Lights out was blood-pumping. The F1 Belgium Grand Prix had begun, and the cars fluttered out of their grid spots processionally.
By the time Erik, starting in P20, had reached Turn 1, the frontrunners were already getting ahead and behind one another, squeezing through gaps and battling hard for clear and definite positions by the end of the first sector.
Squadra Corse's subtle modification on Luigi's Mercedes (AMG F1 W09) had slipped under the radar. Till the fifth lap, it was not noticed. So right there in the race, a driver was piloting a weaponized single-seater, in the midst of others who were running clean.
When Squadra made this vile decision, they had weighed certain outcomes and consequences that might come back to bite them. But since Formula 1 was built on risk, this was barely nothing compared to past exploits they had done.
