The eting was to be held in a Ferrari-owned business tower in Stuttgart’s Europaviertel district.
The building was just a short walk from the city’s main train station, standing directly opposite a shopping complex with ultra-modern architecture.
So, it was safe to say it was a crowded area. This was strange because motorsport-related infrastructures were usually situated relatively far from the hum of cities.
On the contrary, since this tower had everything to do with paperwork and nothing with the actual action, this seed to be the best spot for easy clerical facilitation.
As predicted, Luca landed in the city by 9:30 AM. No ti was wasted in his procedures as he took an SUV transport to the venue imdiately.
It was frustrating how Manuela had already begun receiving calls while in transit.
Luca had to wonder if they expected everyone to grow wings and arrive instantly, but Manuela explained that most attendees had taken night trips or traveled the day before, so they were already streaming in by morning.
By 10:15, they eventually arrived at the tower in the heart of the tropolis.
Sided by Dino, Luca walked through security and blended into the formality of the place, where a small group of reporters with no caras approached him.
~~~~
The dress code of the day was formal, but not that boardroom-strict kind. Staff were dressed in suits or smart casual. Luca was the only one in sports casual.
Hosted in a conference hall on the second-to-highest floor, the tone was serious, but smiles were handed here and there, because this was a simple eting between friends and supporters.
Mr. Grant, Mr. Fisher, Mrs. Doyle, etc.
Nearly everyone from the top managent in Trampos was present, because Luca was practically the team’s most valuable asset.
No such thing as forwarding the details later on or attending using Zoom. Stuttgart was an hour’s flight from Berlin, barely a sacrifice to be present in the hearings.
Performance Review, Future Review, FIA Touchpoints, and possible contractual discussions if Luca was interested.
Luca sat mostly in silence, listening as Trampos heads exchanged words with Ferrari’s representatives. His na was thrown about far too much for soone not to be slightly uncomfortable.
His performance so far this season was described as phenonal, even if the last two races had seen him fall short of his own standards.
To drive the point ho, Trampos dedicated nearly fifteen minutes to drilling through teletry feedbacks, both from training sessions and race weekends.
They highlighted his consistency, his aggression in overtakes, and his precision under pressure. Only a few minor areas of improvent were ntioned.
When the talks shifted toward his future, since he had already exhausted half a year of his five-year contract, most of the attention naturally turned to Luca alone.
Direct exchange between Trampos and Ferrari ceased, eyes on him.
Luca almost chuckled outwardly.
Although Trampos and Ferrari were close partners, with Ferrari powering Trampos, it didn’t an they wouldn’t checkmate each other when it ca to influence and decisions.
Technically and literally, Luca was more tied to Ferrari than he was to Trampos.
He had been driving with Ferrari power since his days at Jackson Racing, and now again at Trampos, aning his career was deeply bonded to them.
It was just like Antonio Luigi, too. Luigi had driven under Velox Hispania in his youth before signing for Squadra Corse. Hence, he had never stepped into a cockpit that wasn’t a rcedes.
Luca’s loyalty was to Trampos, but whether he liked it or not, he had a blood pact with Ferrari in his career.
In that case, Trampos knew Ferrari didn’t really care whether Luca raced for them or for Jackson Racing; what mattered was simply keeping the best Formula 1 driver in their machinery, whether silver or red.
This alone was enough to spark so doubt in Trampos, the uneasy thought that Ferrari might still favour Jackson Racing over them and could be quietly working toward bringing Luca back to the Silver Stallions, restoring the old order where Jackson Racing stood on top and Trampos beneath.
But it’s all speculation in this business world.
Luca answered with calm conviction, saying he was happy at this point in his career, and that even six years from now, he still saw himself in scarlet red, never leaving Germany.
Ferrari respected that. Trampos looked proud.
The rest of the career eting carried on with more points spread out, discussing certain rule changes that could affect the driver market and Trampos themselves, as a growing team.
When the contractual part ca up, they only touched the surface, since his manager and agent were absent, and everyone knew what to say and what not to say.
It seed Luca was getting ten tis more bonuses than what was already agreed on, and even a hefty premature increase in salary.
Luca wasn’t sure he had ever felt this valuable in his life. They were literally doing their best to pin him down.
The eting finally concluded after an hour and forty-five minutes—roughly the two hours Luca had expected—with handshakes exchanged and light discussions softening the atmosphere.
Luca’s mannerisms made it clear he intended to leave imdiately, shaking hands and offering quick greetings without entering into conversation.
He even kept his exchange with Mr. Grant and the others just as brief.
But one man from the Ferrari side, clad in a sharp blue suit, held onto Luca’s handshake a mont longer than necessary.
Looking up, Luca saw the man’s face form an odd smile.
’I hope you’re coming to Norfolk...?’ the man asked sincerely.
’Huh?’
’It’ll be pleasant to et you in a much... better atmosphere.’
’Excuse ?’
The man sighed at Luca’s ignorance, deciding it wasn’t the best ti. So, he simply tapped Luca’s palm with his other hand and wished him farewell.
Stupefied, Luca watched the strange man walk away before turning toward the exit.
12:40, and Luca was already on his way back to the airport, the eting leaving him with nothing more than a rushed stop at the bathroom and a bottle of water in hand.
Manuela ntioned how much fun she was having, but Luca couldn’t see anything remotely fun about this escapade.
On the ride back, Luca wondered who the strange Ferrari man was. With a stretch of silence, it clicked to him that "Norfolk" must have ant Mrs. Hawthorne’s gathering, which was probably beginning to reach invited ears.
Still, he couldn’t help but bla the man for blurting it out at such an awkward ti, leaving him puzzled.
Ring, ring.
Luca’s phone buzzed, and it was Isabella. She was delighted to hear that he was just boarding for his return to Berlin.
She also asked if the day so far hadn’t been too burdenso, but Luca assured her he was fine.
After hanging up, he scrolled through his ssages and found the venue she had forwarded—it was the Brahms family address, which he didn’t recognize at all, leaving him clueless as to why she would choose that place.
In the end, Luca was glad to have raced two tracks in a single day.
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