Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 246 A Performance That Could Be Called a Miracle

The TF110 race car engine roared, unleashing a much stronger power output than before. The extremely low downforce tuning, combined with the stiff suspension, made Chen Xiangbei's downforce extremely low on the long straight at the start.

The speedometer reads 1.9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h.

It can accelerate from 200 km/h in 4.7 seconds.

It can accelerate from 300 km/h in 11.6 seconds.

The insane acceleration demonstrated just how terrifying the power-to-weight ratio of an F1 car would be without the constraint of air downforce.

And this wasn't even the speedometer's limit. As the car approached the end of the long straight before the start, Chen Xiangbei's speed reached an astonishing 320 km/h!

However, to get through the T1 spiral combination bend of the Donghai International Circuit, the car's speed needs to be reduced from 320km/h to about 95km/h within just two seconds.

At this point, the driver's neck will experience a force of approximately 5.5G.

Mercedes driver Russell once described in an interview that if you add the weight of your head and helmet together, the 5.5G force translates to about 55 kilograms, which is equivalent to carrying your girlfriend on your head with your neck!
As for why he suddenly used his girlfriend as an analogy, that's a bit intriguing...

"The speed at which the North is moving is somewhat dangerous."

Inside the HRT team's pit lane, data engineer Mizutani Sho, upon seeing Chen Xiangbei's speed, subconsciously muttered something.

Keep in mind that this was the first practice race. In addition to optimizing the original upgraded aerodynamic kit, the TF110 also underwent significant adjustments to the power unit output and response, resulting in a considerable difference in handling compared to before.

Even if Chen Xiangbei demonstrates his top-notch adaptability at the Australian Grand Prix, it's impossible for him to push himself to the limit in the first practice lap as if it were a qualifying race without simulator training.

Chen Xiangbei's starting speed even surpassed the cornering speed of most qualifying races.

In fact, it wasn't just Mizutani Sho who noticed Chen Xiangbei's unusual speed; McLaren team principal Whitmarsh, who was catching up with Ross Brown in the Mercedes pit room, also realized something was wrong.

Whitmarsh has a very good personal relationship with Ross Brawn. Last year, even the Brawn GP team received Mercedes engine support thanks to his connections.

However, with Mercedes officially acquiring Brawn GP and forming its own factory team, it has become a competitor to its former partner McLaren.

Of course, Mercedes is still a new player, and the conflict of interest between the two sides is not that serious yet. A complete breakdown in relations will have to wait until 14 when McLaren switches to Honda's engine supplier.

"Is driver Bei's speed on the long straight a bit too much of a show-off?"

Whitmarsh questioned, saying that his professional level was evident and that Chen Xiangbei was pushing things forward at full speed.

As the driver of the home race, it's understandable that he wants to show off his speed to the Chinese audience.

However, Chen Xiangbei's advance in the very first official circle was indeed a bit too hasty.

According to news reports, driver Bei did not return to the team headquarters for simulator training. In addition, the engine of the HRT car in this race was tuned by the Ferrari team. How could the Chinese driver adapt so well without any teacher?

Common sense and experience told Whitmarsh that this was impossible!
"Bei... he's not a driver who likes to show off."

Regardless of how others comment on Chen Xiangbei, Ross Brown knows the true nature of this young man.

Hard work and perseverance were the decisive factors in Chen Xiangbei's success, not the joint hype with Briatore.

"is it?"

Whitmarsh didn't argue. Compared to his old friend Ross Brown, he knew very little about Chen Xiangbei, only from the perspective of a spectator in the paddock.

However, his tone was somewhat frivolous, and he did not agree with Ross Brown's assessment of Chen Xiangbei.

Perhaps Chinese newcomers weren't like this before, but from the CCTV interview just now, you can feel a kind of "arrogance" of young success, which is the kind of aura that many young drivers have had in the past!
As the crowd chatted, Chen Xiangbei slammed on the brakes on the track, and the G-force from the inertia was like a giant hammer, twisting heavily toward his neck. His well-developed muscles tensed instantly, and his veins visibly bulged out.

The powerful grip of the slick tires held the ground firmly, but what happened next was somewhat beyond Chen Xiangbei's expectations. Without the assistance of air downforce, relying solely on mechanical grip resulted in an excessively long braking distance, causing him to miss the optimal entry point into the corner.

Faced with this situation, Chen Xiangbei could only increase the force of his foot, which resulted in a brief moment of tire lock-up, with a wisp of smoke rising from the T1 bend.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Xiangbei turned the steering wheel, and the stiffest suspension tuning enhanced the stability of the race car in high-speed corners, but also reduced the traction control in low-speed corners.

The excessive speed at which he entered the corner caused Chen Xiangbei to inevitably slip, and the race car went over the shoulder and into the run-off area!

This scene caused an uproar among the audience.

Many Chinese racing fans are hoping for Chen Xiangbei to deliver a phenomenal performance, outperforming many other drivers on a single lap, securing pole position at the Donghai International Circuit, and even competing for the final race victory.

So you went off the track on the first lap of practice?

The bold words spoken in the pre-match interview suddenly felt like rambling nonsense.

If this trend continues, won't they have to remain silent after the game?
Meanwhile, fans of other countries, as well as fans of other drivers, who had been overwhelmed by the momentum and volume of the Chinese audience, finally seized the opportunity to fight back.

"Haha, you think you can win the championship? You can't even keep your balance on the first lap?"

"Going off the track at T1 turn in practice is second only to skidding and crashing into the wall in the pit lane, right?"

"Don't be too arrogant, Chinese kid. Your home field doesn't guarantee a championship!"

"You want to surpass Hamilton? Your talent is far inferior to his!"

Hearing the noisy jeers coming from the stands, the expressions on the faces of the HRT team's pit crew were incredibly complicated.

Odette, in particular, never expected that Chen Xiangbei would run off the track at Turn 1.

You have to understand that Chen Xiangbei has created too many miracles along the way, so much so that Odeto, even if he doesn't praise the kid out loud, actually believes in his heart that he can definitely do it.

This is why, feeling the passion of the home crowd in China and Chen Xiangbei's own desire, he chose the most aggressive speed-oriented training method.

Odeto believes in Chen Xiangbei!

"Xiangbei-kun, are you okay?"

Hiroki Sawano immediately pressed the call button on his headset to inquire about Chen Xiangbei's current situation.

"It's okay, the race car didn't stall."

Chen Xiangbei responded with a sentence, then gently pressed the accelerator and drove the TF110 back to the track.

F1 cars are designed with an automatic fuel cut-off system to prevent fuel leaks from igniting and causing more serious secondary injuries to drivers in the event of a serious accident.

However, the automatic fuel cut-off system is easily triggered by mistake. Once the car stalls, an external starter motor is needed to restart the engine. In the main race, this would be equivalent to retiring from the race, and even in practice, it would waste a lot of time.

Chen Xiangbei did get a little overconfident. He knew the Donghai International Circuit very well, but he underestimated the impact of the changes in the car's characteristics and the tuning scheme, which led to his mistake of running off the track.

"Sawano, are the race car's parameters normal? Are any chassis sensors damaged?"

Chen Xiangbei then asked another question: "Rushing into the run-off area is a common sight in F1. The problem lies in the gravel inside the run-off area, which can damage many of the race car's high-precision components. Especially the chassis, which is very troublesome to repair and replace."

However, in this era, aerodynamic vehicles were not significantly affected by chassis aerodynamics. In later ground effect vehicles, the chassis plays a significant role in guiding airflow, and even minor damage can affect the aerodynamic balance of the entire race car.

"The sensor is working properly."

After reporting the situation, Hiroki Sawano immediately asked questions.

"Xiang Bei-jun, should we stop in the pits to readjust the car settings? Continuing to run like this is too risky!"

In fact, apart from Odeto and Briatore, Hiroki Sawano, Sho Mizutani, Soter, and Mazzola, among others in the strategy team, did not really agree with the overly radical tuning plan.

Because there's absolutely no need to take that risk!
In the three practice matches, Chen Xiangbei could gradually increase the difficulty level, instead of lowering it as he is doing now.

Before Chen Xiangbei could reply, Odette's voice came through the team's voice chat.

"Is this what you mean by not making silly mistakes?"

Faced with Odette's questioning, Chen Xiangbei was speechless for a moment.

"If this is all you're capable of, then drive it back and readjust the settings."

"If you want to compete for the championship, drive faster and prove that you have the ability to drive a race car."

Odeto’s tone was cold, even ruthless.

He also needs to prove that his trust was not misplaced, that Chen Xiangbei's outstanding performance was not a flash in the pan, and that he has the ability to become a true champion driver.

To compete for the championship, drivers must relentlessly push the limits of speed in order to demonstrate the value and greatness of the title.

Just like Senna wasn't the best driver by his record, but he was a driver who dared to challenge God with his speed, and that's why he achieved greatness!

"I will become the champion."

Chen Xiangbei replied firmly.

He did make a mistake, but that doesn't mean he'll choose to slow down.

In his past life, Chen Xiangbei truly embodied the saying, "I'd rather be shattered to pieces than slow down."

Having stood on the home track of the F1 Chinese Grand Prix in his lifetime, and possessing a car capable of contending for the championship, he has no reason to back down during the process!
The engine roared again. Chen Xiangbei's lap was essentially a total loss. He would start again and cross the starting line to test the tuning scheme and his speed through the practice race.

A mocking smile appeared on Whitmarsh's lips as he turned to Ross Brown and said, "Ross, I wasn't wrong. North couldn't control his temper and got a little carried away."

"He ran the first lap of practice like he was in qualifying."

This time, Ross Brawn remained silent. After all, he and Chen Xiangbei were on different teams, and he couldn't know what the other party was really thinking.

To some extent, Whitmarsh's point is valid. With hundreds of thousands of home fans cheering and shouting, even experienced drivers, let alone someone as young as Chen Xiangbei, could easily lose their way.

Not everyone can maintain a calm and stable state of mind regardless of changes in the environment.

"I believe Bei can control his mindset."

After a moment, Ross Brown reaffirmed his belief: Chen Xiangbei's emotional stability had been frighteningly consistent!
Whether he can maintain his composure depends on his speed going forward.

"Hamilton ran a time of 1 minute 33.557 seconds on this lap. Do you think North can catch up?"

Whitmarsh spoke with a tone full of pride.

Hamilton's absolute speed is already widely recognized in the paddock, and in his rookie season he managed to match the best driver, Alonso, in qualifying.

In the post-race interview of the last race, Chen Xiangbei's remarks undoubtedly provoked Hamilton, and he has decided to take action to thwart him in this race.

Defeating Chen Xiangbei at home will surely leave an indelible impression on this young Chinese player, making him realize that he chose the wrong opponent!

Sensing Whitmarsh's confidence, Ross Brown did not answer this time.

With a track record of 1 minute 32.238 seconds, Hamilton's lap time of less than 1.5 seconds slower without any fine-tuning of the car undoubtedly indicates that he pushed the car to its full potential.

It's worth noting that Schumacher's track record was broken for the first time after more than a decade, with his pole position lap time averaging 0.5 to 1 second slower each year. To achieve a lap time close to his previous pole position lap times in the first practice session is enough to demonstrate just how amazing that is.

While the two were talking, Chen Xiangbei had already dashed across the starting line.

In this era, practice races do not have segmented dynamic timing; you can only see the total time at the end.

On the same long straight section, Chen Xiangbei once again sped up, and the speed monitoring sensor showed a speed of 320 km/h.

"Is driver Bei still planning to enter the corner at high speed?"

"They really don't learn from their mistakes. They went off the track again and weren't so lucky to make it back."

"That Chinese kid is incredibly arrogant!"

"This is North's home ground, and I really don't want it to become the place where he sheds tears."

"People often have to pay the price for their actions. The first two stops in the north went too smoothly."

Members of each team evaluated Chen Xiangbei's behavior with different mindsets.

He went off the track at that speed last lap, and he's still not backing down this lap. It seems he's never experienced the heartbreak of defeat!
Massa, especially, of the Ferrari team, felt a mix of emotions as he listened to his teammates' discussions.

No one knows better than him what it feels like to lose on your home track. Those 10 seconds of world championship made 100 million Brazilians experience the pain of falling from heaven to hell.

This time, however, the scene that everyone expected did not occur, and Chen Xiangbei successfully navigated the turn!

And this was just the beginning. On the Donghai International Circuit, Chen Xiangbei displayed incredible skill, using extremely precise and meticulous control to swiftly navigate every curve on the track.

Even the HRT team's strategy group members' expressions changed from initial surprise to delight, and finally, everyone's mouths were slightly agape, as if they had witnessed something inexplicable.

On the other side, McLaren team principal Whitmarsh was completely shocked when he saw Chen Xiangbei's final lap time.

He truly couldn't imagine that a rookie driver could have such an exaggerated level of control over the track. Especially on the most difficult T1 to T3 spiral combination corner, Chen Xiangbei went off the track on the previous lap, but on the next lap he achieved full-curve tracking braking.

With a lap time of 1 minute 32.799 seconds, he not only surpassed Hamilton by a full 0.7 seconds, but also directly outpaced last year's pole-sitter Vettel.

That's fucking a miracle!

(End of this chapter)