My Formula 1 System-Chapter 351: S2 Australian Grand Prix. 4
"...Oh, drama in Sector 1 on Lap 30 at the Australian Grand Prix! Yellow flags are out at George Park Circuit, and it's Denko Rutherford in trouble! He's spun off at Turn 3, parked on the runoff—his race is done...!"
"...Looks like Rodnick went for a bold inside move on Denko in that tight hairpin, misjudged it, and hit his rear! No major damage, but Denko's spun, and Rodnick's limped through, still running into P8...!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
Lap 31 was instantly halted by yellow flags as the virtual safety car began to run. Suddenly, Luca found himself so close to Ailbeart's Renault he could almost touch it if he reached out.
The 4-second gap had been obliterated, thanks to the VSC parade. Even Luigi was just two car lengths ahead. Great.
XXX— Denko Rutherford
Finally, a crash at George Park after forty-five grueling minutes of racing. In truth, every driver still on the grid deserved praise for enduring this far on George Park's treacherous layout, with only one DNF from a crash.
It was as if the circuit—George Park itself—was a bit frustrated it hadn't claimed more wrecks like it was meant to. With the new track design, predictions had only 13–15 drivers left by now, but 18 were still battling, holding firm.
And it seemed Rodnick was largely responsible for Denko's crash. A possible penalty review was promptly launched by race control, and everyone in Jackson Racing's garage, plus all their fans and supporters, held their breaths.
Luca was already carrying a penalty. For Rodnick to get slapped with one too would strike Jackson Racing hard, forcing them to scramble to their drawing boards for a Plan D, as such a double blow was never anticipated in any race.
"...Marcellus Rodnick, 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Denko Rutherford, at Turn 3, Lap 30. Penalty to be served during the next pitstop or added to race time...."
"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"
" ...BIG NEWS AT THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX! RODNICK'S BEEN HIT WITH A 10-SECOND PENALTY FOR THAT TURN 3 CLASH! IT WAS A COSTLY MISJUDGMENT, TAKING OUT RUTHERFORD'S RACE AND NOW STINGING JACKSON RACING HARD!…"
**Rodnick's been handed a 10-sec penalty. I repeat; Rodnick's been handed a 10-sec penalty**
Damn.
Rodnick was fuming, slamming his wheel so hard that Mr. Berry and the crew warned him he might wreck it.
**I FUCKING HATE THIS SPORT! FUCK!**
**Focus on race—you are not out yet. Tires are dying, we'll pit and take the penalty. Quick. Fast. And get back into it. Focus on race**
Jackson quickly planned to pit Rodnick on Lap 32, right after the virtual safety car lifted, hoping he'd have enough laps to claw back points before the checkered flag. They also set to pit Luca around Lap 35, three laps later, to serve his 5-second penalty early and soften its blow on his P3 fight.
**Luca, we're planning your pit on Lap 35 to serve the 5-second penalty**
**Push hard now, stay close to Ailbeart—tires are holding for you**
That was the best thing to come out of the double yellow flags session. The safety car had forced the pack to bunch up, slashing gaps, so Luca had a shot to overtake Ailbeart once he spotted an opening when the race restarted.
But as he mulled it over, Luca really didn't like the idea of the VSC session anymore. Not one bit. The same tight pack that gave him a chance at Ailbeart would make his pitstop a nightmare, dropping him far back in a crowded field with little room to recover.
Y'know, if he was going to serve his pit stop soon, the bunched-up nature of the track now meant there'd be far too many drivers way too close. Upon reentry, he'd likely drop a significant number of positions.
Had the track still been spaced out, he could've returned somewhere around the P3 he left off at—maybe P6 at worst. But now? That was very unlikely.
[31st Lap (R)]
"...And we're back racing on Lap 32 at the Australian Grand Prix, with the virtual safety car off and George Park Circuit alive...!
Luigi resumed the Australian Grand Prix, seconded by Ailbeart and Luca followed with an impressive Grid Launch.
[Analyzing Ferrari (JRX-92B) and host's distance from 2nd Position]
[You are 0.5 seconds away, host.]
[Slipstream Status: ENGAGING]
Car <— Approaching Slipstream (Minimal aerodynamic effect)
Car <<— Partial Lock (Drag reduction increasing)
Car <<<— LOCKED IN (Maximum slipstream advantage)
[Overtake Window: Optimal]
"...He's in the slipstream now, tucked tight behind Moireach, sucking up that drag reduction—here he goes! Luca slingshots out, pulls alongside, and powers past Moireach! He takes P2...!
"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"
[2nd Position]
**Brilliant job, Luca, that slipstream move on Ailbeart was textbook—P2 is yours!**
**Tires are solid, push hard through the corners—let's go for P1!**
[Analyzing Ferrari (JRX-92B) and host's distance from 1st Position]
[You are 1.2 seconds away, host.]
Ailbeart had considered fighting back for P2, but Luca's momentum after that slipstream overtake was relentless. It was official now; Luca was pulling ahead into Lap 31.
By Lap 32, Luigi still clung to the lead, and Luca had carved out a 2-second gap over Ailbeart, fueling his hope that he could salvage something from his next pitstop, despite the looming 5-second penalty.
P8— Marcellus Rodnick →
Luca watched Rodnick's name slide down the leaderboard as he veered into the pitlane.
P7— Davide DiMarco
P8— Marko Ignatova ↑
P9— Mikhail Petrov ↑
Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.
P10— Jimmy Damgaard ↑
P11— Marcellus Rodnick ↓
P12— Elias Nyström
This was Rodnick's lowest position on the leaderboard this season by far. And in his defending Grand Prix, the race he swore was his to win.
The way Rodnick's name was toppled and pushed back sent a chill through Luca, a fear that he might be next. And Rodnick was still tumbling.
By the time Rodnick rejoined, he was closer to Erik Haas in P18 than to a points position.
P14— Marcellus Rodnick ←
"...Oh, what a brutal hit for Marcellus Rodnick at the Australian Grand Prix! He's just come out of the pits on Lap 32, serving that 10-second penalty for the Denko crash, and look at that tumble—down from P8 to P14! Jackson Racing's feeling the pain as Rodnick rejoins in no-man's land, miles from the points..!"
If Rodnick failed to make it to P10 at least, he would finish with ZERO points in this Australian Grand Prix.
**I'm done. It's a fucking goddamn rigged sport! Bullshit penalty, fucking stewards screwing me over!**
**Marcellus, calm down, you're still in the race—P14, many laps left**
**Tires are fresh, car's good—focus on overtaking Damgaard ahead.We're behind you, let's salvage points—deep breaths, race on.**
Mr. Berry and the rest knew Rodnick often grew primal whenever he was frustrated, so they went the extra mile off professionalism to calm him down.
In the Jackson Racing garage, they swapped glances of defeat and doubt. Rodnick stuck in P14, Luca holding P2 but with a 5-second penalty still on his back. Maximum points were looking like a long shot now.
But then, a spark of hope came from crew members in the paddock who had their eyes on the rival garages.
They hurriedly passed the update to Luca, who needed that intel the most.
**Luca, Squadra Corse is buzzing—Antonio's garage is prepping for a pit soon. If Antonio pits, you have P1**
