My Formula 1 System
Chapter 456 - 456: Winter's Here. 2

After the last race of the season, the post-season began. And with it, the F1 market window officially opened. From what was a heated season, the paddock had barely cooled from the concluding burnout before negotiations ignited behind the scenes; Jackson's renewing offer to Luca, for example.

This period brought about contract reviews, fostered by restless agents. Boardrooms all across the globe hosted these tense, official conferences and high-stakes transactions, including further discussions that could go as far as shaping the entire grid beyond just the roster changes. Engines had cooled, and the business aspect of Formula 1 had kicked into full overdrive.

During transfer season, teams wander into the market with different agendas. The most ageless of all was the constant scouting for rising stars and promising talents that could secure the team's distant future. Another regular but weighty docket was the acquisition of already established frontrunners, not just young talents. This was crucial for teams that did not have reliable veterans already present in their squad.

On the other hand, rookies and average drivers were also in reasonable demand, often necessary for structure stability, overall orderliness, and team strength across all pillars. So, every driver never had a 0% chance of leaving his team in any season. It all depended on loyalty, business deals, and career-driven or personally motivated interests.

The first completed deal in the market was rooted in poor loyalty, heavy resentment, and motivated interests. Erik Haas had finally left Trampos Racing and moved to Velox Hispania in the third week, right after the UAE Mega Prix Sunday.

Negotiations had already begun silently within the second half of the season, as Erik had shown strong interest in Velox and made it clear that he wanted to depart from Trampos, even after Trampos secured a fantastic deal with Ferrari. Velox Hispania, on the other hand, wasn't entirely confident in their current lineup with Desmond Lloyd and Alejandro Vasquez. The team had finished dead last, a major embarrassment for a squad that had once been considered respectable in the earlier days of F1. This situation definitely called for strategic changes, no matter how small, even if it meant signing a D-rated player like the German, Erik Haas.

Maybe these small changes could spark impactful differences, who knows? Erik's transfer was heavily doubted by Velox's board, but they decided to sign him in the end.

Trampos, the selling team, didn't necessarily want to part ways with Erik, but they saw no point in restraining a driver who clearly wished to leave and chase shadows and vanity. With just one year left on his six-year contract, they simply chose to cooperate fully with Velox. The price was cheap, the deal was mutually agreed, and the transfer was finalized without resistance.

(Trampos Racing) —> (Velox Hispania): Erik Haas

One week later, another transfer occurred, one that made Luca officially drop out of negotiations with Outback Performance. While he was still negotiating here and there, Outback had gone ahead and initiated another negotiation elsewhere.

(Bueseno Velocità Jnr.) —> (Outback Performance): Max Addams

Max Addams had finally arrived in Formula 1, shocking Luca and the world.

The Canadian was dumbfounded, struck with disbelief and frustration, when he was told that the senior team had still chosen not to promote him, even after a season where he dominated and secured the F2 World Championship title for the third time.

It was absurd. How could they overlook him again?

He had been driving in Formula 2 for almost a decade; season after season of consistency, growth, and raw performance. He had long outgrown the grid. It was obvious. He had proven himself time and time again, carrying the car, winning the championship, and building a case that screamed readiness.

And yet… still no seat.

What more was he supposed to do? Win it a fourth time just to get noticed?

Bueseno Velocita understood Max's frustration, but since he was still only 24 years old, they deemed it reasonable to make him wait until next year or so. In their eyes, promoting him wouldn't fit the current structure of the team in any meaningful way. Just imagine pairing Davide DiMarco with Max Addams—who would yield to who? Who would be the leading driver? Who would truly lead the charge?

Velocita foresaw this inevitable clash of character. In fact, it had always been one of their primary reasons for keeping Max in Formula 2. Until a proper solution could be figured out, they allowed Damgaard to play puppy and submit to DiMarco instead of bringing up their golden boy. And that golden boy was to remain in F2, honing and perfecting himself until the right time arrived.

What Velocita did not know was that Max was already fed up to the core, and saw no future with the team when he was informed just recently that there would be no Promotion Event on his behalf again this post/pre-season. His vexation intensified when the team had the audacity to present him with a brand new contract that demanded five more years.

Five more years of slavery? Max reckoned none of it and decided to personally pack his bags for Formula 1. And Velocita had made the grave mistake of letting his contract get too close to expiration before finally offering a renewal.

They panicked in terror as Outback Performance swooped in like a vulture, and Max utterly refused to continue with the team, even when Velocita then hastily promised him promotion as a last minute effort.

It was a perfect poach for Outback, who ended up spending way less, almost nothing compared to what was truly expected for someone like Max Addams of Bueseno Velocita. Max was offered $1.5M and three years, and he eagerly accepted, as long as it meant three years of racing in Formula 1.

Since Outback Performance went on to sign Max Addams from F2, Luca cut off negotiations with them even though they pressed to continue. It seemed this mischievous team was trying to assemble a very feared lineup in the future, with Max Addams and Luca Rennick. But Luca shared no mutualism with that future.

He then set his focus on Trampos, since negotiations with Nordvind Racing had broken down due to communication inconsistency. As for Iberia GP, Luca didn't fancy the idea of teaming up with an icon like Hank Rice, as hierarchical issues could easily emerge. Furthermore, Iberia didn't have the level of engineering Luca needed to properly support his career.

This narrowed the list down to Trampos. If things failed there, then Luca would simply re-sign with Jackson. But negotiations seemed to be going fine. The only problem Luca had was with the salary and wages. He wondered if Trampos actually thought he was doing charity work here, because bringing forth $1.5M for five years for him to accept felt like a joke.

He demanded a rise.

Trampos responded with $2M. Luca disagreed. He understood their financial situation as they were the poorest team on the grid. But if they truly wanted to acquire and maintain him—the best driver on the grid—then Luca believed they had to sweat for it; possibly even borrow if they had to.

It was crazy how his value had exploded, from once being the driver they had waged just $50K on.

Trampos said $2.5M. Luca disagreed again. He wanted $3.5M+

The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!