How Did I Become an F1 Driver?-Chapter 603 - 262: Horner’s Headache

On the Mercedes side, although they do hope Qin Miao can help Hamilton block Verstappen, that is not Qin Miao's main task. The team cannot issue orders for Qin Miao to sacrifice his own interests for Hamilton's benefit.

If such an order were given, not only would Qin Miao be dissatisfied, but Mercedes' fans and supporters would also be displeased with the team's management, and even the higher-ups might demand accountability.

So for now, the team lets the drivers run their own pace.

This is true for both Qin Miao and Hamilton.

After following Hamilton's pace for the pit stops, Verstappen still came out ahead of Hamilton, as Verstappen's early advantage was too significant.

Hamilton, relying on just one out-lap, couldn't reduce the gap much. Moreover, a mistake was made during Hamilton's tire change, resulting in a total time of 3.2 seconds.

This made it even harder to reduce the gap between Verstappen and Hamilton.

However, things got interesting because broadcast data showed that after Verstappen exited the pit and completed a lap, it displayed the speed gap between Qin Miao and Verstappen.

It showed that Verstappen was 0.4 seconds faster per lap than Qin Miao, and this gap would increase over time because Qin Miao's tires had run 21 more laps than Verstappen's, so they would degrade faster.

The race department estimated that in about 10 laps, Verstappen would catch up to Qin Miao.

Anyone familiar with Qin Miao's driving style could guess what would happen once Verstappen caught up to Qin Miao.

Hamilton and Verstappen's pit stops opened up the pit window for the race, and other drivers began to pit accordingly.

Zandvoort has an advantage in that most teams' strategies are different.

Some are planning for two stops, others for just one.

So even though the pit window was open, there wasn't a sudden rush of drivers pitting at the same time.

Qin Miao was unaffected by this and maintained his racing rhythm.

When the race reached lap 30, Qin Miao's speed was still fast, and Verstappen's anticipated approach rate to Qin Miao was slower than expected.

Although the race indicated the two were about to start their duel, the time gap was still 4 seconds.

The initial data provided by the event barely took into account just one lap after Verstappen's out-lap, which possibly had full ERS deployment, hence the extraordinary speed.

At this point, Red Bull's strategy team gave Horner and Verstappen's track engineer two options.

"According to our estimates, Max will enter the DRS zone behind Qin Miao within five laps. However, given Zandvoort's characteristics, it will be costly for Max to overtake Qin Miao. So, our advice is for Max to pit for white tires before getting behind Qin Miao. Currently, Max has over 26 seconds on Leclerc behind him. After pitting for white tires, only Hamilton and Qin Miao will be ahead, and Hamilton's medium tires can't last until the end of the race. We can have Verstappen pit early to try an undercut on the two Mercedes drivers.

We still have a new set of white tires, but Hamilton does not. He only has a set of medium tires with three laps on them."

Horner frowned and asked after hearing the Red Bull strategy director: "What if Qin Miao and Verstappen pit together? He also has a new set of white tires."

The Red Bull strategy director paused before speaking: "But doing nothing is worse. Max is faster than Qin Miao, and we have to trust Max's out-lap speed. If we change nothing, Max will surely be blocked by Qin Miao once he catches up, and that's when Hamilton will attack."

Horner sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Being outnumbered two to one is frustrating; any strategy gets curbed by Mercedes' other driver.

A bad move and not only is the championship at risk, but second place could also be lost.

"How many laps has Qin Miao been on the yellow tires? When will they start degrading?" Horner asked after a moment of massaging his forehead.

"Thirty-one laps. Qin Miao started with a new set of yellow tires. Based on Qin Miao's previous tire management, if he conserves them well, his yellow tires can last up to about 60 laps."

Hearing this, not only Horner but most of the Red Bull crew tuned into the team radio took a deep breath.

If Qin Miao really wanted to defend against Verstappen, how many laps could he hold him off?

And if Hamilton pits while Qin Miao is defending against Verstappen... the thought is unnerving, completely unnerving.

Horner started pulling his hair.

"Let Max try to overtake Qin Miao first. Give him five laps. If nothing comes of it, then pit Max for white tires and go for a full-power long stint." Despite the tough decision, Horner eventually made up his mind.

"Copy that."

...

Compared to Red Bull's ear-scratching frustration after taking the pole, Toto on the other side appeared much more relaxed.