My Formula 1 System-Chapter 654: The Last Of Summer

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was only a stone’s throw away, and the F1 community was rousing again like a hive of bees that just got poked. Everyone was chattering on social media and the news because the winners of this long, hard racing season were far from certain, and it was making the fans go crazy.

Trampos Racing had to welcome the press on the first media day before the Azerbaijan week, and the interview hall was absolutely packed. All the reporters wanted to see how the Rising Suns were preparing for another race on the world tour, especially in a season where literally no one expected them to soar this high.

Mr. Grant, Ms. Valloton, Mr. Ruben, and the head of strategy took the stage for a one-hour press interview, which was broadcasted live right from the HQ. The building was buzzing with foreign staff and media vans. The room was bright with flashing lights from all the cameras, and questions were thrown at the team from every direction. Occasionally, there was collective laughter that softened the mood, making it feel like the FIA and Trampos were finally on the same page.

From the looks of it, the red team seemed well-prepared and very confident for the next race. With answers so sharp, direct, and professional, anyone could tell they weren’t scared of the challenge ahead.

Reporter: "About Victor stepping into a new chassis development. Is he handling the transition well, and does this mean he’ll be fielding the machine officially for the Azerbaijan main race?"

Mr. Ruben: "Victor has been a natural. He’s already completed several checks that prove he’s ready. As for the race, we are currently in the final data-validation phase. We’ll make the final call after the Friday practice sessions, but the signs are very positive."

Reporter: "It’s interesting that the rookie is getting an upgrade while Luca is sticking with the older model. Does this have anything to do with Luca’s contract? And what are his thoughts on Victor’s sudden leap forward?"

Mr. Grant: "Let’s squash that right now—Luca’s contract is nowhere near its renewal date. The technical decision for him to stay with his chassis remains the team’s autonomous decision. And Luca is actually elated with Victor’s progress. There’s a great synergy there. When rivals see Ferrari red in their mirrors, they should definitely be worried."

Reporter: "And Luca hasn’t made a public appearance since his win here in Berlin. Historically, he has a reputation for his form starting to plummet once we hit the final quarter of the year. Is he physically and mentally ready for the final stretch of the season?"

Ms. Vallotton: "Luca is in peak condition. He’s been focusing on his training and spending more time on-site. We’ve seen the ’ember-months’ statistics people like to bring up, but this isn’t the old Luca. He’s more grounded than ever, and his performance in the sims has been flawlessly consistent. We have zero concerns about his form."

Reporter: "Velocita just announced that DiMarco is out for Baku, replaced by the rookie Matteo Bianchi. Given the drama between Damgaard and DiMarco, what’s the Trampos take on this move?"

Mr. Grant: (Taking a measured tone) "It’s certainly a bold move. We knew there were some internal fractures over there between the teammates, but to swap drivers this late in the campaign is a massive risk. We wish Matteo luck, but it definitely changes the dynamic of the grid. We’re staying focused on our own garage, though."

Reporter: "Regarding the manufacturing pipeline from Ferrari, how much autonomy does Trampos actually have when it comes to prioritizing which driver receives the ’flagship’ parts first? Is it a board decision or a directorial one?"

Ms. Vallotton: "We work very closely with the manufacturing leads. Usually, the board sets the budget, and then it’s up to the management team to decide how those parts are deployed. It’s a very fluid process that requires decisive action."

The interview was almost over when a reporter from a business blog raised her hand. "Mr. Grant, there are rumors that Trampos is completely overhauling the pit-crew lineup for Baku, bringing in three new specialists from the Ferrari main factory. Is it true that you’re replacing your old guard mechanics right before a street race?"

"Absolutely not," Grant replied with confidence, leaning back. My crew has been with me through thick and thin. We value loyalty here. While we always look for marginal gains, there are no plans to swap out our core team members this late in the season. That would be a recipe for disaster."

"Actually—"

Ms. Vallotton’s voice cut in.

"The swap is already happening. The new specialists arrive in Baku on Thursday."

In real time, the reporters saw the warm smile fade from Mr. Grant’s face. Not only that, it turned into a confused frown.

"Pardon? Olivia, we talked about a "proposal" for a consultant role. We didn’t talk about firing anyone."

"It’s not firing, it’s optimizing," Vallotton replied without looking at Grant. "I made the confirmation yesterday."

A flash of anger coursed through Grant’s blood as he sat up slowly. The press watched.

"How were you able to authorize a crew-wide shift without a sit-down meeting with the Lead Mechanic or the Chief Engineer?" He demanded.

"We were running out of time," Vallotton whispered, finally glancing his way. "The board and I agreed that we need a fresh injection for a single round. It’s the only way to ensure Victor has a solid foundation in his first race with the new chassis."

Silence haunted the interview hall for seconds, punctuated by the clicking of cameras and murmurs from the journalists. Up at the stage, behind the table, Mr. Grant looked like he wanted to jump out of his seat. But he realized this wasn’t the best time to talk about this.

"That doesn’t sound very reliable," he said aloud, turning back to the press and leaning back once more. "So, ignore that. It’s not true. My crew is staying exactly where they are."

Vallotton stayed quiet. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The reporters started whispering like crazy, and the sound of cameras clicking got even louder. Grant sat there in stunned silence, realizing that his authority didn’t really mean anything if Vallotton was already making moves behind his back. It was like he was the last person to know what was happening in his own office. He looked like a man who had just found out he wasn’t invited to his own party!

After a while, the reporters’ murmuring finally died down, and the interview continued.

To the media, this kind of friction was actually pretty common in F1 teams—they just thought it was the usual routine of big personalities clashing under pressure.

But Mr. Ruben, who was sitting right there, knew better. He looked at his two colleagues and could feel the ice in the air. He had been around long enough to know that this wasn’t just a small disagreement for the cameras. Something was definitely wrong somewhere deep in the team’s leadership, and he could tell that his team was heading for a total eclipse if they didn’t figure it out soon.