Formula 1: The GOAT

“Does he have glue on his tires or something? For a second consecutive lap, he executes another three-car overtake on the first straight in Lap 3, moving him up to P25! He’s relentlessly cutting down the distance to the next pack!” The main commentator’s voice vibrated with disbelief. Fatih, with his exceptional understanding of gripology and the track, was achieving the best traction possible in the current downpour, allowing him unparalleled speed and effortless overtakes. These maneuvers would have been significantly harder on a dry track, where the only differentiators would be minute engine power differences and superior corner entries and exits, heavily relying on slipstream.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say this was an exhibition drive, considering how slow others appear on the straights compared to Fatih,” Zakir chimed in. “But you can only truly assess grip conditions by looking at the average speed of all drivers on the same straight. And from the data, they’re all maintaining similar speeds. Fatih is the stark outlier – he seems to have the best grip of anyone out there! OOOOH! As you can see, anyone trying to imitate him simply goes off the track! And as always, Fatih is there to capitalize on the situation! He gains one more spot into T2, bringing him now up to P24! And there are still ten corners of this lap remaining for him to work his magic!” Zakir, who had taken over to explain Fatih’s seemingly reckless bravery, was proven right the instant a kart ahead spun. The driver had attempted to cover Fatih, who was stalking him, but braked on a slippery patch, inducing a slide that sent him into the barriers, allowing Fatih to gain the position effortlessly.

…

The architect of this electrifying display, the one responsible for the frenzy in both the grandstands and the commentary booth, was currently experiencing something akin to pure euphoria.

Thanks to Invictus now being at Limit Break, Fatih was driving with a borderline supernatural sense. If he were to describe the depth of sensation coursing through his body, he might say he was feeling the fuel mixture process and even the ignition taking place – that’s how acutely sensitive his current body was. It was like moving from differentiating things in single percentage digits to discerning nuances in decimal percentages.

‘So this is the ability I would still have if I hadn’t downgraded it to buy Simulation,’ he mused. He still drove at the absolute limit, yet because he was currently closing the distance to the next pack, he had enough mental capacity to entertain such thoughts without compromising his drive.

‘But even at its current level, it’s still overkill compared to Simulation and Mentor,’ he reflected as he took a wide entrance to the T5 hairpin, effortlessly overtaking the next driver, who, like the previous one, clipped the wall. Fatih moved to P23. He then entered the T6 hairpin before being met by an even narrower short straight, a result of the shunt the earlier driver had sustained. It posed no problem, and he threaded his kart through, entering the second main straight.

He tucked in behind the kart ahead, benefiting from the slipstream, his superior grip-finding ability rapidly closing the distance. Before long, he abandoned the tow; he now had enough speed and grip to complete the overtake. He darted out, passing the two karts that had been slipstreaming each other.

…….

“Is he really a five-year-old kid?!” someone in the grandstand exclaimed to his friend.

“The commentators said the information came from the officials, so it must be true,” his friend replied, equally astonished. “But even I’m having trouble believing it. He’s driving like an adult in a child’s body!” Both he, his friend, and many others in the grandstand erupted in applause as Fatih completed a triple overtake into T8, propelling him to P20.

Even parents whose own children were racing clapped, impressed by Fatih’s sheer skill and the confidence he exuded.

“Do they keep the recordings for later viewing, or do we have to request a race replay?” the first fan asked, pointing to the massive screen that had been showing Fatih’s kart for nearly seventy percent of the race since the incident.

“I don’t know,” his friend replied. “I don’t think they’re broadcasting it live anywhere, but I imagine if you request it, they’ll provide you with the recording.”

…..

“In just five laps, he’s climbed twenty positions, overtaking half the grid! HAHAHAHAHAHAH! And there are still about seven to eight laps before we enter the final lap, based on the current lap times!” the main commentator announced, his voice carrying a hint of utter disbelief at what he was witnessing.

Zakir immediately took over, adding to the staggering statistics: “And check this out! Of the five laps completed, Fatih has set the fastest lap in four of them! Despite constantly having to overtake and fight through traffic, he’s still at least two seconds faster per lap than the front-running pack of Selçuk and Jackson, even though they have clear air!”

“For the umpteenth time, he’s caught the next pack in just a few corners!” the main commentator bellowed, his voice growing hoarse. “This one’s the largest yet, an eight-car train, with four drivers currently in point-scoring positions and the other four desperately trying to get there. The fight here is absolutely fierce! But does it matter for Fatih? NO!

He immediately feints to the right the moment the driver in front of him glances back, before ducking behind him again! AND AS THE DRIVER IN FRONT MOVES TO DEFEND THE LINE HE THINKS FATIH IS GOING FOR, HE FINDS NO ONE THERE! IT WAS JUST A BLUFF! Fatih remains on the grippy side of the track, moves into position, and now they’re side-by-side in a drag race! But they’re not alone! There are other variables, drivers still ahead of them! OH, THE PACK IS BEING COMPRESSED BY THE LEADER, WHO’S BEING CAUTIOUS! DOES THIS HINDER FATIH? NOOOO! He moves further right, turning it into three karts side-by-side as they barrel towards the corner! Is Fatih brave this time? YESSS!

While others brake early, he keeps his foot down, moves inward to the gap opened by their earlier braking, takes the apex, forcing the driver ahead wide, and completes a QUADRUPLE OVERTAKE IN A SINGLE MOVE! IN A SINGLE CORNER! He’s overtaken four cars and is now just one position away from the points! And there are still four people in this pack, Fatih exerting immense pressure as they take Turn 3 and enter the short straight! The driver in front buckles under the pressure, attempting to create a gap between himself and Fatih, gets on the power too early, and causes wheelspin! Fatih doesn’t allow him to recover from the mistake and goes to the left side of the track, completing the overtake! HE IS FINALLY BACK INTO THE POINTS! There are still three people remaining ahead of him in the pack, but does that matter for Fatih? NO, IT DOESN’T!

As they take Turn 4 and enter the wettest part of the track due to the upcoming rise in elevation, the three drivers ahead reduce their throttle to avoid going out of control. BUT FATIH MAINTAINS IT! He moves to the left side of the straight! The driver in front responds and moves to cover him, but does Fatih let it hinder him? NO! He remains behind the driver, knowing he’s going to lift when they reach the peak of the elevation and the track starts falling! The driver in front also knows this but also knows they are now heading into the narrowest part of the track, and if he can just manage to enter the first double hairpin (T5-T6) safely, he might be able to keep his position for a few more corners! BUT WILL FATIH ALLOW HIM TO DO THAT? NOOOO!

Fatih moves to the side, benefiting from the driver in front slowing down, and now they’re side-by-side as they go down through the falling elevation, drag racing as Fatih slowly pushes the driver closer and closer to the left wall of the track, putting the driver in a situation of either braving it out or pulling back! And he does exactly that! Fatih now moves ahead, uses the left part of the track to do a switch-back but doesn’t hug the chicanes and goes wide, benefiting from the higher exit speed to complete an overtake over the leader of the pack as he takes the second hairpin of the first double hairpins of T5 and T6 and comes out of the double hairpins in the lead of the pack! IN FIVE CORNERS HE OVERTOOK EIGHT CARS! I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT I’M SEEING! HE IS NOW UP TO P12!

Having overtaken twenty-eight karts in five and a half laps, and he’s still chasing and cutting down his time to the next pack, he should be with them within just a few corners!” The main commentator had been shouting so much that his voice was hoarse, but he seemed not to care, pushing forward, narrating the exhilarating spectacle unfolding before them.

Zakir, the co-commentator, immediately took over to lessen his burden and allow him a moment of respite, knowing Fatih was still a few seconds away from the next pack, meaning there would be no immediate action involving him.

“He is yet to be satisfied with what he has done so far,” Zakir said. “He’s still relentlessly chasing those ahead. For a moment, he turns his head, looking at the race leader, who is now only twelve positions ahead of him, before returning his focus to the track. He is still a man on a mission – a man on the hunt.”