Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 234 Arrogance is the Original Sin of Failure
As Chen Xiangbei listened to Briatore's words, a famous racetrack accident from later years came to mind.

That happened at the Albert Park circuit in 2016. On lap 19, Alonso tried to overtake Gutierrez in the DRS area, and the two cars collided.

Alonso's right front wheel slammed into Gutierrez's left rear wheel, causing Gutierrez to lose control, skid on the track, and run out of the run-off area.

Alonso's situation was even more dangerous. His McLaren took off at a speed of up to 310 kilometers per hour, flipped several times in the air, and crashed heavily into the tire guard.

The entire race car was completely dismantled, with only the cockpit remaining intact.

Fortunately, the high-strength one-piece cockpit of later F1 teams, along with the protection of the HANS head and neck support system, saved Alonso's life.

If the same level of accident had occurred ten years earlier, the driver would likely have had a much harder time surviving.

The root cause of this shocking accident was that Alonso attempted to delay his braking point and overtake from the outside. Even though the car in front, Gutierrez, had firmly held the center line and had not left enough space for overtaking, Alonso still relied on his sense of tire grip and absolute confidence in his driving skills to force his way over from the outside!
Ultimately, Alonso paid the price for his arrogance. It was after this shocking incident that he realized he was past his prime and was no longer the world champion who could dominate the paddock.

The era that belonged to Alonso may have passed, just as the era that once belonged to Schumacher has ended.

A new king will eventually replace the old one!

On the same track, with the same driver, will Alonso use the same habits to defend to the limit?
Chen Xiangbei didn't know the answer; after all, this wasn't 16.

All he could do was launch his attack on Alonso at Turn 3, where the accident would later occur.

Force the opponent to habitually go to the outside!

“Manager Briatore, I understand.”

After giving a brief response, Chen Xiangbei, filled with a sense of challenge, accelerated wildly to catch up with Alonso.

Alonso learned from Ferrari's voice prompts that the gap between Chen Xiangbei's lap times and his own was narrowing, but he didn't take it seriously.

The pace of new talent emerging in China is indeed very fast, but that's to be expected.

In dry track conditions, soft red tires have a crushing performance advantage over half-wet tires.

Even if the worst driver, Yuji Ide, were to drive, there would still be a chance to catch up with Schumacher.

It's obvious that driver Kita's skill level is far superior to that of Japanese driver Yuji Ide.

Catching up is one thing, but surpassing is another.

Alonso's defensive ability is beyond doubt. Even Schumacher at his peak could only fight him to a standstill. If the Chinese newcomer wants to surpass him, he still needs to train for a few more years!

Race car number 13 sped along at a speed beyond everyone's imagination. The nearly dry driving line gave Chen Xiangbei room to perform at his best. As his surging fighting spirit and desire for victory swept over him, he vaguely felt a sense of "man and machine as one".

The TF110 racing car is truly as easy to control as an extension of one's own arm!
"He caught up! Driver North caught up with Alonso in front of him. It didn't take the previously estimated two laps; he entered the attack range in just one lap."

"The audience at the scene probably can't imagine that the northbound lap time was 1 minute 24.919 seconds, surpassing his own qualifying time and setting a new record for the fastest lap in the race, beating the current leader Hamilton's 1 minute 25.118 seconds!"

"Keep in mind that this was the fastest lap time achieved after the rain, which surpassed the dry conditions at the beginning of the race. Even considering the difference in fuel weight, it still cannot overshadow driver Bei's excellent performance."

"Because based on that lap time just now, North was a full 4 seconds faster than Alonso, whom he was about to face."

"To be honest, I don't know how to describe this incredible lap speed. I can clearly feel that the driver's condition and momentum have reached their peak. I even have a feeling that even Alonso can't stop him!"

The data reported by commentator Reid caused an uproar among the track audience.

Rain racing is always the ultimate test of a driver's absolute ability. From the rain to the end, Chen Xiangbei experienced various changes in track surface conditions and made some mistakes and slipped.

The only thing that hasn't changed is his exaggerated absolute speed.

Even after accounting for the difference in tire speed, Chen Xiangbei's actual speed has surpassed Alonso's, with a single lap time of more than four seconds.

Is it a joke that a rookie driver is faster than Alonso, the strongest driver in the paddock?
"Go for it, Chen Xiangbei! The podium is right in front of you!"

"China's strongest driver, Asia's strongest driver, you will become the world's strongest driver!"

"I used to call you Driver Bei, but if you can beat Alonso, I'm willing to call you God of Speed ​​Bei!"

Cheers rose and fell, and Chen Xiangbei's performance, which could be described as miraculous, gave his supporters a glimpse of what was impossible before the game.

That's a Chinese driver who can stand on the F1 podium in his second race.

Similarly, it took Japan, Asia's strongest automotive industry and racing nation, a full twenty years to reach the podium.

Chen Xiangbei, however, only needed two games!

The fans who were there in person today were thrilled and excited to witness history being made.

Of course, there were those who offered encouragement and support, and those who made sarcastic remarks.

"If you want to go on stage, you'll have to ask Alonso if he agrees!"

"A Chinese newbie starts dreaming after improving his ranking by a few places. Does he really think getting on stage is that easy?"

"With less than five laps left in the race, what makes driver North think he can overtake Alonso?"

"A driver who profits unfairly through malicious crashes is a disgrace to F1!"

Dissenting voices began to spread from the audience, creating a fierce clash with supporters.

Whether the outside world acknowledges it or not, Chen Xiangbei, who is full of controversy and topics, has gradually become the "center of attention" in the hunting grounds.

Supporters see him as the only hope for Chinese and even Asian drivers, and they are filled with admiration and hope for him.

Opponents, on the other hand, wished Chen Xiangbei would immediately return to China and make him understand that the paddock is not a place where he can act recklessly!

Chen Xiangbei's handling of public opinion truly embodied the later internet phenomenon of "black-and-red" (a term referring to someone who is both controversial and popular)...

Of course, Chen Xiangbei on the track couldn't afford to pay attention to what the spectators in the stands were saying.

The same applies to Alonso, who drove the car before him.

Both men focused their attention on each other. Chen Xiangbei waited for an opportunity to overtake, while Alonso was determined not to give the Chinese newcomer any chance.

A fierce battle ensued. Although Chen Xiangbei set the overtaking point at Turn 3, he needed to launch a sustained attack to make Alonso feel threatened and pressured before he would take the extreme driving line.

This kind of offensive and defensive confrontation is all about basic skills and hard power.

After just a few rounds of exchanges, it's unclear whether Alonso felt any pressure, but Chen Xiangbei certainly sensed his strength.

As the strongest driver in the paddock, Alonso's defense can be described as "impenetrable". He can anticipate every attack Chen Xiangbei makes and then accurately block him in front of the overtaking line.

Throughout F1's long history, there have been many discussions about who is the greatest driver.

Whether it's Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton, or Verstappen, they all have at least three or four world championship titles.

Only Alonso, with his two world championship titles, is vying for the GOTA status in the racing world! It is generally acknowledged that Alonso is a hexagonal warrior like Schumacher, and you can't find any obvious shortcomings in his driving skills.

However, his personality, coupled with his incredible luck in choosing teams, meant that Alonso never drove at the top speed in the paddock again after 07.

Even during my luckiest period, I only managed to ride the third express train.

Even if Alonso was the first to say that he had a 0.5-second speed advantage, it wouldn't make up for the fact that the car was 0.5 seconds or more slower.

The Ferrari he's driving now is the third fastest car in the paddock, yet he's managed to keep pace with Schumacher and keep up with the fastest Red Bull and McLaren, even making a threatening mistake while chasing Vettel.

Faced with such a formidable opponent and an impenetrable defense, Chen Xiangbei was not only amazed, but also felt an uncontrollable fervor within him!

Only by challenging the strong can one experience the charm of motorsports and become stronger.

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

A victory that doesn't come by stepping on the strong lacks true value.

Alonso is the most prestigious stepping stone in the F1 paddock!
The two race cars were moving forward one after the other. Seeing that Chen Xiangbei's attack was clearly being thwarted, the engineers from the various teams in the maintenance station had different expressions.

Most of them wore expressions of complete entitlement.

Alonso is not a world runner-up, nor is he a championship contender; he is a genuine WDC (World Champion).

Even when facing off against soft red tires on a semi-wet tire, Alonso was still able to stop Chen Xiangbei. That's the true strength of a world champion!

Only Mercedes driver Ross Brawn and test engineer Field witnessed this scene and were filled with mixed emotions. Chen Xiangbei's growth rate had reached a level that was visible to the naked eye. At the beginning of the season, who would have thought that he could challenge Alonso?
"Manager, are you disappointed?"

Field quietly asked Ross Brown a question.

The two came from Ferrari to Toyota, and then went on to Brawn GP and Mercedes, so they know each other very well.

To secure funding and technical support, Ross Brawn opted to partner with Mercedes, recruiting two German drivers, Schumacher and Rosberg.

In fact, he had countless opportunities to sign Chen Xiangbei during this process.

Judging from the current situation, Rosberg is no match for Chen Xiangbei.

Schumacher's decline and inconsistency are due to age and injuries.

Mercedes' size and strength mean it will not be content to be a mid-table team.

To become a top-tier paddock team, both the car and the driver are indispensable. A promising driver is extremely needed to develop the core and carry the team in the future.

Chen Xiangbei's talent and ability made him the best candidate.

Now, however, it's a regrettable missed opportunity.

Ross Brown smiled at Field's question but did not answer.

There's no room for regret or remorse within the paddock; after all, no one is God and can foresee a driver's future.

Chen Xiangbei is indeed very outstanding, but if Ross Brown were to choose again, he would not make a change.

The reason is simple: in most cases, F1 depends 30% on the driver and 70% on the car.

Only with Mercedes-Benz's investment can we rely on our R&D strength, rather than luck, to build one championship-contending car after another.

Indeed, this was the case; a few years later, the Meben dynasty would begin.

If Ross Brawn insists on operating independently, then Brawn GP will only become the next declining Williams team.

However, Field's question still gave Ross Brown a glimmer of hope.

If Chen Xiangbei were a member of the Mercedes team, would he be even stronger paired with Schumacher?

The battle on the track continued, and Alonso looked calmly at the No. 13 car that was constantly attacking in his rearview mirror.

To be honest, Chen Xiangbei's offensive capabilities really impressed him. He had reached the standard of a top newcomer in the paddock in recent years, and even posed a slight threat to Alonso.

But that alone is far from enough!
Alonso has experienced the "red and blue battle" with Schumacher, the fierce championship battle with Raikkonen, and the battles with Hamilton and Massa, leaving the championship suspense until the final race.

In recent years, only in the 09 season did Brawn GP, ​​with its "Martian car" performance advantage, prevent Alonso from competing for the championship.

Years of intense competition had made Alonso accustomed to the pressure, and he was indifferent to Chen Xiangbei's attacks.

Alonso even had the energy to keep an eye on Schumacher and Hamilton ahead of him. He didn't want to be held back by Chen Xiangbei for too long. Even though he was in third place, he still longed for the championship title!
When the red and black cars crossed the starting line again, the race had reached lap 53, with only 5 laps left to go before the end of the race.

The track spectators, who had been shouting and hurling insults at each other earlier, were now focused more on the championship battle. Schumacher was also launching an offensive against Hamilton. The battle between the racing king and the new king was clearly more influential than that of the newcomer Chen Xiangbei.

Another point is that Alonso's defense was too tight, making the audience think that Chen Xiangbei had no chance of overtaking.

It's nothing more than following behind and waiting for the game to end.

The real killer move is often hidden when you least expect it.

When Chen Xiangbei arrived at Turn 3, he displayed a decisiveness completely different from his previous offensive. He turned around at a crazy speed and drove towards the outside, making it look like he was going to overtake on the outside!
For Chen Xiangbei's risky move, other drivers would probably just have stayed in the center line.

The outer lanes are relatively slippery, and Chen Xiangbei's first tires will likely lose grip on the ground, causing him to go off the track.

Alonso, however, was different; his self-confidence bordered on arrogance.

Alonso was unwilling to play defensively; he wanted to actively block all of Chen Xiangbei's routes!
Without the slightest hesitation, Alonso simultaneously changed lanes and moved to the outside, still firmly blocking Chen Xiangbei's car.

Seeing this, Chen Xiangbei shifted to the outside again, with half of his tire already on the shoulder.

Riding on the shoulder of a road after rain is extremely dangerous, just like riding a bicycle or motorcycle after rain and driving over the white lines painted on the road, as the grip will drop sharply.

Sensing Chen Xiangbei's determination and the theoretical possibility of him overtaking on the outside, Alonso moved laterally again to block him.

If bald tires aren't afraid of slipping in the rain, why would I be afraid of half-rain tires?

When it comes to head-to-head combat, Alonso has never been afraid of anyone, especially when the opponent is a newcomer!
However, Chen Xiangbei never considered overtaking Alonso on the outside; what he wanted was this kind of relentless defense from the opponent.

At this moment, Chen Xiangbei lightly stepped on the brake to slow down, then sharply turned the steering wheel to the inside of the track, and then stepped on the gas to accelerate.

The slick tires demonstrated their grip and crushing performance on the asphalt road. Alonso realized something was wrong and tried to make a similar maneuver to Chen Xiangbei to block the car again, but the car's handling response was a bit slow.

Without much fancy maneuvering or suspense, Chen Xiangbei's car overtook Alonso's rear wheel and successfully took the apex and the inside corner line, making the T3 overtake a foregone conclusion.

As it turns out, weakness and ignorance are never obstacles to survival; arrogance is.

Alonso lost because of his arrogance!

(End of this chapter)