Haas' DNF came as a shock to Trampos and even opposition fans. The underdog driver of Trampos had finally gotten some publicity, but not the good kind.
"...BANDIERA GIALLA, BANDIERA GIALLA! SAFETY CAR IN PISTA...!"
**Watch your delta to Bellingham and De Klerk**
It all went fast for Luca. Before he knew it, the screens displayed Haas walking defeatedly to their garage. And after that, Mr. Moritz radioed that they'd received him safely.
"...SAFETY CAR RIENTRA IN PIT LANE! RIPRESA DELLA GARA...!"
"...Oliver Kristensen in P1!"
"...Erik Haas is out of the race! A disastrous turn of events for Trampos Racing. He got squeezed out before the straight, and that contact with Bellingham ended his race right there...!"
"...You have to feel for him. He was simply following the team's strategy, but the narrowing track left him nowhere to go. A tough break for Trampos, and now it's all on Luca Rennick to recover from this mess!"
The turn of events had brought Trampos to a square-one battle with Velocità Jnr. After having the upper hand with the help of Dani Walding's early DNF, the competition had leveled again now that Haas was escorted off the track.
~"We aren't champions yet. What if I hit the barricades, huh? And you fail to make top three?"~
"Ohhh... Goddamnit," Luca growled. Right now, he was nowhere near that P3, and he wondered why.
Max was definitely around the podium spots, most likely P3 itself or P4 by chance. Luca wouldn't fancy the leaderboard if it ended this way. He would need to leave this midfield as soon as possible and make an effort for P1 contention.
The yellow flags, which had fluttered consistently since the Turn 4 incident, were now being withdrawn one by one, each marshal lowering their flag in sync with the official confirmation from Race Control.
The pack that had been slowed to a processional pace erupted back into full-blown racing, resuming an Italian Mega Prix that had already delivered a staggering amount of drama, and they were only less than 20 laps in.
[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 7th Position]
[You are 3.5 seconds away, host.]
[500m Straightaway ahead]
[Analyzing 9th Position's distance from host and Dallara (F2 04)...]
[9th Position is 1.5 sec away, host.]
After the incident, Miles was still stuck to Luca's gearbox, unable to find a way to weave through over the turns and over the laps so far. Every attempt he made was shut down by Luca, who was using his racing line to its fullest advantage, placing his car exactly where it needed to be.
After successfully corner chopping Miles at one of the latest chicanes that led to the last straight and the start of the 19th lap, this tallied Luca's Sync Buff value to:
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 62.5%]
Earlier, when Miles had plotted to deploy DRS on a straight, Luca had chopped him off there as well before his wings could flap open. Luca got a level-up to Straightaway Chopping, which surprised him because he only remembered executing it once.
[Straightaway Chopping +1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 50%]
During this time, all Luca could do was quickly review this final race of the season, weighing the chances of victory between Trampos and Velocità Jnr.
This brought his mind back to the standings and the exact points held by Velocità and Squadra:
Bueseno Velocità Jnr — 238
Squadra Corse Jnr — 236
A mere two-point difference separated both teams beneath Trampos, and these were the only rival teams still mathematically in contention for the championship.
A two-point gap was practically nothing. A single race could flip it as if it had never existed.
And Luca had been so fixated on Velocità Jnr and Max that he had barely noticed how the Italian Mega Prix was quietly tilting in Squadra Corse Jnr's and Miles' favor.
Dani Walding and Erik Haas were the only drivers to have crashed so far in the race, and both of them were from Trampos and Velocità!
This meant that while Trampos and Velocità each had only one driver left fighting—Luca and Max, respectively—Squadra still had both of their elite drivers on track: Albert Derstappen and, of course, the very same Miles Bellingham responsible for Haas' crash.
Luca was reluctant to admit it, but if, by some unfortunate twist, he and Max failed to finish—perhaps even taking each other out—Squadra Corse Jnr and Miles Bellingham would be crowned champions here in Serpeggiare this evening.
Luca hmmed, shutting his eyes for a brief moment.
Was this Squadra's plan all along? And that dumb Aaronson had actually helped them accomplish a quarter of it.
[DATA DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME:
-Operational Status: 75% (Good)
-Breathing: Calm & Steady
-Distance covered: 70500m
"...Ventesimo giro in questo Mega Gran Premio d'Italia...!"
Behind, a few drivers were starting to make their second pits, while those ahead, who'd saved and pushed their cars, were making their first. The pit garages quickly filled with activity, crews springing into motion as cars dove in, engines growling before cutting off in precise halts.
The likes of Max Addams, now in P3, and Albert Derstappen, now in P2, were rolling in just as Oliver Kristensen rolled out to continue the race.
Benjamin Taubert made it through to retake the P2 he had once lost drastically to the A-list drivers. Having pitted much earlier, just like Luca and Miles had, he was free to join Kristensen in tackling the turns again.
Chances were, he could capitalize on his momentum, exploit Kristensen's earlier retardation, and top the leaderboard for the first time this season.
[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 7th Position]
[You are 3.1 seconds away, host.]
[You are 2 seconds away, host.]
[You are 0.5 seconds away, host.]
Miles blinked, his focus tightening as Luca's car—previously just within reach—suddenly surged forward. The red and black Dallara rocketed ahead, its rear wing snapping open under DRS, gaining on De Klerk with unnerving speed.
[Slipstream Mastery +1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 75%]
De Klerk, up ahead, had no time to react. Luca's car slotted into his slipstream, the gap between them evaporating in mere seconds.
[Track Span Analysis: 2.5 meters wide (inside lane available)] [Optimal Racing Line Calculated: 1.8 meters]
[Car Width: 1.9 meters] [Margin for Error: 0.3 meters (0.15 meters on each side)]
"...Rennick moves to the inside! He's going for it into Turn 5! De Klerk tries to hold the outside line, but Luca Rennick's already ahead! He slots in, late on the brakes—AND HE TAKES P7! Brilliant move from Luca! That was pure commitment...!"
"...Luca Rennick in P7, Peter De Klerk in P8!"
[Overtaking Skill +1]
[SYNC BAR: [][][][] 82.5%]
Luca felt as if this race was a joggler, randomly and confusingly switching their positions. Now, he was below Legrasse on the leaderboard, the same Legrasse he remembered leading some laps ago.
[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 6th Position]
[You are 2 seconds away, host.]
Luca made sure he had fully claimed P7, his car completely ahead of De Klerk's with no possibility of an immediate duel.
And with De Klerk acting as a buffer between Miles and him, Luca could now shift his concentration elsewhere and drive confidently in this Mega Prix, just as he did in every other race.
The sun was nowhere to be found in the deep, dull blue evening sky stretching over the circuit. It was 5 p.m. now, and a strong, restless breeze swept through the grandstands, rippling flags and team banners, sending waves of movement through the treetops beyond the barriers.
The atmosphere had this memorable, nostalgic feeling, especially for children who were watching.
The brake lights of all cars shone clearly through the twilight, and the distant commentary and announcements echoed with more resonance.
[Analyzing Dallara (F2 04) and host's distance from 6th Position]
[You are 1 seconds away, host.]
A deep growl of thunder rumbled across the sky stretching over the little city called a park. The flash of lightning and the crack that followed unsettled the drivers, team principals, and everyone else in the circuit.
But it didn't bother them as much as those beyond the circuit, watching from their seats on the park ground. Rain now would totally ruin their spectating.