Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 203 Is this a small hexagon?
The runway buffer zone in Bahrain's Sakhir circuit is not made of coarse gravel, but rather uses fine sand directly from the desert to save on construction costs.

Although the builders had anticipated that the fine sand would be scattered by strong winds and the wake of race cars, they used special glue to hold it together.

However, in order to provide a buffering effect, the bottom layer of sand cannot be made into a "solid block".

Kubica's Renault car sprinted toward the run-off area, instantly kicking up a cloud of dust. Fortunately, the Bahrain circuit was wide enough that even after sliding for more than ten meters, it did not hit the edge guardrail.

However, the car's engine shutdown protection device activated, preventing Kubica from driving back to the track.

"MY GOD, Kubica couldn't stop driver North from overtaking and ultimately lost control and went off the track!"

"Kubica is Ferrari's backup driver for next year, yet he couldn't stop a Chinese newcomer?"

"Was this a mistake caused by Kubica underestimating his opponent, or is it that Bei's strength is already enough to challenge the strong in the hunting grounds?"

Commentator Emil's face was filled with shock. Based on normal tire wear and Chen Xiangbei's performance in chasing the car, he basically had no chance to launch an attack on Kubica.

But just when everyone thought the matter was settled, he overtook Kubica with lightning speed and skill, and his feint was so beautiful that he got past him.

In terms of timing, control, and speed, there's really no sign of a novice.

Chen Xiangbei acted too skillfully!
"Emir, do you still not acknowledge the strength of the North?"

"This is the timing he chose!"

James replied with unwavering certainty.

He had watched many of Chen Xiangbei's matches and knew that the Chinese youngster's opening moves were very aggressive and full of offensive desire.

It's obvious that silently following the car for over ten laps without even making a probing move is not in line with the character of a Chinese lad.

Something unusual must be going on, and the overtaking maneuver ultimately confirmed James's suspicions.

Chen Xiangbei was waiting for the right moment to deliver the fatal blow!

"What's the reason?"

Emil was finding it hard to accept. He had high hopes for Polish driver Kubica, believing that if given a good car, he would definitely be the next championship contender. Even Hamilton and Rosberg agreed with this.

But now he's been surpassed by a rookie?

"The reason is that the north has gained another entry window."

As if in response to James's words, a single yellow flag appeared on the track, and at the same time, Odette's instructions came through Chen Xiangbei's headset.

"North, virtual safety vehicle deployed, entering the station for tire change."

Kubica's engine stalled very close to the exit of the track's emergency exit; the staff only needed to push the car there.

"Ah."

Chen Xiangbei gave a brief response. He hadn't expected Kubica to run off the track, but this overtaking point was indeed the opportunity he had been waiting for.

That's the window for changing tires at the station!

Regardless of whether he lands the fatal blow or not, Chen Xiangbei will pit for tires on this lap, trying to see if he can undercut Kubica.

Winning in F1 involves more than just driving skills; strategy is also crucial.

However, Kubica's track accident gave Chen Xiangbei another pit stop window with a shorter time.

Then his undercut target will shift to Alonso, who is further ahead.

This is the same match, and Chen Xiangbei is challenging for the title of the strongest king for the third time!
Kubica, who had already gotten off the car in the buffer zone, watched expressionlessly as the staff pushed away the stalled car. Then he turned his gaze to Chen Xiangbei, who was driving into the pit lane in the distance, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

To be honest, Kubica didn't underestimate Chen Xiangbei. Judging from the fact that the Chinese rookie was able to surpass Rosberg and then overtake Webber, it's clear that this is something no rookie could do.

However, Kubica didn't take Chen Xiangbei too seriously, at least not considering the newcomer as his opponent.

It turns out I underestimated driver Bei's abilities!

Only the "parties involved" truly understand how precise and swift Chen Xiangbei's overtaking maneuver was. The entire feint lane change was executed flawlessly, and he had anticipated the insufficient grip of his own car.

In addition to the impressive offensive and defensive tactics, Chen Xiangbei's excellent handling of the pregnancy was also revealed.

Even if the car behind me had worn the same soft red tires for sixteen laps, and I made a lot of unnecessary blocking maneuvers, my tire wear should have been higher than the car behind me, but the difference shouldn't be this big.

At least in the final overtaking and cornering footage, car number 13 did not show any signs of slipping, indicating that the driver's tires had much better grip than his own.

Kubica couldn't quite understand why.

But the driver's intuition told him that the North would become a formidable opponent!

Chen Xiangbei's race car drove into the maintenance parking space, and the technicians once again formed a circle to change the tire.

This time, Chen Xiangbei did not use the soft red tires, but instead switched to neutral yellow tires.

According to F1 regulations, each Grand Prix driver must use two sets of tires with different compounds, meaning that in addition to soft red tires, Chen Xiangbei also has to choose between medium yellow tires and hard white tires.

There are currently 30 laps left in the race. According to the plan of running 10 laps on red tires to reach the peak, white tires are normally a safer option.

However, Chen Xiangbei demonstrated his ability to maintain his position in the race, and the average speed on the yellow tire is faster than on the white tire. Putting aside the question of surpassing Alonso, he can at least maintain his current ranking.

It's worth noting that Rosberg also closed the gap, and more importantly, Schumacher, the racing legend, caught up behind him!

Chen Xiangbei, with his historical perspective, knew that after Schumacher suffered a motorcycle accident, his physical condition remained unresolved, and coupled with his advancing age, his competitive performance declined significantly.

But others don't know.

The mere presence of Schumacher's name in the F1 paddock exerts an invisible pressure on teams and rivals alike; no one can ignore the legendary driver who has emerged from behind.

Even if Chen Xiangbei knew the course of history, he would still do the same!
This is the awe-inspiring presence that the racing legend brings with his achievements and countless victories.

If Rosberg can't stop him, then Chen Xiangbei will face a situation where he has Alonso in front and Schumacher behind.

The "new king" and the "old king" within the enclosure might just be able to deliver a devastating blow.

This time, the HRT technicians changed the tires without any mistakes, and Chen Xiangbei's car left the pit and rushed onto the main track in 2.9 seconds.

"Master, this time the teamwork went smoothly."

Ah Yong watched Chen Xiangbei's race car disappear into the distance, let out a long sigh, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He felt his hands shaking while changing the tire, afraid that something might go wrong and affect Chen Xiangbei's ranking.

Being in fifth place on the track right now is simply a dream!

"Not only this time, but every single time, we cannot afford to make a mistake, otherwise we will be letting Xiang Bei down."

The previous mistake at the station put Liang Chi, the chief technician, under a lot of psychological pressure.

Every improvement a driver makes, every second they chase, often involves risking their lives. Losing in the pits is the ultimate insult to a driver who has taken such a risk!
Chen Xiangbei, in particular, gave Chinese motorsports unprecedented hope.

"Odette Principal, Mercedes driver Rosberg did not pit."

At the outdoor control station, Hiroki Sawano and Sho Mizutani had a clear division of labor: one locked onto the various data on the screen, while the other kept an eye on the movements of the rival teams.

With the virtual safety car deployed, Mercedes driver Schumacher pitted for tires, while Rosberg continued racing on the track.

It was clear that Mercedes adopted a different strategy: Schumacher made three stops, while Rosberg made two.

Or perhaps Rosberg is betting on the deployment of physical safety vehicles!

It's important to know that F1 racing safety and completion rates have been continuously improving over time.

In the early days of F1, due to wild driving and frequent breakdowns, the overall completion rate of F1 drivers was less than 50%.

This means that in a race, at least half of the drivers will withdraw for various reasons.

After entering the 21st century, F1 racing rules were improved, wild driving habits were curbed, and the overall completion rate increased to about 70%. However, the stability of the cars is still lacking.

The most common nickname of this era is the various "engine failure kings".

From season 10 onwards, the overall season completion rate and stability improved again, averaging around 80-90%.

In later generations, with higher completion rates, only small teams would gamble on the safety car, while in this era, even large teams often do so.

Rosberg's long-distance tire wear and tire maintenance are top-notch in the paddock. His tire wear is even better than Chen Xiangbei's. According to the team's prediction, the red tires can last for about 25 laps, making him a "tire maintenance master".

Virtual security vehicles can only save six or seven seconds of entry time, while physical security vehicles can save more than ten seconds.

Considering tire lifespan, Rosberg decided to take a gamble.

If he wins, he will successfully overtake Chen Xiangbei tactically.

Losing simply means switching places with Schumacher, so Mercedes isn't at too much of a disadvantage.

Some drivers ranked lower also had a gambling mentality, but they were far ahead of Chen Xiangbei. Even if they won the gamble and saved a few seconds, it would not affect their ranking.

As Chen Xiangbei emerged from the maintenance tunnel, the race rankings were updated in real time, and he plummeted from fifth place to tenth.

However, these are all temporary rankings. Some drivers may have missed a pit stop, but their actual positions are still higher.

On the track, Chen Xiangbei began to speed along. The drivers in front of him, who were using old tires, did not make many blocking moves in the face of the aggressive No. 13 HRT race car and chose to give way.

Buemi, Kobayashi Kamui, Kovalainen...

One by one, names that were so familiar that Chen Xiangbei could only look up to in his previous life were now easily dismissed by him.

Chen Xiangbei was moving very fast, but behind him, an even faster silver racing car was chasing after him.

He is Michael Schumacher, who is making his comeback with the Mercedes team!
Schumacher's qualifying results were mediocre; he not only trailed his teammate Rosberg, but he also failed to outrun Force India's Sutil.

But a racing legend is a racing legend after all. Even though he had been away from the paddock for three years and his skills had become rusty, and his overall competitive condition was very poor due to age and injuries, he still managed to surpass Sutil and Webber with his experience.

As the race progressed, Schumacher gradually regained his former driving feel, and his driving speed was steadily increasing.

Both Schumacher and Chen Xiangbei started their first lap on yellow tires, but Schumacher was 0.3 seconds faster than Chen Xiangbei!
"Wow, Schumacher got the fastest lap on yellow tires and purple laps."

"This is the strength and foundation of the racing king. Is he about to make a triumphant return?"

"A living legend in the paddock, no one can stop Schumacher."

"Let Schumacher win another championship and become an eight-time champion!"

The track crowd erupted in cheers as Schumacher unleashed his power.

Many people couldn't contain their excitement and stood up from their seats to cheer for Schumacher.

Chen Xiangbei couldn't hear the thunderous cheers, but he could hear the roar of engines behind him.

Just a few laps later, the real Mercedes "silver arrow" appeared in his rearview mirror.

"North, behind you is Schumacher of the Mercedes team."

Briatore's voice rang out, but he didn't give any instructions or tell any tactics.

Only the names of the drivers behind were conveyed.

Many things need no further explanation. Huabu wants to see how Chen Xiangbei performs and how he can resist the pressure from the legend of the car world.

To be honest, Chen Xiangbei felt the pressure.

This is not just about Schumacher's name, but also about the unstoppable momentum of the car chasing behind.

"Chief Odette, Schumacher was 0.7 seconds faster than Xiang Beijun on the last lap. Is that really that exaggerated?"

Hiroki Sawano stared at the data on the screen, feeling somewhat incredulous.

Chen Xiangbei's speed was not slow; in fact, it even reached the lap time he had previously achieved on red tires during a cruise.

The fact that Schumacher was able to catch up so quickly is truly terrifying!
"Don't forget, he's the record holder for this track."

Odeto uttered these words with incredibly complex emotions. As someone who personally witnessed Schumacher's creation of the Ferrari dynasty, no one knew the racing legend's peak performance better than him.

Having a 0.5-second head start is standard for GOTA drivers.

Schumacher's true strength lies in his deep understanding and mastery of racing, as well as his extreme desire for victory.

During the championship race, you could feel the cold determination and murderous intent just from his eyes.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit, let alone when the legendary Michael Schumacher is standing behind it.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Xiangbei immediately chose to abandon chasing the car in front and adjust his focus to defend the car behind.

Mercedes failed to continue the glory of Brawn GP in the 10 season in the 09 season. Even with a strong lineup of Schumacher and Rosberg, they finished the year in fourth place in the constructors' championship.

Chen Xiangbei determined that the performance limit of the TF110 should be above that of Mercedes-Benz.

Unless the opponent can overtake you at top speed, Mercedes will be unable to overtake on the corners due to the extra downforce from the exhaust diffuser.

Even if the opponent is Schumacher, the racing legend at the pinnacle!

The two race cars then engaged in a battle of offense and defense on the track. Just as Chen Xiangbei had predicted, the Mercedes' top speed on the long straight was comparable to that of the TF110, but its cornering speed was significantly slower.

Schumacher's superior racing line and meticulous attention to detail allowed him to overtake Chen Xiangbei several times, almost succeeding in the overtaking maneuver, only to be overtaken by the Chinese driver using his speed at the apex of the corner.

This scene completely shocked many people.

In the public's perception, Schumacher should have easily overtaken Chen Xiangbei, but the Chinese kid actually blocked him.
With such an excellent defense, combined with the previous overtaking and tire maintenance, it can be said that there are no obvious weaknesses.

Could Chen Xiangbei really rival Kimi Räikkönen and become the next superstar in the paddock?
(End of this chapter)