In Formula 1, it had always been a custom for the grid of every race to be made up of twenty drivers, with two representing each team.
Thus, the F1 Constructor’s Championship—right from the beginning—had consisted of ten teams, unlike F2 with fifteen and F3 with twenty.
With the turbulent ban imposed on Nevada HanSama, the Federation now faced a new challenge.
Giving a headcount of all active F1 teams, it tallied to nine in number. And with this number, the F1 season could not begin. Would not begin, rather. It was deemed essential that the F1 competition be composed of ten teams.
Balance took precedence in this case, as the FIA had to ensure the full grid of twenty drivers. Competition integrity had to be maintained, while commercial stability and historical consistency had to be preserved.
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It was now publicly announced that the new season couldn’t kick off if the FIA didn’t replace Nevada HanSama with a substitute, perhaps for the five years of their absence.
Luca wondered if this substitute team would agree to leave just like that when Nevada returned.
Surely, once a team had tasted the competition of F1 and the financial heights that accompanied the division, they’d be damned to simply throw it away when the previous occupants returned.
Perhaps, within this timeframe, the FIA might decide on another structural change that would favor the team they put in as a replacement.
Maybe F1 could transform into a tournament-style format, where at the end of each season, the last team in the standings—or the last two—would be relegated to F2, while the top two teams from F2 would be promoted to replace them.
This cycle would continue, and by the time Nevada was ready to rejoin, no team would be promoted; instead, they would take the spot of the relegated F1 team.
After all, in F2, the 15-team grid structure wasn’t as significant or traditional as F1’s.
This was just Luca’s guess, but he believed such a system could add an interesting dynamic to the sport, making every race more intense and every season more unpredictable.
It might actually strengthen the teams that got relegated, as they would use all their resources to dominate F2 and fight their way back.
In a way, this could make the lower division more competitive. Instead of just being a stepping stone for young drivers, F2 would become a battleground where former F1 teams sharpened their strategies and infrastructures for a return to the top tier.
The FIA had to decide quickly because the season was fast approaching. Soon, the calendar would be released, and teams would unveil their driver lineups and new liveries.
There was no time for a "tournament" as one had suggested. A tournament would likely see some F2 teams competing in a quick knockout or points-based series to determine which team would replace Nevada HanSama.
The Federation needed an immediate solution, there simply wasn’t enough time to organize such a competition.
They could either select a replacement team based on performance and financial stability or make an exception to allow the season to start with just nine teams.
However, the latter option risked breaking tradition and disrupting sponsorship agreements as just earlier discussed.
While the FIA received applications from several teams proposing to be the replacement, Luca and Jackson Racing were just finalizing their agreement, and soon enough, the official signing ceremony was held.
Fortunately, Luca saw nothing in the personal terms that would make him refuse to sign. He was actually going to become a Jackson Racing driver? A Silver Stallion?
Jackson Racing offered a one-year contract which Luca didn’t really like. It made him feel like they didn’t trust his capability, and as if they saw him as a temporary addition rather than a long-term investment.
A one-year deal meant he’d constantly be under pressure to prove himself to this big team, with no security beyond the season. If he didn’t deliver results quickly, he could be replaced just as fast as he was signed.
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And this one-year contract came with a $1.3M salary, along with bonuses for race wins and podium finishes.
While $1.3M was lower than Nevada’s impressive $2.5M—an amount they had proudly flaunted to both Luca and Trampos—it was still a strong figure.
As Mallow explained, it placed Luca among the highly paid drivers. The earlier $2.5M only made it seem less substantial by comparison.
Jackson Racing, on the other hand, offered Luca a one-year contract because he was an unexpected addition to their lineup. Suddenly integrating him into their long-term plans wasn’t a viable option.
Instead, the high salary served as motivation and an incentive to push Luca to perform at his best. If he delivered, that one-year deal could be extended at the season’s end.
And if everything aligned, Luca Rennick could become a permanent Silver Stallion for the rest of his career, as long as both parties remained satisfied with each other.
"LUCA RENNICK’S F1 COMEBACK WITH JACKSON!"
"A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE BAN!"
"RENNICK’S ROAD TO REDEMPTION BEGINS AT JACKSON RACING!"
"JACKSON RACING GAINS WHILE NEVADA KEEPS LOSING!"
"LUCA RENNICK, ITALIAN, REJECTS HIS MOTHERLAND FOR THE ENGLISH!"
"ONE-YEAR CONTRACT? DOES JACKSON EVEN BELIEVE IN LUCA?"
"LUCA RENNICK WENT FROM NEVADA’S PRIDE TO THEIR SHAME!"
"LUCA RENNICK WILL DRIVER A FERRARI, BUT NOT A RED ONE!"
It didn’t matter what the press said on the outside. The headlines, the debates, the criticisms were all just noise. Here, in this moment at the signing ceremony, it was all silence.
This silence was the heavy kind, filled with quiet expectations, hidden doubts, and the undeniable finality of what he had just done.
Luca sealed the deal with a stroke of his pen, the ink drying on the last empty space. Now, he was bound by words to direct his commitment and loyalty to Jackson Racing.
Everyone rose from their seats. Luca and Vance turned to Mr. Matthews, Jackson Racing’s Team Principal, and Mr. Berry, Head Engineer, shaking their hands firmly.
"Welcome to Formula 1, Luca."
"Thank you."
"Welcome to Formula 1, Luca."
"Thank you."
Cameras flashed and Luca struggled to keep his eyes open as he maintained the handshake with Mr. Matthews.
He could tell the press was already crafting their next sensational story out of this.
Regardless of what was written on the paper or said on the TV, the raw fact was that he had suddenly changed course he didn’t expect and was now a Jackson Racing driver.
#21, Luca Rennick, Jackson Racing, Ferrari, Colors Silvery Blue and Metallic Black.
[Ding!]
[Host’s Personal Stats has changed!]
[Please review status as soon as possible]
"Review now."
[Personal Stats:
Nickname: None
Status: 1 year contract
Salary: $1,300,000
Team: Jackson Racing
Race Wins: 5
Podium Finishes: 7
Pole Positions: 2
Championships: 1 ]
[Congratulations, host on making it to the top division]
[The Formula 1 System can now truly live up to its name.]