My Formula 1 System

[SYSTEM ONLINE...] The following day, Luca's schedule included his official arrival at Jackson Racing HQ, where he'd meet the team—engineers, mechanics, strategists, and, of course, his new head teammate, Marcellus Rodnick. Media duties would line up afterwards, as his entry into the team needed to be broadcasted to the world. But between all that, Luca expected himself to personally interact with the crew, understand their working dynamics, and most importantly, start building some understanding with Rodnick. It was going to be a long, packed day. This was the day that officially marked his entry into the big leagues. Luca had a warm breakfast with his mother, and after that, she waved him a good luck goodbye as Vance arrived to pick him up. Together, they drove to Woking, Surrey, where Jackson Racing's HQ was located. The drive took quite some time, mainly because Woking was on the outskirts of London, requiring them to navigate through city traffic before hitting the highways. The cold morning air and patches of melting snow on the roads made the journey feel even longer. After nearly an hour's drive, they finally arrived at Jackson Racing HQ in Woking. The surroundings were cold not just because it was still winter, but because of the vast stretches of empty land and greenery shrouded in mist. Snow still clung to various surfaces, with some piled to the side as evidence of recent shoveling along the path leading to the gate. Luca took note of Jackson Racing's logo, which was emblazoned on the iron gates, one on the entrance side and another on the exit side. It resembled a wheel—not perfectly round, but oval—resting atop what looked like an anvil. Two sharp arcs curved around the sides, completing the insignia's distinct oval shape. A security guard, bundled in a thick black jacket blew his palms for some warmth before he walked to their windows. Luca and Vance flashed their credentials, and the guard examined them briefly before nodding in confirmation. He then stepped back into his security booth, relayed the clearance to his colleagues at the other end, and within moments, the heavy gates rumbled to life. As the massive iron barriers slowly parted with a deep mechanical groan, Luca glanced at Vance. "You must be a Jackson Racing fan, aren't you?" he asked him. Vance was momentarily surprised by how accurate the guess was, but he nodded firmly as he eased the car forward, officially entering Jackson Racing's territory. "How did you know?" he asked, glancing back at Luca. Luca shrugged. "You've lived in London your whole life. Which other team would you root for?" Vance chuckled. "There's Haddock..." "Mr. Vance never settles for second best," Luca remarked, turning his gaze to the grand facility as the car swerved into the parking lot. "You always go for the best." Luca knew Vance saw immense potential in him, that's why he had pushed to join his PT. It was a strategic investment in the future, a way to ensure he'd be part of the personal team of the best Formula 1 driver when Luca eventually claimed that title. Vance parked the car and switched off the engine, glancing around and the back at the imposing facility behind them. "You're right. And here we are, at the HQ of the Formula 1 Champions—the best team on the grid right now. I reckon we'll be visiting here a lot." Luca nodded and opened the door, stepping out. The habit of reaching for his mask and cap almost kicked in, but he reminded himself that this was an official setting. The air was crisp and clean, carrying a distinct freshness that set it apart from the atmosphere at Trampos' HQ. It felt purer, as though it had been filtered to perfection. Luca wondered why. Perhaps, it was the sheer scale of the facility. Jackson Racing's HQ was massive, nearly three times the size of Trampos'. That meant more main management buildings, a longer training track that stretched into the distance like a winding path to heaven, and a clear separation between the operational areas and the core of the team. From the parking lot, the HQ resembled a government complex rather than a racing team's base. The buildings were sleek and modern with glass facades dull and moody under the grey sky. Metallic accents traced the edges of these buildings, reflecting Jackson Racing's signature colors. Some structures had sharp, angular designs, while others featured aerodynamic curves, mirroring the engineering principles behind their race cars. Even from here, Luca could see the sprawling garages and the towering simulator building in the distance. Now this was the headquarters of an F1 team, the headquarters of the champion team. Luca kept his focus ahead. Even though the size of the facility was impressive, the reality of knowing today was his public investiture had settled in. So, he and Vance strode toward the main building, the heart of Jackson Racing's HQ. As they approached the entrance, uniformed security personnel were stationed at key points. Two guards flanked the glass double doors with earpieces that buzzed some information and chatter. One of them acknowledged Vance with a nod before scanning Luca briefly. "Welcome to Jackson Racing, Mr. Luca," the guard said, stepping aside. The doors slid open, granting them access. Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. It grew even colder due to the air conditioning, and the sense of professionalism was at an all-time high, with the Jackson Racing logo embedded EVERYWHERE. It felt as if the logos served as a constant reminder that loyalty and commitment were not taken lightly here. Every single crew member and clerk worked relentlessly toward the team's success, both on and off the track. Luca silently wondered if Jackson Racing had the same family-like atmosphere Trampos did. From the looks of it, no one really seemed to have time for personal bonding. However, the receptionist did give him a particular look. But Luca barely had time to take it all in before he spotted the waiting press at the side. Several reporters and photographers had already gathered near the designated media zone. He knew they'd be here today, but that didn't make their presence any more pleasant. He nodded to the receptionist, who immediately provided him with the necessary details to proceed to the president's office as planned. Vance stayed behind to give the press a brief statement while Luca moved ahead alone, stepping into the elevator and acknowledging the staff he would soon become familiar with. Minutes later, he arrived at the office of Jackson Racing's president—Mr. Huper Palmer. Contrary to his expectations, Mr. Fisher's office at Trampos had been far more luxurious. Fisher's space blended professionalism with comfort, while Palmer's was strictly business. A single rug, a shelf of books, two boudoir chairs facing a desk, and the president's high-backed master chair, nothing more, nothing less. So far, in this aspect, Trampos 1—0 Jackson Racing, Luca thought with amusement as he settled into his chair. Also present in the room was Mr. Pires, the team's Director of Operations, who played a role similar to Mrs. Doyle at Trampos. He paced restlessly behind Mr. Palmer, who remained seated, calmly flipping through a document. Luca could tell he was not an easy going man. The meeting was focused on the finer details of Luca's role as a Jackson Racing driver, beyond financial agreements and previously settled matters. This was about performance, expectations, and his integration into the team. It was confirmed that Luca would retain his #21, and his status within the team was periodic, meaning he was practically guaranteed a fixed race seat for the entire season. But since Di Renzo was termed periodic as well, there might be some competition. Jackson Racing's star driver, Marcellus Rodnick, remained the undisputed No. 1, and Luca would have to compete directly with Di Renzo to claim the No. 2 spot. One of the most critical discussions revolved around the chassis he would drive and the engine that powered it. Jackson Racing had access to some of the best Ferrari-engineered chassis, and their top three selections were: Ferrari JRX-97 (2) Ferrari JRX-92B (4) Ferrari JRX-88X (8) The numbers in brackets indicated how many of each chassis model had been developed, meaning Jackson Racing had only two Ferrari JRX-97s, four JRX-92Bs, and eight JRX-88Xs. Typically, an F1 team developed between two and four chassis per season, though the exact number depended on factors like budget, development pace, and crash replacements. Luca understood this well, so he was certain the Ferrari JRX-97 wasn't an option for him. That chassis housed the normal ThunderKat Rodnick piloted, and with only two available, one was undoubtedly reserved as a backup in case of damage or a crash. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Pires selected the Ferrari JRX-92B chassis for Luca, the same model piloted by Di Renzo. Each of them would have two chassis allocated. For the power unit, they paired it with the Ferrari Turbo-Hybrid 056 (A-Level) engine, an optimal choice for standard F1 competition. Perfect. Luca was eager to synchronize with the car and register it into his system, knowing that his goal was to push it and the engine to S-level. To his surprise, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Pires also informed him that he would immediately begin a Gold Training Program, focusing on piloting chassis powered by HiCEs. Palmer mentioned that while they anticipated two or three HiCE units in the next four years, only one would be introduced this season due to budget constraints. Luca had no doubt that Rodnick would be the one to drive that single S-level engine when it arrived. He wondered if Rodnick was ready. Rising to his feet, Luca sealed the meeting with firm handshakes to both men. Their gazes lingered on him, silently demanding results and nothing less. "Shall we head to the cameras?" Palmer asked, buttoning his suit and motioning toward the door. "Sure," Luca replied smoothly. Day 1 being a Silver Stallion.