My Formula 1 System-Chapter 367: S2 Hungarian Grand Prix. 5

The Recoupment Machine: The Red Bull (RBioL)

What Red Bull had in mind when constructing the RBioL wasn't to build the fastest car, nor the most powerful, nor even the longest-lasting.

What they wanted was the most competitive machine

possible for a modern F1 team.

So, while Mercedes and Ferrari had been busy duking it out over who could produce the best engine—the fastest, most brutal, most dominant—Red Bull had quietly set their sights on something else entirely. And this was exactly why the RBioL looked slower compared to the JRX-97.

Not "incredibly" slower, no. But when you look at the numbers carefully—considering that even the AMG F1 W09 barely surpassed the JRX-97 by the slightest margins—you would expect the next best car to trail by a similar hair's breadth.

Instead, the RBioL lagged by a noticeably bigger gap, big enough that if you weren't paying attention, you'd think the AMG and 97 were running in an entirely different tier of racing altogether.

It wasn't fresh news, even for Luca, who fully understood that Red Bull's design philosophy wasn't to chase top speeds like Renaults used to but to go for an all-round performance. But at the same time, they were not like Renault though who pursued this same interest.

Red Bull was different because they had pushed the envelope differently. They stretched just enough in certain aspects, covering more ground across the board, aiming for a car that would always make the shortlist no matter what aspect you judged.

And they actually did. RBioL consistently made the top charts—except, of course, for the embarrassing ones like "slowest cars." Fastest Cars (3rd) Most Durable (1st) Best Acceleration (3rd) Most Responsive Chassis (2nd) Best Recovery System (1st)

Using this means of assessment, one wouldn't be wrong if he actually said Red Bull might be the GOAT, meaning the best engine and chassis makers since they hit all bull's eye.

However, Luca still found it difficult to fully discern the entire scope of the car powered by the Tempesta engine, because he had never registered it to his system. And Luca knew for sure he would never sign for Bueseno Velocità, which was the first real step needed to make that possibility happen.

The system analysis he had conducted during the Bahrain Grand Prix had given him only a basic outline and some rough awareness of what he was dealing with. But nothing compared to the actual luxury of seeing the Engine Features spelled out word-for-word, like he could with his own Ferrari 056.

Still, Luca could remember catching glimpses of phrases:

High-speed Performance, Sustained Performance, and Minimize Lag.

The more he thought about it, the more he fixated on that last one—Minimize Lag.

Looking deeper into what that could truly mean, Luca began piecing it together, its outstanding advantages such a feature could offer.

If the Tempesta engine was actually helping the chassis reduce lag—maybe through sharper throttle response, better deployment of recovered energy, or ultra-efficient power delivery under acceleration—then that could very well explain what had happened back at the 10th Lap when he duelled with DiMarco.

It had been a total shock to everyone, even Velocità fans, who usually bet the house on their team, had already looked ready to accept Luca had this one in the bag.

[Warning: Slipstream Threat Detected]

[Analyzing car behind...]

[Blue Red Bull (RBioL)]

[Distance: 1s → 0.8s → 0.5s]

Like a strike of lightning, it unfolded faster than Luca could even process.

He had overtaken DiMarco cleanly.

He had pulled more than a second ahead, a clear signal that slipstream and DRS for DiMarco would no longer be in play.

And yet somehow—without delay—DiMarco retaliated.

In normal situations, once you pulled away like that after a DRS overtake, you were gone. The guy behind might fight to stay within range, sure, but rechallenging was almost unheard of.

So, DiMarco did not only stay within reach, but he was also gaining. Impossible!

"...WHAT IS GOING ON?! HOW IS DI MARCO STILL IN LUCA'S SLIPSTREAM?! LUCA SHOULD BE TOO FAST FOR HIM NOW—THE GAP WAS THERE—IT WAS THERE—AND YET LOOK AT THIS...!!!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"

**Luca, defend left! Tighten the line into Turn 12! The straight's running out—corner's coming up fast!**

However, it was too late to execute any of that.

Luca had already committed to the racing line, his car surging down the final meters of the straight. He could see Turn 12 looming, way too close for any last-minute heroics now.

There was nothing Luca could have done anymore but brace as DiMarco swept past and retook P3, a flash of sparks flying from the underside of his gearbox, his rear wing flaring open—DRS fully engaged.

"...Luca Rennick in P4, Davide DiMarco in P3...!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"

"...CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?! BACK-TO-BACK POSITION CHANGES ON THE SAME STRAIGHT—THIS IS WILD, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WILD!!! IT'S LIKE A SLINGSHOT FEST OUT THERE!! THEY'RE THROWING EVERYTHING AT EACH OTHER!!!"

Velocità was back to roaring, but this time, it wasn't the chaotic roar of frustration when Luca had overtaken DiMarco.

This time, it was pure celebration! Explosion of joy and vindication as their man, their blue-clad warrior, had snatched the position back when they thought all was lost.

The sea of red, white and blue flags shook across the grandstands, flares igniting the air with smoke, the passion unmistakable.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

P3— Davide DiMarco ↑

P4— Luca Rennick ↓

Luca gritted his teeth and gripped the wheel tighter at the start of Turn 12. The sight of the Red Bull and its brake lights 0.5 seconds ahead was a bit of an insult, but nothing compared to what was been thrown around the grandstands.

**Alright, alright—reset! You're still close, Luca, still close! 0.5 seconds—we're in the zone! Stay clean, stay tight, we're not done!**

[Analyzing Ferrari (JRX-92B) and host's distance from 3rd Position]

[You are 0.5 seconds away, host.]

Luca decided he wasn't going to wait even a second longer.

He was close enough, so he swung wide to set up a late braking move for Turn 13's brutal hairpin.

Already on full defensive, DiMarco sensed the attack and hugged the apex tight, his tires brushing the inside curbs as they rounded through the narrow turn.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"

Not giving up, Luca spotted a gap on the outside of Turn 14. Without hesitation, he went for it and lunged with everything he had.

The grandstands were a storm of noise as they wrestled through the corner almost side by side.

Luca's Gripper Skill helped him claw at the asphalt, desperately holding traction, but DiMarco's experience bared its teeth, holding the perfect line and slamming the door shut just in time.

And so, the greatest duel of the season was born.