18 Undercut

The tension in the paddock was palpable as Luca Rossi prepared for the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Spanish Grand Prix was known for its strategic complexity, where timing a pit stop could be the difference between victory and defeat. Today, every second counted — not just on the track, but behind the scenes, where unseen battles threatened to unravel Luca's season.

Luca's mind was sharp, but exhaustion lingered from the relentless pressure of sabotage and threats. The events of Monaco still weighed heavily, a reminder that his opponents were no longer just fellow drivers. They were puppeteers pulling strings in the shadows.

Luca's mind was sharp, but exhaustion lingered from the relentless pressure of sabotage and threats. The events of Monaco still weighed heavily, a reminder that his opponents were no longer just fellow drivers. They were puppeteers pulling strings in the shadows.

The morning's free practice saw Luca pushing the limits of his car, seeking a balance between aggression and caution. The Barcelona circuit's mix of high-speed corners and technical sectors demanded precision setup, and Luca worked closely with Tom and Olivia to dial in the perfect balance.

In the team motorhome, Olivia handed Luca a tablet displaying telemetry data. "We detected unusual tire wear on the rear left during the last session," she explained. "It's inconsistent with your driving style or track conditions. Could be another subtle sabotage."

Luca frowned. "Someone's playing a long game — chipping away at the car's performance."

Olivia nodded. "And it's escalating. We need to stay ahead."

Qualifying was a battle of nerves and skill. Luca put in a stellar lap, securing third on the grid behind the dominant Mercedes and Red Bull cars. It was a strong position, but the race strategy would be key.

Race day dawned clear and warm. The crowd's roar was deafening as engines revved on the grid. Luca's focus was unwavering; he knew that today, every move could be the difference between survival and defeat.

The race start was chaotic. Luca kept his cool, avoiding collisions and maintaining position. But the true challenge lay ahead — the pit stop strategy.

Early in the race, the team radio buzzed with urgency.

"P2 and P3 are planning an early stop," Tom reported. "If we stay out longer, we risk losing track position."

Luca weighed the options. Pitting early — the classic undercut — could give him clean air and faster lap times. But staying out longer might allow him to pressure the leaders later.

Lap 15.

The undercut decision was made.

Luca dove into the pits, heart pounding as the crew sprang into action.

The tires changed, the fuel topped, but as he sat ready to accelerate out, a jolt shook the car.

The steering wheel vibrated violently.

Something was wrong.

Tom's voice crackled urgently over the radio.

"We're seeing hydraulic pressure drops in the front-right suspension! You need to be careful out there." Luca gritted his teeth, gripping the wheel tighter as he navigated the narrow pit exit.

Back on track, the suspension felt unstable, but Luca pushed through the pain, chasing down the leaders.

On Lap 25, the true danger emerged.

Entering Turn 10, the car bucked sharply.

A failure in the suspension — sabotage again.

Luca barely saved it from a crash.

Back in the pits, the team worked frantically to diagnose the problem. The tension was suffocating Meanwhile, the other teams closed in.

Luca rejoined in fifth place — behind his main rivals.

The final stint was a brutal test of resilience.

Luca fought through the field, overtaking cars with precision and grit.

Every lap was a battle — against the track, against his damaged car, against the unseen enemy.

As the laps wound down, Luca found himself behind the championship leader.

The crowd was on its feet. On the final lap, Luca pulled out all the stops.

Using every ounce of skill, he executed a perfect overtake in the final corner, snatching second place.

Crossing the line, breath ragged, heart pounding, Luca knew the race had been won in the shadows as much as on the track.

Later, Olivia brought him news.

"We traced the sabotage back to a member of your engineering team," she said quietly. "Someone feeding information to Veltrix."

Luca stared at her, shock and betrayal mingling. He looked out at the fading sunset, determination burning bright.

The undercut was more than a pit strategy now — it was a fight to outmaneuver those who wanted him down.