Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 236 I Did Not Let You Down
"Yes, that's driver Bei."

Miller nodded. He was shocked by Chen Xiangbei's speed last year, but he didn't expect him to become such a formidable opponent this year.

"The north is indeed very fast."

Whitmarsh agreed briefly, then added, "But Hamilton is stronger!"

To some extent, McLaren team principal Whitmarsh's statement was not wrong.

Hamilton's partner in his rookie season was the winner of the "Red vs. Blue" battle, who defeated Schumacher's then-dominant Alonso.

This young black player won four Grand Prix races, achieved the miracle of nine consecutive podium finishes, and ended the season with a two-point lead over Alonso, becoming the victor in the competition with his teammates.

Consider the McLaren team in 07. Even though Hamilton was team owner Dennis's "favorite son," the team's strategy and resources would definitely be tilted towards Alonso. This was determined by objective results and influence.

Despite being at a disadvantage in terms of resources, Hamilton emerged victorious, which is enough to prove just how amazing his talent and speed are.

Hamilton's outstanding performance made Alonso feel that his position in the team was being challenged and threatened, and that he could not guarantee the treatment of the number one driver. So he chose to transfer back to his old team, Renault, at the end of the season.

This is why Alonso missed the McLaren Express in the 08 season and the opportunity to win his third championship.

The fact that a Chinese newcomer can surpass Alonso does not mean he can surpass Hamilton.

After all, Hamilton also defeated Alonso!
In Whitmarsh's mind, Hamilton was destined to become the next legend in the automotive world, and these minor setbacks were nothing to worry about.

Sensing the team leader's confidence, race engineer LS Mun gave the order: "Hamilton, do everything you can to stop the driver on the north three laps and let the Chinese newcomer experience the intensity of a world champion."

This command was extremely domineering, completely disregarding Chen Xiangbei as an equal opponent.

“COPY.”

Hamilton gave a brief reply, then fixed his gaze on the HRT race car chasing behind.

If Chen Xiangbei's professional resume is similar to Raikkonen's, then his professional style is actually very similar to Hamilton's.

The same "arrogance," the same domineering nature.

Hamilton's most famous nickname, "Golden Front Left," comes from his relentless pursuit of the other car in wheel-to-wheel battles, even in the event of a collision.

This aggressive style is completely different from Alonso's steady and technical approach, which means that Chen Xiangbei's overtaking risk is higher.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei couldn't back down before the battle even began. Now that he'd reached this point, regardless of whether he could ultimately surpass his past achievements, he had to give it his all.

The narrow road meets the brave to win!

The two race cars were locked in a fierce battle on the track. Even though Chen Xiangbei was equipped with soft red tires that had better theoretical performance, the difficulty of handling increased sharply after the peak grip, and being on the offensive side made him constantly on the verge of losing control.

On the HRT team's outdoor control console monitor screen, strategy team members can see the car's four-wheel grip data, as well as the tire life percentage alarms that are going off like crazy.

Chen Xiangbei's speed didn't cause him to go off the track. In many cases, it can't be explained by driving skills. He should burn incense and thank the Bodhisattva for his protection!

Faced with this situation, even the usually radical and tough Odette couldn't help but feel his heart pounding.

However, he had no way to stop it, and he didn't even dare to send a voice reminder from the team.

Because Odeto knew very well that Chen Xiangbei's current offensive state had reached the point of being "completely focused".

Any external disturbances or influences can have unpredictable consequences for the drivers. All the team can do now is to be a silent observer!
While the team strategy team may choose to remain silent, the track commentators, faced with such an intense battle, will certainly choose to be passionate.

"Crazy! I never imagined that with the driver Bei Neng on the podium in the last three laps of the race, he would still launch such a strong attack, leaving himself no room for retreat."

"At this point in the race, the soft red tires, which are entering their decline phase, don't have much of an advantage over the semi-wet tires. We can even see in the broadcast footage that car number 13 has shown signs of slipping and swaying more than once."

"But driver North did not stop his conquest. If he can really surpass Hamilton, there is no doubt that today's race will be recorded in F1 history!"

Commentator Reid gave Chen Xiangbei the highest praise, which was not only an affirmation of his amazing performance, but also an admiration for his driving spirit.

I'd rather be shattered to pieces than slow down.

This is the motto of many drivers, but few can truly live up to it.

A newcomer from China took on the challenging rain race and climbed from ninth to third place.

Even in the final stages of the race, even when the tires could no longer grip the ground, he still had the courage to launch an attack on the powerful opponents ahead.

Courage is always the most precious thing for a driver.

Just like Nicky Lauda and Elton Cena, they will be remembered forever as legends.

Chen Xiangbei's astonishing pursuit today may well be remembered by the world and become a legend in the future.

In the future, when car enthusiasts talk about rain racing and think of the name "Chen Xiangbei in the rain," there will also be a Chen Xiangbei in the rain!

Hearing commentator Reid's approval, this time the grandstands no longer saw the overwhelming cold stares and ridicule.

While their ability may be undeniable, their achievements and fighting spirit are undeniable.

Even the most prejudiced and racist white people in Europe and America have to admit that Chen Xiangbei is fulfilling his pre-race boast and proving that he is a historic rookie driver comparable to Raikkonen.

"Putting aside prejudice, driver Bei is really strong."

An Australian spectator in the stands said this with genuine admiration.

On the track, under attacking pressure, Hamilton has been seen making "snake-like" maneuvers, changing lanes multiple times in the braking zone.

If Hamilton could easily block the car, he wouldn't have resorted to such a controversial action.

In the more rigorous F1 system of later generations, Hamilton would have been subject to a 5-second penalty.

"Today's rain-soaked battle was spectacular, and I admit that a new star from China will rise to prominence!"

"FUCK, even though the Chinese guy messed with my favorite Raikkonen, this kid is really strong!"

"Chen Xiangbei, this race will solidify your status as a world-class driver!"

"Go, racing god Bei!"

A thousand words echoed from the stands. At this moment, Chen Xiangbei's popularity even surpassed that of Schumacher, who was in the lead.

Fifty-seven laps, fifty-eight laps...

Schumacher, who was running at the front, could already see the checkered flag waving at the finish line.

Chen Xiangbei was still blocked behind Hamilton.

It must be admitted that Hamilton's defensive ability is in no way inferior to Alonso's, and coupled with the McLaren's superior performance compared to the HRT, Chen Xiangbei found it extremely difficult to overtake under these unfavorable circumstances. However, the fundamental reason lies in Hamilton's overly aggressive defensive style, to the point of being "illegal."

He repeatedly changed lanes in succession, "drawing dragons" on the track to block other cars, and also squeezed into the driving line in the corners, always putting on a "lose-lose" posture.

To be honest, if it were a Renault-level race, Chen Xiangbei wouldn't have tolerated it; at worst, the two would crash into each other and retire from the race.

But this is the first time in my career that I've stood on the podium!

Chen Xiangbei could not afford the loss of crashing into Hamilton and both cars retiring from the race.

This is not just about rankings and awards, but also about personal honor and belief in the team.

It's important to understand that a "newly formed" racing team, built from a roster that has consistently been at the bottom of the rankings, desperately needs results to give its members confidence and cohesion.

Why do the "Big Three" and large racing teams have such a deep foundation?
Besides their financial and technological advantages, they also have a "superior" mindset.

They have a natural advantage against smaller teams, and can adopt a confident stance that gives them a significant psychological advantage. This greatly enhances the team's collaboration and cohesion, giving them a 0.2-second advantage when changing tires in the pits!
Small and medium-sized convoys often become hesitant before even engaging in combat.

Chen Xiangbei's appearance on the podium will undoubtedly give HRT a shot in the arm, subconsciously instilling in the team members the belief that they have the strength and ability to challenge and even become a top team.

HRT team is not a weak team; its drivers can still reach the podium and even become champions.

This is the psychological advantage and foundation of a championship-contending team!

Compared to Senna and Schumacher, Chen Xiangbei's later years made him more familiar with the personalities and habits of drivers like Hamilton and Verstappen.

Chen Xiangbei had no doubt that if he tried to overtake Hamilton, Hamilton would deliberately crash into him.

Odeon once said that gambling often happens when people are in a weak position and need to gamble for a profit.

The strong do not gamble.

Chen Xiangbei has not yet become an absolute powerhouse, but he is no longer a penniless gambler betting on the chances of Hamilton backing down.

The team needed the podium, and Chen Xiangbei needed it too. Looking at the finish line so close at hand, he finally suppressed the fervent impulse in his heart and followed Hamilton across the finish line.

They got third place, and third place in the leg of the competition!
"What a pity, we were just a little short!"

"Damn Hamilton, he's shameless! How can he change lanes and block other cars like that?"

"Relax, Chen Xiangbei's professional career has just begun, and he will definitely not stop at third place in a race."

"That's right, Chen Xiangbei will become a champion one day, and Hamilton can't stop him!"

"Chen Xiangbei~~! Chen Xiangbei~~! Chen Xiangbei~~!"

From the initial chaotic discussion to the entire audience chanting Chen Xiangbei's name in unison, he has, to some extent, won recognition with a miracle.

Upon opening the helmet visor, Chen Xiangbei was immediately filled with regret.

After all, the runner-up position was right in front of them, just a tiny bit away from surpassing Hamilton!

But when he heard the entire audience chanting his name, he felt as if something had struck his heart, and a complex emotion welled up inside him, causing his eyes to involuntarily redden slightly.

After letting out a heavy breath to calm himself down, Chen Xiangbei stretched his hand out of the cockpit and waved to the spectators on both sides of the track during the return lap.

This move reignited the audience's enthusiasm, and their cheers for him even surpassed those for champion Schumacher at one point!
"Hamilton, congratulations on getting second place."

McLaren team principal Whitmarsh's congratulations reached Hamilton's ears via the team radio.

This time, however, he did not experience the joy he had imagined.

Despite being the runner-up in the race, the audience only chanted the names of Schumacher and Chen Xiangbei in unison, which seemed more like a question and a denial!

Even though Hamilton was reluctant to admit it, in the last two laps of the race, Chen Xiangbei's attack put him under unimaginable pressure, to the point that he had to use a double lane change to defend and block the car.

This kind of operation currently falls into a gray area of ​​FIA rules. To get a penalty, the team would need to appeal to the race stewards, and it is highly unlikely to change the final rankings.

However, the audience's eyes are sharp; they know the defense wasn't clean.

"Thank you."

Hamilton replied calmly that he hoped to win more decisively.

Sensing Hamilton's change in mood, Whitmarsh smiled nonchalantly.

Young people still have some naivety and fantasies in their hearts. Once they gradually get used to the game, they should understand that the process is not important at all, but the final result of winning is what matters.

Indeed, this was the case. With the outbreak of incidents such as "spy gate," "crash gate," and "bar gate," Hamilton became increasingly "darkened," turning into a typical heart-wrenching, dark-hearted champion driver.

Furthermore, his methods often pushed the rules to their extremes.

To put it simply, Hamilton, with his top-notch spatial awareness, can accurately judge how much space to leave for his opponent, and then, through a well-timed closing maneuver, force the opponent off the track while shifting all the responsibility onto them.

This kind of immature lane-changing maneuver, used today, would have been something Hamilton in his prime would never have bothered to use; it's too rudimentary!
Chen Xiangbei was unaware of Hamilton's emotional shift. He waved to signal while driving the car to the designated parking area for the top three.

This wasn't Chen Xiangbei's first time experiencing a private parking area, but it was his first time inside the F1 paddock, making history for Chinese drivers!
All three cars came to a stop, with Hamilton's Mercedes positioned in the middle-forward position, highlighting his special status as the champion.

Meanwhile, outside the parking area's perimeter ropes, the area was packed with people, three or four layers deep. There were track staff, media reporters waiting to conduct interviews, and team members waiting to celebrate with the drivers.

Even in the outermost area, there are many enthusiastic fans hoping to get up close and personal with their idols.

The HRT crew members also came to the rope in unison, waiting to celebrate with Chen Xiangbei.

Looking at those familiar and excited faces, Chen Xiangbei, who had been suppressing his emotions, felt a lump in his throat again.

Along the way, I have experienced too much coldness and ridicule, as well as too many twists and turns and difficulties.

But Chen Xiangbei finally proved his talent and strength, and he entered the top three in the second competition and stood on the podium.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Chen Xiangbei opened his arms and rushed towards the convoy members, who then embraced each other tightly.

At the same time, Chen Xiangbei could no longer contain his emotions and shouted excitedly, "I did it! I fulfilled my pre-race promise and stood on the podium! I didn't let you down!"

The fact that Chen Xiangbei didn't show it often didn't mean he wasn't under pressure.

Along the way, countless people have placed their hopes on him, and even the entire nation's car enthusiasts have high expectations.

He is not fighting alone, nor is he moving forward alone.

Today, Chen Xiangbei was finally able to say those words, and he did not disappoint those who were paying attention to him!
(End of this chapter)