Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 223 The Chinese Kid is Simply Crazy

"Drip, drip, drip."

With a sound, five starting indicator lights lit up in succession and then went out at the same moment. The front row of cars started moving, and then one car after another warmed up their tires.

Due to the overcast skies on Sunday, temperatures in Melbourne, Australia, were not very high, with ground temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Celsius, which is considered a favorable temperature range for racing.

However, the temperature was still a bit too high for the drivers.

The main reason is that the heavy racing fireproof suit, combined with the increased air humidity, can easily make people feel stuffy and hot.

Chen Xiangbei followed behind Trulli. Although the two were currently in a state of "opponents", they were not yet like real enemies and did not do anything provocative to provoke each other.

The rear garage was also very well-maintained, and warming the tires was done properly. Driving "dirty" is not the same as being "dirty" as being a "dirty" person.

In the F1 paddock, there are countless incidents of torpedoes, "dragon-drawing" maneuvers, line-cutting, and even crashes. However, only a few of these incidents truly rise to the level of character. Ultimately, Kubica and Chen Xiangbei rely on their performance and speed to speak for themselves.

Compared to Kubica, Kovalainen, who came later, had a completely different mindset.

He truly regarded Chen Xiangbei as an enemy!

If Finnish world champion Häkkinen was Raikkonen's mentor, then Raikkonen was Kovalainen's guide.

As the saying goes, a drop of water in need should be repaid with a spring of water. Chen Xiangbei, this Chinese guy, has repeatedly tried to take advantage of his benefactor. How could Kovalenin tolerate this?

Moreover, before the match, Kovalainen secretly took a shot of vodka, which further aroused his emotions.

Alcohol is a prohibited substance under the FIA’s explicit regulations, but there is no pre-race alcohol test, and theoretically no driver would be so foolish as to take a few drinks before a race.

But this is only in theory.

In reality, Henry, a racing driver in the 1970s and the real-life inspiration for the protagonist of the movie "Rush," often drank alcohol before races and was also said to have used drugs.

Even Kimi Räikkönen has been seriously suspected of drunk driving.

Kovalainen is not actually an alcoholic, and under normal circumstances he wouldn't have a drink before a match.

This race was purely driven by emotion. He had to defeat Chen Xiangbei to prove the strength of the Finnish driver and make the Chinese newcomer understand that he was not worthy of being compared with Kimi Räikkönen!
"Professor, I have a feeling that today, not only will the competition be fierce at the top, but the mid-tier groups will also be very competitive."

Australian commentator Reid glanced at the starting order and had a look of anticipation on his face.

Chen Xiangbei's position is a powder keg. If Trulli doesn't intend to help, the midfield group's battle will explode after the start, possibly causing multiple accidents and a mass retirement from the race!
"That's right. There's an old Chinese saying: 'The tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind.'"

“His performance in the two northern stations was outstanding, but it attracted a lot of criticism from the media and his opponents. He needs results to prove that he can stand firm in the paddock.”

Prosper nodded in response, saying that Chen Xiangbei's current situation was very similar to Hamilton's a few years ago.

Outlier, flamboyant, tough...

The 08 world championship changed everything. Hamilton became the focus of the paddock, and no driver dared to underestimate him anymore. The discrimination that black people couldn't drive F1 cars disappeared.

Chen Xiangbei needs to follow Hamilton's path to earn genuine respect.

"Professor, do you think North can do it?"

"Who knows?"

Prost shrugged; his approval of Chen Xiangbei didn't mean he would support him unconditionally.

Let alone breaking through the predicament on one's own, even many of the most promising talents inevitably start strong but end up failing and unable to establish themselves in the F1 paddock.

Chen Xiangbei's career is destined to be arduous and long-term.

Even while the two commentators were chatting, the one-minute warm-up lap was completed, and all twenty-four cars stopped in their starting grids.

The roar of engines echoed through the sky, stirring the adrenaline of the drivers and the emotions of the audience, with cheers and screams assaulting their eardrums.

However, all the drivers' eyes were fixed on the starting grid indicator above the track. Chen Xiangbei controlled the throttle and clutch, preparing to start at top speed and overtake his teammate Trulli.

Only by making Trulli a "cannon fodder" to block the cars behind can Chen Xiangbei minimize the risk of a crash, allowing him to focus on controlling the tires and either press the car down or challenge Rosberg again.

The moment the indicator light went out, Chen Xiangbei dashed forward like an arrow. Trulli on the right was just as quick, its starting speed almost matching Chen Xiangbei's, and it immediately changed lanes to block the car.

Veterans who can stand firm in the paddock for more than ten years undoubtedly have some skills of their own.

Trulli knew perfectly well what Chen Xiangbei was planning.

Don't forget, he also went through internal strife with Alonso, and his experience in this area is far richer than Chen Xiangbei's.

The rear car, Bika and Kovalainen, started a little slower, but still managed to keep up with Chen Xiangbei's rear, and were not left behind on the long straight, remaining within the attack range of T1 corner.

Faced with this situation, Chen Xiangbei knew he didn't have much time left to overtake, so he simply floored the accelerator and accelerated wildly upshifting gears. The Toyota engine's RPM immediately broke through 17,000 and soared to the bottom of the gauge at 19,000.

The surge in speed brought a tremendous push-back feeling, with powerful acceleration that pushed Chen Xiangbei to 100 km/h in 2 seconds and 200 km/h in 5 seconds, firmly pressing him down in his seat. The F1 was unleashing the performance of the strongest racing car on Earth.

Sensing Chen Xiangbei accelerating to overtake, Trulli immediately performed the same extreme gear shift and acceleration maneuver.

To be honest, for top F1 drivers, the coordination of throttle, gear, and engine speed is not a particularly difficult operation; it's more about the ultimate control over the details.

Trulli's gear shifting is perfect, always keeping the engine speed within the optimal power output range.

With two identical Toyota engines, there was naturally no significant difference in performance, making it impossible for Chen Xiangbei to overtake Trulli by accelerating.

The alternative is to brake extremely late and overtake at the T1 bend!

To be honest, Chen Xiangbei was unwilling to use such extreme control. Missing the braking point meant having to brake hard, which would cause great wear and tear on the tires and might even lock them up, which contradicted the strategy of stopping to save the tires.

But Chen Xiangbei had no choice. If he didn't quickly eliminate Trulli, he would face a fierce attack from Kubica or Kovalainen.

Chen Xiangbei is fine on offense, but he is not worried about his defensive capabilities.

He worried that if the enemy were to commit a ruthless torpedo, this method would be impossible to defend against!

The two HRT race cars sped along at top speed until they reached the regular braking point at T1 turn, and no one slowed down.

Having been teammates for a few months, Trulli may not know much about Chen Xiangbei, but he is very clear about the racing style of the Chinese rookie.

This guy is inherently aggressive and adventurous; he'll definitely choose to brake late and overtake!
Trulli's guess turned out to be correct, but it also caused him to miss the braking point.

Seeing the cars in front slowing down as they rounded the bend, Chen Xiangbei and Trulli had to slam on the brakes, or they would have rear-ended each other like torpedoes.

However, the excessive speed, the tire temperature which had not yet reached its operating temperature, and the track grip which had not yet reached its peak made it impossible for the two race cars to stop, and they continued to rush straight forward.

With no other choice, the two simultaneously increased the pressure on their brakes, instantly locking up their tires and creating a cloud of burning smoke on the track. Just as they were about to crash into the runoff area, they miraculously regained control of the steering and made a difficult turn into the T1 corner.

The only lucky thing was that Chen Xiangbei and Trulli operated in sync, blocking the entire T1 bend laterally, preventing the car behind them, including Carter Pica, from overtaking and unexpectedly maintaining their ranking.

Of course, this also caused the cars in front to widen the gap, directly dividing the twenty-four cars on the track into two camps. "OH~~! What's going on? Both HRT cars locked up at the same time to gain the line and corner. It's only the second race of the new season, is the competition within the team already this fierce?"

Reid was amazed by what he saw. Infighting within the same team is common in F1, so it's nothing new.

However, it is quite rare for a new military vehicle team to "publicly reveal" this kind of internal competition after only its second race.

Most intense competition within teams often culminates in the championship race or the fight for a regular driver's seat in the next season.

“Mid-tier teams are facing resource shortages, making it difficult to ensure the competitiveness of two drivers at the same time.”

"Nobody likes being the number two driver, so naturally, it has to be based on ability."

Prost is very experienced in internal power struggles; he once fought a fierce battle with Sena.

There were rumors before the race that Trulli used Chen Xiangbei's old kit, but the HRT team did not respond publicly.

Prost viewed this behavior as an insult, and if Trulli did not take a firm stance, he might not only be relegated to the second position, but could also become a "wingman."

"Professor, between North and Trulli, who do you think will be the winner in this competition within the team?"

Prost was somewhat speechless when Raymond once again posed a difficult question.

After a moment's thought, he gave his answer.

"The future belongs to the North."

"But now it belongs to Trulli."

This answer is not entirely objective; rather, it is based on Prost's experience.

Back then, Senna was just like Chen Xiangbei, a newcomer in front of him, eager to challenge the veteran's status.

Prost and Sena were evenly matched, but he knew in his heart that the future belonged to this young man, Sena.

Unfortunately, it all ended at the Imola circuit in 94.

"That's true. It will be difficult for North to surpass Trulli, and he will also face Kubica's attack."

Reid nodded in agreement. From the footage of the HRT's two cars locking up just now, it was clear that Trulli was well-prepared for Chen Xiangbei's attack and was very familiar with his new teammate's driving style.

If the two were to fight one-on-one, it would be hard to say who would be stronger.

It's a competition now, and there are other opponents interfering, such as Kubica, who can't hold back anymore.

After passing T1, Chen Xiangbei slowed down due to his tires locking up. Kubica immediately made a U-turn on the straight before T2, intending to overtake.

Looking at the Renault race car's front wing that had passed his rear wheels in the rearview mirror, Chen Xiangbei was no longer able to change lanes or block the car. He could only watch helplessly as the other car took over the cornering line.

This is the consequence of "fighting among siblings." When Chen Xiangbei and Trulli are fighting like the snipe and the clam, there will always be someone waiting to reap the benefits.

At the same moment, Chen Xiangbei understood Briatore's words even more.

A mediocre racing team can accept fair competition between two drivers.

Teams vying for the championship must clearly designate their number one and number two drivers!

Major racing teams clearly define driver status precisely to avoid this situation.

"Sawano-senpai, this stop is too difficult for Mukai-kun."

At the outdoor command post, Sho Mizutani looked at the real-time video feed from the vehicle, his tone tense and grave.

Failing to overtake Trulli at the start not only caused extra tire wear for himself, but also triggered a series of chain reactions.

Although Kubica lost to Chen Xiangbei twice, he is definitely not a rookie driver. With strong competition from both sides, breaking through will be much more difficult, let alone competing for a podium position.

"The higher the difficulty, the higher the value."

"Xiang Beijun needs to break through this impasse in this match and gain the status and respect he desires!"

Just like a dream that isn't ridiculed has no value in being realized.

Victories that are easy will not gain external recognition.

[North, can't you stop it?]

When Kubica, in car number 11, saw that Chen Xiangbei made no move to stop him, his calm heart was stirred.

The two head-to-head match put Kubica under immense psychological pressure. As a championship contender driving a nominally stronger Renault car, he couldn't outrun a Chinese newcomer, leading to much criticism and skepticism.

Kubica also needs a victory to prove himself.

Chen Xiangbei failed to overtake Trulli at the start, then encountered tire lock-up, and now he has lost the best entry line into the corner.

The series of defeats and setbacks seemed to make him realize the reality and lose his previous unstoppable fighting spirit.

Poor stress tolerance has always been a common problem for rookie drivers.

It is clear that Chen Xiangbei made a pressured mistake under immense pressure!
But what happened next immediately shattered Kubica's understanding.

Although Chen Xiangbei had no intention of changing lanes to block them, he also did not slow down.

On the short straight before the corner, thanks to the powerful acceleration of the F1 car, Chen Xiangbei's speed had reached an astonishing 260 km/h, and he once again missed the regular braking zone!

"OH MY GOD, driver Bei didn't accelerate in the regular braking zone. Does this mean he's going to experience tire lock-up again?"

Red noticed that Chen Xiangbei's speed was abnormal; the current situation was exactly the same as the T1 bend.

The Chinese rookies performed exceptionally well in practice and qualifying matches, so why were they so reckless and impulsive in the main competition? It was as if they had become completely different people. Are the Chinese rookies so fragile under pressure?
As it turned out, Reid was wrong.

There are other ways to corner besides braking and slowing down; there is also a way called full throttle cornering.

Since you can't stop Kubica, then be faster than him!

Turn 2 at Albert Park Circuit is a medium-speed corner, which normally requires slight adjustments to speed and throttle release.

Chen Xiangbei planned to use the peak grip of the soft red tires, his precise driving ability, and his do-or-die mentality to cut off Kubica's chances of overtaking!

The race car whizzed past, cutting a perfect curve. Chen Xiangbei, with extremely smooth control, went full throttle and swept through T2, leaving the cars behind him in the dust.

Kubica, who witnessed this scene, was visibly shocked. The Chinese boy's radicalism and adventurousness had completely exceeded his expectations.

This isn't just a lack of resilience, this is complete madness!

(End of this chapter)