Nyström pursued Luca into Turn 4. As Luca took the inside line, Nyström's sixth sense pondered, and then he opted for the opposite. He decided to make a sweeping line through the outside.
Nyström's objective was to execute a crisscrossing driving path, one where he would naturally flow from the outside of Turn 4, where he was, to the inside of Turn 5 due to the track's structure.
However, Luca was one step ahead.Since he had an overall view of the track and a vivid image of the circuit from his system, he knew the shape, size, and structure of every turn and straight within any sector he was in.
So, with outstanding intelligence on Luca's part, Nyström's plan was practically a late thought.
"...This is heating up now—Luca Rennick and Elias Nyström are almost wheel to wheel! These two have been at each other all season, and Nyström is not backing down..!"
"...Luca took P6, but you can tell Nyström has other ideas! He's right in the slipstream, chasing him down into Turn 4—he's going for the outside...!"
"WOOOOHH!"
Luca knew Corner Chopping wouldn't work because Corner Chopping required the rival driver behind to be directly chasing him through the turns.
In this scenario, Nyström's lustrous Audi was banking at the curbs, marginally away from being victimized by Corner Chopping. So, Luca understood attempting it and losing montum wasn't an option.
He decided to execute his first Yaw Flex.
Since the newest Skill in his arsenal was an instinctive one, just like Night Mastery and Slipsense & Rainborne, he had a high chance of implenting and leveling it up every ti he got tested with tough aerodynamicity at a track structure like this one.
[. T5─┐
/ \\
\\ T4 ]
If Luca flowed to the outside, it would let Nyström easily transition to the inside, thereby overtaking him. Instead of this, Luca took a different approach.
He honed his Gripper Skill tightly, as if it were sothing physical. The four interdiates fixed to his chassis imdiately responded by clawing themselves to the wet asphalt with the help of Slipsense & Rainborne.
Both Gripper and S&R worked accordingly to their values—(11) and (10), respectively.
From Turn 4 into Turn 5, Luca did not straighten out his wheel like he was supposed to for smoother driving. If he did, he would eventually dive to the outside and would not remain inside throughout the bend.
So, keeping his wheel tilted and Skills active, Luca remained unfazed as the strongest g-force he had ever experienced ramd into him.
"Shit!"
"Even with the Professional Bundle, that really hurt. That deserves a damn point for Endurance! Urgh..."
Normally, Formula 1 cars battle against the relentless push of air resistance, a challenge built into their very design. This constant opposition was already a test on its own, which was why tracks were strategically designed, built and engineered to mitigate excessive aerodynamic strain through careful layout and banking.
However, external conditions—like wind direction, humidity, and temperature—could drastically alter the balance, sotis easing the forces but more often amplifying them.
Right now, though, Luca wasn't just fighting the expected airflow. He was also defying the typical movent of a car through that sector, forcing it against its natural trajectory.
Even Nyström noticed this and flashed an angry set of gritted teeth, realizing Luca was intent on sticking to the inside line.
".. Ohhh, look at that! Luca Rennick is putting on a defensive masterclass. .!"
" ..Nyström had the perfect setup for a crisscross move, but Luca completely shut the door on him. That was bold, that was brilliant, and he's forcing Nyström to rethink every move...!"
"...That's how you defend under pressure! Absolutely phenonal from the Jackson driver...!"
Finally, half a second later, Luca found his rhythm amidst the blend of opposing forces.
Perhaps Yaw Flex at (5), combined with the other Skills currently in use, worked. Now, he was out of the stronger air current spot, and he could shift his focus to... Corner Chopping Nyström, who was now directly behind!
Perfect!
"Son of a bitch!" Elias Nyström cursed!
[Gripper 1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 65%]
[Yaw Flex 1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 77.5%]
"...Unbelievable defense from Luca Rennick! Nyström ca charging in, desperate to reclaim P6, but Luca was an absolute wall...!"
"...That was masterful positioning! He knew exactly where to place his Ferrari to deny Nyström any space to counterattack...!"
"...And let's talk about the conditions—this track is treacherous right now, yet Luca handled that defense like he was on rails! He had every right to lose grip, to slide wide, but no! He kept that inside line locked down and slamd the door in Nyström's face...!"
"...And with that, Luca maintains his position and makes his way into the Serpente de Cascata! P6 is fully secured...!"
[Good job, host. You successfully defended your position]
Luca noticed that he had a significant drop in his car's Operational Status. It was little but still significant considering its usual rate of deduction. Luca wondered what it might be. He had already gauged the wet track's effect, so it must've been sothing else.
It was definitely because of that stint he pulled. Perhaps, the crosswind, current and g-forces really took so damage on the car just as he felt it.
Very true. When an F1 car fights against strong aerodynamic forces—especially in wet conditions with shifting crosswinds—it doesn't just test the driver's endurance but also the car's overall integrity.
The chassis flexes under the strain, components endure subtle stress, and the balance between downforce and resistance fluctuates.
Luca's aggressive maneuver forced his car into an unnatural trajectory, making it resist both the track's natural flow and the heavy air currents pressing against it. Even with top-tier engineering, that kind of sustained force was bound to leave a mark.
This made Luca question why his car's status or arsenal lacked Strength and Endurance Attributes. There was Tire Wear Managent, Handling, Aerodynamics, Downforce, and Braking Efficiency, but nothing that directly defined the Ferrari's—or any other car's—physical rigidity and structural resilience.
"Hmm. But why, system?" Luca asked.
[Host is reminded: There can be no duplicate attributes between the host's and the car's status]
[By default, host possesses Strength and Endurance Attributes, while the car is optimized for performance-based paraters]
[Unless host intends to switch attributes]
[Host may exchange selected attributes between self and vehicle]
[Note: Attribute exchange is a function exclusive to the Top Driver Bundle]
Luca gave it so serious thought. Real deep thought.
If he ever chose to do that, it would easily be the dumbest decision of his entire system career.
Imagine sacrificing his Intelligence or Stamina for sothing like Aerodynamics? Tire Wear Managent?
Did he even have tires attached to his body?
Luca chuckled. "Of all the future feature additions, system..."
[Host need not worry. A ti may co when it proves useful.]
[25th Lap]
As the 25th Lap opened, so did entries for the first pitstop routine of the afternoon. Many predicted that this Brazilian Grand Prix might be similar to a previous few that had required three pitstops for so drivers.
Considering the way thunder rumbled in the sky, the clouds getting thicker and more oppressive, the amount of rain that might fall soon could call for that.
All the teams prayed it would not co to that as they prepared wet compounds for their drivers, black tires with blue linings filling the mouths of the garages.
Wet tires were the ultimate answer to extre rain conditions. Unlike interdiates, which handled light to moderate rainfall, wet tires were built for full-on downpours.
Their deep, grooved treads were designed to evacuate large amounts of water, reducing the risk of aquaplaning and maintaining grip on the drenched tarmac.
The grooves worked like channels, rapidly dispersing water away from the contact patch, ensuring the car didn't just glide helplessly over the surface.
Despite their superior wet performance, they had trade-offs. Wet tires were much softer than slicks or interdiates, aning they wore down quickly if the track started drying.
And unlike other compounds, they flexed more under pressure, absorbing so of the rough forces from the road but at the cost of outright speed.
All ten teams weren't taking any chances, even though the track was still at an interdiary level. Years of experience in Formula 1 had taught strategists that switching to wets now was a safer bet than simply replacing the interdiates with another set.
Whether the weather worsened or not, it was better to have a driver on the slick track with wets and not need them, than to risk running on interdiates and then suddenly needing wets.
"...The Brazilian Grand Prix is heating up, and as we approach Lap 25, we're seeing the first round of pitstops for our drivers. The track still sits in interdiary conditions, but the clouds are gathering overhead, and the sky is threatening more rain. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and it's only a matter of ti before the track conditions change...."
**Your grip still holds steady, Luca**
**We'll have you in, but later than this. Marcellus boxes at 27—his tires are down bad**
"Okay. Understood."
**Take advantage of the clear track and push. Let's waste away the interdiates with it**
"Yes. Understood."
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