"Alex Sun, maintain your current pace. Keep an eye on tyre temperatures—don't let them drop too low." Mark's timely reminder came through, his tone more rigorous than before. "Your gap to Pourchaire is 3.5 seconds. Stick to the planned rhythm and start preparing for the acceleration phase of the final stint."
Inside the pit wall control area, Mark stared intently at the live gap data on the monitors as he briefed the strategist. "The pit stop on lap 30 was critical. Alex Sun's leading pace is stable now, and the switch from softs to supersofts is performing exactly as expected. From here on, we just need to maintain the rhythm."
The strategist nodded, tapping lightly on the strategy panel. "Focus on tyre temperatures and gap trends. Have Alex Sun increase the pace in stages and gradually stretch the advantage. Don't go flat-out too early and risk locking up."
Mark acknowledged immediately, his eyes fixed on Alex Sun's telemetry to ensure everything remained within parameters.
The next lap—lap 32—brought another incident. Once again at Rascasse, Zendeli's car completely lost grip on corner entry. The brakes locked, and the car slammed straight into the barrier. The front end was destroyed on impact, debris exploding outward, with several pieces bouncing directly onto the racing line.
"Zendeli! Heavy impact!" Rob Smedley's voice tightened instantly. "Debris all over the main track—this is much worse than before. A VSC won't be enough. We need a full Safety Car!"
"Race director's call! VSC upgraded—Safety Car deployed immediately!" Alex Jacques announced urgently. "All drivers slow down and form up. Alex Sun's 3.5-second lead will be completely erased. Looks like the most dramatic scenario has finally happened."
As soon as the call was made, the iconic yellow Safety Car rolled out from the pit exit with its lights flashing and eased onto the circuit. Sensing the situation, Petecof dove straight into the pit lane to complete his mandatory stop, avoiding a greater loss of time once the field was fully neutralized.
"Alex Sun, Safety Car deployed. Slow down and follow the car ahead, keep the gap!" Mark's voice grew more serious. "Your advantage is gone. Pourchaire will be right on your gearbox. Once we restart, it'll be close-quarters combat—you must defend your line."
"Copy." Alex Sun replied just as calmly as before, confidence unwavering.
He gradually backed off the pace. In his mirrors, Pourchaire's car was closing rapidly, yet Alex Sun felt no ripple of concern.
So what if the 3.5-second lead was wiped out? To him, it merely added a bit of spice to what had been a controlled run at the front.
With the system's master-level proficiency of the Monaco circuit, he understood better than anyone how brutally narrow the overtaking windows were here.
He took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening. Every line through Sainte Devote, every braking point, had long been carved into his instincts. On this circuit, no F2 driver was going to pass him on track.
The peak grip of the supersoft tyres wasn't his real confidence—it was just a bonus. The true barrier was his absolute command of Monaco.
The Safety Car led the field for three laps. Once all debris had been cleared and the track returned to normal, the race was ready to resume.
On lap 36, the broadcast announced: "Safety Car in this lap. One final lap behind the Safety Car. The race will restart next lap."
Alex Sun calmly adjusted the car's settings, lightly working the dials to warm the tyres. Engine revs were held precisely in the optimal range, without the slightest hint of panic.
"Safety Car coming in. Alex Sun, watch the restart rhythm," Mark warned, his tone tense—only to be cut off by Alex Sun's composed reply.
"Relax. He won't get a chance."
The moment the words left his mouth, the Safety Car switched off its lights and accelerated into the pit lane. Alex Sun instantly fed in the throttle. The engine's roar was deep and controlled, no wasted noise, as the car shot forward along the ideal line like an arrow off the string.
"Race restart! Alex Sun gets away cleanly! Pourchaire is right on him!" Rob Smedley's voice exploded. "Corner entry—Alex Sun cuts to the inside with surgical precision! The line is impossibly tight, completely sealing every overtaking route! Pourchaire has nowhere to go! Is this really a Monaco rookie?"
On corner exit, Alex Sun briefly lifted before smoothly squeezing back onto the throttle, using the exit acceleration to open up half a car length.
"Alex Sun, keep the rhythm steady!" Mark urged.
"Got it," Alex Sun replied lightly.
For him, this wasn't passive defense. It was systematic control. Every steering input, every throttle modulation matched the rhythm of the circuit perfectly, with no wasted movement.
His eyes moved fluidly between the track, the dashboard, and the mirrors—not out of nervousness, but to fine-tune his control of the pace. Monaco's razor-thin margin for error felt as familiar as flat ground to him. Leading by half a car length or by 3.5 seconds made no real difference—the initiative was always his. Every attempt by Pourchaire to close in was doomed to fail.
On lap 37, just as the field settled again, chaos broke out once more. At Rascasse, Ticktum—eager to gain positions on supersoft tyres—attempted an aggressive move on Petecof ahead. A control error sent his car into the barrier, spinning to a halt by the trackside as debris scattered.
"Ticktum crashes out!" Alex Jacques announced. "Debris along the edge of the circuit. Race director's call—Virtual Safety Car deployed again! All cars immediately reduce to reference speed. Drivers can manage tyres and wait."
"VSC deployed. Alex Sun, slow to reference speed immediately," Mark reminded him. "Hold position. Use this window to check the car. Pourchaire is limited as well—the gap won't change."
Rob Smedley analyzed, "Another VSC is actually good news for Alex Sun. He can use this window to reset, save tyres, and prepare for the final push—without losing his lead."
Alex Sun quickly adjusted to the speed limit and took the opportunity to carefully review the car's data. Engine temperatures, tyre pressures, and fuel levels were all normal. The supersoft tyres were still in excellent condition.
"Look after the tyres during the VSC. Once we go green, keep the rhythm and the win is yours," Mark said, a note of anticipation creeping into his voice. In the background, the pit crew were already starting to cheer.
Inside the pit wall area, the strategist watched the gap reopen to 1.2 seconds on the screen and turned to Mark and team principal René Rosin. "The Safety Car restart hurdle is behind us. Alex Sun defended the key phase perfectly. The gap is growing again—the win is basically locked in."
René Rosin nodded, relief clear on his face, signaling Mark to proceed with the final sprint-phase communications. Mark grinned, picked up the radio, and began preparing the closing reminders.
One lap later, the VSC was withdrawn and the race entered its final sprint. On track, Guanyu Zhou made his final pit stop, switching from softs to supersofts, and his pace immediately surged.
"Guanyu Zhou! The last driver to pit, and he's flying on fresh supersofts!" Rob Smedley exclaimed. "He's passed Nissany to move up to fifth and has just set the fastest lap of the race!"
Lawson also seized the moment, using the grip advantage of supersofts to overtake Nissany and climb to seventh. Meanwhile, Marino Sato suffered tyre damage and was forced to retire, slowly making his way back to the pit lane.
"Marino Satoretires—our fifth retirement of the race. Monaco really is unforgiving," Alex Jacques commented.
"Alex Sun, Guanyu Zhou has the fastest lap, but he's in fifth—no threat to you. Five laps to go," Mark said calmly. "Fuel is good, tyres are fine. Just keep it tidy."
Alex Sun continued to control the race from the front, his car ruling the circuit with calm authority. The supersoft tyres still offered plenty of grip, and there was no need to chase extreme lap times. As the laps ticked down, the gap to Pourchaire stretched steadily to 5.8 seconds, his advantage becoming increasingly secure.
"Alex Sun's dominance is incredible," Alex Jacques said, admiration evident in his voice. "After the Safety Car wiped out his lead, he not only defended the position but rebuilt the gap. That transition from defense to control shows remarkable mental strength—especially at Monaco."
In the pit lane, Alex Sun's team began preparing celebratory banners. Crew members exchanged high-fives, faces glowing with anticipation. Mark's voice came through once more. "Alex Sun, two laps to go. Enjoy it—the win is yours."
Lap 42, the final lap. Alex Sun's lead was unassailable. He flowed smoothly through every corner—Sainte Devote, Rascasse, Tabac… Each corner that had seen incidents earlier now became a stepping stone toward victory. He even spared a glance for the cheering fans by the track, soaking in the warmth of the Monaco sun.
"Final corner! Alex Sun exits cleanly! Across the line—checkered flag!" Rob Smedley's voice erupted. "Victory! Starting from second, Alex Sun led the entire race to claim the 2021 F2 Monaco victory! A truly dominant performance!"
Engine noise and crowd cheers merged as Alex Sun eased off the throttle, tapping his helmet in acknowledgment to the team.
Over the TR, his voice carried a faint rasp but rang out clearly. "We did it. Thank you all for everything. Every lap here was possible because of your support. This win belongs to us—we're the best team."
In the mirrors, Pourchaire crossed the line in second, with Piastri right behind him in third.
Mark responded instantly over the radio, his voice thick with emotion. "P1—brilliant job, Alex Sun! You earned this. We're incredibly proud of you."
Final classification: Alex Sun first, Pourchaire second, Piastri third. Guanyu Zhou finished fifth and claimed the extra point for fastest lap.
Vips eighth (five-second penalty), Lawson seventh, Beckmann sixth, Nissany ninth, Verschoor tenth.
Aitken, Armstrong, Zendeli, Ticktum, and Marino Sato retired without scoring.
Alex Sun eased out of his man-and-machine state and guided the car smoothly onto the cooldown lap. The overheated engine still trembled faintly, while the roar of the crowd rolled over the circuit, nearly deafening.
Along the way, tens of thousands of spectators waved flags of every color, their cheers rising and falling like waves. At the pit lane entrance, Mark led the team climbing onto the wall, tossing caps and strategy boards into the air. Red team uniforms blazed in the sunlight as the "P1" board was raised high, shining like a medal of victory.
As soon as the cooldown lap ended, Alex Sun drove straight to the top-three parc fermé area beside the track. Pourchaire and Piastri had already arrived, their cars parked in order, forming a clear podium lineup. All eyes, however, were fixed on the foremost slot—the number-one position reserved for the champion.
Alex Sun deftly removed the steering wheel, braced against the monocoque, and climbed out of the cockpit, standing tall as he looked toward the boiling grandstands.
A fresh wave of thunderous cheers crashed over him. He raised a hand toward the fans and the pit lane, then clenched both fists and punched them skyward again and again, releasing every ounce of focus and perseverance he had poured into this race.
Turning his head, he swept his gaze across the coastal circuit he had conquered—from the decisive overtake at Sainte Devote to the composed defense after the Safety Car restart. Every inch of asphalt bore his imprint.
In the pit lane, team members were already in tears, hugging and shouting in celebration. Red uniforms danced in the sunlight, and the entire Monaco circuit became the backdrop to his victory.
...
(20 Chapters Ahead)
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