Qualifying

In the afternoon, Senna and his team, who had received the notice of the race, returned to the maintenance area. Now it was time for the qualifying session. Unlike the practice session, Sky Sports had started the live broadcast, knowing that the audience was eager to see the performances of Senna and Zhou Guanyu, the two prominent drivers in the F2 arena.

After the familiar opening film, the broadcast screen switched to the exit of the maintenance area, where the qualifying stage was about to begin.

Although the qualifying session hadn't started yet, more than a dozen F2 cars were already waiting to be released at the white line at the exit of the maintenance area. As usual, Senna's start was not so aggressive. He waited until all the cars lined up had left before he drove out from his parking position. By this time, the drivers doing their warm-up laps had already run halfway.

But Senna didn't care. On the one hand, he believed that even if his lap time was blocked, he could still enter the top five. On the other hand, he trusted the release time set by Jason, his race engineer.

There were 24 minutes and 31 seconds left before the end of the qualifying session. After running two warm-up laps, Senna pressed his speed at T7 at Jason's prompt and then began to accelerate quickly to complete his first flying lap. The time was 1:14:349, with three purple sectors, temporarily putting him first.

Zhou Guanyu entered the 1-minute and 14-second mark two minutes later, with a lap time of 1:14:933, trailing Senna by 0.6 seconds. The Sky Sports viewers and commentators were thrilled to see the two drivers dominating the top two positions. They didn't hesitate to praise their performances.

"He's the favourite to win the championship," one commentator remarked. "Senna has been phenomenal this season."

"Exactly," another commentator added. "His ability to find the right settings and maximize his car's performance is unmatched. The consistency he's shown is what sets champions apart."

Senna, however, knew that his lap time wasn't the limit. In the previous Austrian Grand Prix, his lap time in the practice session was faster than this. So he returned to the maintenance area to make adjustments. Senna drove out again when the countdown to the end of the qualifying session reached 14 minutes and most of the F2 cars had returned to the maintenance area for adjustments.

Senna's exit time wouldn't allow the engine of his car to cool down sufficiently. Although the engine could still run normally, it wouldn't produce as much power as it would if it were fully cooled. Despite this, Senna still managed to achieve a time of 1:14:019. He was just 0.2 seconds away from breaking the 13-second mark. Although it was a pity, Senna's result still broke the fastest F2 lap record at the Red Bull Ring.

After completing this lap, Senna felt pretty good. With a new set of soft tires, he was confident he could break into the 13-second range, but there was no need. This result was enough for him to secure a pole position in qualifying.

On the team radio, Jason excitedly praised Senna: "Awesome! You..."

Jason paused for a moment and then said, "Please go back to the maintenance area again. There will be staff to guide you at the entrance of the maintenance area."

Senna was curious: "What's wrong?"

"... FIA asked you to come back for weighing. Your qualifying speed was too fast. The FIA likely suspects that your car is too light."

This wasn't about discrimination. It was purely because Senna had set the fastest single lap in F2 on this track. The FIA needed to prove to everyone that Senna hadn't broken any rules.

Shrugging his shoulders, Senna didn't mind. He wasn't planning to run in the remaining ten minutes anyway, so he went to weigh in.

When he returned to the entrance of the maintenance area, several orange-yellow warning tubes had been placed, and in the middle was a weighbridge. Normally, the process involved the FIA staff pushing the car onto the weighbridge, with the driver only needing to steer.

However, Senna, unaware of this, drove his car directly onto the weighbridge at the maintenance area speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour. The FIA staff were shocked as he approached without slowing down. But Senna, fully in control of the car, began to slow down about 60 meters before the weighbridge, reducing his speed from 80 to 20 kilometres per hour in that short distance. He parked his car precisely on the scale.

The FIA staff, seeing Senna get out of the car, were left helpless. He hadn't violated any rules, but his approach was unconventional.

The weighing process was quick. Senna's car passed both the weight and vehicle inspection without any issues.

The Sky Sports commentators, observing the situation, quickly understood. "Senna should be very satisfied with his performance," one remarked. "He's probably saving an extra set of soft tyres for the sprint race."

As Senna walked back to his team's temporary P room, he passed by Zhou Guanyu's car. Zhou, sitting under a parasol, watched in confusion as Senna walked past. After asking his racing engineer, Zhou learned that Senna had broken the fastest qualifying lap record. Understanding Senna's confidence, Zhou could only envy the ease with which Senna completed his qualifying runs.

Drivers with personalities naturally attracted the director's lens. The cameras followed Senna's car as it was pushed back to the maintenance area, indicating an early end to his qualifying session. Thanks to the quick vehicle inspection, the team could push Senna's car back without waiting for the qualifying session to end.

Sky Sports commentators praised Senna's strategic approach. "Senna's confidence and strategic thinking are what make him a standout. He's not just fast; he's smart about how he uses his resources."

With Senna's impressive performance, the stage was set for an exciting race weekend. The anticipation for the main event was palpable, with everyone eager to see if Senna would continue his dominant form and take home the championship.

After returning to the temporary P room, Senna was met by Renne, the team principal, who greeted him with a proud smile.

"Senna, that was an incredible performance," Renne said, clapping Senna on the shoulder. "You broke the F2 lap record at the Red Bull Ring. The entire team is thrilled."

Senna grinned, taking a seat and removing his helmet. "Thanks, Renne. The car felt great out there. Jason's adjustments were spot on."

Renne nodded. "Sky Sports commentators couldn't stop talking about you. They were praising your strategic mind and your ability to push the car to its limits."

Senna chuckled. "Yeah, I heard some of it. They were saying I'm the favourite to win the championship."

Renne leaned in, lowering his voice slightly. "There were also a few arrogant comments mixed in. Some viewers think you're overconfident, saying things like 'He acts like he's already won the championship' and 'Let's see how he handles real competition.'"

Senna shrugged. "Let them talk. Confidence comes from knowing what I can do on the track. I'll let my performance speak for itself."

Renne smiled, appreciating Senna's attitude. "That's the spirit. Just keep doing what you're doing. The results will silence the doubters."

As they talked, a few mechanics came over, congratulating Senna on his lap and patting him on the back. The atmosphere in the P room was electric, filled with a sense of pride and anticipation for the upcoming race.

The Sky Sports broadcast had indeed highlighted Senna's performance extensively. 

"Senna's confidence is well-founded," one commentator noted. "He's shown time and again that he has the skill and the strategic mind to back it up. Breaking the lap record is no small feat."

Another commentator added, "Some might call it arrogance, but in this sport, you need that edge. It's what separates the good drivers from the great ones."

There were, however, a few less flattering remarks. "Senna seems to think he's untouchable," a viewer commented. "Let's see if he can keep this up when the pressure is really on."

Ignoring the naysayers, Senna knew he had the backing of his team and the respect of his peers. After a brief chat and some final words of encouragement from Renne, Senna decided to head over to the Mercedes P room, as he had promised earlier.

Walking through the bustling paddock, Senna couldn't help but reflect on his journey so far. He had come a long way since his days in karting, and now, standing on the cusp of an F2 championship, he felt ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.

As he approached the Mercedes P room, he was greeted warmly by the staff, many of whom had seen him grow within the Mercedes Junior Driver program. The familiar faces and encouraging smiles reminded him of the support system that had been crucial to his development.

Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes-Benz motorsport, was waiting for him. "Senna, great to see you," Toto said, shaking his hand firmly. "That was an impressive qualifying session. You've really made a name for yourself this season."

"Thank you, Toto," Senna replied, feeling a surge of pride. "It's been an incredible journey, and I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had with Mercedes."

As Senna and Toto settled into the Mercedes P room, the atmosphere was a mix of professionalism and camaraderie. Toto, known for his sharp insights and occasional humour, leaned back in his chair and smiled at Senna.

"Senna," Toto began, "we've been watching you closely, and I have a proposal for you."

Senna raised an eyebrow, curious but cautious. "A proposal? What do you have in mind?"

Toto's smile widened. "How would you feel about participating in FP1 at the Hungary Grand Prix?"

Senna blinked, taken aback. "FP1? You're joking, right?" He laughed nervously, searching Toto's face for any hint of a prank.

Toto chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm serious. You've proven yourself in F2, and the FIA has taken notice. They see your potential, and we see this as the perfect opportunity to boost your super license points."

Senna's mind raced. Driving in FP1 was a significant step, and the chance to gain valuable experience was enticing. But it was also unexpected. "But… FP1? In Hungary? That's a big step."

Toto leaned forward, his expression earnest. "I know it sounds sudden, but you've shown incredible skill and maturity on the track. Your performance has caught the eye of many, including the FIA. They see you as a rising star, and we want to capitalize on that momentum."

Senna nodded slowly, processing the information. "I understand. But why Hungary? Why now?"

Toto's eyes twinkled with a mix of humour and seriousness. "Because, my young friend, you've been driving circles around the competition in F2. Literally. We want to give you a taste of F1, and Hungary is a technical track that will challenge you in new ways. Plus, it's a perfect chance to earn those extra super license points you need."

Senna couldn't help but smile at Toto's blend of encouragement and wit. "So, you're not just throwing me into the deep end for fun?"

Toto laughed. "Oh, there will be plenty of fun. But make no mistake, this is also about your development and preparing you for the next big step. We believe in you, Senna. You've got the talent, and we want to give you every opportunity to showcase it."

Senna felt a surge of excitement and gratitude. "Thank you, Toto. This means a lot. I won't let you down."

Toto stood up and extended his hand, his expression confident. "I know you won't. Now, let's get you ready for Hungary. We have some preparations to make, and I want you to be at your best."

As they shook hands, Senna felt a wave of determination wash over him. The opportunity to drive in FP1 was a dream come true, and with Toto and the Mercedes team behind him, he felt ready to take on the challenge.

Leaving the P room, Senna's mind was already racing with thoughts of the upcoming Grand Prix. The chance to drive in an F1 session was a monumental step in his career, and he knew it was a perfect opportunity to prove his worth and gain those crucial super license points.

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Hey guys, hope you guys like this chapter, Leave a power stone and Comment if you guys have any ideas or recommendations for this story. Since I received some comments for Senna's pic I uploaded it in the comments sections If you guys like it leave a like!!!!!