My Formula 1 System-Chapter 648: True Rookie

After the German Grand Prix, Trampos’ board wasn’t exactly throwing a party for their win. Instead, they became quieter and more reflective because of Victor’s performance. They eventually reached a temporary, tentative consensus to grant Victor a small "reprieve."

Before the race, they were totally sure they wanted him changed, but what unfolded in Berlin changed things. After the race, a few of the directors started to change their minds, subsequently convincing others.

Victor didn’t just survive the brutal midfield battle; he handled it better than ever before. Endurance. Strength. And Dexterity. Even though he finished in P11, which is just one spot away from points, the entire context mattered. When you look at his whole race, he didn’t look like the "bad rookie" they wanted to get rid of a few months ago.

So, instead of rushing ahead and trying to sign a new driver to take his seat, the board decided to slow down and wait. It was definitely a smart move. Because of how he drove, Victor finally earned something he really, really needed: some breathing room to show everyone what he can actually do.

Our golden boy was back home within just a few days. Since everything happened in the same Berlin, Germany, there was no need to take a plane. He just made a beeline back to the team headquarters and then to his residence. He also went to visit his family, who were celebrating the Trampos win. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

He walked through the front door with the same duffel bag over his shoulder, looking way more confident than the last time they saw him. His family totally mobbed him with love and hugs. That night, they celebrated for the country and for their own family’s success. Victor smiled and clapped, having a great time, but his brain was actually somewhere else.

Whenever he looked at the TV, he would see Luca, the national hero and his mentor, talking so calmly and leading the celebrations. Victor wondered how anyone could be so perfect in character all the time. He had only finished in P11, but he was feeling as happy as a little kid. It actually made him feel kind of embarrassed.

’If I’m this happy now, how crazy am I going to act when I finally get on the podium, or win my first race...?

So, he made a big decision. He was going to act more... "chill." No more acting super excited or letting everyone see how he feels. For the next race in Azerbaijan, he wanted to drive so well that it just felt like a normal, boring routine.

Later that week, on Friday, he got a call from Mr. Grant. He told Victor there was a meeting with him and Valloton the very next day. Victor was really scared that this meant something bad was going to happen, but he had no clue that it was actually going to be great news!

Victor got to the headquarters really early. The building’s big glass walls were glowing in the morning sun when he swiped his card and walked inside. Even though this was supposed to be a rest week, he decided to use the extra time to get some extra growth. By the time the important staff started arriving, Victor had already finished a whole workout on the special program Luca had set up for him. He was a little sweaty, but he was breathing totally fine. After he finished, he took some of the team’s medicine that helps track how his muscles are feeling so they don’t get too sore.

He had just finished changing his clothes when a staff member told him to go to the technical briefing room.

When he walked in, he saw a lot of VIPs. First, the team principals, as expected, then Mr. Rube, along with seven autonomous performance analysts. Also, the Lead Aero Engineer, the Head of Race Strategy, and the Vehicle Dynamics Director were present. Most of these people were way higher up in the company than Grant and Vallotoon, so Victor hardly knew them at all, making him feel out of place.

But then he saw who was sitting at the very end of the table: the Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Ojukwu. This was the same man who had been insistent that Victor should be kicked off the team. Victor definitely couldn’t forget his face, nor his presence, and seeing him there made the moment feel a lot more serious.

After everyone finished saying their hellos and sat down, Mr. Grant started the meeting. He talked for a while about how great the German Grand Prix was. Not only did he talk about the win, but he also talked about how every single person on the team worked together like spokes on a wheel. He praised the pit crew for being super fast, the engineers for making the car stay in one piece, and the factory workers for the needed adjustments.

Beyond the track, he also praised the team’s public image, especially the way Trampos had handled the media, the discipline of the drivers, and the unity that had been visibly displayed throughout the weekend.

Everyone in the room started nodding and agreeing because they all felt proud, too, saying the victory was a collective effort.

Then, Ms. Vallotton started talking, and her voice was a lot softer but still very serious.

She looked right at Victor.

She said that even though he didn’t get any points for finishing in P11, his race was still amazing.

She spoke about his composure under pressure, his ability to manage tyre wear after a turbulent midfield battle, and his maturity in avoiding unnecessary contact even when provoked.

She highlighted his duel with Jimmy Damgaard, noting that standing his ground against a driver of that calibre was no small feat. His recovery after the pit stop, his patience in warming the tyres, and his eventual climb back up the order all pointed to growth and potential.

Victor had shown he was a smart driver who had the flash of brilliance F1 scouts sought for. With time and the right machinery, the rookie could turn into a formidable Formula One driver.

And that was the real reason everyone was there: how to shape Victor Surmann into something greater than what he was now.

A driver has to show they can climb, but the team has to be the one to give them the ladder. You can have all the talent in the world, but the tools are what decide how far you actually go. Mr. Ojukwu folded his hands and talked in a formal way that made the room go quiet.

He gestured subtly toward the holographic schematics of a Ferrari car frame projected in the centre of the table.

While he was looking at the model, Ojukwu told everyone that history had a rhythm. Marcellus Rodnick had not been handed greatness overnight, the same way he lost it. In his formative years, he had cut his teeth in the JRX-88X while apprenticing under the fabulous Marco Rossi. Back then, people said he was too messy and got too emotional when he was fighting other drivers. But as his cars got better—first the 92B and then the 97—he changed from just a "maybe" into a world champion who won everything.

The same pattern had defined Luigi’s ascent. In his rookie season at Velox Hispania, he had been gifted a machine that was competent after a few struggling seasons.

That subtle engineering improvement had revealed what he was truly capable of. Once he was placed in faster, more responsive cars, his trajectory had been nothing short of meteoric.

And then there was the legend Hank Rice, too, when he was in Nevada.

These were not coincidences. They were proof of a fundamental truth of Formula 1: greatness was cultivated, not simply discovered.

If Trampos Racing wanted another superstar in red, then hesitation had to end.

They had to take that step.

They had to give Victor Surmann the JYX-81.

Victor sat there with his heart pounding like a drum. His throat felt super dry, and he was a big mix of nervous and excited. He knew this was the big one. Getting the JYX-81 meant they finally believed in him, and it changed everything.

He looked down at his hands, which were shaking just a tiny bit under the table, so he tucked them into his lap. He thought about how he had been driving his older car, the one that felt heavy and stubborn in the corners. The JYX-81 was said to have a much better front end, meaning when you turned the wheel, the car actually went exactly where you wanted it to, instantly.

It had way more downforce, too, which meant it stayed glued to the road even when you were going fast enough to take off like an airplane.

"...You’ll have your first shakedown run tomorrow morning at 08:00."

"....I want you to spend the rest of the week in the simulator getting used to the new steering rack."

"... It’s a lot more sensitive than what you’re used to."

It was happening!

Victor couldn’t believe it!

He was going to be driving the same machinery as the champions!