How Did I Become an F1 Driver?-Chapter 746 - 307: Beaming Mercedes Team Members
Upon hearing this, Verstappen regretfully said, "If I had known, I would've given Hamilton and myself a bit more room when we were fighting."
Qin Miao was also a bit curious, "Why didn't you attack me in those last two laps? You were clearly in my DRS zone from behind."
Verstappen shrugged helplessly, "At that time, my tires were in a similar condition as yours, slipping all the way through the corner exits, and they didn't provide me with enough grip to accelerate."
Qin Miao understood upon hearing this.
On the Brazilian Interlagos track, drivers actually start accelerating early on the long straight after the start.
If the downforce is strong enough, drivers usually go full throttle after passing T12.
However, due to tire wear, Verstappen's tires would slip after passing T12, preventing any acceleration, so naturally, he couldn't pose a threat to Qin Miao.
Speaking of this, Verstappen remarked with some amazement, "Your tire management... how can I say it? It's extraordinary, how do you do it?"
This wasn't the first time Qin Miao had been asked this question.
But Qin Miao couldn't really explain in detail, and he could only say as he told others with similar queries before, "Just like you can't explain to other drivers why you're so precise on entering corners and why your cornering lines are so smooth and natural.
I also can't explain the reasons why I can do all these things.
For me, it's as normal as eating and drinking. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
I suppose you can understand that feeling, right?"
After hearing Qin Miao's words, Verstappen took off his hat and scratched his head, "Yeah, it's like a natural instinct..."
As the two were chatting, Hamilton walked in cheerfully.
After Hamilton entered, Verstappen stopped talking, and instead, Qin Miao and Hamilton started conversing.
But they didn't talk for long before the staff in the lounge notified them to get ready for the podium ceremony.
In order of finishing, the first driver to go out was Verstappen, who came third, followed by Qin Miao, and lastly, the race winner, Hamilton.
Meanwhile, because Mercedes won the Constructors' Championship in this race, the team unanimously selected their technical director, Mike Elliott, to go on stage and receive the award on behalf of the team.
Afterwards, all present listened to the British national anthem.
Then it was time for the awards ceremony.
Since the Brazilian Grand Prix was sponsored by Heineken, the trophy after the race was also shaped like Heineken's red star.
Those responsible for awarding the drivers were naturally high-ranking officials or influential figures from Brazil, as this was a good opportunity for them to show off and boost their reputations.
During the time the drivers were receiving their awards on the podium, the Mercedes team's logistics staff brought out over a dozen bottles of beer from the team home and distributed them to the team technicians and staff, even placing a bottle in Toto's hand.
Qi Meng, who was watching Qin Miao with admiration from below the stage, also held a bottle of beer in her hand.
Soon, the award ceremony ended, and that familiar song started playing.
Qin Miao, Hamilton, and Verstappen all began shaking their champagne bottles in celebration...
The scene that followed wasn't hard to guess; as the team representative close with both Qin Miao and Hamilton, Mike Elliott was drenched in champagne, his white shirt clinging to him completely.
However, he wasn't embarrassed at all, instead smiling and cheering along with the Mercedes team technicians, who were also drinking beer below the stage.
Once the drivers' celebration ended, Qin Miao, Hamilton, and Elliott all raised their champagne bottles, toasting the Mercedes Team staff below the podium.
Soon, the celebration came to an end.
However, as the Mercedes team won the Drivers' Championship here, the organizers allowed the Mercedes team's technicians to extend their celebrations on the track for a while longer, while Qin Miao, Verstappen, and Elliott left the podium laughing with their trophies.
Next, there would be a grand celebration event for the Mercedes team.
However, these would not be broadcasted.
After Qin Miao and their celebration ended, the broadcast showed the driver rankings and scores after this race:
1: Hamilton +25
2: Qin Miao +18
3: Verstappen +15
4: Perez +13 (fastest lap)
5: Leclerc +10
6: Sainz +8
7: Gasly +6
8: O'Kang +4
9: Alonso +2
10: Norris +1
11: Vettel
12: Kimi
13: Russell
14: Giovinazzi
15: Yuki Tsunoda
16: Latifi
17: Mazepin
18: Mick
19: Ricardo (DNF)
20: Stroll (DNF)
Aside from the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers, Ferrari's performance in this race was quite good.
Both drivers delivered the maximum performance from the Ferrari car.
This secured Ferrari's position in the Constructors' Championship standings for this race.
The Drivers' Championship standings are as follows:
1: Qin Miao 333
2: Verstappen 322 (+8→+11)
3: Hamilton 320 (+20→+13)
4: Perez 164
5: Leclerc 153
6: Norris 129
7: Sainz 115
8: Ricardo 91
9: Gasly 78
10: Alonso 53
11: Vettel 49
12: O'Kang 40
13: Stroll 20
14: Tsunoda 14
15: Russell 10
16: Kimi 7
