My Formula 1 System-Chapter 395: The Era We Never Expected

"Marcellus Rodnick is back!"

"Rodnick returns after career-threatening injury!"

"Marcellus Rodnick is back!"

"MARCELLUS RODNICK IS BACK!" "Marcellus Rodnick is back!" "Marcellus Rodnick is back!"

"Rodnick makes his injury recovery and fans erupt worldwide!"

"Breaking: Rodnick sighted at Jackson's facility—return confirmed!"

"MARCELLUS RODNICK IS BACK!" "Marcellus Rodnick is back!" "Marcellus Rodnick is back!" freёwebnoѵel.com

Oh my goodness. It was overwhelming. Rodnick's confirmed return to competition shook up the press of the sport like never before. It was strange… and honestly odd, far too venerated for what was essentially just a return from injury.

Was the tenth round of the season about the new South African Grand Prix? Or was it about Rodnick's return? In truth, it was about many things, because Velocità had just publicly confirmed that they would officially become the first "super" team in the sport, and they had chosen to make that declaration at none other than the inaugural South African Grand Prix.

It was official now. And just as the wave of Rodnick's return swept through the headlines, so too did this seismic announcement. Obviously, the latter lasted longer because it carried far more weight than anything else at the moment.

Velocità's President gave a powerful statement. Behind him were the likes of many in which Luca recognized. It seemed the press just attacked them, all in suits when they emerged from their executive skyscraper. Luca saw that one Charles who harassed him, still fat and bitter. He thought he saw Mr. Marchetti too, but he wasn't sure.

"We're happy to officially announce that our great team, Bueseno Velocità will incorporate the Tempesta MkII engine into our technical span for the remainder of the season and beyond. We've managed to adjust and refine the RBioL chassis to accommodate and withstand the sheer output of this engine. It wasn't easy, but our engineers have achieved a balance that allows us to harness its full power without compromising our race dynamics. We're not backing down. We're pushing forward into a new era of speed."

What Velocità were essentially telling the world was that they did not produce a brand-new chassis, like many thought they would have asked Red Bull to. Instead, they seemed to have taken one or two RBioL specimens and modified them to perfection, tweaking the innate dynamics just enough to accommodate and withstand the raw force of the MkII, exactly as the president had just explained.

And just like that, balance had been completely disrupted in the Formula 1 championship. The FIA had now taken their seats, studying intently how these new regulations would unfold. Perhaps, if it turned out to be too toxic or one-sided, they could shut it down and revert everything back to normal. But then again, why should they? Formula 1 was bigger than it had ever been, receiving global recognition on a level never seen before. Even nomads in the Sahara now wanted to know who crossed the checkered flag at the end of each race.

Monetary income had surged to an all-time high, with sponsorship deals, broadcasting rights, and merchandise revenue pouring in from every possible direction. Formula 1 was now touching all continents, its footprint emblazoned across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. The sport had become a truly global spectacle.

This was how F1 was going to stay regardless of whether it was hazardous or not.

So, it was down to the teams to either survive or defeat the juggernauts of the competition. And right now, until other teams began to introduce their own HiCEs, Bueseno Velocità was the undisputed juggernaut in the championship.

And the RBioL also now powered by the Tempesta MkII (S-level engine), would be piloted by none other than Davide de fucking DiMarco, Captain Italy himself.

Luca spent whatever free time he had digging into research, hoping to find any prior information he could about the MkII. But unfortunately for him, there were no definite or trustworthy data available on the web. All he kept running into were wild speculations, fake stats spread by clickbait sites, exaggerated leaks from shady forums, and recycled hearsay.

Truth was, it made perfect sense why there wasn't any reliable online information yet. The MkII was barely out of the wraps and hadn't been pushed in a real race environment. Everything about it was still under tight wraps as there were no official dyno figures, no track simulations, no leaked telemetry. Just fog.

And in Formula 1, fog actually meant... fear.

Luca and Jackson Racing didn't fully know what they were heading into in South Africa, but they could only guess. And since it was just a single driver to focus on, they knew all that was needed was to formulate a secondary strategy aimed specifically at possibly crippling DiMarco.

This whole MkII discussion was what sparked a new rhythm of regular conversations between Luca and Rodnick. As teammates heading into a brand-new country, racing on a brand-new track, and against a brand-new construction, they subconsciously tightened their dynamic even though deep down, it felt temporary.

By the first few days of July, flights had already started being boarded from all across the globe, with people arcing from their various countries down to the southern tip of Africa, into the beautiful and vibrant country of South Africa.

Of course, Luca was going to bring Isabella along with him. He had never been to Africa before and neither had she, so this was the perfect opportunity to experience something new and immerse themselves in the culture of diverse groups. And on top of that, her 18th birthday was in the same month, just around the corner, and celebrating it many leagues away from home would no doubt be unforgettable.

When they arrived in South Africa, Luca had expected to see a country blossoming with the unique ebony skin colour, but so far, he had seen more whites than blacks! How was that even possible?!

Apart from that, the country was undeniably beautiful—most especially its capital, Cape Town. The breeze carried the sharp coolness of the Atlantic, brushing in from the ocean with a freshness that filled the lungs. The skies felt wider here, and the sun had this almost golden-white sheen to it that made everything—mountains, buildings, even the distant ocean—glow ever so softly. The city had a calm, upscale aura that struck a strange but pleasing balance between nature and modernity.

Luca landed in Cape Town and immediately booked his and Isabella's hotel and accommodation there. But the racing circuit—and in fact, the entire motorsport activity—would be held far across the country, practically at the opposite end, in Midrand. Midrand was located between Johannesburg and Pretoria, right in the heart of Gauteng Province, and had been transformed into a cutting-edge motorsport hub just for this Grand Prix.

Since the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit was new, the FIA had made sure it lacked absolutely nothing in terms of amenities and infrastructure. It could now be termed the most perfect circuit in F1 history, with a seating capacity that could surely accommodate the massive multitude flooding into South Africa.

Luca admired the track layout while he sipped a cup of iced rooibos tea. The circuit displayed signs of unevenness and elevation at certain sections, but not in a lethal, punishing way like Interlagos. It felt like a safe track from the looks of it—anticlockwise, yes, but with an irregular structure that almost resembled a duck swimming calmly in a pond.

Luca knew that if he truly wanted to maintain his shot at the championship title, he would need to win this race. Additionally, he also needed to unlock Top Driver Bundle to know what he's fully capable of.

To unlock the Top Driver Bundle, the system required five F1 race wins. So far, Luca had claimed three. Winning this one would push him one crucial step closer. DiMarco won't do a thing, he said.