How Did I Become an F1 Driver?-Chapter 653 - 279: The Team Steps In to Mediate

It just turned out that the effect of this squeeze was far better than Qin Miao had imagined.

However, for the Mercedes team, this wasn't exactly good news.

At this point, the race had reached lap 38, and the time gap between Qin Miao and Norris in front of him had come down to 10 seconds. This 4-second difference was quietly extended by Norris during the two battles between Qin Miao and Hamilton.

It can be said that if Qin Miao and Hamilton continued to battle on, Mercedes' two drivers might really escort Norris to victory.

Although everyone at Mercedes knew what the correct course of action was, including Qin Miao and Hamilton on the track.

Both of them knew that what they should be doing at this moment was running the race normally, overtaking Norris in front of them first.

But Qin Miao really didn't want to give up the position he had worked so hard to achieve.

Qin Miao also thought that Hamilton wouldn't just sit back and not try to overtake him right in front of him.

After all, Hamilton was faster than Qin Miao.

Running behind someone slower than you and being unable to overtake them is an aggravating feeling Qin Miao had just experienced.

So Qin Miao didn't doubt Hamilton's determination to overtake him.

Seeing the gap between the two Mercedes drivers and McLaren's Norris widening.

Just when everyone thought Mercedes might, due to Qin Miao's addition, repeat their old tradition of internal conflict from years ago.

The team still stepped in.

Toto's voice simultaneously reached the ears of both drivers: "Alright, that's enough.

We can't lose this race win, hope you can understand the priority."

"Qin Miao, your lap times are over 0.2 seconds slower than Hamilton's each time. Let Hamilton pass to chase the front Norris. Once both of you overtake Norris, Hamilton will give the position back to you, and then the team won't intervene as you two continue to battle."

Mercedes had openly issued team orders to their two drivers.

Upon hearing this news, Qin Miao didn't feel much as Toto stated the fact; his pace indeed wasn't as fast as Hamilton's, though his defensive skills were stronger.

Qin Miao also knew that defending against Hamilton wasn't too difficult. Without a significant difference in tire conditions, Qin Miao felt he could hold off Hamilton for 10 laps, maybe even longer.

But if he really blocked Hamilton for that long, the chances of either Qin Miao or Hamilton winning this race would be zero.

And Hamilton, facing Toto's team orders, naturally let out a long sigh of relief.

After the sigh, Hamilton recalled Qin Miao's defense against him just now.

Then he put himself in Verstappen's shoes.

Now he finally understood why everyone inside and outside the paddock said being Qin Miao's rival was a headache.

Verstappen had also said more than once in interviews that the last driver he wanted to see ahead of him on the track was Qin Miao.

Such an iron-clad defense, those just-right blockades and squeezes, and long-term strategic layout.

Unexaggeratedly, having experienced it once, Hamilton dared to say Qin Miao is one of the strongest defenders in the current paddock.

The reason for saying "one of" is that Alonso's defense against Hamilton in Hengelo is still a painful memory Hamilton unwillingly recalls.

In reality, Hamilton still feels Alonso's defensive ability is slightly more incredible.

After all, Alonso's defense indeed caused Hamilton much trouble and even directly helped Qin Miao to win.

However, Qin Miao and Hamilton's battle, at least, remained in a mutually restrained stage.

The two hadn't caused each other any substantial harm, just delayed each other for a few laps.

After hearing Toto's team orders, Qin Miao thought about it and finally let Hamilton pass.

Indeed, as Toto said, continuing to duel with Hamilton benefits neither. What urgently needs to be done is to catch up with the Norris ahead, overtake him, and then open a gap before deciding the championship between the two.

As for the possibility of Hamilton not returning the position...

Qin Miao wasn't too worried about that.

After all, Hamilton is a seven-time world champion.

Even though Qin Miao joined the Mercedes team and is the team's number 2 driver, he only has a few individual race wins under his belt.

Compared to Hamilton, Qin Miao could only be considered an unknown novice.

All the rights and wrongs Hamilton faced on the track were just part of competitive sports, inevitably accompanied by controversy.

But switching positions concerns personal integrity.

Hamilton isn't foolish to leave a bad reputation over such matters.

Since Qin Miao had clearly stated in the team radio that he let Hamilton pass to chase Norris.

No matter what the outcome is, Hamilton would certainly return the position to Qin Miao.

If he didn't, Hamilton's reputation would be ruined.