My Formula 1 System
Chapter 453 - 453: Best Driver/ Best Child

During the assessment of the Fan Favorite Award, there were some shortcomings and issues the FIA encountered. Initially, it was supposed to be Luca's award too, but after a round of internal deliberation, Luigi was ultimately titled the most favorite driver throughout the season.

The thing is, this awarding category was entirely fan-voted from the beginning of the season to the end. The voting mechanism technically had ballots both for and against each driver. In Luca's case, he had an overwhelming number of favorite votes. But the problem was, he also had nearly the same amount of disfavored votes; meaning that while millions admired him, thousands also despised him.

Luigi, on the other hand, didn't accumulate even half of Luca's favorite votes. But unlike Luca, his disfavored votes were extremely low in comparison, almost negligible.

Collecting and analyzing this data left the FIA paralyzed with confusion, because a driver with such a high volume of dislike wasn't, by standard metrics, the average fan favorite at all. Due to this, Luigi was rated #1 overall, thereby winning the award.

Since no one was aware of this confidential algorithm that had been carried out before this night, everyone simply believed Luigi had rightfully claimed the moniker. The Italian was now more confident heading into next season, because he believed he had the majority's backing.

But Luca's implausible five awards really bothered him deep down. Even after missing the last four concluding rounds, he still managed to break yet another award-giving record.

Driver of the Year actually felt like the most prestigious—second only to the World Champion award, of course. And most of the time, the champion would often simultaneously clinch this award too, once even making the FIA consider merging it with the World Champion award entirely.

But Luca's performance this season was simply undeniable. His consistency, racecraft, overtakes, and raw pace had been nothing short of elite. He pushed every car he drove to its absolute limit, rarely made costly mistakes, and frequently outshined veterans who had far more experience under their belts.

In fact, the way he drove in all races was what shocked everyone when he was also announced as Rookie of the Year. Honestly, every single soul watching or present in the Galleria had totally forgotten that this was actually Rennick's first year in Formula 1.

He was, without question, the best-performing debutant driver. And since this category wasn't based on public voting but decided by a panel, the raw statistics were all that mattered, and they spoke louder than any opinion could.

Action of the Year was unclear. No one truly knew who had pulled off the best stunt or maneuver, because the season had been packed with marvels and jaw-dropping brilliance.

However, for the panel that judged this category, it had been a no-brainer, especially since one driver had completely dominated all five nominations from #1 to #5. The maneuver that hit the spot perfectly was that crazy weave-in, weave-out Luca plotted and executed against Luigi and Marko in the German Grand Prix.

Back then, Luigi and Marko had dumped everything they had into team strategy and formation just to rebuke the Mazerunner. So the manner in which Luca navigated out—crashing Marko without even touching him—remained a stunner even till that night, as the clip replayed on the wide screen, earning a collective applause once again.

And finally came the award Luca had hoped he would never receive. His steps toward the stage were equal and self-possessed. With his head held up high, he went to receive what felt like a compensatory award. If Ansel had survived, there would have been a different aura to it, one filled with joy instead of memory.

Everyone in the Galleria stared as Luca's solid frame strode forward for the fifth time that night. Luigi caught the scent of his cologne when he passed. It was gentle and soft, but Luigi felt intoxicated, like something invisible had reached out and begun to strangle him.

Luca calmly accepted the Bravery and Humanitarian Valor Award with a composed nod, his hand gripping the plaque in silence. No smile and no speech came from him, only a brief, respectful bow to the audience before he walked back to his table with the Lemaîtres.

After more awards—like Fastest Pitstop for Jackson, Technical Innovation Award for Squadra, and others—another round of dinner and soft discussions resumed. Luca couldn't believe it was around this same time last year that the dreaded Unrestricted Power Era had been announced.

While engaged in a conversation with a wild-card club member, someone he considered as a potential business partner in the hospitality section, a butler quietly approached and leaned in to whisper something urgent into his ear.

Luca humbly excused himself and stepped out of the hall into the bustling rooms beyond, where Vance and Manuela stood waiting, both wearing tense, impatient expressions.

He looked into both their eyes and urged them to speak. "What's happening?" he asked without hesitation the moment he approached.

Manuela took a deep breath, while Vance, out of instinct, reached out to help lower Luca's head slightly to offer some enclosed privacy.

"It's your mother," Manuela said. "She fell.'

"Unconscious."

*****

Luca did not have a good night's sleep because he didn't sleep at all. He stayed up the entire night, constantly in touch with the hospital where Mrs. Rennick had been hurriedly admitted around 10 PM.

The story was that Mrs. Renan's friend, a fellow grandmother who lived on the same street, had come over late that night to return a silver thermos that Luca's mother had brought soup in earlier that week. It had been washed and sitting by the sink for days, and she figured she might as well bring it over now while she was still up.

But when she let herself in through the side door, softly calling out as she always did, there was no response. She stepped in further and found Mrs. Rennick collapsed near the kitchen entryway just a few steps away from the hallway.

Luca made sure he heard the full story directly from the old woman's mouth. He got her number from the hospital, who had gotten it from the police, who in turn had contacted her.

Luca also asked a few sharp questions, just to be certain there hadn't been a robbery. Maybe the thieves had knocked his mother out to carry out their plan, or something worse.

However, the police assured him there had been no signs of forced entry or burglary of any kind. Only a full medical report would determine what had caused Mrs. Rennick to collapse.

But assurance wasn't enough.

So, first thing in the middle of the night, Luca and his team were already on the plane back to London.

He arrived by 9 AM, and the hospital where Mrs. Rennick had been admitted was his first and only destination immediately. Without hesitation, he made his way there and was quickly granted access to see his resting mother under medical care alongside more information about what had actually occurred the night before.

By afternoon, Luca was completely disappointed by what he eventually came to learn.

It turned out Mrs. Rennick had been experiencing mild headaches and bouts of dizziness lately. The most traumatic episode struck her the previous night, causing her to faint, and the collapse itself added even more complications.

But the core issue, the actual root of the problem, was that the woman had been skipping her medications. And this wasn't some casual forgetfulness or passive neglect; it was a full-blown abstinence that had lasted two entire months.

Yes, you guessed right. That very Sunday—when Luca was marked by fire up until the gala night—Mrs. Rennick had already begun refraining from popping her pills into her mouth. It was a terrible habit of hers, one she always picked up whenever something deeply troubled her or weighed heavy on her mind.

Luca was painfully aware of this habit, which was why he ended up blaming himself for not checking up on her drug intake earlier. But with everything else that had been happening, his mind hadn't wandered that deep, not to that side of concern.

Realization turned into resentment, and resentment quickly spiraled into anger. Although he didn't raise his voice or shout, Luca still sternly scolded his mother when they were finally alone, telling her plainly that it was unfair the way she was indirectly punishing him by mistreating herself.

He had to remind her that the real reason he'd been pushing himself all these years, grinding nonstop to provide for the family, wasn't even about his or Sophia's education. It was because he had always wanted to give his mother a better life; to be able to pay for all her medications, to keep her alive and healthy for as long as possible. Because if she didn't, Luca had no doubt that Sophia would waste away, and he'd be the only Rennick left standing.

And now, when he could finally provide in a thousandfold, she was outright neglecting her health.

Luca's tone, his fury, and the weight of his words left his mother stunned and completely silent.

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PS: Mrs. Rennick has Stage I breast cancer. Abstaining from her medications for two months has increased the risk of its progression which is another source of Luca's frustration.