Chapter 288
[30th Lap]
[Handling +1]
[Braking Efficiency +1]
[Slipstream Status: ENGAGING]
Car <— Approaching Slipstream (Minimal aerodynamic effect)
Car <<— Partial Lock (Drag reduction increasing) ]
[ {!!} Slipstream Engagement failed!]
[Overtake Window: Blocked]
“Ah, damn you, Rodnick,” Luca hissed.
[Chicane Ahead]
[Turn Type: Three-Turn Chicane (Right → Left → Right)]
[Approach Width: 8.0m → Tightens at Apex: 6.5m → Widens at Exit: 7.6m]
Before Luca could fully lock onto Rodnick’s slipstream, Rodnick disrupted the alignment flow and dived into the chicane.
Luca immediately felt the drag return, Rodnick’s brake lights flashing as he followed him through the weaving turns.
This was the fifth time Rodnick had evaded Luca’s overtaking attempt. But even without the slipstream advantage, Luca was no longer two seconds behind.
[Analyzing Ferrari (JRX-92B) and host’s distance from 5th Position]
[You are 0.8 seconds away, host.]
Luca knew it wasn’t because Rodnick was the better driver that he hadn’t caught up yet.
In fact, he vividly recalled their training drills, where he had overtaken Rodnick countless times. And to be clear, these weren’t just casual overtakes because Rodnick had been serious in those moments.
So, the only reason Rodnick had the upper hand in this duel was the subtle advantages his JRX-97 had over Luca’s JRX-92B.
Luca didn’t have the JRX-97 registered in the system, so he couldn’t give a precise number-to-attribute breakdown of how the 97 outclassed the 92B.
However, in the Chassis Comparison he had done earlier, the 97 was clearly ahead of the 92B.
Under the <AERODYNAMICS AND CHASSIS> category, it stood at 100%, while the 92B still held its 93%.
From these values, Luca could make educated guesses about the JRX-97’s chassis attributes and how they surpassed his.
In fact, the entire car’s statistics were better than his 92B. And across all categories in the Chassis Comparison, Rodnick’s 97 honed 100%, just like Luigi’s AMG F1 W09.
All categories—except one.
One single category where it tallied 99%, just 1% short of perfection. The most subtle of subtleties.
No wonder the AMG F1 W09 is ranked the best chassis on the grid, Luca thought.
It was the <ENDURANCE AND RELIABILITY> category that had this 99%, breaking what should have been the Ferrari JRX-97’s flawless streak.
[Chassis Comparison]
[Retrieving Data from registered car and car under analysis….]
[…Data successfully retrieved!]
[Selected Modes:
—Ferrari (JRX-92B)
—Ferrari (JRX-97) ]
[POWER & PERFORMANCE:
—Ferrari (JRX-97): 100% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 96%«««
[AERODYNAMICS & CHASSIS:
—Ferrari (JRX-97): 100% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 93%«««
[HANDLING & DYNAMICS:
—Ferrari (JRX-97): 100% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%«««
[ENDURANCE & RELIABILITY:
—Ferrari (JRX-97): 99% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%«««
[TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION:
—Ferrari (JRX-97): 100% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%««« ]
[Review: Ferrari (JRX-92B) is built for podiums, while Ferrari (JRX-97) is built for domination.]
Luca wondered if the analysts of F1 even noticed this tiny difference when they proclaimed the AMG F1 W09 to be the greatest car on the grid. Though, there were still arguments about that.
Regardless of which car was considered the best, Luca knew none of them had analytics as precise as his system. So, he wagered that 99% would likely be rounded up to 100% in any other calculative method used by a machine.
Only a value like 120%, 150%, 200%, 300%… Now we’re talking, Luca mused.
That kind of gap difference would be solid and pretty much unchallenged.
And that was exactly where he planned to take his 92B, along with its engine.
Currently, Rodnick’s engine, the ThunderKat, was an A-level beast built for Explosive Acceleration & Power Delivery, equipped with an Ultra-High RPM Threshold that let it rev higher and extend its speed bursts.
It also had Power Shifting, allowing it to maintain acceleration even through corners. That was the key reason Rodnick kept pulling away.
The realization hit Luca that he himself was running a passive engine while Rodnick piloted a war chief.
The FiveSix only had something tangible in High-Speed Dominance, where it could maintain the same velocity on a straight without wavering.
This could only be perceived, mayhaps, while running down the straight with a rival. Only then could Luca see how the FiveSix would keep his 92B moving with the same speed or even higher, asphalt after asphalt.
But beyond that approach, Luca’s own A-level engine merely focused on itself, with features like “Heat Management” and “Longevity.”
Luca sighed. “And the system never mentioned anything about unlocking Engine Features,” he said disappointedly. “So I’m stuck with these three alone.”
[31st Lap]
“…Luca Rennick and Marcellus Rodnick cross the grid for the 31st time tonight in Monaco, trailing behind the pack leaders as the race remains a battle…!”
“…Rodnick has always been strong, but young Rennick has been relentless. It’s as if he’s anchored both Ferraris together—wherever Rodnick goes, he follows…!”
“…DAVIDE DIMARCO IS IN THE PITS! CAN HE GET OUT IN TIME BEFORE THE SILVER STALLIONS COME GALLOPING THROUGH..?!”
**We have a rival in the pits. Let’s capitalize**
Both Luca and Rodnick received the message, but it was a late one indeed.
The pit lane intersection was just a stone’s throw from the grid. If they were going to shift their offense and defense in time to push an important rival like DiMarco further down the pack, they needed razor-sharp cerebral adaptability.
Luca had his own plan to overtake both Rodnick and DiMarco at once using this first sector.
At the far end of the home straight, moving at 315 km/h, Luca suddenly felt his 92B attempting a refresh cycle.
“Don’t you dare, mate,” he muttered, pushing beyond it.
In F1 cars, a refresh cycle or reset was a slight dip, a hesitation, or a momentary jerk at top speed before regaining full power.
This was primarily caused by prolonged max-speed running, like the heated duel between him and Rodnick.
Secondary causes included fuel pump pressure adjustments, turbocharger boost regulation, ERS recharge delays, and other minor recalibrations within the system.
In Luca’s case, it was simply the first. But since his engine feature permitted High-speed Dominance, he was able to push beyond that momentary stutter for just a few seconds, according to its (5).
[High-speed Dominance +3]
Rodnick, on the other hand, did not possess an engine feature that allowed him to override a refresh cycle.
And after all that relentless high-speed driving, his engine demanded just a split-second break before surging back to full power.
Rodnick’s brake lights flashed as fast as lightning—then vanished—but Luca saw it.
Even Rodnick’s car readings displayed a quick drop in speed before a sharp rise to recover.
Luca’s body tensed with excitement and determination.
He was going to do it!
[Slipstream Status: ENGAGING]
Car <— Approaching Slipstream (Minimal aerodynamic effect)
Car <<— Partial Lock (Drag reduction increasing)
Car <<<— LOCKED IN (Maximum slipstream advantage)
[Overtake Window: Optimal]
[DRS deployed]