappen

P3—Ansel Hahn

P4—Max Addams

P5—Miles Bellingham

P6—Sean Aaronson

P7—Dani Walding

P8—Peter De Klerk

P9—Vlad Volyinksi

P10—Oliver Kristensen

"Good job," Mr. Grant said with a broad smile as Luca ducked into the garage and removed his helmet.

"Thank you, sir," Luca replied warmly before turning to embrace Mr. Moritz.

Mr. Grant watched them with a sense of pride. Deep down, he had hoped Luca would secure pole—and the young driver had delivered.