Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 107: Newcomers Can’t Be That Strong (Two in One)

"Look here, look here!"

“China!”

Chen Xiangbei pointed at the national flag embroidery on his waist and shouted loudly towards the camera.

If his previous flamboyant words and behavior were mostly to cooperate with Odette's hype, then now it is a roar from the bottom of his heart.

To be honest, the first round victory of the Renault European Cup is not a particularly high-level championship.

But for Chinese drivers, it is a breakthrough from zero!
No Chinese driver in this world, whether Chen Xiangbei in his previous life or in this world, has ever achieved this achievement.

"OH MY GOD, I couldn't believe my eyes. Vergne used his tactics to the extreme, but still couldn't overtake Driver North at the last moment."

"A rookie driver from China won the EuroFormula championship in his first race and also took pole position at the Renault EuroCup Silverstone Circuit with a lap time of 1 minute 57 seconds!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us cheer for Bei with the warmest applause. Perhaps we will all become witnesses of a new chapter in history!"

James gave a passionate post-race commentary. In the last half lap at the T7 Woodfield corner, he once thought that Vergne of the ART team would be the last winner and had already expressed his congratulations in advance.

Who could have imagined that even when the tires had slipped to the point of idling with the accelerator pressed hard, Chen Xiangbei managed to overtake by crossing the lanes, and with a slight gap of less than 0.1 seconds, he defended his championship glory to the extreme.

In this game, driver Bei's strategy and response were perfect. It was obvious that he had done a lot of basic work and had a thorough understanding of his opponent's driving style and line habits.

If Chen Xiangbei was even slightly careless, he might be defeated by his opponent at the start!
James couldn't help but feel a little regretful at this moment. If Chen Xiangbei was a European driver, or if Chen Xiangbei was two years younger, we might see another genius rising in the field of Formula One.

It’s a pity that Chen Xiangbei is a Chinese driver and his age of 19 greatly reduces the value of his championship.

The two-year age difference is a big advantage in elementary equations.

Compared to the excitement of the commentator James, the audience at the scene looked at the bright red flag appearing on the big screen with more of an expression of disbelief on their faces.

"FUCK, is this Chinese guy called Bei really that strong? He actually won the first Renault race!"

"The driver's profile before the race showed that the Chinese rookie had only been karting for a year. That's simply impossible!"

"The Honda Racing Group is behind the Chinaman. He must be hiding his training records in Japan."

"But the problem is, at his age, what good is it to hide his professional experience?"

An audience member raised the key point. Chen Xiangbei was already relatively old in the junior formula field, and he also hid his past karting training experience, which was equivalent to closing the door to his career.

"Who knows what the benefits are? Anyway, there's no way a newbie can have such driving skills!"

From a logical point of view, the doubts raised by the track spectators are indeed reasonable.

There is a certain degree of randomness in pole position, and you may suddenly burst out and run a "god lap".

In the long distance race, assuming there are no accidents, you must have real strength to win the championship.

The "first-year" freshman who started karting at the age of 18 is not on the same level of experience and driving skills as his opponent who has been driving karting since the age of two.

Even Sato Takuma was not that exaggerated. After all, he won the Formula One championship by defeating Asian drivers.

Chen Xiangbei is the strongest European team on earth!
Not only the audience in the stands were full of doubts, but the reporters who had been waiting at the podium were also eager to ask Chen Xiangbei questions.

"Bei, before the game you boasted that you were going to win the championship. Now that you've achieved your goal, do you have anything to say?"

"Driver Bei, many of your actions during the race were unexpected. Was this team strategy or a sudden inspiration?"

"Bei, now that you've defeated your opponent, what are you going to say to these losers?"

The last reporter who asked the question happened to be Hank from Sky Sports.

Hank remained absolutely neutral regarding Chen Xiangbei's victory in this match.

The reason is simple. The Chinese boy won and he was able to write a press release based on the previous interview to dig deeper.

It doesn't matter if we lose, the Sky Sports editor will immediately write a sarcastic report and the title will be ready in advance.

"The pre-race boast turned into a track clown; the Chinese genius turned out to be a rookie!"

Anyway, for the media, no matter what the results are, they will make a profit.

The reason why Hank asked this leading question was that Vergne, who was second in the race, and Magnussen, who was third, were walking towards the interview area below the podium.

As long as Chen Xiangbei says some outrageous words, it will trigger dissatisfaction and counterattacks from the two drivers. It would be perfect if the young men got angry and fought on the spot, which would definitely become tomorrow's hot news.

Hank sometimes misses the paddock atmosphere of the 1990s, where the drivers were wild and uninhibited, highlighting their authenticity. Even those as famous as Senna and Schumacher still contributed to many fame-seeking scenes without any concealment.

With their passing or retirement, the next world champion driver who dares to openly fight in the paddock will have to wait until 21 when Verstappen rushed to the weighing area to beat Ocon.

"There's really nothing much to say. Victory and defeat are common in the military. They'll gradually get used to it."

Chen Xiangbei's expression and tone when answering the questions were very calm. He actually had no intention of mocking his opponent.

Since ancient times, there has been no first in literature and no second in martial arts. As long as it is a competitive event, there will eventually be losers.

As long as you follow the spirit of sports, win beautifully and lose calmly, there will be no problem.

I just don’t know whether the spoken translation didn’t convey the meaning clearly, or whether Europeans didn’t understand what “victory and defeat are common in war” means.

As soon as Chen Xiangbei said this, many reporters showed surprise on their faces, and Hank immediately grasped the key point and asked follow-up questions.

"Bei, do you mean that the opponents on the track will get used to being losers?"

Chen Xiangbei was stunned when he heard Hank's question.

Compared with other Formula One drivers of the same age, he has relatively rich interview experience due to the foundation he gained in his previous life. He knows what it means to be cautious in what he says and does to avoid being tricked by reporters.

But this is only relative. Chinese drivers have never been the focus of media attention on the track.

If Chen Xiangbei hadn't secured pole position and the championship, no media outlet would have bothered to interview him. Even if Zhou Guanyu had entered the F1 paddock in later life, his exposure wouldn't have been high.

In most pre- or post-race interviews, the camera is often focused on WDC or star drivers such as Verstappen, Hamilton, and Leclerc.

Chen Xiangbei realized that the question was somewhat ambiguous, but now that things have come to this, as the champion of the first round of the Renault European Cup, he must show the kingly aura of a winner!
He nodded expressionlessly and replied, "If you're willing to understand it that way, there's no problem."

Chen Xiangbei doesn't care what the reporters think, as victory is the goal pursued by every driver.

Since I don't want to be a loser, opponents like Magnussen should get used to being losers!
When they heard Chen Xiangbei say this, Vergne and Magnussen, who were waiting for the interview, turned pale.

It’s already hard to lose, and now you have to be beaten by a Chinese rookie. It would be uncomfortable for anyone.

Magnussen, known for his impulsive and assertive personality, immediately fired back, "Bei, remember there are no permanent winners on the track. I'll make you taste the bitter taste of defeat in the next race!"

To be honest, Magnussen was very dissatisfied with losing the game.

If Costa had not forced his way into the line and almost caused an accident on the track, he would not have braked at the T1 turn, allowing the Chinese driver Bei to run far ahead.

It can be said that Costa lost more than he gained, and in the subsequent fight, both sides' tires were severely damaged, which highlighted the fact that while the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits!
As Magnussen said this, the somewhat depressed atmosphere at the Silverstone Circuit was instantly ignited.

"That's a beautiful response. We can't tolerate Chinese newcomers riding on our coattails."

"Magnussen was simply careless at the start today. Driver Bei may not be so lucky in the next race."

"Magnussen, don't forget your F1 family origins, defend the glory that belongs to European drivers!"

"Come on, Magnussen, take out Driver North at the next stop!"

The cheers and shouts from the audience in the stands were even louder than when Chen Xiangbei won the championship.

Although Magnussen is not the home driver at Silverstone, there is no doubt that the audience is more inclined to support him compared to Chen Xiangbei, who is not even an away driver.

Chen Xiangbei smiled slightly at this, and he did not choose to argue or make harsh remarks with Magnussen.

Instead, just like before, he found the camera broadcasting from the track and signaled the photographer to take a close-up.

This time, the camera focused on the sign with the number "1" in front of Chen Xiangbei's racing car.

Only the champion driver's car is worthy of being parked behind this sign!

Many times silence speaks louder than words, and Chen Xiangbei told Magnussen and the audience through this action.

Don't try to "borrow" the championship. Wait until you actually win it before you speak. Until then, hold back any resentment you may have. Recognize yourselves as losers. Standing before you is the champion driver, Chen Xiangbei!

Sure enough, when this meaningful shot appeared on the big screen, the cheers on the track instantly became silent.

Now it was not only Magnussen who felt uncomfortable, even the audience at the scene felt an indescribable sense of frustration.

After losing, I really don’t even have enough confidence to mock!
Just when the whole audience fell into eerie silence, a clear female voice rang out from the crowd.

"Xiangbei, you are so bad, but I like it so much."

The person who said this was none other than Lu Xiaoman, who was walking out of the P room with the crew members.

In an F1 race, when a winning driver parks his car under the podium, the crew members should be waiting there early to celebrate the victory together.

Due to a shortage of manpower in the lower-level Formula One race, the crew had to clean up the consoles and finish the job, which was why they were late. Lu Xiaoman happened to see Chen Xiangbei pointing at the sign, so of course she had to speak out in support!
"North, great run, champion."

Liang Chi followed closely and shouted to Chen Xiangbei, and it was obvious that Lao Deng's voice was trembling.

He was so excited. The scene of reaching the summit, which he had never dared to imagine before, now appeared before him. This day came much sooner than expected.

Chen Xiangbei created the history of Chinese Formula One racing!

"Brother Bei is awesome, you are the champion!"

"Champion, Xiangbei-kun!"

Congratulations came one after another. Chen Xiangbei was too lazy to pay attention to the reporters and opponents at this time. He just opened his arms and gave the crew members a big hug.

Only Odeto, who was used to big scenes, crossed his arms over his chest and said calmly: "Bei, you did well, you need to keep working hard."

But the slightly raised corners of his mouth revealed his true thoughts.

Just as the team was celebrating their victory, several F1A officials came over to Chen Xiangbei and announced, "Bei, we are now weighing the drivers and cars."

The FIA ​​Formula One technical regulations specify in detail the minimum weight, ballast weight and driver weight of each level of Formula One vehicle, and ensure that a one-liter gasoline sample can be taken from the car at any stage of the race.

If the fuel level in the vehicle is less than one liter, the race result will be disqualified.

Normally, after the race, the drivers' cars are not driven directly back to the pits, but are parked in an area called Parc Fermé.

This word is a French word, which literally means a closed park. In fact, it can be simply understood as a closed area.

Once the car is parked in this area, the team is not allowed to make any changes to the tires, tuning settings, or fuel volume, waiting for inspection by FIA officials.

As the champion of the first stop, Chen Xiangbei is qualified to enjoy cheers and celebrations after the game. In theory, the weigh-in will be carried out in the free time after the interview and before the award ceremony.

The post-race interview has not yet ended, which is equivalent to the FIA ​​steward arriving early and interrupting the celebration between Chen Xiangbei and his team members.

"After the interview, I'll make my way to the weigh-in area."

Chen Xiangbei responded indifferently. The reason for his attitude was not because his celebration was interrupted.

Rather, the actions of the FIA ​​stewards were clearly mixed with malicious speculation that the officials suspected there was something wrong with the weight of their own car.

Or to put it more directly, they suspected that they had obtained the championship through improper means!
"North, weigh-in now, this is FIA regulations."

The FIA ​​stewards leave no room for negotiation. The weigh-in after the interviews with the top three drivers is merely a long-standing convention and is not a mandatory part of the FIA ​​regulations.

On the contrary, as long as the race ends with a checkered flag, the FIA ​​has the right to require the driver and car to be weighed at any time!
The FIA ​​officer's unusual behavior and tough attitude immediately attracted reporters on the scene to take photos frantically. They vaguely smelled the scent of big news.

Could it be that the champion Chen Xiangbei cheated on the weight of his car?

"There must be something wrong with the Chinaman. No wonder Vergne couldn't get past him in the end!"

"It seems that the car has been lightened, otherwise the tires would have worn out. How did they manage to overtake at Turn T7?"

“Not only do they have to weigh themselves, they also have to pump oil to check. There’s no way a new Chinese guy can be this strong!”

"That's right, no cheating is allowed in the Renault event!"

The various voices in the stands rang out again. Perhaps sensing Chen Xiangbei's dissatisfaction, Liang Chi patted him on the shoulder and said, "Xiangbei, don't give people a chance to criticize you. We are upright and have nothing to fear from our own shadows."

Liang Chi has experienced similar scenarios in cross-country competitions. Whenever Chinese drivers achieve breakthroughs in performance, they are often subject to strict inspections by the event organizers.

It's not just in motorsport; random inspections of Chinese athletes in other sports events are often conducted at a high frequency.

To say the least, the FIA ​​stewards' actions were unreasonable, but reasonable.

What Chen Xiangbei should do is not to make a fuss like a child, but to remember this scene today and respond to these doubts with achievements in the future!

"North, go ahead."

Odetto also comforted the driver by saying that all great drivers in history have been questioned.

During Schumacher's consecutive championships, the car was dismantled and inspected, as it was suspected that there was a hidden code in the program to increase engine power.

In a sense, this is a necessary stage on the way to the summit.

"OK, go weigh in."

Chen Xiangbei nodded and said no more. As a driver, it is also a compulsory course not to be easily freed by emotions.

Just as Chen Xiangbei turned around and prepared to go to the weigh-in area with the FIA ​​stewards, Sky Sports reporter Hank seized the opportunity and asked him a question loudly.

"Bei, did the FIA's early weigh-in make you feel disrespected? Do you have anything you want to say now?"

To be honest, Chen Xiangbei actually felt a little disgusted with reporters like Hank who liked to stir up trouble and make big news. After all, he was the target of the rumors.

But Hank's question at this time just gave him a channel to speak out.

"I'm going to win the next race. Even Jesus can't stop me. I say it!"

At this moment, Chen Xiangbei truly unleashed his edge.

Since he likes to weigh in advance, Chen Xiangbei will still stand at the highest point on the next championship podium to prove his strength.

"Very good, keep it up!"

Odeto lowered his arms that were folded across his chest and gave Chen Xiangbei a thumbs up.

Young people should be arrogant and passionate in such situations. If they are not, can they still be called young people?
And it was not just Odetto who expressed praise. Many reporters and staff members who interviewed Chen Xiangbei also expressed their appreciation for his statement.

No one likes a coward. In this situation, the Chinese boy dares to make such arrogant remarks, which really makes people look at him in a different light!
The results of the post-race weigh-in test were no surprise. Chen Xiangbei successfully passed the FIA ​​official test in terms of both vehicle weight and fuel capacity. His first Renault championship was well deserved.

All those who clamored and questioned before have now chosen to shut up.

After a short break, the three drivers came to the podium on the second floor, where a large crowd of spectators and driver team members stood below.

The entry-level formula is limited by level and age factors, so it is naturally not as grand as the F1 awards ceremony. There is no scene of celebrating with champagne. Only three drivers stand on the podium in turn, and then the organizers present medals and trophies.

Magnussen, who was in third place, was the first to stand on the podium. His face looked even uglier than Chen Xiangbei's before, and he did not show any joy of winning third place.

After all, everyone has different goals, and the satisfaction they bring is naturally different.

Magnussen was recognized as the favorite for the championship both inside and outside the paddock, but in the end he didn't even get second place.

The second person to stand on the podium was Vergne from ART Team. After he stepped onto the podium, he waved to the audience with a smile on his face, and received warm applause and cheers from the audience below.

Vergne rose from fifth to first place, and with his ultimate team tactics, he almost defeated Chen Xiangbei and won the championship.

It can be said that his performance in this race was outstanding, and if it weren't for Chen Xiangbei, he would not have been named the best driver.

The last person to step onto the podium was Chen Xiangbei, who stood in the highest position in the center.

Compared to the enthusiastic response to Vergne, the audience was a little indifferent to Chen Xiangbei, and only applauded in understanding.

However, there was still a small group of people who were attracted by his performance and personal charm.

"GOOD, Driver Bei, your performance conquered me!"

"Bei, it turns out that you are a worthy champion."

"Driver North, defend your title at the next race and fight back against those doubters!"

"Come on, Driver North!"

To be honest, Chen Xiangbei himself was a little surprised to hear the praise and cheers from the audience.

You have to know that before, apart from silence and disregard, most of the people Chen Xiangbei encountered were cold eyes and ridicule.

After all, he is a complete newcomer, and he comes from a country like China where there is no foundation in Formula One racing. He was also subjected to hype and rumors spread by Sky Sports, and was directly portrayed as a villain who is the "public enemy of the track."

According to the Hollywood plot pattern, Chen Xiangbei is the villain supporting role who will be defeated by the "righteous hero" in the end, but who would have thought that he would counterattack and become the protagonist.

Strength is the universal language on the track, and it has nothing to do with race, nationality, or culture.

Chen Xiangbei conquered a part of European audiences with his own strength, and now he has gradually become a fan!
Soon the cheers quieted down instantly because a bright red flag appeared on the electronic LED screen behind Chen Xiangbei, indicating that the national anthem was about to be played and everyone should be silent.

As the familiar melody sounded, Chen Xiangbei raised his head and sang along softly.

Although this wasn't the highest podium in F1, but just a Renault Eurocup junior formula, Chen Xiangbei achieved the first time that the Chinese national anthem was played at the Silverstone Circuit in the UK, achieving a breakthrough from zero!

After the award ceremony, Chen Xiangbei walked down the podium with the trophy and was congratulated by his team members again.

Only the old man Odeto remained calm and composed. He didn't say too much hypocritical nonsense to Chen Xiangbei, and turned around and went back to the team's P room.

Indeed, for a former F1 team leader, a championship of this level is nothing.

Just as Chen Xiangbei followed Odette and was about to return to the P room together, Liang Chi suddenly grabbed him.

Because Liang Chi saw a familiar figure in the crowd, that was Starer, the former investor of Huasai Sports, the person Zhang Zhicong specifically instructed to have a good relationship with!
(End of this chapter)