"Should I adjust the car to Long Run Mode?" Dominik asked over the radio, eyeing the Mercedes ahead.
"Very smart," Gaëtan replied.
Ahead, the battle for position was chaotic. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) was fighting tooth and nail with Sergio Perez (Red Bull), slowing both of them down.
In contrast, Dominik was glued to the gearbox of Lewis Hamilton. The gap was less than 0.9 seconds—well within DRS range.
"Can I switch to Overtake Mode?" Dominik asked, his voice eager.
He could see sparks flying from the floor of Hamilton's W13 as it bounced violently down the straight. The seven-time champion was struggling with the porpoising. The Williams looked steady by comparison.
There was a hesitation on the radio. Jost Capito looked at the telemetry. He was worried about the rookie burning up his tires too early in the first stint.
"Negative. Maintain Long Run Mode," Gaëtan ordered. "Do not fight the Mercedes yet. Manage the tires."
Yeji, standing behind the engineers, blinked her large, cat-like eyes. She didn't understand why they wouldn't let him pass. He looked faster.
Lap 8.
Sergio Perez finally cleared the Haas and came charging. The Red Bull RB18 was in a different league.
"Perez is behind," Gaëtan warned. "Do not fight him. Do not kill your tires."
Dominik frowned inside his helmet. We are faster on the straights. Why give up the position for free? But he remembered the briefing. He was a rookie. Discipline came first.
On the main straight, Perez opened DRS. Dominik didn't defend the inside line. The Red Bull swept past easily.
Dominik dropped to P6.
But now, a new threat appeared in his mirrors. A silver arrow.
George Russell.
He had cleared Magnussen and was hunting down his friend.
"Russell is behind. Gap 0.8," Gaëtan said. "Adjust energy to SOC 5."
"I will manage the tires," Dominik said firmly, his tone changing. "But I cannot let Russell pass."
Jost Capito smiled. That's the spirit.
"Understood. You are free to defend against Russell."
Yeji leaned forward, sensing the shift in the garage atmosphere.
Lap 12.
The battle began.
Russell closed the gap in the second DRS zone. Entering Turn 1, the two cars were separated by less than 0.2 seconds.
Russell feinted to the inside, then swung to the outside, trying to use the Mercedes' superior mechanical grip to hold the speed through the corner.
They went through Turn 1 side-by-side. The airflow from Dominik's rear wing buffeted Russell's front wing.
Exiting Turn 3, Russell got better traction. He pulled half a car length ahead.
But the DRS Detection Point was coming up.
Both drivers knew the game. If you are ahead at the line, the car behind gets DRS and overtakes you on the next straight.
Dominik lifted off the throttle slightly.
Russell lifted off too.
Neither wanted to be first. It was a game of chicken at 200 km/h.
Dominik timed it perfectly. He stayed just behind the detection line.
Beep.DRS Available.
On the run to Turn 4, Dominik opened the rear wing. The Williams surged past the Mercedes, forcing Russell to defend the inside.
Dominik swept around the outside, reclaiming P6.
In the commentary box, Martin Brundle was impressed. "Look at that! The rookie is playing games with the veteran! Intelligent driving from Corvinus."
But the battle wasn't over.
In the low-speed Turns 10 and 11, the Williams struggled with understeer. Russell pounced, diving down the inside of Turn 11. He took the position.
But Dominik had a better exit. He switched back, crossing underneath the Mercedes, and used the third DRS zone to drag race him down to Turn 12.
They swapped positions three times in one lap.
Yeji watched the screen, mesmerized. It looked like a dance. A violent, high-speed dance.
Lap 15.
Hamilton pitted for Hards. The track ahead was clear.
Dominik decided to end it.
Approaching Turn 14 (the final corner), Dominik launched a surprise attack. He dove down the inside from a long way back.
Russell defended, but he had burned his tires trying to pass. He slid wide.
Dominik nailed the apex. He got on the power early.
On the main straight, Dominik opened the gap. He was clear.
"That's great!" Yeji whispered, pumping a small fist.
Lap 16.
Russell boxed for Hards, trying the "undercut" strategy.
"Box, Dominik. Box," Gaëtan called immediately. "Cover him."
Dominik dove into the pit lane. He hit the limiter line perfectly.
He stopped in the box. 2.4 seconds.
Yeji, standing just ten meters away behind the barriers, felt the heat and the noise. The smell of burning rubber filled her nose. It was chaos organized into perfection.
Dominik launched from the box.
He merged back onto the track... just ahead of Alex Albon (who hadn't pitted) and George Russell.
Albon played the perfect teammate. He gave Dominik a slipstream, then moved aside to let him pass, while holding up Russell for a crucial few corners.
By the time Russell cleared Albon, Dominik had built a 4-second gap.
"Good job," Gaëtan said, sounding relieved. "Switch to Long Run Mode. You are P6. Hamilton is ahead. Russell is behind (+4.4s). Both on Hards."
Dominik settled into the rhythm. The first stint was survived. Now, it was a race of management.