HPDBC Chapter 699: Dutch Gratitude
Chapter 699: Dutch Gratitude
The bright lights of the broadcasting studio gleamed across the polished glass desk. Inside the main media center at Zandvoort, five television pundits sat in a semi-circle, their headsets adjusted and microphones live.Richard, the anchor, cleared his throat and locked eyes with the camera lens. Beside him sat Tony, a former driver with a short career; Sarah, an intelligent analyst; Mark, an ex-technical director; and Leo, an outspoken former team principal of Haddock Racing.
The studio atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.
"Welcome back to the pre-race show," Richard began, gesturing to the massive digital screen behind them. "With only four rounds remaining in this relentless season, the championship battle has reached a boiling point. Let's examine the official standings."
The screen flickered, revealing the current state of the grid.
PROVISIONAL CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (ALL 10)
Position | Team | Points
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. | Squadra Corse | 365
2. | Trampos Racing | 340
3. | Haddock Racing | 312
4. | Bueseno Velocità | 285
5. | Outback Performance | 210
6. | Jackson Racing | 180
7. | Nordvind Racing | 50
8. | Iberia Grand Prix | 30
9. | Velox Hispania | 15
10. | Alpine Swiss F1 | 12
"The numbers do not lie," Richard said, shaking his head faintly. "Squadra Corse is still sitting pretty at the top with 365 points. But Trampos Racing is breathing down their necks at 340. Twenty-five points. That is the magic gap."
Tony leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"It sounds close, Richard, but chasing down twenty-five points against a team as clinical as Squadra Corse at this stage of the season is an alpine climb," Tony said. "Trampos has had so many opportunities over the last few rounds to close that deficit. But every time they get close, something goes wrong. Reliability issues with Surmann, strategy blunders, or inner turmoil."
"I agree with Tony," Sarah chimed in, tapping her tablet to bring up driver graphics. "If you look at the individual driver dynamics, Squadra Corse has been operating like two hands on a clock. They don't need to win every race; they just need consistent double-podiums or top five. Meanwhile, Trampos has been relying almost entirely on Luca Rennick to carry the heavy weight."
"Well, that was true until recently," Leo interrupted, crossing his arms. "Look at his rookie teammate, Victor. We forget the young man scored a massive P7 in Mexico. He is finally starting to provide the backup Luca desperately needs."
"Let's talk about Victor," Richard said, a small smile appearing on his face. "His performance in Mexico was highly controversial. The way he baited Rutherford and Bianchi into that Turn 7 patch... some call it a masterclass in awareness, others say it had notorious intuition somewhere in between."
"Well, if you see a gap or a weakness, you exploit it," Mark stated firmly from a technical perspective. "Victor knew his machine was struggling with thermal degradation. He used his brain instead of his tires. The stewards looked at the data and found no rules broken. It was a clean trap. That is what a fully realized driver does when he is cornered."
"But can he be crafty here again?" Tony asked doubtfully. "This track is completely different. If Victor tries any of those high-risk maneuvers on these banked corners, he will end up straight in the barrier, and as we've analyzed, that's something Trampos don't want at this stage."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "The data shows that tire wear will be the absolute deciding factor today. Look at Haddock Racing down in third with 312 points. Their driver, Ailbeart Moireach, secured a brilliant P2 in Mexico precisely because he managed his hard compounds perfectly. If Haddock can exploit the tire degradation of the top two teams today, they could easily mix up the championship fight."
"And let's not forget Jackson Racing," Leo added, pointing at the sixth position on the table. "Buoso Di Renzo shock-won the last race. 180 points doesn't reflect how fast that car actually is when the conditions are right. Jackson Racing is riding a massive wave of euphoria right now. They have nothing to lose, which makes them incredibly dangerous for the front-runners."
For minutes, the pundits continued to argue back and forth, analyzing the technical upgrades of Bueseno Velocità and the desperate struggles of the lower-tier teams like Alpine Swiss trying to secure just a few more points before the season concluded. Every single point was worth millions in prize money, and the tension was palpable.
Eventually, Richard looked at the studio clock and then shifted his gaze back to the main camera, addressing the millions of viewers watching from their homes.
"The talking is almost over," Richard said, his voice dropping into a serious, professional tone. "The calculators are out, the strategies are locked in, and the drama is about to unfold. For everyone watching at home, grab your drinks and settle in. The Dutch Grand Prix is about to begin, and it is a continuation of a legendary season that is rapidly drawing to its absolute close."
"Appreciate every lap. You won't see a grid this competitive for a very long time."
"Back to the track," Richard concluded.
The broadcast cut away from the warm, enclosed studio directly to the live feed of the circuit.
The atmosphere at Zandvoort was absolutely electric, with a sea of bright, neon orange stretching as far as the eye could see. The grandstands were packed to maximum capacity, holding over a hundred thousand fans who created a vibrant wall of color against the grey coastal backdrop. Orange flares were already being lit throughout the crowd, sending thick, sweet-smelling plumes of smoke drifting across the main straight while fans chanted, waved massive flags, and banged on plastic drums.
As a steady wind blew off the North Sea, the focus shifted down to the garages, where the cars were prepared to depart for the grid in half an hour.
Suddenly, the trackside public address system crackled to life, cutting through the roar of the crowd.
The announcer's voice echoed across the grandstands, speaking first in Dutch before transitioning to English.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer said, his tone shifting to one of deep respect. "We have a very special guest with us today. In the VIP suite overlooking the main straight... please welcome back a true son of the Netherlands, our former Formula 1 star... Robert Jakobsen!"
A spontaneous standing ovation swept through the crowd like a wave. From the Tarzan corner all the way to the final banked turn, over a hundred thousand people rose to their feet. They cheered Robert's name and clapped indefinitely.
On the giant broadcast monitors around the circuit, the live feed cut away from the grid, zooming in on the VIP balcony.
Robert Jakobsen sat in his wheelchair right at the glass railing, wearing a dark jacket. Beside him, his father and his sister stood clapping with proud smiles. Robert looked out at the massive sea of fans and flare smoke, his face a mix of shock and quiet humility. He clearly hadn't expected this scale of recognition, or for the paddock to remember him so vividly.
Slowly, he raised his right hand and waved back to the crowd.
As the camera zoomed closer, capturing his expression for the millions watching worldwide, a single tear escaped his eye, catching the pale sunlight as it rolled down his cheek.
Down in the pit lane, Luca Rennick looked up at the nearest garage monitor. His visor was down, masking his expression as he watched his friend receive the honor he deserved.
Inside his helmet, the silence was absolute as he prepared to race on the very track Robert could now only watch from above.