At 10 a.m. on Monday morning, Trampos Racing headquarters was filled with bustling activity. All staff members from every department and all drivers were present. Four days remained until the Hungarian Grand Prix of that season, and every session mattered as the midseason break was officially over.
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Luca was eager to race in Hungary, especially on its stunning circuit. It was one of the most depicted circuits in videogames alongside the likes of Las Vegas' Stip, aka. Neonway, Peakburn, Mandalora, and a few others. To Luca, the Hungaroring felt like a stadium of its own. It had definite boundaries and steel walls that soared up to a hundred feet tall, obstructing any view from the surrounding cityscape. That way, only the spectators within the premises could know what was happening.
As a 5km circuit with 62 laps, the track promised tough but thrilling competition. Featuring eight corners per lap and a prominent 1.2 km straight, Luca saw plenty of opportunities to capitalize on its unique layout.
Aware that he had a Pole Position at his disposal, Luca was determined to hone good defensive abilities while capitalizing on any opportunity for an extra surge and gap extension. Most of the activities carried out today in the headquarters mirrored that determination under the warm, bright sun shining over the small practice track.
Ms. Vallotton was as no-nonsense as Mr. Grant, if not more so. Luca and Ansel believed she had become the true feldwebel of the team. Her management style was sharp and calculated, leaving little room for casual interactions or camaraderie. She relied heavily on the trusted group she had brought with her, delegating her directives to them for precise execution. It amused Luca that, despite her imposing demeanor, she still reported to Mr. Grant and was under his authority. In many ways, Ms. Vallotton embodied the role of a de facto Deputy Team Principal or Vice Principal.
Throughout the week prior and the corresponding weekend, Ms. Vallotton and Mr. Grant had spent considerable time together as Principal and vice. Aware that the French lady had profound knowledge of good strategies that was likely passed on from the F1 team Bueseno Velocità to their junior team, Mr. Grant trusted her to offer the best recommendations and often heeded her advice. Perhaps this trust and reliance explained her domineering demeanor. She was basically a better manager than Mr. Grant after all.
In one of their discussions, Ms. Vallotton confidently outlined her views on how the Trampos drivers should be organized for each race.
Under Mr. Grant's typical management structure, Denko Rutherford had always been the primary driver, which was a common setup in any motorsport team. As the main driver, the responsibility for securing race success and crucial points rested on his shoulders. The main driver's finishing position was paramount, reflecting their skill and the overall team standing, bolstered by their higher level of experience.
With Denko's permanent departure, Ansel Hahn had naturally stepped into the role of the main driver for Trampos Racing. His reliable participation in each round of the season, coupled with consistently decent results, had solidified his status as the team's primary driver.
However, Ms. Vallotton's proposal sought to upend this structure. Her suggestion caught Mr. Grant off guard, as she advocated for a new strategy where Luca Rennick would become the primary driver for Trampos Racing. Ansel, while not formally relegated to a secondary position, would instead assume a supporting role, one that was slightly subordinate. The core of her argument was that Luca's standings and race priorities should take precedence over Ansel's.
Ms. Vallotton's last race in charge of Bueseno Velocità Jnr had been back in early April, during the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the rare night races in Stellar. In that race, Bueseno Velocità Jnr's Max Addams had finished 4th, and Ms. Vallotton could vividly recall the frustration that echoed through their radio in the final laps. When Max had dared to believe P3 was within reach after falling back to a tenacious Miles Bellingham, it was Luca Rennick who had seized the moment. He capitalized on every second, showcasing the very qualities Ms. Vallotton was now emphasizing to Mr. Grant.
"In this sport, we have drivers with audacity, right? The audacity to dive into that sharp corner, pushing your limits before the next lap even begins. The audacity to drift on the edge, burning through those tires just for the thrill of it. The audacity to ignore caution, to take risks when others hesitate. It's a common thing, especially in the first division, I'd say. But the audacity to max out your SomberCore speed while navigating corners—that's something I rarely see, Mr. Grant. Yet Luca has made me see it more than once this season," she said.
Mr. Grant voiced his concerns about Ms. Vallotton's proposal for a new strategy and team structure. He had hoped for a progression that mirrored the traditional route many teams followed. His vision involved Ansel advancing to F1 first, with Luca naturally stepping into the leadership role after Ansel's departure. However, as Ms. Vallotton laid out her reasoning, Mr. Grant's unease only deepened.
Luca's current program was specifically designed to mold him into an exceptional primary driver, but Mr. Grant had anticipated that this evolution would take time, allowing Ansel to continue leading in the interim. However, with Ansel's recent dip in performance, Mr. Grant questioned whether he could still justify ranking Ansel on the same level as Luca—or even slightly below.
The situation felt wrong to him, as though it disrupted the traditional handover of leadership he had envisioned.
Ms. Vallotton, however, was quick to remind him of the realities of the sport.
"There's a reason there are the Team Standings and the Driver's Standings," Ms. Vallotton continued with a sharp, assertive tone. "We, the team, structure our drivers in whatever way best serves us—the team—and our success. The drivers, on the other hand, will do their utmost to excel within the framework and strategy we set for them, striving for their own success in the top five. If they're not happy with the structure, the gates are open for them to find another team. It's happened plenty of times before, Mr. Grant. Now, that's tradition."
This no-nonsense rationale was precisely why Mr. Grant had brought Ms. Vallotton and her strategy group onboard. As a Team Principal, her words resonated with him, and he looked forward to further deliberating on the matter. Rated 3.7 stars as she was under the Federation ratings, they might not just be suggestions and might end up being the solution. But Mr. Grant was happy to keep his mind open.
In the weeks and months ahead, with the results from Hungary and Spain serving as key indicators, Mr. Grant would deliver his final verdict on a new coordination and strategy to avoid future setbacks.
For now, however, the team adhered to its existing structure, resuming drills and programs. As the assembled cars gleamed under the bright lights and the property swarmed with figures clad in red, the telemetry room quietly recorded every session.