It wasn't supposed to feel personal—at least that's what Ansel told himself. But deep down, there was something about this race, about the night streets of Riyadh and the glow of the podium's promise, that made it impossible to let go. He reasoned like Jon Stark, the second F2 English commentator, often did—analytical, pragmatic, focused on results. The Tiered Pursuit strategy forbade him from overtaking Luca under any circumstances, but this time he couldn't let it dictate his actions.
It had been five long Grands Prix since his last win, and the hunger for P1 gnawed at him. Ansel craved that victory, not just for the trophy or the cheers, but for what it represented—domination. Overtaking Luca wouldn't harm the team's point tally in any way. But for the drivers' standings, it meant everything.
