My Formula 1 System-Chapter 271: Welcome To Jackson Racing. 4
Luca could still hardly believe that Trampos was the team appointed to replace Nevada HanSama in F1. It was the most stunning news in the chain of surprising events currently taking place in the world of motorsport.
Trampos Racing in Formula 1?
Trampos had been one of the three teams that made the shortlist—Retona, Hatcherk, and Trampos.
At times, Luca wondered why he hadn't anticipated this sooner because he had been expecting Squadra Jnr and Velocità Jnr to top this choice.
But Luca had totally forgotten they were junior teams for a reason and could never be in the same division as their senior team.
It was just like duplicating the same team instead of granting space for another name.
When it came to the shortlist, then, it was obvious Trampos had won this decision.
They were the current F2 champions and had a huge point tally over Hatcherk and Retona, meaning they had been far better last season and could execute the same performance in F1.
Luca's stomach churned when he recalled that he was the one responsible for that huge points tally.
Another reason the FIA believed Trampos Racing would be a good fit was its current financial backing.
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Now that Mr. Lemaître was part of the ownership, Trampos Racing had received a significant boost in finances, pushing them to at least the low financial standard of an F1 team.
As long as "low" fell within the value criteria.
Luca didn't want to see Trampos entering F1 only to suffer and become the team that stayed at the very bottom from Round 1 to the finale.
Since they were stepping up to F1, he wanted to see strength, ambition, and rage from them.
Luca wanted them rivaling the top teams, not struggling with the lower ones like Iberia Grand Prix.
He knew his expectations were a bit high, but a few years would help build that strength.
The third reason the FIA had chosen Trampos Racing to replace Nevada was rooted in national representation and historical significance.
Trampos was a German team, and Germany had a rich and storied legacy in motorsport, with deep ties to Formula 1.
It was home to some great drivers in history and automotive manufacturers that had long shaped the evolution of the sport.
Given this, the FIA saw it as a wise and strategic move to ensure that a German team was present on the grid.
Hatcherk Motorsport, on the other hand, was an English team. While they had performed relatively well in the feeder series competition and had a solid foundation, there were already two established English teams on the grid.
If the FIA had chosen Hatcherk over Trampos, they would have risked overloading the grid with yet another British team, further skewing the balance of national representation in Formula 1.
So, the FIA selected Trampos not only as a decision based to ensure the global nature of Formula 1 remained intact, but also to merit and sate the German minority group that had been grumbling for some time now.
And so just as a team in red was temporarily leaving its post, another team in red was replacing them.
Luca still found it hard to believe.
So Mr. Grant would become an F1 Team Principal? Ms. Vallotton as well?
I do realize I'm going to compete against them? Luca mused to himself. And when I do, I hope it won't be taken personally.
As for the team itself, Luca held a glimmer of hope that they would understand that he had committed himself to another team now, that his career had moved forward. But when it came to the German fans? He wasn't so sure.
Luca had deliberately tuned out any news regarding his 'departure' from Trampos, choosing instead to focus solely on coverage related to his 'entry' into Formula 1.
They were two entirely different things.
News of his F1 debut was filled with excitement, gossip, analysis, optimism, and speculation. While news of his departure from Trampos held some gossip but was mixed with sadness, heartfelt tributes, and words of farewell from fans who didn't want to say goodbye.
Luca knew that if he wanted to focus on his new journey, he had to keep himself from dwelling on those emotional farewells. Otherwise, stepping onto the track against Trampos would feel heavier than it should.
Luca wondered which engine manufacturer Trampos would even partner with.
Definitely not Mercedes.
Definitely not Red Bull.
Definitely not Ferrari—he'd be damned if that happened.
But he was no god. Anything could happen, and if Trampos managed to gain the favor of a strong engine supplier, one willing to overlook their finances and take a chance on them, things could get interesting.
Then again, an engine manufacturer wouldn't just take a risk for nothing. If they backed Trampos, it meant they had confidence the team could deliver strong performances. And these performances should justify the investment.
And that was where Luca had his doubts.
How many great drivers did Trampos even have capable of producing performances worthy of Formula 1?
As far as he recalled, the team hadn't signed any new talent during the break, and with the window now closed, that wasn't going to change.
So, for their debut season in Formula 1, Trampos was heading into the fight with what?
Beanie? Haas? And… Ansel.
Luca slowed his thoughts as Ansel's name infiltrated them.
He stroked his chin, absorbing the weight of his realization.
Ansel's suspension had elapsed. He was ready for competition again. Which meant… Ansel would be in Formula 1 this season.
Luca couldn't believe it!
It felt like a twist of fate, as if the seven heavens had just received their applause for the grand puppet show they had orchestrated.
Ansel had wanted to be in F1, and now here he was… in F1.
Luca had wanted to be in F1 after just one season in F2, and now here he was… in F1.
Then why had fate made it seem impossible back when they were teammates? Why had it spun a prophecy that only one of them would be credited for the path ahead?
Yet here they were, both stepping onto the biggest stage in motorsport.
Luca sighed, shaking his head.
So, their conflict had been for nothing. And now, just when he expected to enter F1 alone, Ansel was right there with him.
Luca wondered how Ansel felt about it. The guy hadn't even moved a muscle since August last year to secure a spot in F1, yet here he was.
And in some ironic way, Luca himself was the reason Ansel had made it.
If Ansel couldn't even stomach finishing second in F2, he had a lot to learn in F1, where the power disparity between cars was brutal and pure skill made up only 30% of the victory equation.
If Trampos managed to secure backing from a strong engine manufacturer, that'd be fine but it would take time since the season was just about to begin. But at least they'd be competitive.
But if they had to make do with the F2 04 and its B-level engine for a few races until a decision was made?
Luca could already see their name stamped in 10th place.
It was here Luca propagated the Chassis Comparison so he could see how far low was the F2 04 compared to his 92B
[Chassis Comparison]
[Retrieving Data from registered car and car under analysis....]
[...Data successfully retrieved!]
[Selected Modes:
—Dallara (F2 04)
—Ferrari (JRX-92B) ]
[POWER & PERFORMANCE:
—Dallara (F2 04): 80% «««
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 96%»»»
[AERODYNAMICS & CHASSIS:
—Dallara (F2 04): 76% «««
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 93%»»»
[HANDLING & DYNAMICS:
—Dallara (F2 04): 86% «««
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%»»»
[ENDURANCE & RELIABILITY:
—Dallara (F2 04): 90% «««
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%»»»
[TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION:
—Dallara (F2 04): 77% «««
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%»»» ]
[Review: Ferrari (JRX-92B) is built for podiums, while Dallara (F2 04) is built for survival.]
"Damn. It only came close in Endurance and Reliability."
"But I was thinking you'd give me a detailed comparison with their figures and all that."
[That'd be too large to incorporate, host.]
[System has calculated the figures inwardly and provided accurate results under important categories.]
Luca could clearly see the overwhelming difference between the Dallara and the Ferrari, making him realize just how much F1 action he had been missing.
If the JRX-92B was this good, then Rodnick's JRX-97 had to be hitting 100% in every category.
There was no way this was the competition Trampos had planned to survive in—right?
Luca decided to stop thinking about Trampos and focus on the road ahead in Jackson Racing.
The season had officially begun and the calendar foretold 20 races for the F1 competition this year with the Mega Prix scheduled to be hosted by the United Arab Emirates.
For now, the next thing in line was the livery unveil event, where all participating teams would reveal their new liveries, uniforms, and official lineup.
In truth, this event was more than just a reveal, it was the moment that cemented each team's place in the championship, presenting them to the world along with their drivers and official numbers.
Luca had already seen Jackson Racing's new design. It still carried the essence of the old one but with sharper accents and a bolder presence. He really liked it.
