Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 151 You Need to Prove Yourself
When Odeto said those words, the smile on his face faded, and he felt a mix of emotions inside.

He witnessed every step of the Chinese boy's growth, and could be said to have endured much cold stares and ridicule.

In fact, in order to "generate buzz," he deliberately fueled the controversy surrounding Chen Xiangbei, thus making him a central figure in public opinion.

This approach has both advantages and disadvantages.

One clear advantage is that, compared to other newcomers in Renault's year, Chen Xiangbei has the highest level of popularity, bar none.

Those rivals who were once hailed as European prodigies have now had the spotlight stolen by Chen Xiangbei, becoming unknown "passersby," even rising stars like Magnussen and Costa are no exception.

One drawback is that Chen Xiangbei has to withstand pressure, especially the kind of criticism and cyberbullying that is "pointed out by thousands".

The doubts of one or two people are fundamentally different from the thousands of insults hurled at them on the track. Any driver with poor mental fortitude is extremely prone to underperforming during the race and becoming a fallen "shooting star" crushed by the pressure.

Chen Xiangbei, however, withstood the pressure and can now talk about the topic with a calm and collected demeanor.

In that instant, Odette felt that Chen Xiangbei had truly grown up. He was no longer the boy who needed guidance, but was gradually moving towards becoming a qualified F1 driver, even more comprehensively than Odette himself.

Questions and criticisms are actually not important.

Winning is the essence of competitive sports!
Campos are currently focused entirely on building their F1 team, and their F3 racing is a complete waste of time and at the bottom. It's uncertain whether they will even maintain this level of performance tomorrow. Are they willing to provide brand new parts and achieve perfect car tuning?
The answer is obviously no!
The reason why Mick Schumacher was questioned and ridiculed, and why he retired from the paddock in disgrace.

The problem was that he failed to achieve the expected results and caused extremely serious damage, such as "two Haas cars" (meaning he broke the F1 car in two).

If he can consistently achieve a mid-table finish around tenth place, the "specially selected car" thing won't matter at all; the paddock's public opinion will only praise him for having a tiger father like a tiger son.

Ferrari and Mercedes, teams with a close relationship with racing legend Michael Schumacher, are highly likely to promote Mick Schumacher to their second driver position, ensuring the "Schumacher" name continues to exist in the paddock!
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in life; without good results, one cannot stand firm.

If Chen Xiangbei were worried about external criticism and doubts and chose to have Campos team provide technical support, that would be a sign of weakness.

European drivers can comfortably rely on sponsorships and residency status.

Why can't Chinese drivers make use of the existing resources?

Is it because you care about being called a "cheater"?
The support from the near-F1 team was obtained through their own abilities; if you can do it, you can too.

If you can't do it, then shut up!

Deeply moved, Odel said nothing, only patting Chen Xiangbei on the shoulder.

Half a day later, the Mewtwo team members arrived at the Blackley factory headquarters in the UK.

Compared to the high spirits of the R&D team when they left, the atmosphere was noticeably somber when they returned.

Layoffs are not simply a matter of reducing the number of employees or decreasing research and development capabilities. They also have a significant impact on the condition of the remaining technical engineers.

With the team's performance declining and Daimler Group about to take over, who knows if I will be the next one to be laid off?
Compared to ordinary capital, Mercedes is a truly top-tier factory team.

They possess the complete process from research and development to manufacturing and engine supply, and have absolutely no need for this group of former Honda "remnants" from the previous administration.

With the future uncertain, the atmosphere naturally couldn't be very enthusiastic.

In addition, the atmosphere among the Mewtwo team members was somewhat low. Most of those who were "laid off" were former R&D engineers from Super Aguri. After all, they were members of "Honda Team 2" and could not be considered Ross Brown's Honda direct subordinates.

In less than two years, the engineers at Super Aguri went through many twists and turns, but still could not escape the fate of being laid off, which is truly regrettable.

However, the R&D staff at the headquarters still welcomed and celebrated Chen Xiangbei's return.

The results of the test at the Catalan circuit were almost simultaneously transmitted back to Brawn GP's R&D headquarters, and the team members were aware of Chen Xiangbei's outstanding performance.

To be honest, for a newly established team, the chances of drawing a guaranteed S-class card from among the rookies are not high. Chen Xiangbei's appearance completely fills the team's reserve strength.

Button is still in his prime, while Barrichello, at 37, is considered "old" among Formula One drivers.

If the BGP001 car hadn't reached the championship standard, Barrichello could have retired based on his performance last year, giving younger, more promising drivers a chance to shine.

Even if the chances of winning the championship this year are extremely high, as long as Barrichello doesn't win the championship, in the eyes of the team's R&D staff, he can still retire gracefully, leaving Button and Chen Xiangbei to pair up as a new and old driver, which is the perfect configuration for the official driver combination.

However, there is an inherent conflict in thinking between the "technical faction" and the "management faction." No one knows what the team's top management is really thinking, and Chen Xiangbei cannot wait to be "gifted" a formal driver's seat.

Opportunities are earned, not waited for!

During his time back at the team's headquarters, Chen Xiangbei basically "lived" in the racing simulator and physical training machine, training for a full twelve hours every day.

Seeing Chen Xiangbei's relentless fighting spirit, the Brown GP team doctor and trainer were "afraid" and really didn't know how this young Chinese man could keep up.

Only Chen Xiangbei himself understands that he failed at the F1 threshold once in his previous life, and he will absolutely not allow it to happen a second time in this life!

Inside the simulator cockpit late at night, Chen Xiangbei was still driving, while Odette and Lu Xiaoman stood at the control panel at the back, watching and helping to adjust his racing data and monitor his various physical indicators in real time.

To be honest, Lu Xiaoman had at least passed the nutritionist exam. Although she wasn't as professional as a real doctor, she still had a fairly clear understanding of basic medical knowledge.

The intensity of Chen Xiangbei's training is so high that without real-time monitoring of his physical data, there's a fear he might suddenly die...

"Odeto, Xiangbei is really pushing himself too hard. Do you want to try and persuade him to stop?"

Lu Xiaoman's tone revealed a hint of heartache. Chen Xiangbei had experienced high-intensity training before, but never as "crazy" as this.

The closer Chen Xiangbei gets to F1, the greater the pressure seems to be.

"If he didn't push himself this hard, he wouldn't have been able to conquer the Spa circuit."

Odeto had never spoken to Chen Xiangbei, but he could vaguely understand the other's mindset.

Spa is considered one of the best tracks in F1 by any standard.

It is considered an ultra-high-speed track, requiring full throttle for an average of 72 percent of each lap, a figure second only to Monza's 76 percent.

Furthermore, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit is a mountain road with an elevation difference of up to 102 meters, and the Red River Bend is considered one of the most famous corners in F1 history. Every F1 driver considers cornering at full throttle a challenge in their career.

Chen Xiangbei's biggest problem right now is that his shoulder and neck muscles are not strong enough.

Even an F3 car can reach a super-high speed of 280 km/h at the Red River Bend on the Spa circuit, while also having to control steering and extreme elevation changes.

If you can't go over 70% full throttle at Spa, then no matter how precise Chen Xiangbei's cornering line is, it can't compare to someone else's "miracle of brute force".

As a track where anyone who eases off the accelerator is doomed, Chen Xiangbei must overcome the G-force!
So there's no other way but to train like crazy to get used to it.

"But……"

Lu Xiaoman wanted to try to persuade him further, since apart from Odeto, who could convince Chen Xiangbei, even Liang Chi was powerless to do so at the moment.

"No buts."

"If he can't even handle the intensity of training, how can he conquer F1?"

Odeto responded forcefully.

This is not just an F3 race, it's also a support race.

There will be 70,000 spectators and the management of ten racing teams watching.

It is a necessary step for Chen Xiangbei to enter the F1 paddock. He has already adopted a "do or die" mentality, and can only win and cannot lose!

Lu Xiaoman could only sigh; a woman's emotions could never overcome a man's rationality.

Time passed day by day, and half a month quickly went by.

Thursday, April 8th.

Chen Xiangbei, along with the entire Super Dream team, arrived at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes, Belgium.

Compared to the "quiet" atmosphere of Renault-level races, even on Thursdays when there are no races, the F1 Grand Prix circuit is still bustling with activity.

It's important to know that the crew members of each F1 team are not just the dozen or so people in the Formula Renault pit lane.

The total number of people in the management team, engineering team, technician team, logistics team, media and public relations team, etc., is usually no less than two hundred.

And this is the number of people in a small team. For large giant teams such as Ferrari and Red Bull, it is normal for the total number of crew members to exceed four hundred.

The arrival of ten F1 teams at Spa means that thousands of people are in the pit garages of the maintenance lane, assembling and testing equipment.

In addition, there are GP2 and F3 crew members, who also need to undergo equipment and car maintenance.

In addition, the two official drivers of the F1 team often choose this time to walk the track to increase their proficiency.

Once the official drivers show up, they attract fans and media, making it hard to avoid a lively scene!
Looking at the bustling scene before him, A Yong said with longing, "Brother Bei, this is truly F1 race week, it's spectacular."

"It would be even more spectacular on a real match day!"

Chen Xiangbei replied with mixed feelings. In his previous life, he had raced as an F2 driver in a support race and knew very well what it was like to see hundreds of thousands of spectators cheering in the stands.

"Brother Bei, when you become an F1 driver, will our Super Dream Racing Team be just as big as this?"

"Mm." Chen Xiangbei nodded with a smile.

Before A Yong could even begin to dream about the future, Odette beckoned Chen Xiangbei to head to the Brawn GP team's pit garage to meet Ross Brawn and the team's two official drivers.

Inside the pit garage of the Brawn GP team, engineers and technicians were busy adjusting equipment. Ross Brawn, along with the strategy team, was discussing details of tomorrow's practice session with Barrichello and Button.

Upon seeing Chen Xiangbei and the others enter, they temporarily stopped their conversation and came over to exchange polite greetings.

Ross Brown had met Chen Xiangbei before. Although the two were not very familiar with each other, their relationship was relatively good due to the presence of Staller as a "bridge".

As for Barrichello and Barton, they are more like senior "stars" to Chen Xiangbei.

Barrichello needs no introduction; he assisted Michael Schumacher in winning five world championships, making him arguably the greatest second-best driver in history.

If we also consider Jason Button's world championship, Barrichello's rating would be a level higher.

However, to be honest, Barrichello during his time with Brawn GP cannot be considered a pure number two driver. In fact, during his early days with Honda, he enjoyed the treatment of the team's number one driver.

However, in the first seven races of the Brawn GP championship race, Button won five, demonstrating a dominant advantage over Barrichello. The team then shifted its focus and made adjustments, officially establishing Button as the number one driver.

To some extent, F1 teams are also very realistic and cruel; no one's position is necessarily secure.

When you achieve good results, you will enjoy preferential treatment from the team's resources.

When your grades are poor, you will be abandoned without mercy!
For F1, it's a competitive sport for the drivers, but for the teams it's more of a business game.

Both Barrichello and Barton greeted Chen Xiangbei in a very friendly manner, maintaining a polite and courteous exchange.

The friendly relationship between the drivers is largely based on the fact that Chen Xiangbei poses no immediate threat to them, and the two are not yet competitors.

At least in the eyes of Patton or Barrichello, the Chinese kid is not worthy of being their opponent.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Ross Brown took Chen Xiangbei and Odette to his office for a private conversation.

"Bei, I've been following your test results at the Catalan circuit; you ran very well!"

Ross Brown was the first to offer a compliment.

It can be said that Chen Xiangbei's "skipping grades" plan was proposed and planned by Ross Brown.

Now that the newcomers he selected have begun to realize their talent and potential, Ross Brown feels very pleased with himself for having made the right choice!

"Thank you, but I still need to work harder."

Chen Xiangbei replied humbly.

Of course, in terms of speed alone, he does need to be even faster.

"North, Odeto told me, are you planning to use members of the Super Dream team in F3 racing?"

"Ah."

"You need to think this through carefully. Publicly using the resources of a near-F1 team to participate in F3 races will greatly diminish the value of your results."

"If you win, people will think it's expected; if you lose..."

Ross Brown didn't finish his sentence; if Chen Xiangbei lost, he might face "utter disgrace."

Even his previous Renault championship and Grand Prix F3 championship were subject to various questions regarding the custom-tuned cars he had previously won.

Even at the Guia Circuit in Australia, Chen Xiangbei was, to some extent, a "victim" of the team's weak strength.

“It’s okay, this F3 format will prove me right.”

Chen Xiangbei's tone was very firm, compared to the standard F3 format of the Australian Grand Prix.

The Spa F3 main race has a special rule: there are two races!

The first race is the regular season race, where drivers start in the order of qualifying. Each car must make at least one pit stop and use different sizes of tires.

The second race is a sprint race, and the starting grid will be determined by the results of the first race, except that the top ten drivers will start in reverse order.

In other words, the driver who wins the first race will be in tenth place in the second race.

Conversely, the driver who finishes tenth in the first race will start from pole position in the second race!

Starting in reverse order will significantly increase the number of overtaking maneuvers, providing viewers with a more thrilling battle of attrition. It will also further test the champion driver's skill; if a driver can overtake from tenth to first place, their ability will be undeniable.

This kind of demonstration of hard power cannot be achieved by simply adjusting the train!

"Bei, are you that confident?"

Ross Brown realized Chen Xiangbei's idea and planned to win two main tournament championships to prove himself.

And they declared to the outside world that they were the undisputed victor!
"How can you drive an F1 car if you don't have confidence?"

Ross Brown was taken aback by this answer.

To be honest, in both of his meetings with Chen Xiangbei, the latter gave him a rather calm and humble impression.

Even with the previous praise, Chen Xiangbei did not show the slightest arrogance.

Sometimes even Ross Brown wondered if the arrogant and confident Chinese kid that Sterner was talking about was actually Chen Xiangbei.
Now he understood: this kid had an unruly streak deep down!
"Very good, you really need these two wins to prove yourself, otherwise you won't get your super license next year."

【What? 】

Now it was Chen Xiangbei's turn to be stunned. What did his F3 racing have to do with his super driver's license?

"The team's application for a super license was rejected by the FIA."

Ross Brown added a comment.

"why?"

Before Chen Xiangbei could even speak, Odeto couldn't help but ask.

"The FIA ​​believes that 300 kilometers of testing is not enough, and the results and performance are insufficient to apply for a super license."

"SHIT! If Raikkonen can get special permission, why can't the North?"

Odeto raised his own questions.

The application process for a super driver's license in this era is not very strict. There is only one hard requirement: a test mileage of no less than 300 kilometers.

If we're talking about achievements, Chen Xiangbei's consecutive Formula Renault championships and Grand Prix F3 title are no less impressive than Raikkonen's Renault World Championship.

Furthermore, the 2000-kilometer test mileage and the lap time that is second only to the top F1 drivers by 0.2 seconds all prove that Chen Xiangbei deserves a super license.

How could this possibly be rejected?

“Odette, you should know that Raikkonen has the recommendation of Finnish champion Häkkinen, and he also has the guarantee of McLaren team manager Ron Dennis.”

"I'm sorry, I tried my best."

Ross Brawn once had the Honda Group backing him, but now he's just the manager of a private racing team—the difference is obvious.

The FIA ​​has always been a political arena. In its early years, Prost joined forces with the French president to suppress Sena, and later Massa and Barrichello both complained about the injustice.

Just because they are from Brazil, not from Europe.

Chen Xiangbei, this Chinese kid with no background or power, is even less qualified to bargain.

"I understand, I get it."

Compared to Odette's excitement, Chen Xiangbei remained quite calm.

"In the north, I will apply to the FIA ​​again to ensure that the super license is issued before the F1 winter testing next year."

"Rest assured, no one can bury a gem!"

Ross Brown offered Chen Xiangbei a word of comfort, saying he believed that young Chinese people would definitely be disappointed.

Unexpectedly, a smile appeared on Chen Xiangbei's face.

"Once I've taken down all my F3 opponents, the FIA ​​won't have any excuses left."

Chen Xiangbei remained calm; in fact, he had been mentally prepared for this.

The less clear the rules are, the easier it is to operate in the shadows.

But so what?
Chen Xiangbei was fully prepared for this match, and no one could stop him from proving himself!

(End of this chapter)