Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 210 The Struggle Between Racing and the Wind

When asked by Chen Xiangbei, Trulli did not answer directly this time, and a hesitant expression appeared on his face.

He was once "generous and selfless" in sharing calibration data and providing his first-person view of the in-vehicle recordings.

Trulli has the pride of a senior player and veteran, so it's not surprising that he would mentor a newcomer. Especially putting aside the Briatore factor, this Chinese newcomer's diligence and hard work are very much to his liking.

But the situation is different now.

Chen Xiangbei has become an opponent who can defeat him!
Informing your opponents about the characteristics of the track will undoubtedly increase the difficulty of winning.

Seeing the hesitation on Trulli's face, Chen Xiangbei understood the other's mindset, smiled politely, and planned to continue walking forward on the track.

Just as Chen Xiangbei had walked about five meters, Trulli spoke up, saying, "The difficulty of the Albert Park circuit lies not so much in the curves, but more in the changes in external conditions."

Upon hearing Trulli's words, Chen Xiangbei stopped in his tracks.

What external conditions changed?

"Wind, rain, temperature!"

Trulli uttered three words very succinctly, and by doing this, he felt he had repaid Chen Xiangbei for the favor of fair competition.

Whether the other party can figure it out is up to the Chinese guy himself.

After saying that, Trulli turned and left.

Wind, rain, temperature?

Chen Xiangbei muttered these three words to himself. It wasn't that he was completely unfamiliar with the Albert Park circuit; it was just that many things required experience to solve.

Temperature is easy to understand. The Southern Hemisphere is in the transition between spring and summer, and the Albert Park circuit has the same high temperature conditions as the Bahrain Sakhir circuit, which puts a lot of pressure on the tires and braking system.

In the previous race, Chen Xiangbei relied on the three-stop strategy, coupled with his ability to protect the tires, so the impact of tire granulation was not very obvious, and the pressure was more focused on the braking system.

Due to its semi-street nature, overtaking at Albert Park is more difficult than at Bahrain, meaning that multi-stop tactics will not be the mainstream, and teams will opt for one or two stops more often.

This places higher demands on the driver's ability to protect the tire and control the pace!

Regarding the "rain" factor, Chen Xiangbei had reviewed the track's historical weather data and knew that Melbourne's spring and summer climate was unstable, with sudden rainfall often disrupting the race, making semi-weather tires and full-weather tires crucial to victory or defeat.

Rain driving is the standard for determining whether an F1 driver has the ability to compete for the championship. Massa, Bottas, and others are destined to become the number two driver because their "landlubber" weakness is too obvious.

So far, Chen Xiangbei has only run one rain race at the Suzuka Circuit, when he was tested by the academy.

Aside from Hiroki Sawano and Sho Mizutani, who were among the early members, no one outside knew about Chen Xiangbei's ability to fight in the rain, and Trulli was even less likely to know.

His use of that word was, in a way, a reminder.

As for "wind," the concept is much more abstract in comparison.

But in fact, the destiny of F1 racing is to fight against the "wind"!

For F1 cars, how fast they can go is not entirely determined by horsepower. Grip and stability are what represent the speed limit of a car, and these factors are determined by the aerodynamic kits guiding the "wind".

Albert Park is built around the lake, offering beautiful and pleasant scenery as well as a refreshing lake breeze.

A cool breeze can feel very comfortable in a hot environment, but a sudden lateral wind can be "fatal" to the handling of a race car.

The same curves, the same driving style, the same steering wheel angle, the presence or absence of wind will cause the race car to deviate from its course.

The deviation is not significant, perhaps only a centimeter or two, and is virtually imperceptible to anyone except the driver.

However, for F1 cars that push the limits of handling, a centimeter or two can determine whether they can successfully navigate a corner!

At best, it might scratch the guardrail; at worst, it could cause the vehicle to lose control, slip, and crash onto the wall.

Furthermore, compared to temperature and rain, which are at least within a controllable range of change, wind speed is completely unpredictable.

If it wasn't there a second ago, no one can guarantee it won't be there the next.

Resisting the wind often requires more than just driving skills; it tests the driver's perception and experience.

Furthermore, the high lateral load of the Albert Park circuit is also caused by various "winds," which places high demands on the stability tuning of the race cars.

Trulli only said a few words, partly because he was in competition with Chen Xiangbei and didn't want to go into details.

On the other hand, this kind of thing is impossible to explain in detail.

Whether or not the problem can be solved depends entirely on the driver's own understanding.

Realizing this, Chen Xiangbei stopped on the track and returned to his hotel.

I immediately asked Odette for the weather data of Albert Park Circuit over the years, and at the same time, I shifted the focus of watching the race video from the driver's line to the handling of lateral slides.

Many things do require a lot of experience to handle, but there are also ways to learn them!
Chen Xiangbei did not go to the race track on Thursday; instead, he stayed in the hotel to study the materials.

Seeing this unusual scene, Briatore asked with confusion, "Odetto, what's wrong with the North?"

Hua Bu is the kind of person who strictly separates management from technology. Even though he is very assertive and wants to control everything, he will not interfere with the driving skills, leaving everything to the racing engineering team led by Odeto.

So much so that he had no idea what Chen Xiangbei was studying.

"He has grasped the essence of the Albert Circuit."

Odeto replied casually.

Trulli isn't the only one who understands the importance of wind, rain, and temperature; Odeto, who has worked in the paddock for decades, understands them as well.

He originally planned to explain the characteristics of the track to Chen Xiangbei on Thursday, but he didn't expect that the kid had figured it out on his own ahead of time.

Bei's racing talent is indeed terrifyingly high!
"Essence?"

Briatore was taken aback, not understanding what Odette was talking about.

However, it sounds like a good thing, so what Chen Xiangbei does becomes irrelevant.

Only looking at the result, not the process, is the persona of Huabu!
Friday, March 36, the first practice session of the Australian Grand Prix.

As usual, Chen Xiangbei got up early and prepared to start on the track.

Upon seeing Chen Xiangbei emerge from the room, Odeto asked a meaningful question.

"do you understand?"

"Ah."

Chen Xiangbei knew what Odeto wanted to ask, and he nodded.

"OK, ready to go."

Without saying much, this was the tacit understanding that came from spending a long time together.

The team members still gathered at the hotel and took a bus to the track. Although it seems cheaper than other teams traveling in luxury cars, it is not the most commercially valuable way for drivers to travel.

In theory, drivers can maximize their benefits by driving vehicles from sponsoring brands into the race.

Just like Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and other teams, no matter which race they are in, they will always appear in front of fans and the media in their own brand of cars.

To some extent, this is a form of publicity.

Originally, Huabu wanted to sell the vehicle sponsorship rights to Toyota, since Toyota was the engine supplier for the HRT team and the two sides had a good working relationship.

However, Chen Xiangbei persuaded him otherwise, as he hoped to leave the opportunity to Chinese car brands.

In theory, Huali Group, a shareholder of the fleet, is the most suitable candidate. However, the acquisition of Volvo Group and the investment in HRT have already depleted Huali Auto's working capital, even to the point of affecting its cash flow security.

Even though Huali is a shareholder in the team, if they want to secure vehicle sponsorship rights, they still have to adhere to the business principles. There's no other way but to put it on hold for now, waiting for Huali Auto to recover.

At the same time, Chen Xiangbei also asked Lu Xiaoman to contact other domestic car brands, such as Dream Auto and Changrui Auto.

After all, sponsoring the vehicles of an F1 team provides incredible exposure worldwide and can significantly enhance the brand's prestige.

Think about it, even F1 teams use it, isn't that much better than finding a celebrity to endorse it?
Unfortunately, apart from Huali, which intends to enter the motorsport industry, other domestic car brands in this era are still cautious about such high-value investments that simply aim to enhance brand value.

Before reaching a certain scale and market presence, exposure may not necessarily translate into value and profit.

If this were happening in the new energy era ten years from now, people would probably fight tooth and nail to get this sponsorship spot!

Influenced by the "sensational" scene at the airport, Chen Xiangbei did not get out of the car in advance to greet the fans this time, in order to avoid causing chaos.

When the group arrived at the team's pit garage, Briatore stopped Chen Xiangbei and said, "Bei, get ready for the pre-race press conference."

Before each F1 Grand Prix, three to six drivers are invited to attend the FIA's official press conference.

The spots for the opening match in Bahrain were given to Schumacher, Button, and Vettel.

Schumacher, needless to say, is a shoo-in for the top spot. His comeback has swept the global automotive world, and he is bound to occupy a place on the list.

Barton is the defending champion, so he also needs a spot.

The last spot went to Vettel, the runner-up in 09 who broke many records for the youngest driver in F1 history and was considered the successor to Schumacher, so he naturally deserved better exposure.

Now, for the Australian Grand Prix, a new batch of drivers will be attending the pre-race press conference.

In theory, newcomers like Chen Xiangbei, and new teams like HRT, shouldn't be getting their positions so quickly.

After all, there are star drivers ahead of him, such as Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, and Barrichello.

This time, the pre-race press conference was expanded to include six drivers, and Chen Xiangbei's fifth-place finish in the opening race was impressive enough. In addition, his "conflict" with Rosberg and Kovalainen caused his popularity to skyrocket!
Even if it's controversial, it's still a red flag. The FIA ​​immediately changed the order of attendance, and Chen Xiangbei was given priority.

"Manager, is the event center trying to use me to generate buzz?"

"bingo (you got it right), they just want to use you to generate buzz. Rosberg and Kovalainen were also participating."

"But this is a good thing. If you seize the opportunity, I can help you get more endorsements!"

Briatore looked somewhat excited, knowing that according to his agreement with Chen Xiangbei's agent, he would receive 20% of the profits.

He originally wanted to use his connections to see if he could capitalize on the online buzz to create some buzz.

To everyone's surprise, the FIA ​​offered them an interview opportunity!

If managed properly, Huabu is confident that it can leverage this wave of popularity to help Chen Xiangbei secure an endorsement deal worth three to five million US dollars.

The HRT racing team's suits will be covered with various sponsor logos!

"Hurry up, don't be late!"

Briatore became increasingly excited and quickly patted Chen Xiangbei on the shoulder, signaling him to get started.

Chen Xiangbei was already used to the Italian old rogue's "money-grubbing" attitude.

He casually picked up a baseball cap from the table, put it on, and headed straight for the racetrack media center.

That's the advantage of being an F1 driver. Although they are popular public figures around the world, they don't have to worry about things like hairstyles, clothes, and makeup when facing interviews like celebrities do.

Team uniforms plus baseball caps are standard attire for drivers.

Take Verstappen, for example. His Red Bull jersey is practically welded to his body; you can see him wearing it anytime, anywhere.

Upon arriving backstage at the track's media center, Chen Xiangbei didn't see Rosberg and Kovalainen, but instead saw several other drivers who had participated in the pre-race press conference: Alonso, Hamilton, and Webber.

Chen Xiangbei had never met these people before, but they all greeted him warmly when he came in.

Often, a competition is a competition, and life is life.

Leaving Webber aside, Alonso and Hamilton are both considered "bad guys" on the track, but they are very friendly to newcomers in the paddock and have no racial discrimination against Chinese drivers.

When Zhou Guanyu, a later Chinese driver, entered the paddock, he received a lot of help from his idol, Alonso.

Furthermore, it's rare for a driver in the paddock to be addressed as "Guanyu" instead of the Western custom of addressing him as "Zhou."

As for Hamilton, he chose to publicly share and support the driver who encountered racial discrimination in Zhou Guanyu's post on an overseas website, and his influence can bring a lot of public opinion.

Chen Xiangbei naturally waved in response, then sat down on the sofa and waited to enter the studio.

Not long after, Rosberg and Kovalainen also came in. Compared to the previous drivers' initiative to greet them, these two simply ignored them. Chen Xiangbei naturally wouldn't be so eager to please.

F1 is a place that values ​​efficiency. After all the drivers arrived, the staff led us into the front-of-house studio.

A long sofa was placed on the stage, with a separate sofa next to it where the host sat, while the audience below was a densely packed group of reporters.

As a world-class event, journalists from all over the world gather at the track during the race week, and Chen Xiangbei unexpectedly spotted a microphone with the Hong Kong Phoenix logo in the crowd.

Undoubtedly, domestic media reporters were also present at the scene this time.

Six drivers stood in front of the stage, and the constant clicking of cameras made it hard to open one's eyes. The flashes from the reporters' hands were so bright that it was difficult to keep one's eyes open.

Furthermore, the local Australian journalists in the audience greeted Webber with enthusiastic cheers and applause upon his arrival.

This is the advantage of playing at home; you'll never lack supporters.

After the promotional photos were taken, the six drivers took their seats in turn to answer questions and be interviewed by reporters.

Unlike serious news interviews, F1 pre-race press conferences allow drivers to relax, cross their legs, and chat casually, without as many restrictions.

Soon, a white reporter in the audience stood up and asked Webber, "Webber, I'm an ABC reporter. In the last race, you had a car malfunction and fell all the way down from the front row. Has the car malfunction been resolved?"

"The team has resolved the stability issues."

Webber casually remarked that the Renault engine in the Red Bull race car had no major flaws and would be very reliable if the power output was reduced slightly.

"So what's your goal for this race? Can you beat your opponents and win the race?"

"Of course, no driver doesn't want to win the championship."

Webber's answer was very official and formal. He was very calm and composed in the lead-up to his retirement and had a good reputation in the paddock, just like Ricardo, who was also an Australian in later years.

Han Han once made a cameo appearance as a commentator for F1 on Five Star Sports, where he made a crude joke describing Webber's driving style throughout his career, comparing it to a contrasting pattern of impotence and erection in his early and later stages.

After that statement, Five Star Sports never dared to invite Han Han to do commentary again...

Of course, that's all in the future. Right now, Weber hasn't had his Dao Heart shattered by Vettel.

However, in terms of the interview, it is clear that Weber's watertight answers have no value in creating a news sensation.

Even though he was the Australian home driver, he couldn't help but point the camera at the other drivers.

The first to be affected is HRT driver Chen Xiangbei!
"In a post-race interview in Bahrain, HRT manager Briatore responded to Rosberg's accusations of dangerous driving. Do you agree?"

The moment this question was asked, the atmosphere instantly changed. Everyone's expression was different, and they could all be categorized as waiting for a good show.

It's worth noting that Briatore's post-match response directly criticized Rosberg, saying that only the weak like to make excuses!

If Chen Xiangbei agrees, it will undoubtedly be a public slap in Rosberg's face, and this feud will be set in stone.

Disagreeing with it would mean publicly opposing the team manager's remarks, which would be detrimental to the team, especially since Hua Bu is a petty person.

This means that no matter how diplomatic Chen Xiangbei is, he will not be able to give a satisfactory answer. It can only be said that this pre-match press conference is destined to become a battleground!

(End of this chapter)