Chapter 558: S3 Belgian Grand Prix. 3
Like the Shanghai International Circuit, the Belgian GP circuit was a long F1 track. By long, this meant tracks with more length than width.
Having a track that’s longer than wide brought about more grandstands, more circuit infrastructure, a longer pit lane, etcetera.
Some intangible consequences were fewer overtaking chances, higher risks of incidents, and the possibility of a single racing line.
But the major disadvantage of Belgium’s track length was its microclimatic conditions.
Imagine a track that could have different weather conditions at different parts, where one sector could be bone-dry while another sector could be raining.
That’s the peak of F1 racing unpredictability, bringing about top-tier gambling in tire choices for the teams, and the unveiling of true skill from the drivers who can.
⁕ Lap: 25 / 44
**Luca, weather update. We’re seeing sector one getting lighter, track’s beginning to dry there**
**Careful though—sector three is still raining, properly wet. Conditions are mixed, so keep it tidy. Copy?**
Luca raised a brow, pouting. He did expect wet track challenges in this race, but not uncertain predicaments. This was one of a kind that he had yet to face in his career.
"Copy. Dry in one, rain in three. Got it."
Confident reply, but Luca wasn’t sure how he’d begin to condition his mind to switch from this skill to this skill.
Slipsense & Rainborne would be needed here, but not here. Gripper would be needed here, but not there. The same went for DRS Boost and every other ability in his arsenal that didn’t favor this track polarity.
[Service Time: 1.80 seconds]
[Front Tires: Soft → Intermediate]
[Rear Tires: Soft → Intermediate]
[System’s prediction: 12 sec—15 sec]
[Host’s pitlane Entry and Exit: 11.2 sec]
"...incredible. It’s a beauty from the German crew. What a pitstop, hitting the record once more for fun. And Rennick is back out in the blink of an eye, taking the lead of the Belgian Grand Prix before Antonio Luigi can make it to the head of the straight...!"
"WOOOOOOOOHH!"
That was how Luca had taken the lead, and Antonio Luigi still couldn’t forget it.
He thought it was too easy and effortless for Luca. This was how far one perfect pit stop, one clever strategy, good placement, and a bit of luck could take someone.
When the updates came about the weather splitting the track into dry and wet, Luigi’s focus became more adept.
A little while later, he smirked. He was curious how his nemesis would handle this gamble on those intermediates of his.
Would Luca flaunt a whole new mastery that would leave him shocked, or would the uneven grip chew the Mazerunner lap after lap, sending him into chaos?
Intermediate compounds have grooves that disperse water, so on dry tarmac, overheating and grip loss become a problem since it’s simply scrubbing on dry asphalt.
On the wet sections, if the tires have already overheated on the dry part, the rubber surface becomes slick and can’t channel water effectively.
Hence, aquaplaning becomes a risk.
This was why it was technically better to be on dry compounds and tiptoe through the wet sections, or be on wet compounds, having more time before the grooves wore off.
Intermediates were generally the worst of both worlds in this situation. Luca would see it for himself.
Eventually, Luca was struck by reality.
[System Alert: Tire compounds unstable]
[-Excessive Scrubbing—> Surface Temp +18°C]
[System Alert: Tire compounds unstable]
[-Loss of Water Channeling—> Grip -22%]
[Accelerated wear detected. Aquaplaning risk]
[Recommendation: Adjust Driving Line]
’Adjust Driving Line’ was basically the only suggestion his system could give him because most skills Luca had would only amplify his problem.
The only abilities that were beneficial here were Tire Wear Management and Wear Control skill, which could prolong the time before the rubber surface deteriorated to an intolerable degree.
But with Wear Control at (8), Luca knew he couldn’t place his entire bet there.
So, he signaled mayday from his cockpit.
At the pitwall, the team was also noting the troubling telemetry readings of the irregular tire data. They immediately discerned what it was without any deep reasoning.
If Luca kept running on those intermediates, he would lose lap times, face overtaking from rivals as the tires would shed unevenly.
Of course, spinning out and crashing was possible. The interns that he had wanted to be his firepower were now a kryptonite.
Luca Rennick sliding and crashing in Stavelot, Belgium?
**Surface temps are climbing fast. If this continues, we’ll be forced onto hards soon. Other teams are likely the same. Copy?**
"Yes. Understood."
The problem for Trampos wasn’t even the time that would be wasted on an unplanned pit stop.
The drying in sector 1 wasn’t looking all that permanent, as if the rain could still pick up again towards sector 3.
Imagine fixing hard compounds, only for the sky to open once more on all sectors of the track. Then they’d be forced into yet another sudden stop, switching back to wets or inters?
That was a nightmare scenario the team’s strategists dreaded.
On the other hand, saving Luca from sliding off was just as important, and if the rain didn’t return, he’d be the first driver ready on hard compounds. Trampos had to gamble.
"...look at that Ferrari struggle. Rennick’s rear steps out, corner after corner. He pumps it at every exit, but those tires are scrubbing on the long, hot sections..."
"WOOOOOHHHHH!"
"...it’s brilliant driving from the standings leader, but he’s losing rubber lap after lap, especially on the straights. Mistakes in turn three will bite back hard. Rennick knows this, and he’s more than just careful there..."
[Tire Wear Management +1]
[Gripper +1]
[Wear Control +1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 37.5%]
Behind by 2 seconds, Luigi clocked in on Luca’s predicament through every corner. The Mazerunner was sliding wider on corner exits, the intermediates overheating and no longer biting into the asphalt.
Another grin reappeared on Luigi’s lips inside his helmet. It seemed Luca wasn’t thoroughly virtuoso in everything.
Antonio, you’re in the clear here. Luca’s struggling—look at him through T6, those inters are gone
While speaking to Luigi through the radio, Squadra Corse’s team engineer couldn’t help but smile and chuckle. This was the excitement that Luca would finally be conquered.
**We’re still holding grip with the wets; you can manage this pace and push when you see the opening. Let’s see where the weather turns**
**Eyes forward, mate. You can take him.**
That was all Luigi needed to hear. The words lit a spark in him, a surge of confidence roaring through his veins as the power of his S-level FiammaVeloce awakened, urging him forward with renewed hunger to snatch the lead.
For two laps, Luigi ignored the nagging caution of this half-dry, half-wet condition, determined to use the phase to line up the perfect overtake on the faltering Mazerunner ahead.
Luca felt the pressure as if his rival was sharing his cockpit with him, breathing on his neck.
[Analyzing 2nd Position’s distance from host and Ferrari (Z24)...]
[2nd Position is 1 sec away, host.]
The delta dropped into striking range, Luigi’s scarlet machine now glued within a second of Luca’s rear wing, his reflection filling every inch of the Mazerunner’s mirrors.
At the pitwall, Trampos engineers gripped their headsets tighter than Luca gripped his wheel, panic spreading faster than the tire wear flashing on telemetry.
The grandstands cheered for the duel even though it’d be one-sided.
Luca was already winning Luigi on the scoreboard about 3:1. If Luigi sealed this, he’d be one step closer to leveling the rivalry.