My Formula 1 System-Chapter 331: Fifth Round Qualifier
Intermediary tires are a type of tire used in Formula 1 and other motorsports, designed specifically for wet track conditions that are not fully soaked but also not completely dry.
These tires are fully optimized to provide grip in light to moderate rain or damp conditions.
They are made with a tread pattern that is more aggressive than dry-weather tires but less so than full wet tires. The grooves on intermediary tires help to channel water away from the tire's surface, preventing hydroplaning, while still offering sufficient grip on the wet but not flooded track.
Typically, intermediary tires are used when the track is drying after a rainstorm or when the weather is unpredictable, making it too risky to use dry tires but not wet enough for full rain tires.
In those conditions, the intermediary tires offer a balance between wet-weather performance and the ability to provide good grip on drying asphalt.
This was the tire type Luca was set to use for the qualifiers, as Interlagos seemed to align perfectly with every condition that made intermediates the ideal choice.
The track was still wet, making traction and grip a critical concern for this qualifying session—especially with every driver relying on pure speed as their main weapon.
The intermediary tires would help reduce the risk of spinouts and crashes, but they wouldn't eliminate the challenge completely. Drivers still had to manage their cars carefully to avoid costly mistakes.
Luca, however, was fully prepared. Knowing that the Brazilian Grand Prix was infamous for its wet race conditions, he had wisely utilized the tools he earned from his victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix to maximize his control and performance.
His main targets were anything that had to do with tire, good grip and enhanced driving on wet conditions.
As part of his rewards from Bahrain, Luca had received five (5) Catalysts and two (2) Wrenches. He had the option to use them entirely for himself, convert them to benefit the car, or distribute them between both.
He chose the balanced approach.
Luca invested four (4) out of his five (5) Catalysts into Slipsense & Rainborne, a skill crucial for handling wet surfaces with precision.
[Processing request...]
[Applying 4 Catalysts to Slipsense & Rainborne]
With only one (1) Catalyst remaining, he decided to allocate it to Corner Chopping, which was currently at level 18. This upgrade would bring it up to level 19, just one point away from completion.
But Luca deliberately held off on finishing it. Instead of maxing it out immediately, he wanted to push Slipsense & Rainborne as much as possible. He hoped that sometime during the race, he'd be able to earn that last point in Corner Chopping naturally and then complete it.
[Processing request...]
[Applying 1 Catalysts to Corner Chopping]
[Corner Chopping: 18 → 19
Slipsense & Rainborne: 3 → 7 ]
At least (7) would be better than (3). A point of (7) would go relatively well with the tire features under the car's status.
— Wrenches: 0]
"...Attention all teams and drivers. The qualifying session for the São Paulo Grand Prix is set to begin shortly. Please ensure all personnel are clear of the pit lane as we prepare for the start of the session..."
"Let's go, let's go! We need to be out first!" one of the engineers called out, waving Luca and Rodnick toward their cars.
Luca, who was just putting on his balaclava, scurried to the center of the garage. It was a flurry of motion, voices overlapping as everyone scrambled to get everything in place.
The urgency emitted from all ten garages were the same because everyone wanted to hit the track as soon as possible. With the damp conditions, every second spent adapting could make a crucial difference.
Luca watched from the eye holes in his sock as a crew member tightened the last straps on his gloves. Another crew member double-checked his helmet, while a third tapped at the telemetry screen, confirming real-time data was streaming properly.
Across him, Rodnick was going through the same motion. Luca could see the outline of his deep frown of concentration from the black head sock.
"..The pit exit light will turn green in five minutes. Drivers must adhere to the designated qualifying regulations, track limits, and safety protocols. Any infringements will be reviewed by race control..."
The sides of the track were already filled with FIA officials and marshals, press and reporters. Even two helicopters had just taken up to the sky.
[SYNCHRONIZING HOST....]
[SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE]
[Host is now synced with Ferrari (JRX-92B]
Red—Red—Red—Red—Red
Green—Green—Green—Green—Green
"Alright, fire it up. We're sending you both out now."
Luca glanced at Rodnick from his cockpit as Interlagos' wetness lay before them—the Grandalhão grandstands, the towering buildings, and the vast green plains beyond. The crowd was alive, their cheers blending into the hum of engines, but Rodnick seemed completely unbothered by it all.
He didn't even look back at Luca, his expression unreadable, almost bored. Disinterested, as if this was just another ordinary day.
And yet, when it truly mattered, he would still deliver an exceptional performance. Luca scoffed, shaking his head. He couldn't wrap his head around how Rodnick did it—how he could look so detached and then dominate the track later on.
Jackson's countdown ticked away. As soon as thirty seconds had passed, Luca followed the instructions and rolled out onto the track first, with Rodnick shadowing him closely, ready to begin.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOHH!"
The people all around Interlagos cheered as the first cars thundered onto the circuit, but their cheers were soon drowned out by the deep, growling roars of multiple engines firing up in quick succession.
One by one, the pitlane was filled. All cars emerged from their garages menacingly like beasts let loose. They'd then cut in line through the mist.
Within seconds, the entire track entrance became a flood of machinery of different manufacturers and brands. Luca's eyes mirror showed the reflection of the wave of rivals, almost all eighteen of them.
The pitlane and its exit that was usually a place in the track for routine now looked like an aggressive battlefield as Qualifiers officially began.
Luca already knew traffic was going to be a problem, so he braced himself for it. Currently, he was the foremost driver, so he believed he could set the first fastest lap if he made use of the opportunity.
[Turn type: Tight Left-hander ] [Angle: 70°] [Braking Point: 120 meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: 110 km/h] [Optimal Apex: inside curb]
The first corner of the Brazilian circuit was very much similar to Bahrain's. Since the Bahrain GP wasn't that long ago, for Luca it felt as if he navigated the same Turn 1.
The only difference was the wetness. The distinction wasn't much, but Luca felt a change in his brake and grip efficiency as made it through the turn.
Without wasting any time, everyone's tires began to spray a thin curtain of water behind them.
Talk about pushing for the fastest lap in such a condition.
As small as Interlagos was, Luca quickly reached the first straight.
[900m Straightway ahead]
After running down the straight, there came Turns 4 and 5. To their left was the next Straight that cut perfectly through the middle of the track.
[650m Straightaway ahead]
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
From there, a driver could have the best view of both sides of the circuit.
After the straight was the only chicane on the circuit. It was called the Serpente de Cascata because of its S-shaped high-speed appearance since it flowed downhill in a sweeping motion, requiring drivers to carry speed while managing grip.
[Chicane type: S-shaped, Flowing downhill] [Angles: 80°, 180°, 180°] [Braking Zone : 120 meters before first apex] [Recommended Entry & Through Speed: 220 — 190 km/h]
The wet track made it difficult to build up tire warmth, but by the time Luca made it out of the chicane and to Turn 11, he began to see optimal tire warmth in his system display.
[Turn type: Slow Left-hander ] [Angle: 90°] [Braking Point: 70 meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: 130 km/h] [Optimal Apex: inside curb]
[Perfectly flowed!]
From Turn 11 onwards to the home straight was smooth driving because there was nothing else but slight kinks to just subtly shift the track structure for some competitiveness.
[Turn type: Fast Left-hander ] [Angle: 45°] [Braking Point: N/A meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: Full throttle] [Optimal Apex: inside curb]
The difficult part of the track was gone, so Luca entered safe section three, his 056 finally finding its voice amidst the vast expanse of dark green and slick curbs lining the track.
[Turn type: Fast Left-hander ] [Angle: 45°] [Braking Point: N/A meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: Full throttle] [Optimal Apex: inside curb]
[Turn type: Gentle left-hand Kink ] [Angle: 15°] [Braking Point: N/A meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: Full throttle] [Optimal Apex: inside curb]
[Turn type: Gentle left-hand Kink ] [Angle: 20°] [Braking Point: N/A meters before turn-in] [Recommended Entry Speed: Full throttle] [Optimal Apex: inside curb]
[Home Straight Ahead]
**Tire temp is all set. Let's fly this lap**
