Car Racing without Money-Chapter 497 - 194: A New Era for the F1 Paddock (Part 3)
"1 minute 30.419 seconds, Alonso from the Ferrari Team has improved his lap speed by 0.15 seconds. Is this two-time Spanish world champion going to drive the Ferrari red car to establish another Scuderia dynasty?"
"Hamilton of the McLaren Team cannot tolerate such a situation. His lap speed has surpassed Alonso and is very close to Schumacher’s track chances."
"As the youngest world champion driver in F1 history, he is destined to stand in Alonso’s way, creating his own legend!"
"OH!!! The track record has been broken. Vettel from the Red Bull Racing Team has clocked a lap speed of 1 minute 30.193 seconds, becoming the new ruler of the Bahrain Circuit!"
James narrates the situation on the track very quickly, almost refreshing the lap speed leaderboard after every timed lap.
Especially the middle and new generation driver, they have completely defeated the team’s older teammates.
Whether it’s Hamilton, Vettel, or Rosberg.
Their performances and speeds are extremely impressive. James feels that even if Schumacher returns as the reigning champion, the F1 Paddock may no longer belong to his era!
"Odetto, what is my position in this lap?"
"Eighth."
[Eighth?]
Upon hearing this reply, Chen Xiangbei’s usually stable emotions gradually became a bit anxious.
With the practice time approaching midday, the ambient and ground temperatures are continuously rising, Chen Xiangbei can only reduce the downforce of the car by fine-tuning the aerodynamic package to decrease the high temperature brought by the exhaust diffuser to the rear of the car.
But by doing so, the cornering speed will inevitably decrease.
Honestly speaking, he felt he was giving it his all in this lap, yet his ranking was still dropping.
Chen Xiangbei does not know if other teams have hidden their performance, or if the TF110’s limit is just like this, or perhaps the two practice sessions raised his expectations.
Anyway, it feels like having the heart but lacking the strength!
"What’s Trulli’s position?"
Chen Xiangbei asked again, cross-team comparisons are difficult, only teammates are the best benchmark.
"Focus on your own performance."
Odetto replied indifferently, he can understand the psychological pressure of a rookie competing in their first race.
As well as the urgent desire to impress and gain respect and recognition within the paddock.
But many things, when overdone, can become counterproductive!
Countless rookies in later years left the scene in silence, as they fell into the trap of proving themselves, then challenging limits, making mistakes, and crashing.
In the next race, burdened with pressure, they wanted to make up for everything, to regain the support of the fans and the team.
As a result, their mindset became more anxious, leading to another crash.
After crashing two or three times, no matter how excellent the rookie had been, or how glorious their lower-class Formula racing history was, they would be labeled a "director", falling into a vicious cycle.
Or, to put it bluntly, entering the countdown phase of their career.
Chen Xiangbei’s stable emotions have always been one of his strengths.
Odetto doesn’t want Chen Xiangbei to be swayed by one race ranking, knowing that F1 driver’s career span is one of the longest among sports.
Such as veterans like Alonso, Hamilton, Hockenheim can outlast countless rookies!
Even a final eighth-place finish is still excellent!
Upon hearing Odetto’s words, after spending over a year together, Chen Xiangbei immediately understood his meaning.
He took a few deep breaths on the return lap, hesitated for a moment, and still pressed the communication button.
"Odetto, I want to push for one more lap."
Upon hearing this, several strategy group members in the P room exchanged glances, thinking intensely about the pros and cons.
As for Briatore, he simply crossed his legs and sat quietly on the side, like an onlooker indifferent to the situation.
"The tires are not sufficient, for this race all the teams have biased setups towards the races, it is necessary to reserve two sets of red tires to ensure flexible track strategy."
According to FIA race rules, once F1 cars complete practice sessions, setup configuration becomes fixed and cannot be changed, only some local fine adjustments can be made.
If substantial changes occur, a start from the pit lane will be penalized.
Every track has its characteristics, take the most famous Monaco Grand Prix distance.
Due to the difficulty of overtaking in street races, all team setups for this race are 100% inclined towards qualifying style, often determining the race position. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
But Bahrain Sakhir Circuit is different, it is one of the easiest overtaking tracks in the F1 calendar. Teams will not say 100% race bias, but will at least be more race-focused.
Without tire reserves, it will be a predicament like 25-year-old Verstappen’s situation, then even when pitting there will be no new tires to change, only watching opponents overtaking one by one.
"It’s okay, push one more lap on old tires."
[Old tires?]
Upon hearing this idea, Sawano Hiroyuki was the first to make a statement: "The track temperature has exceeded 50°C, old tires can only maintain peak grip for one lap, this is too risky."
"Even if the final result is achieved, it is most likely inferior to the previous timer, in my personal opinion, the gains do not compensate for the losses."
"I agree with Senior Sawano’s opinion."
Mizutani Sho expressed his stance, he was also a member of the strategy group.
"I also agree with Engineer Sawano’s ideas."
Trulli’s race engineer Sote also gave his opinion.
While Odetto was hesitating, Briatore finally spoke.
"No problem, Xiangbei, go and push this lap."
He did not discuss with the strategy group, but directly issued team instructions.
Faced with Hua Bu’s actions, all strategy team members stared at him with "wide-eyed anger".
Looking for ways to make money can be tolerated, but actions that disregard the safety of the driver, the morality of professional racing personnel, absolutely cannot be accepted.
Moreover, people like Sawano Hiroyuki watched Chen Xiangbei grow step by step.
Between them and Chen Xiangbei, it has transcended a purely employment relationship!
"Odetto, what do you think about my idea?"
Briatore ignored others and directly asked Odetto.
Looking at Hua Bu’s annoying face, Odetto took a deep breath to suppress inner emotion.
Nodding: "Very good!"
[What?]
Upon hearing this reply, strategy members were stunned, did Odetto agree with the Italian rogue?
"Copy."
Chen Xiangbei’s response interrupted everyone’s astonishment.
From his tone, Chen Xiangbei’s emotional change can be felt; he seemed to be full of fighting spirit.
The return lap arrived at the pit lane entrance, Chen Xiangbei did not steer in but at full throttle dynamically started over the start line.
T1, T2, T3...
Each corner swiftly passed, even though tire grip peak decreased, the condition of track traffic and surface somehow showed an upward trend.
Team P room people no longer cared about Hua Bu and Odetto, their eyes were all firmly locked on various car sensor data.
At the moment neither the audience nor the track commentators were paying attention to Chen Xiangbei, believing he wouldn’t achieve faster lap times.
Chen Xiangbei’s name on the lap speed ranking, however, rose a spot to seventh!
Just an increase in position carries extraordinary significance.
Chen Xiangbei achieved progress with old tires, indicating he has even more development potential.
minute 30.433 seconds, lap speed, is definitely not his limit!
