Chapter 40: The Grind Begins

The jet touched down in Lyon, France, just as the sun began to rise. The soft orange glow bathed the runway, and I took a deep breath as I looked out the window. Back to business. My weekend in Italy had been a whirlwind of surprises, but now it was time to focus. The first race of the season was just a month away, and there was no room for distractions.

As soon as I arrived home, Olivia was waiting at the door with her tablet in hand.

"Welcome back, Henry," she said, her professional demeanor laced with warmth. "We've got a packed week ahead. Laurent's expecting you at the facility by noon, Marcus has slotted gym time for the afternoon, and I've scheduled a media interview with Racing Today for tomorrow morning."

"Good to see you too, Olivia," I said with a chuckle. "You're not giving me any breaks, are you?"

"Breaks are for off-seasons," she said, smirking.

By noon, I was back at the ART facility, pulling on my fireproof suit as Laurent walked over with a clipboard.

"Henry, good to see you," he said, shaking my hand. "We've got a lot to fine-tune today. I want to ensure the car setup matches your driving style perfectly. You've made incredible progress, but now it's about consistency."

"Got it," I said. "Let's get to work."

The day was a blur of adjustments and laps around the simulator. Laurent's voice was a constant in my ear, offering feedback and suggestions.

"Your braking into Turn 3 is improving, but I think we can get more rotation if we adjust the front wing slightly," he said.

"Sounds good. Let's try it," I replied, my mind fully immersed in the task.

The system chimed in. "Rotation adjustment? I hope you realize this brilliance stems from my precise tracking of your performance."

"Of course," I thought sarcastically. "It's all thanks to you."

Later that afternoon, Marcus had me sweating bullets in the gym.

"Alright, Henry," he said, tossing me a kettlebell. "We're focusing on endurance and core stability today. Let's start with a circuit: kettlebell swings, planks, and rowing. Three rounds."

I nodded, already feeling the burn as I began. Marcus didn't just push me physically, he also kept my mindset sharp.

"Remember, the season's not just about speed," he said. "It's about staying sharp mentally and physically for the long haul. You're not just racing the car, you're racing the grind."

"Got it," I said between breaths, determined to give my all.

The system chimed in again. "+2 Stamina. Congratulations. At this rate, you might even outpace me."

"Dream on," I muttered.

That evening, Olivia and I sat in the lounge, going over the week's schedule.

"So, with the Lamborghini partnership," she began, "you'll need to attend a photoshoot and a branding meeting next week. They're also sending the Revuelto to your house on Thursday, and they've requested a video of you unveiling it for their social media channels."

"Wait, they want me to be a YouTuber now?" I joked.

"Basically," Olivia said, laughing. "But don't worry, we'll make it easy for you."

We then reviewed my schedule with ART, ensuring there were no conflicts. I marveled at how seamlessly Olivia handled everything.

"Thanks for keeping me sane," I said sincerely.

"That's my job," she replied with a wink.

The next morning, I arrived at a studio for my interview with Racing Today. The setup was sleek and modern, with bright lights and cameras positioned to capture every angle.

The interviewer, a polished journalist named Samantha Hayes, greeted me warmly.

"Henry Calder, the rising star at ART," she said. "Thank you for joining us."

"Thanks for having me," I replied, shaking her hand.

We sat across from each other, the cameras rolling.

"Henry, this is your first full season in Formula 2, and you've already made headlines with your Lamborghini sponsorship. How are you handling the pressure?"

"It's definitely a lot," I admitted. "But I've got an amazing team around me, my race engineer Laurent, my trainer Marcus, and my assistant Olivia. They've made the transition a lot smoother."

"And what about the Lamborghini deal? That's a massive endorsement for a rookie driver."

"It's surreal," I said. "Lamborghini believes in my potential, and that means a lot to me. It also motivates me to prove them right on the track."

Samantha smiled. "Speaking of the track, how's the car feeling during preseason testing?"

"It's coming together," I said. "Laurent and I have been working tirelessly to fine-tune the setup, and every session feels like a step forward."

The interview continued with questions about ART's team dynamics, my relationship with Luca, and my goals for the season.

"Last question," Samantha said. "If you could describe your approach to this season in one word, what would it be?"

"Relentless," I said without hesitation.

After the interview, I ran into Luca in the hallway at the facility. He was leaning casually against a wall, his signature grin firmly in place.

"Calder," he said, nodding. "Saw your interview. Not bad."

"Thanks," I said.

"So, Lamborghini, huh?" he said, his tone light but with a hint of envy. "I've always loved their cars. Never got a deal from them, though."

I shrugged, unsure of how to respond. "I guess I got lucky."

Luca laughed, clapping me on the back. "Luck or not, enjoy it. But remember, all that flash means nothing if you don't perform."

"Don't worry," I said, meeting his gaze. "I plan to."

The rest of the day was a blur of tasks. The system presented me with my daily exercise routine:

Run 4 miles (+3 Endurance).

Perform 50 push-ups (+2 Strength).

10 minutes of breathing exercises (+1 Focus).

Completing these tasks had become a ritual, a way to ground myself amid the chaos.

That evening, I worked with Marcus in the gym before heading home to decompress. As I lay in bed, the enormity of everything hit me, the Lamborghini deal, the upcoming season, the expectations.

The system chimed in softly. "Don't overthink it, Rookie. Just keep doing what you're doing. Success is inevitable when I'm involved."

I laughed quietly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"That's what I'm here for."