The briefing room was an austere chamber of technology and ambition. Rows of gray chairs sat before a massive digital screen, where telemetry data, lap times, and weather forecasts flickered in a constant stream. The hum of fluorescent lights above added a sterile chill that cut through the warm excitement Luca had felt just moments before.
Luca Moretti slid into a seat near the back, his palms sweaty beneath his gloves. The empty chair beside him made his nerves spike — he knew who was coming. Nathan Kane, Razor GP's senior driver and something of an institution in the paddock, entered with an air of confident nonchalance.
Kane was everything Luca wasn't: older, seasoned, weathered by six seasons at the pinnacle of motorsport, but without a single Grand Prix victory. His sharp green eyes scanned the room like a hawk spotting weakness. When they met Luca's, his expression barely changed — a subtle challenge masked behind a polite nod.
Tom, the chief race engineer, clicked the remote and turned to face the room. "Thanks for joining. Today, we're reviewing your simulator runs from the last three days. Nathan, you've been consistent — fastest laps in race trim, clean and controlled. Luca, your qualifying pace has been impressive, but we need to see race pace stability."
Nathan didn't bother hiding his smirk. "Clean qualifying laps mean nothing if you can't sustain the pace under pressure. Let's be honest, Moretti, you've got raw speed, but raw speed burns out fast."
Luca kept his jaw tight. "Race trim is about consistency. I've been fine-tuning tire management and brake modulation. My last qualifying runs were cleaner than Nathan's."
The room crackled with tension, like a live wire waiting to snap. Tom raised a hand, trying to regain control. "Enough heat — let's get to the numbers."
The screen displayed side-by-side telemetry for Kane and Luca on the Silverstone circuit. Kane's lines were smooth and confident. Luca's showed moments of sharper braking, more aggressive corner entries.
"We see Luca braking deeper into Copse and Chapel," Tom said. "This risks tire degradation but gains milliseconds. Kane's approach is more conservative, aiming for longevity."
Nathan leaned forward, voice low but firm. "You can't win a championship with moments. You need races."
Luca's hands clenched into fists. The quiet voice in his head whispered, This is where it begins. The next morning, the simulator bay was quiet except for the low whine of computers and the clicking of buttons. Luca slipped into the cockpit, eyes focused beneath his helmet. His heartbeat synced with the simulated engine's drone as the countdown began.
On lap one, he pushed tentatively, easing into the car's brutal power delivery. By lap five, confidence bloomed. He braked later, carrying more speed through the corners, feeling the car respond like an extension of his body.
Lap eight saw a near-spin out of Copse. His rear tires broke traction briefly, and panic flickered before he wrestled the car back on track. The engineers watching gasped quietly.
"Stay calm," Olivia's voice crackled through the radio. "You're driving well, but control is everything."
By lap 15, Luca was slicing through sectors faster than Kane's best times. The tires screamed in protest, but he was relentless.
Lap 19: a final push.
The digital lap time exploded — two tenths faster than Kane's best sector.
Silence in the simulator bay.
Then, the door slid open.
Nathan Kane stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his usual smirk softened by surprise. "Well, Moretti... looks like you've got some teeth after all."
Luca removed his helmet, sweat dripping down his face, heart pounding. "This is just the start."
Nathan's eyes locked onto his with grudging respect. "You better be ready. Razor GP isn't for the faint-hearted."
Tom smiled. "Looks like we have a real fight on our hands." Luca walked out of the simulator bay with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. The team's expectations weighed on him, but for the first time since he arrived, he felt like he belonged.
Behind him, Nathan Kane's footsteps echoed — steady, confident, and challenging.
The battle for Razor GP's top seat had truly begun.