Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 230 The Legendary Drift Corner
"Red Bull's RB6 is currently the fastest car in the paddock, and Webber's experience and ability surpass Trulli's, so it will be very difficult for North to overtake it."

Prost looked at the situation on the track, shook his head, and gave a brief commentary.

After just a few rounds of probing attacks and defenses, Prost was able to see the performance of the Red Bull car and Webber's experience.

This Australian driver is currently at the peak of his career and will hardly give Chen Xiangbei any chance to capitalize on a mistake.

In terms of absolute speed and line-following ability, Chen Xiangbei has no chance of winning.

Indeed, this was the case. Although Webber did not win the world championship, he was a standard championship contender in the 10 to 12 seasons, and even kept the championship suspense until the final race.

Furthermore, after retiring from Red Bull Racing, Webber won the WEC World Championship title, proving that he has always maintained a high level of competitive performance.

Chen Xiangbei, a newcomer in his rising phase, is not afraid of drivers who can be incredibly skilled or unpredictable.

I'm afraid of veterans who are excellent and consistent over long distances!

With such an impenetrable defense, it's very difficult to find a breakthrough.

Just as Prost had predicted, Chen Xiangbei and Webber were playing a cat-and-mouse game. Every time Chen Xiangbei tried to overtake Webber by biting the rear of the car, the car in front would pull away.

Repeat this operation over and over again!

Two laps, three laps, four laps...

Chen Xiangbei followed Webber's car for eight laps, running until the halfway point of the race, but he still couldn't overtake him.

In fact, this is the common situation on most tracks where it is difficult to overtake. Often, in the middle stage of the race, it is a race of following the cars and "driving a train", which is a contest of who can maintain their position better and who can wear down their opponent in the end.

The kind of crazy overtaking that Chen Xiangbei displayed in the first half of the race was actually quite rare.

“Senior Sawano, Weber is stronger than we thought. Mukai-kun can’t surpass him.”

Looking at the following scene on the monitor screen, Mizutani Sho said with some concern.

Without the historical perspective of God, most people in this world believe that Massa is much stronger than Webber, who was a genuine half-minute world champion in 08.

In the early years of his career, Webber's best result was only tenth place in the annual rankings.

He only managed to finish fourth in the drivers' championship in the 09 season thanks to the rise of the Red Bull Racing team.

Considering Webber's age, there's not much potential left to unlock, and his ability is just so-so.

Unexpectedly, Chen Xiangbei overtook Massa but couldn't surpass Weber!

Could this be the legendary home advantage?
"It can only be said that Webber's competitive form from last year has continued to this day."

Hiroki Sawano is, after all, a double champion in Japanese Formula racing. He knows that a driver's performance fluctuates, and often it depends on his competitive state and momentum!
Massa seemed to lack speed in the opening match of the new season, and was clearly outpaced by his teammate Alonso.

Alonso was just too good, and his victory was so obvious that no one noticed something was wrong with Massa.

Webber, on the other hand, has consistently risen in the rankings over the years. In the 07 Nürburgring rain race, he even made a remarkable run from seventh to the podium amidst the chaos, proving his strong ability in the rain.

Taking into account his home-court advantage and the "luck" factor, it's only natural that Webber is more difficult to deal with than Massa.

"If this drags on, Xiang Beijun's chances of standing on the podium will become slim."

"The podium isn't so easy to climb. Some drivers can only dream of it their whole lives. There are no absolute rookies in the F1 paddock. Xiang Beijun's career has just begun. He should keep a long-term perspective."

Hiroki Sawano remained calm. He could make some tough remarks before the match, but he had to be realistic during the game.

It's perfectly normal for Chen Xiangbei, a newcomer who has only participated in two Grand Prix races, not to make it onto the podium.

Just getting into the points zone is already a victory!

Moreover, even if he surpasses Webber, the drivers ahead of him are Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, and Schumacher, three world champions and one world runner-up. Who is weaker than Webber?

During their conversation, Chen Xiangbei's voice came through the earpiece.

"Odette, how are my tires?"

"It's currently at its peak, but it will start to decline within five laps."

"how do you want to do it?"

Odeto countered with a question, knowing Chen Xiangbei's intentions and wanting to clarify the specific implementation "plan".

"At the T15 hairpin bend, I plan to use the V-shaped driving technique to overtake."

[V-shaped overtaking?]

Upon hearing Chen Xiangbei's answer, the strategy team members at the outdoor command post exchanged bewildered glances.

While there are indeed V-shaped racing lines in F1 cars, I've never heard of anyone using them in rainy conditions.

The reason is simple: a V-shaped racing line requires speed when entering the corner, and then extreme braking to reduce the car's speed to an extremely low level in order to complete a turn similar to a U-turn and overtake.

Otherwise, it would just go off the track.

With the track grip dropping drastically in the rain, how did Chen Xiangbei manage to brake hard and stop suddenly when entering a corner?
“Bei, even in gambling, there has to be at least a 50/50 chance for it to be worth betting on.”

"No one goes all in on a game they're destined to lose."

Without a doubt, Chen Xiangbei's so-called V-shaped overtaking maneuver was a high-stakes gamble with almost no chance of winning.

Chen Xiangbei's thinking was a bit naive.

I'm about 50/50 confident.

Chen Xiangbei didn't know how to explain it, so he could only simply say it was a matter of probability.

"But if you give up this high-stakes gamble, you have at least a 90% chance of winning and being among the top six."

"My goal is to finish in the top three."

While many outsiders may have thought Chen Xiangbei's pre-match remarks were boastful, he himself didn't take them as empty talk!
Chen Xiangbei hopes to stand on the podium, or even win the championship, and hear the national anthem resound in the F1 paddock, letting the world see the rise of Chinese drivers.

Even if he can't do it for the time being, he will try his best.

"Have you thought it through?"

"I've thought it through."

"Okay, then prove to me that you can successfully overtake."

After speaking, Odette hung up the team's communication system. He was never a conservative; on the contrary, having witnessed the crazy era of Senna and Schumacher, Odette longed for the radicalism and adventure within the paddock.

Since Chen Xiangbei has made the decision himself, Odeto, as the team leader and chief competition engineer, will not object.

Adults should be responsible for their own choices.

Of course, Odette also had another expectation in his heart, which was that he also wanted to see Chen Xiangbei stand on the podium!

After the call ended, Chen Xiangbei looked coldly at Weber in front of him; he was about to start pushing the limits.

At that moment, Chen Xiangbei stepped on the gas and accelerated, using the slipstream to stick close to Webber in front of him. The two race cars were locked together as if they were about to collide!

The rain curtain kicked up by the Webber race car completely enveloped Chen Xiangbei's No. 13 race car, reducing visibility to an exaggerated level of less than ten meters, with countless raindrops sliding off the helmet visor.

"Are the Chinese planning another attack?"

"Driver Bei is really persistent. He hasn't had enough of exhaust fumes, so he likes drinking dirty water now?"

"You'll never surpass Webber, remember that, never!"

The local Australian spectators at the track were incredibly enthusiastic, and this kind of rapid follow-up and overtaking maneuvering happened almost every lap; they had long since become numb to it.

The outcome of each lap was the same: the Chinese newcomer, aside from getting soaked in the rain, had absolutely no hope of overtaking.

At Albert Park Circuit, home driver Webber has an overwhelming advantage!
Faced with the Australian driver's mockery and arrogance, Chinese fans and Chen Xiangbei's supporters would likely not have the confidence to respond in the past.

The situation is somewhat different now.

Kubica, a contender for the championship, has beaten Rosberg, a promising second-generation driver, and Massa, the world runner-up, has surpassed him. What is Webber compared to you, forever?
"Chen Xiangbei, take down Webber ahead of you and prove you're the strongest driver!"

"Chen Xiangbei, let these Australians see the strength of Chinese drivers!"

"Go for it, driver Bei! I believe you can definitely get to the podium!"

The two groups of fans were locked in a fierce battle, neither willing to back down, filling the entire grandstand area with an atmosphere of tension.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiangbei had already crossed the long straight road and followed Webber to the braking area, which was the turning point of the T15 hairpin bend. He needed to reduce his speed to 2nd gear at 80km/h to successfully turn the car around the bend.

This speed would be considered extremely low in Formula 1.

Because of the slow speed and the narrow track, the T15 hairpin turn only has one cutting line, so there is basically no possibility of overtaking.

Webber was very familiar with the corners of the Albert Park circuit. He saw Chen Xiangbei change lanes and appear on the inside through his rearview mirror. He felt no panic at all; on the contrary, he felt a kind of "mockery".

The Chinese newcomers are really putting on airs. They made an overtaking maneuver on the T15 hairpin bend, thinking I'd fall for it?
Taking a corner on the inside is equivalent to making a U-turn; at normal speeds, it's impossible to complete the turn unless you slow down to an extremely low speed.

At a speed that's almost a complete stop, how could you possibly overtake?

Without a doubt, Chen Xiangbei's overtaking maneuver was meaningless; at most, it was just an outlet for his frustration at being trailing behind for more than ten laps, or perhaps a way of comforting himself that he hadn't given up yet.

However, what happened next was somewhat different from what Weber had imagined.

Chen Xiangbei did not slow down or brake at the traditional braking point. He entered the corner at a speed faster than himself and easily completed the turn, with an estimated speed of over 120 km/h.

Has this Chinese kid gone mad? At that speed and on that route, he actually tried to go through the hairpin bend at T15?
Adding to the slippery conditions caused by the rain, even if Chen Xiangbei tried to brake hard and stop suddenly, the tires probably wouldn't have enough grip to support him, and he wouldn't even be able to lock up and burn out under normal circumstances. The only possibility would be that he would run off the track!
Could it be that Chen Xiangbei is planning to "take a risk" and replicate his torpedo-like aggressive approach in the opening match to seize the line?
Upon considering this possibility, a cold smile crept across Weber's face.

He wasn't some second-generation rookie like Rosberg, who was trying to force him to give up the cornering line with aggressive tactics. It can only be said that the Chinese kid picked the wrong opponent.

Without the slightest hesitation, Weber lightly pressed the accelerator to slightly increase speed, keeping the front of his car in the position of Chen Xiangbei's side box.

If the Chinese kid tries to change lanes or cut in front of him, Webber will not hesitate to knock him off the track!

"On the track, North chose to attack at the T15 hairpin turn and delayed their braking point into the turn. Their speed was obviously beyond the normal range, making it almost impossible for them to cut into the corner in a standard way. This was a very dangerous move."

"Young man, have you finally lost your patience?"
Commentator Reid isn't a race car driver, but his years of experience commentating on races made him aware that the T15 hairpin turn couldn't be completed at that speed.

Chen Xiangbei's forced high-speed overtaking maneuver into a curve is akin to drinking poison to quench thirst.

What seems like a glimmer of hope is actually followed by despair!
The final result will only be that it will run off the track.

In fact, not only Reid thought so, but also the tens of thousands of spectators in the stands and the thousands of racing professionals in the pit lane. No one was optimistic about Chen Xiangbei's overtaking method.

This is typical of a young driver's reckless actions, proving that Chen Xiangbei's mental resilience is not as strong as imagined.

However, Chen Xiangbei on the track proved that the outside world's perception was wrong with his actions!

At that moment, Chen Xiangbei reached the apex of the bend, slammed on the brakes, and sharply turned the steering wheel. The rear wheels instantly slipped and the car fishtailed, completing the sharp turn in a drifting motion.

Even more astonishingly, Chen Xiangbei finished his run before Webber, meaning he had successfully overtaken him!

This incredible scene left countless people in the paddock speechless. Can F1 cars even drift through corners?

In fact, F1 cars can indeed drift.

Or perhaps it's simply that the horsepower is high enough that any race car can drift. The retirement ceremony at the end of the F1 season involves drawing "donuts" on the track, which is, in a way, a form of drifting.

Even at the 1986 Hungarian Grand Prix, world champion Piquet Sr. performed what is considered one of the most legendary drift cornering maneuvers in F1 history in order to defend against Senna's overtaking maneuver. It became one of the most classic defensive demonstrations on the track and has been repeatedly included in countless F1 documentaries.

However, Chen Xiangbei's drifting and overtaking maneuver was unprecedented!

"No way, F1 cars can drift and overtake like that?"

"Is this a movie or a comic book adaptation? How did Chen Xiangbei manage to do this?"

"Aren't Chinese newlyweds incredibly lucky? Are they blessed by God?"

"Luck my ass! This is driver Bei's skill!"

Amidst a cacophony of questions and cheers, many were still reeling from the shock; this drifting and overtaking maneuver was completely beyond their comprehension.

Indeed, it is quite outrageous. F1 drifting and overtaking requires the right timing, location, and people!
Under normal circumstances, drifting in F1 is a completely counterproductive behavior. Not to mention the exaggerated loss of speed, drifting means that the tires are "locked up", which has an immeasurable impact on tire life and will directly result in the loss of a pit stop window!
Chen Xiangbei dared to do this because it was raining!
The slippery road surface greatly reduces the car's grip and tire friction, avoiding serious damage during drifting. This is the perfect timing!
The advantage of the terrain lies in the characteristics of the T15 hairpin bend, which greatly reduces the speed of the Webber car; otherwise, drifting in a standard corner would never be as effective as driving along the line.

As for the human element, there are two points. The first point is that in order to improve his cornering speed, Webber made the most of the corner width and went to the outside, leaving enough space for Chen Xiangbei to drift and corner.

The second point is that Chen Xiangbei has extensive experience in rally racing drifting, which is unmatched by other F1 drivers.

F1 is about challenging the same corner thousands of times, while WRC is about navigating thousands of corners once.

Faced with extremely complex and unknown situations, rally racing experience gave Chen Xiangbei better instantaneous judgment and insight.

When the right time, the right place, and the right people are all on Chen Xiangbei's side, he can pull off a miracle!
(End of this chapter)