Chapter 312
Bueseno Velocità were STAUNCH practitioners of the Tiered Pursuit strategy. It was ingrained in their philosophy as much as tires were integral to a car.
From the very beginning of F1 history, they had been known as a team that unapologetically favored one driver over the other. Whether it was during Maldonado’s era, Aldo Rennick’s reign, or Rossi’s time, Velocità remained unwavering in its rigid driver hierarchy.
Yet, despite this approach, the team had only ever produced legends, not GOATs.
Perhaps they failed to grasp that true greatness on the grid was forged through relentless competition rather than being granted special privileges.
Or maybe, that simply wasn’t their objective—perhaps their vision for a structured Driver A and Driver B had always been by design.
Some young drivers steered clear of Bueseno Velocità, saying and fearing that their careers would forever be overshadowed by the team’s designated star.
Others, however, admired the structure, and their reasoning was surprisingly logical. They saw it as an opportunity, believing that the dominant driver would eventually leave or retire, passing the torch to whoever was next in line.
But it definitely wasn’t going to be as easy as that.
For instance, before young Jimmy Damgaard could even dream of taking the helm at Bueseno Velocità following DiMarco’s departure—whether by retirement or transfer—another contender might have already arrived, proving themselves the better choice.
“Move, you twat!” Davide DiMarco growled into the radio at his teammate, Damgaard.
Jimmy was right before DiMarco—Red Bull and Red Bull filling up positions five and six.
DiMarco had exited the pits in the previous laps before this one, so he was just getting full warmth into his tires and was ready to pounce back into action.
But a driver’s ahead. No problem, that’s his teammate, Jimmy. DiMarco knew he could easily bark the command, and Damgaard would docilely give way, handing him a free ticket to overtake and claim the position.
Jimmy Damgaard himself knew this, and hearing DiMarco’s arrogant relay burned his chest with anger.
He had thought a situation like this wouldn’t come into play this season, but he was damn wrong. And if it occurred as early as the second race, then there was more to come.
**Jimmy, Davide is faster. We need you to let him through. Confirm**
“…”
**Jimmy, do you copy? Let Davide through. He’s… on fresher tires and Luca’s ahead, on poor grip**
“Yeah, I heard,” Damgaard replied.
**Then make it happen. Don’t hold him up**
Damgaard chuckled bitterly and muttered to himself. “Of course. Wouldn’t want to inconvenience the team’s star, would we?”
He remembered the Spanish Grand Prix last year when he won his first-ever race in F1. Jimmy could never forget the look on DiMarco’s face.
It was a look of surprise—the afterthought of Velocità had claimed P1 in Mandalora over their golden boy. How unbelievable!
Into Turn 2, DiMarco didn’t even wait for Damgaard to fully move aside. He forced his way through with the inside line.
He even nearly brushed Damgaard’s front wing, but he didn’t care. The radio had told him to wait, but patience wasn’t in his vocabulary. Luca was ahead, and he needed to catch up fast.
P6— Davide DiMarco ↑
P7— Jimmy Damgaard↓
“…Typical of Velocità to make switches, and they execute one here in the 22nd Lap! But look at that! Davide DiMarco didn’t even wait for Jimmy Damgaard to completely move aside! He just forced his way through into Turn 2, cutting across without hesitation…!”
“…You’d expect a cleaner exchange between teammates, but that was anything but clean! Damgaard was clearly stalling, maybe frustrated…”
“…It’s always going to be frustration. Giving up a position would always sting, even if it’s to your own brother…”
“…Davide DiMarco in P6, Jimmy Damgaard in P7…!”
“WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!”
**Davide has moved up and is now just a few seconds behind you. He’s been gaining steadily, and he’s not someone to underestimate. Keep your focus**
Luca nodded. “I see him.”
[Analyzing 6th Position’s distance from host and Ferrari (JRX-92B)…]
[6th Position is 2.5 sec away, host.]
[System’s prediction: that value will decrease]
**He’s pushing hard, and with those fresher tires, he’s going to be aggressive. Don’t let him catch you off guard**
“Understood. I’m NOT giving up this position.”
Luca had the willpower to defend, but his tires? Not so sure. He asked the system for some info clearance.
[Front Left: 87°C → 72°C ❌]
[Front Right: 88°C → 70°C ❌]
[Rear Left: 85°C → 73°C ❌]
[Rear Right: 85°C → 71°C ❌]
“…Luca Rennick is in trouble! His tires are still not up to temperature, and with every turn in the first sector that gap is closing. It’s clear the fresher tires are giving DiMarco the advantage, and he’s pouncing forward…!”
“…Luca’s holding onto P6, but it’s only a matter of time before the pressure cracks! The first straight opens….!”
[Straightaway ahead]
Denko, Luigi, and the rest had already run down the straight and were starting the next sector.
Luca was somewhat of a leading driver now as the 450m Straight revealed its empty self.
[6th Position closing in]
[Spatial Awareness +1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 62.5%]
As Luca’s car straightened out and began to accelerate, he threw a glance at his side mirror, watching as DiMarco rounded the sweeper with Damgaard trailing behind.
Luca was no fool. He could tell when a driver wasn’t racing anymore. He knew the signs of deliberateness for something else rather than an overtake.
Even though Luca calmly realized DiMarco was sizing him up, his heart betrayed him and began pounding.
[You have picked up speed!]
[6th Position closing in]
[Warning: Slipstream Threat Detected]
[Analyzing car behind…]
[Blue Red Bull (RBioL)]
[Distance: 1s → 0.8s → 0.5s]
[Speed Increase: +10 km/h due to slipstream]
“…He’s within DRS range now—this is it! Davide, we know you’re not one to hold back when you’ve got the slipstream, and Luca’s barely holding on! Let’s see it! Come on, Davide, make that move…!”
“WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!”
Davide DiMarco gritted his teeth, using every ounce of ERS as Luca’s slipstream helped eradicate aerodynamic drag. He didn’t engage DRS because DRS helps overtake and he had no plans for that.
**Luca, defend the position! DiMarco’s closing in fast—do NOT let him through! Focus!**
Luca had to tell his engineers. “He wants to crash m—!”
Before he could finish, DiMarco slammed his front wing into Luca’s rear, sending both cars veering off course with a deafening crash.