My Formula 1 System

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The fact that the British Grand Prix came immediately after the Hungarian Grand Prix didn't help matters. After the showbiz that spouted at Hungaro Ring, many journalists, including Callum Voss, voiced that the drivers and teams needed a proper breather. A short break to reset their minds and their settings, get everything back in check and remind themselves that at the end of the day, this was still just competitive sport and entertainment.

There was growing discussion that the serried nature of the season's calendar might be what was encouraging impatience and erratic behavior. If the unventilated schedule continued this way, someone might be throwing punches on the next podium.

Of course, Luca and Jimmy Damgaard's clash was the prime example. And luckily for both drivers, no fines or penalties followed, but an official warning was certainly stamped on each of them.

The FIA regarded the incident as an emotional spillover, something that can happen in high-pressure environments. Since neither driver threw a punch or caused physical harm, and the scuffle was broken up swiftly, the governing body treated it as a heated but controlled moment between rivals.

Luca counted himself lucky when it came to the standoff with Damgaard. No one, except Damgaard himself, had heard him call him a "pussy." If that word had been clocked by anyone else, maybe the media, officials or a Velocità crew member, he would've been slapped with more than just a strike.

Since all the Xs had been crossed, Luca quietly pronounced himself triumphant. He hadn't taken P1 from DiMarco, but he had broken Velocità's chain and stopped them from attaining the biggest points of the day. On top of that, his Hungary GP emulator had only managed P9, while he delivered P2. That alone made the outcome feel like a personal win.

Hour after hour—on the ride away from the circuit, while kicking off his shoes in his room, and again the next morning at his breakfast table—Luca divulged a few more reasons to be satisfied with Sunday's results.

The championship leader, Antonio Luigi, failed to make the top five. His teammate, Marko, didn't either. This was going to effectively affect the standings and in a direction that favored both Luca and Jackson Racing.

In summary, after 70 laps, the Hungarian Grand Prix ended like this:

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Final Race Standings – Hungarian Grand Prix

🏁 Top 10 Finishers:

P1 – Davide DiMarco 🇮🇹 (Bueseno Velocità) 🏆 +25pts

P2 – Luca Rennick 🇮🇹 (Jackson Racing) +18pts

P3 – Hank Rice 🇬🇧 (Iberia Grand Prix) +15pts

P4 – Ailbeart Moireach 🇬🇧 (Haddock Racing) +12pts

P5 – Buoso Di Renzo 🇮🇹 (Jackson Racing) +10pts

P6 – Antonio Luigi 🇮🇹 (Squadra Corse) +8pts

P7 – Marko Ignatova 🇷🇸 (Squadra Corse) +6pts

P8 – Elias Nyström 🇸🇪 (Nordvind Racing) +4pts

P9 – Jimmy Damgaard 🇩🇰 (Bueseno Velocità) +2pts

P10 – Mark Derfflinger 🇩🇪 (Haddock Racing) +1pt

▾Remaining Finishers:

P11 – Alejandro Vasquez 🇪🇸 (Velox Hispania)

P12 – Desmond Lloyd 🇬🇧 (Velox Hispania)

P13 – Ansel Hahn 🇩🇪 (Trampos Racing)

P14 – Javier Montez 🇪🇸 (Outback Performance)

P15 – Mikhail Petrov 🇷🇺 (Iberia Grand Prix)

P16 – Yokouchi Yūichirō 🇯🇵 (Alpine Swiss F1)

P17 – James Lockwood 🇬🇧 (Nordvind Racing)

P18 – Józef Konarski 🇵🇱 (Alpine Swiss F1)

P19 – Erik Haas 🇩🇪 (Trampos Racing)

⨉ DNF (Did Not Finish):

P20 – Luis Dreyer 🇪🇸 (Outback Performance) – Crash

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Yes, even Luca was surprised. He had been so locked into his own race, problems and his contacts, that he completely missed the fact that Di Renzo had climbed into the top five, sealing P5 and effectively blocking both Luigi and his teammate from making it to the top.

Luca didn't know what to say. He had seriously doubted Di Renzo's capability, but here they were, his doubts cleanly disproven. And honestly, it was the best kind of refutation, because it landed squarely in the team's favor.

Surely Di Renzo himself would know that whatever wisp of hope the team had left for him had now grown a bit stronger after this result. With Rodnick still out injured, this meant that between Luca and Di Renzo, there was a decent shot at keeping the points tally alive, at least until Rodnick's return.

With that in mind, Luca figured Di Renzo would be praying for Rodnick's wrist to take as long as possible to heal. The longer Rodnick stayed off the track, the more Di Renzo would get his chance to race. Luca couldn't help but imagine Di Renzo waking up every morning, basking in the sunlight, quietly adding to his prayers that Rodnick's recovery would stall. A very funny imagination.

But Luca hadn't seen a wrist injury that lasted too long, maybe two months? Either way, Rodnick would eventually come back someday. Di Renzo's hopeful prayers would eventually expire, and with them, any chance Di Renzo had at continuing to build momentum. So, if Luca had to give Di Renzo some advice, it would be to forget about chasing the championship. The odds of breaking into the top ten were becoming slimmer with every race.

At the moment, Di Renzo sat with just 14 points in the standings, nowhere near the top 10. At his current rate of point accumulation, it was almost impossible for him to be a legitimate contender for the title.

For now, the championship was wide open with promising points. The competition had never been more intense, especially with the defending champion out of commission.

PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (TOP10)

Position | Team | Points

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1. | Antonio Luigi | 101

2. | Luca Rennick | 101

3. | Davide DiMarco | 90

4. | Hank Rice | 86

5. | Ailbeart Moireach | 84

6. | Marcellus Rodnick | 79

7. | Luis Dreyer | 73

8. | Marko Ignatova | 68

9. | Elias Nyström | 37

10. | Jimmy Damgaard | 32

To reassess clearly:

1. | Antonio Luigi | 101

2. | Luca Rennick | 101

Would you look at that—Luca and Luigi were tied at the top. The first two drivers to hit triple digits in points this season were now sharing the number one spot.

After the race, Luca hadn't realized the significance of this until much later. It made him think back to when Luigi had walked up to him during the chaos at the end of the race. Maybe Luigi was trying to size up what he was really dealing with.

Both of them had been dancing around the fact for some time. It was just now they'd realized who the hell the real threat was.