Into the Apex

A Season in Turmoil

The 2022 Formula 1 season began under a dark cloud for Masachika Kuze. Joining Aston Martin, a team struggling at the back of the grid, was already a difficult adjustment. But it was the dynamic within the team that truly made his life unbearable.

From the very first race in Bahrain, the cracks in the relationship between Masachika and team principal Mike Krack began to show. The Aston Martin AMR22 was an uncompetitive car, plagued by understeer and a lack of straight-line speed. Masachika, fresh off a championship-winning season, struggled to adapt to a car that demanded so much compromise.

"Can we not find more front-end grip?" Masachika asked during a post-qualifying debrief in Bahrain. He had qualified 16th, with his teammate Sebastian Vettel just behind in 17th.

"We're working on it," Mike responded curtly. "But you need to make the best of what you've got."

Masachika's frustration boiled over. "I am making the best of it. I'm not the one designing the car."

The room fell silent, and the tension between driver and team principal was palpable. It was clear from the outset that this relationship would be far from harmonious.

The first few races yielded no points for Masachika. While he managed to outqualify and outperform Vettel on most occasions, the lack of progress from the team left him increasingly agitated. The frustration spilled onto the radio during the Australian Grand Prix, where Masachika lashed out after a botched pit stop cost him a chance at 10th place.

"What was that?!" he yelled. "I told you I needed soft tires, not mediums. Are we even trying here?"

Krack was quick to reprimand him post-race. "Keep your criticisms off the radio, Masachika. We're a team, and we need to work together."

"Then listen to me when I tell you what I need," Masachika retorted.

By the time the paddock arrived in Spain for Round 6, the tension within the team had reached a boiling point. Masachika was visibly struggling to maintain composure, and it showed in his driving.

During the race, while battling for 12th place, he misjudged his entry into Turn 9 and lost control of the car. The AMR22 spun into the gravel before slamming into the barriers at high speed.

The crash was brutal. The medical team rushed to the scene, extracting Masachika carefully from the wreckage. He was conscious but in visible pain, clutching his shoulder as he was loaded into the ambulance.

The team later announced that Masachika had suffered a dislocated shoulder and minor fractures in his left arm, ruling him out of the next race in Monaco.

For Masachika, being forced to sit out Monaco was a bitter pill to swallow. Watching from the sidelines as Vettel scored Aston Martin's first point of the season only added salt to the wound.

Alya called him frequently during his recovery, offering words of comfort and encouragement.

"Maybe this is a chance to reset," she said during one call. "You've been pushing yourself too hard, Masachika. You need to focus on healing, both physically and mentally."

"How can I reset when everything feels like it's falling apart?" he replied. "This team doesn't trust me, and I don't trust them. I don't know how to fix it."

"You've been through worse," Alya reminded him. "You came back from a coma and won a championship. Don't let this break you."

Masachika returned to the cockpit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but the atmosphere within Aston Martin was frostier than ever. Mike Krack had grown increasingly impatient with Masachika's outspoken nature, and their disagreements became more public.

During a mid-season interview, Krack was asked about the team's performance and Masachika's struggles.

"He's a talented driver, no question," Krack said. "But talent alone isn't enough. F1 is a team sport, and success requires harmony. We're working on that."

Masachika saw the interview and felt betrayed. It was yet another blow to his already fragile morale.

By the summer break, Masachika was a shadow of the driver who had won the World Championship just a year earlier. The pressure, the tension, and the lack of results were taking a toll on his mental health.

One evening, after another frustrating debrief, Masachika sat alone in his hotel room, staring at the ceiling. His phone buzzed with a message from Alya:

"I'm worried about you. Please talk to me."

Masachika sighed, typing out a response before deleting it. He couldn't bring himself to tell her how close he was to breaking.

As the summer break loomed, one question lingered in his mind: How much longer can I endure this?