My Formula 1 System

[50th Lap]

The more the laps progressed, the clearer it became that Luca was poised to claim his second consecutive Grand Prix victory. Sensing this, the Trampos Racing paddock and garage came alive, and became a sea of energy and anticipation. Crew members were on their feet, rallying the Trampos fans in the stands next to their garage to cheer Luca's Dallara through the remaining twelve laps.

Mr. Grant exchanged a knowing smile with Ms. Vallotton, while Moritz maintained a calm demeanor, speaking methodically over the team radio. They all knew this was just the beginning—a taste of the glory Trampos Racing had been working towards. Luca was shaping up to be the driver they had been waiting for.

"HOOH...HOOOH" chanted Trampos through Hungaro Ring as Luca began the 51st Lap. The sun had gone down, and evening enveloped the venue.

Ansel sat quietly in the paddock, unmoved by the jubilant atmosphere around him. He could feel the electric energy crackling through the air, yet it failed to spark any emotion within. The creeping chill of the evening was the only sensation he acknowledged.

Zip! Luca's car streaked past before the pitlane.

Zip! Three seconds later, another car followed.

Zip! A third whizzed by.

"HOOH...HOOOH!"

Ansel leaned forward slightly. He assumed the race had settled into its final rhythm until the checkered flag, but the sudden roar of the crowd told him otherwise. Something was happening at the head of the pack.

He glanced at the screen, half expecting Luca to be in a heated battle to defend P1. But the display told a different story. Luca was secure in the lead. The drama instead centered on Kristensen, who was struggling to fend off Max Addams' relentless pursuit for P2.

[52nd Lap]

[Stamina +1]

Luca noticed the shift in his side mirror. Max, an F2 master of calculated aggression, had outmaneuvered Kristensen over time, putting him in a precarious position, where Dani Walding had the chance to counter on his momentum loss.

And judging by the speed and drive Max Addams was using during turns, Luca could tell he aimed for a last minute overtake on him, claiming P1 just before the final grid.

Ansel couldn't deny it now, the buzzing atmosphere that came with the gradual end of a Grand Prix seemed to vibrate through the asphalt, the concrete and up his legs. Now, he was eager to see how the podium would be set. Right now, it seemed Kristensen was just falling into the prey of Dani Walding.

"HOOH...HOOOH!" the Trampos crowd erupted as Luca surged ahead into Lap 53, still holding a commanding lead.

"...we're on Lap 53 here at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and the battle for P3 is heating up! Kristensen is struggling to hold his line as Dani Walding closes in with tremendous speed through Sector 2!"

"…look at Kristensen's car! It's losing grip—there's a slight wobble heading into Turn 5! Walding is right there, ready to pounce!"

It was very difficult for Oliver Kristensen to manage, and he wasn't able to defend against Dani Walding just like how Max easily outpaced him. At the exit of Turn 6, the short straightaway opened, giving Dani Walding a clear view and picture of P3 a hand. Max's car was a sector and a turn ahead, and Luca, four turns ahead.

"...Heading into Turn 6, Walding dives down the inside for the straight! A perfectly timed move—Kristensen tries to defend, but it's no use! Walding's car slips through with perfect precision!"

**We have two Velocità drivers at P2 and P3 now. It doesn't look good for our points**

"...and Dani Walding moves into P3! Kristensen is relegated to P4, clearly struggling to match the pace of the Velocità drivers. What a display of patience and execution from Walding!"

[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:

-Car Speed: 300 km/h

-Heart Rate: 110 bpm

-Operational Status: 80 % (Good)

-Breathing: Calm & Steady

-Distance covered: 268000m

-Time: 1hr 20 min ]

**No need to worry, though. They can't get close enough to execute a team formation. Just focus on finishing—this is in the bag**

"Roger," Luca replied, tilting his car expertly through the last set of turns. Moritz was right. Congratulations to Dani Walding for securing P3, but if he had any plans to help Max advance further, he better drop them.

Luca's mind flashed back to telemetry data he'd poured over and countless hours of studying Velocità team strategies from past races. Two Velocità drivers together was a nightmare for any F2 competitor. He was well aware of the dangers, and Aaronson's infamous defeat at their hands served as a brutal reminder.

If you can't keep up now, you definitely won't see me later, hehe.

[54th Lap]

"Time to use that Sync Buff. Can't let it just glow there for me," Luca muttered, his gaze flicking to the System interface overlaying his vision. He could hear varying chants from the Hungaro Ring crowd, horns blaring and even colorful smoke billowing into the evening sky.

From England to Hungary, Luca felt unstoppable. Another victory was within his grasp. 25 more points, and he'd be one step closer to claiming the F2 championship title.

He called up the Sync Buff notification again.

[ACTIVATE SYNC BUFF?]Nôv(el)B\\jnn

[Y / N]

With no hesitation, Luca selected Yes.

[INFUSING....]

[Strength: 19 »»»» 50

Stamina: 25 »»»» 50

Endurance: 22 »»»» 50

Agility: 21 »»»» 50

Intelligence: 18 »»»» 50 ]

[You can only select three skills]

[Reflexes/ Overtaking Skill/ Track Awareness/ Pitstop Prodigy/Corner Chopping/Straightaway Chopping/Spatial Awareness/ Night Mastery/ Grid Launch/ Slipstream Mastery]

This is a no-brainer, Luca thought. There were skills that he obviously did not need to buff now, considering he was already leading the race by a firm margin. All he needed to do now was to select Skills that would enhance his driving and reduce the possibility of a crash due to the wild effects of Sync Buff.

After little consideration, Luca decided to go with Reflexes, Track Awareness and Spatial Awareness. With these, he could know the wits around his car and the track. And if anything might swerve wrong, the heightened Reflexes would come to play.

[Successfully Selected!]

[Reflexes: 20 (+1) »»»» 50

Track Awareness: 20 »»»» 50

Spatial Awareness: 4 »»»» 50 ]

[INFUSION SUCCESSFUL!]

[You have 4 min. 59 sec left for Sync Buff]

Luca suddenly realized this was indeed the last set of Skills he selected in Stadhaven. He chuckled as the system deftly increased his stats.

Once the infusion completed, Luca felt a wave of sharp clarity rush through him, as if the world around him had snapped into perfect focus. His mind and body felt lighter, yet hyper-attuned to every detail. The subtle vibrations of the SomberCore under him, the faint shifts in the air as the wind danced along the track, even the precise angles of each curve and incline ahead—everything was suddenly amplified in his perception.

[55th Lap]

"...and P1 is looking grim for Max Addams. Luca Rennick is getting as far away as possible. Look at that speed!"

**Keep going, mate. Keep going**

The cheer from the crowd suddenly blurred once he reached the peak of his Sync Buffed effects. His SomberCore felt louder now, and his surroundings blended with the evening atmosphere as he navigated through all turns and sped down all straights.

[Fastest Lap Attained!]

[1:21.119]

[57th Lap]

[You are moving at 310 km/h]

[58th Lap]

"Alright, folks! EVERYONE should be on their feet!" McCauley hollered, standing at the edge of the pit box as Luca zoomed past the lane, Addams zipping through eleven seconds later. Such a gap!

[59th Lap]

[You have 2 min. 57 sec left for Sync Buff]

"... there were a lot of talks about Luca Rennick starting at pole today. Could he convert it to another victory, or would he fall short? Here in Hungary, Luca Rennick is leading the pack at a terrifying speed through the turns, widening the gap between him and Addams..."

"...Max Addams in P2, Dani Walding in P3. It's quite a good result for Velocità. Perhaps, this is why Rennick is a beast up front. Twenty-five points is all he could get for Trampos after Hahn had fallen off. And even two more points–Luca Rennick is our fastest lapper today!"

Luca zoomed past two lapped drivers, drivers still in the 59th Lap while others were in the 60th. He had half expected his System to count that as an overtake, but he was wrong. After all, they weren't advanced opponents with no holographic number above their chassis.

[You have 1 min. 40 sec left for Sync Buff]

[61st Lap]

**Two laps to go!**

"...two laps to go in this Hungarian GP! Set up the podium, stewards! Cheer through the circuit. Luca Rennick is on the verge of winning his second consecutive Grand Prix!"

Ansel's eyes were glued to Luca's Dallara as it danced through the circuit, a masterpiece in motion under the influence of the Sync Buff. With precision and flair, Luca commanded the car, extracting every ounce of speed and grip.

He watched as Luca braked late into Turn 1 of the 61st lap with minimal loss of momentum. He exited the chicane after gliding seamlessly into Turn 3. He entered the middle section, a spark leaving his car's rear signaling DRS engagement. His speed even became more disastrous through the short straight.

"It's like he's plugged into the damn circuit," Ansel muttered, watching as the gap to Addams extended by three more seconds before the lap ended.

[62nd Lap]

**Final lap, Luca.**

Luca grinned, his ears reddening as he repeated Hungaro Ring again, passing three more lapped drivers. "Tell Mama I made it," he said with a short laugh.

**Oh no. You have to cross that finish line first. You're good as zero points now, you know that?**

"Ahh, no problem. No problem."

[You have 40 seconds left for Sync Buff]

My calculations were right. I'll finish with it. Let's go!

[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:

-Car Speed: 300 km/h

-Heart Rate: 110 bpm

-Operational Status: 65 % (Fair)

-Breathing: Slightly Elevated

-Distance covered: 302000m

-Time: 1hr 30 min ]

"... dominant driving, exceptional driving. The crowd roars their approval for this as Luca Rennick enters the final sector..."

Ah, there it is, Luca thought as the checkered flag unfurled in the distance, waving gently at him for his approach.

"...contact with Bellingham wasn't enough to bring him down. Two reclaims of P1, solo man on the field. Max Addams can't keep up, Dani Walding can't keep up... it's a wonderful race in Hungary here, and Luca Rennick... he has crossed the grid. Luca Rennick has won the Hungarian Grand Prix!"

"WOOOOOHH!"

Luca's car zipped past the finish line with Sync Buff effects still active, though only for a few seconds longer.

He heaved a sigh of relief, reducing speed as the noise from the crowd crept into his cockpit.

**You are an absolute beast, my man! Incredible work out there!** Moritz's synthetic voice was nearly drowned out by the applause and roars of the crowd.

[Sync Buff Elapsed!]

[1ST POSITION]

Luca's grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly as his car roared in victory. "I DID IT! YES!" he yelled, punching the air inside the cockpit as his Trampos crew erupted into cheers over the radio.

[Congratulations, host! You have made a podium!]

"Yup! I made the freaking podium," Luca whispered, slowing his car and weaving side to side in a serpentine motion, letting the cold air cool his brakes. Beginning his celebration lap at Hungaro Ring, he raised his gloved hand out of the cockpit, saluting the ecstatic Trampos fans lining the third section of the circuit.

"Second....Max Addams!"

"WOOOOOHH!"

"Third... Dani Walding!"

A round of applause spread through the grandstands as Dani Walding was cheered for making his first podium. After that, the cameras focused on Luca as he maneuvered through Turn 12, still waving to the crowd.

When he finally entered the cool-down zone, Luca exhaled deeply, his heartbeat steadying. His System deftly went offline, granting him a satisfying dark peace in his helmet. "We did it, Luca. Let's go," he murmured before unstrapping the cockpit belts and pushing his body out.

"1st Position, 21, Luca Rennick!"