Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 250 I am the real strongman

Chen Xiangbei is conducting a long-distance heavy-load tire test. There are almost no requirements for lap time. In order not to block other drivers from speeding by, he often deliberately avoids the driving lane.

After all, people should follow some rules and not be too hypocritical. It's impossible for someone to block my way and I to block their way and laugh at them, right?

Based on this concept, Chen Xiangbei drove his race car on the outside of the track, so that if a car behind him sped by, he could easily cut through the corner from the inside.

But the other party charged straight at us. Had it lost control?
With this question in mind, just as the silver Mercedes was about to rear-end him, Chen Xiangbei quickly turned the steering wheel and rode onto the shoulder, almost being squeezed into the escape lane of the buffer zone.

The steering wheel of the car behind seemed to be welded shut, and it continued to speed past, then drew an arc on the bend and drove away gracefully, leaving only the flashing red taillights for Chen Xiangbei.

Without a doubt, the opponent's final cornering maneuver was perfectly controlled and there was no possibility of any loss of control.

"Holy crap, what's Rosberg's doing? Is he trying to humiliate North Korea at home?"

Upon seeing this, Ah Yong from the team's repair station flew into a rage and cursed.

Even a mechanic like him could tell that the other party was deliberately provoking him, without needing any professional drivers or engineers.

Why choose any location but the Donghai International Circuit? They really don't give Brother Bei any face at all!
"This guy acted like a girl after the previous few races, always making sarcastic remarks. Has he finally stopped pretending today?"

Lei Ge chimed in, his tone full of disdain.

From the opening match onwards, Rosberg accused Chen Xiangbei of dangerous driving and even filed a complaint with the FIA.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei didn't hold back either, openly mocking Rosberg as a weakling and saying that he could challenge him anytime if he was unhappy. The two of them were now at odds.

However, the sudden rain at the Australian station allowed Chen Xiangbei to put on a spectacular show in the rain, leaving Rosberg no chance to get revenge.

Meanwhile, Schumacher's victory in the rain at the Australian Grand Prix put Rosberg, a fellow Mercedes driver, under considerable public pressure.

In Formula 1, if you can't outrun your rivals, you can find countless excuses.

If you can't outrun your teammates, then you can only be described as bad.

The fact that one team won a stage race while the other couldn't even touch the podium only amplified the gap.

Even if that teammate is racing legend Michael Schumacher.

Rosberg is an extremely patient driver. Faced with Hamilton's dominance and Mercedes' favoritism, he waited as the number two driver for four years before seizing a fleeting opportunity to complete a dramatic comeback.

This also indirectly ruined Hamilton's greatness as an eight-time champion.

At this point in time, Rosberg was very young, and he had not yet learned to be discreet and tactful after being tested by his teammates and the team.

Looking at Chen Xiangbei speeding by, the arrogance of a second-generation car owner made him unable to suppress the disgust and anger in his heart, and he tried to do something to prove that he was not a weakling or a coward.

In most cases, when faced with such offensive and disgusting behavior, the only response is to send a few words of greeting in the team's voice chat.

But Chen Xiangbei had no intention of indulging them, much less at the Donghai International Circuit.

Let alone Rosberg, even if Schumacher were driving this silver Mercedes, the "outsider" would have to defer to the "local bully"!

With a tap of the accelerator, Chen Xiangbei was no longer in a leisurely test mode; the car's speed instantly soared as he chased after the silver Mercedes race car ahead.

The change in the car's speed was immediately transmitted to the monitoring screen via sensors. Seeing that Chen Xiangbei was showing signs of "road rage," Mizutani Sho said worriedly, "Team leader, the car is heavily loaded with fuel and has been tuned for long distances, and the medium tires don't have much life left. This kind of emotional confrontation could cause problems."

Although the HRT team no longer lacks replacement parts, if any accident occurs during practice, the team's mechanics will find it difficult to complete the repair and adjustment within just a few hours.

It's not a good thing, and it seems pointless, for professional drivers to drive recklessly out of spite.

Upon hearing this, Hiroki Sawano nodded and said, "Rosberg is not a reckless and impulsive driver. On the contrary, his personality is more calm and stable. I feel that he is deliberately trying to provoke Mukai-kun by making such a provocative move."

"The other party came prepared. If Xiang Beijun clashes with Rosberg, he will be at a great disadvantage and the risk will be very high."

"I think we should issue an order to the team to calm Xiang Beijun down and return to the team's maintenance station."

Based on rational thinking, Hiroki Sawano believed that Rosberg's provocation was inexplicable and inconsistent with his previous personality and persona. It seemed more like a trap to lure Chen Xiangbei into a trap.

Odeto did not respond to the persuasion from the team's strategy team members.

From a rational perspective, letting Chen Xiangbei calm down and enter the station is indeed the best option.

However, not everyone can be rational in this regard. The audience at the scene wouldn't, the media reporters wouldn't, and even Chen Xiangbei, who had already begun the pursuit, might not understand the team's decision.

The fact that the home team has retreated before the game even started is a huge blow to their morale.

Just as everyone was caught in a struggle between reason and emotion, a mocking laugh came from behind them.

"Tsk tsk tsk... Odeto, you're getting more and more cowardly as you get older."

"During Ferrari's championship campaign, Schumacher was willing to knock his opponents off the track, even at the cost of losing points for the entire year. Did your strategy team members try to dissuade him then?"

"Even if you try to persuade them, will the driver listen?"

"It's just a practice match now, and we can't even be sure what will happen. It's a waste of Bei's fighting spirit and competitiveness."

Briatore still showed his sharp tongue, especially his undisguised mockery of Odette.

As the victor of the "Red vs. Blue" battle, Hua Bu has an extremely strong sense of superiority. He believes that if he were to fight those cowards in Ferrari's strategy team again, they would still become his defeated opponents!

"Briatoli, your attempts to incite me won't work on me."

"Compared to you, who are driven by profit, I am only responsible to the drivers."

Odette replied coldly, knowing that Briatore disliked him.

But the root cause is not the opposition between the "red and blue battle".

Instead, it was his own Honda team that prevented the Italian veteran from having absolute control over the team!
To use a popular internet phrase, it's like saying, "Only children distinguish between right and wrong; adults only care about interests."

Moreover, there's no old grudge between these teams; even the team leader can switch teams at will. Today's enemy might become tomorrow's friend.

As if Odette had hit a nerve, Briatore's mocking smile turned into a smirk.

Odeto didn't bother arguing with this anymore. He pressed the team's voice prompt and said, "North, you have 47 percent tire life left and 39 percent fuel left. Full speed ahead can maintain grip for three laps."

"Rosberg is using soft red tires and is currently 1.7 seconds behind you. Are you considering pitting?"

Hearing Odeto ask him about entering the station, Chen Xiangbei frowned.

Are you telling me to back down?

"NO, we'll pull in, remove the oil, change the tire, and then come back!"

Since the other party came prepared, who says Chen Xiangbei can't prepare as well?
The light oil soft tire system isn't Rosberg's patent; Chen Xiangbei can also change tires in the pits.

Hiroki Sawano has never raced on foreign tracks, and it's true that he emphasizes safety based on his own understanding, but Odette understands better the significance of home track for drivers.

At worst, we'll go all out and have a fair fight. The HRT team is not afraid of anything!

“I don’t need to stop at the station; I can catch up with and overtake him.”

"OK, let me see your performance."

Odette didn't say anything and simply cut off the team's voice chat.

To be honest, he was quite curious about how much potential Chen Xiangbei could have on Donghai's home track.

The roar of racing cars echoed through the sky as Chen Xiangbei's No. 13 race car accelerated wildly and sped forward, presenting a completely different scene from the previous tests.

Inside the Mercedes pit lane, the strategy team members were also keeping an eye on the situation on the track.

Rosberg's provocative actions were not authorized by Mercedes' strategy team, nor would they have issued such a meaningless order. But now that it had happened, even though Ross Brown had a relationship with Chen Xiangbei, he wouldn't forcefully stop it.

The reason is simple: Rosberg has developed a "mental demon" after being defeated by Chen Xiangbei in two consecutive matches.

He needs to find a way to regain his confidence, even if that way isn't exactly honorable.

"Schumacher, do you think North can catch up with Rosberg?"

Ross Brawn asked Schumacher a question.

Schumacher's victory in the rain at the Australian Grand Prix has given the Mercedes team a boost, and they are looking forward to the return of the racing legend.

In fact, this championship was more like a flash in the pan.

Schumacher's aggressive pursuit put a lot of pressure on his body, causing an aggravation of old injuries from the motorcycle accident. He even experienced numbness in his left shoulder and sudden dizziness during this race, ending the practice session early and returning to the pit room to rest, saving more energy for the afternoon qualifying session.

"Two laps, North can catch up for at most two more laps."

Compared to Odette's prediction of three laps, Schumacher lowered his standards.

The Donghai International Circuit is a very tire-intensive track. Chen Xiangbei's full-speed push will cause tire wear far exceeding expectations. If he can't catch up with Rosberg in two laps, there will be no possibility of any offensive or defensive battle.

"I asked if it's possible to catch up?"

Ross Brown emphasized one point, the subtext being who is stronger, Rosberg or Chen Xiangbei.

To be honest, this issue is a source of anxiety for him this season.

After all, no one came closer to signing Chen Xiangbei as a full-fledged driver than the former Brawn GP team.

With Mercedes' investment, German residency became a mandatory requirement. Given Schumacher's comeback and securing a seat, only Vettel and Rosberg remained in the paddock who met the criteria.

Without a doubt, Vettel, driving Red Bull and vying for the championship, is unlikely to transfer, making Rosberg the only option.

Many times, Ross Brown would ask himself if, if he had to choose again, he could withstand the pressure from Daimler Group and sign Chen Xiangbei to gamble on a future.
But there are no "what ifs" in life. Just as Ross Brown was distracted, the black and orange HRT race car had already arrived behind the silver Mercedes.

In one lap, Chen Xiangbei closed the gap by one second!
Looking at the "black phantom" appearing in the rearview mirror, Rosberg could hardly believe his eyes.

Impossible! How could Chen Xiangbei be so fast, chasing a soft red tire on a medium tire by a second in a single lap?
If we take the tire difference into account, it means that Chen Xiangbei's theoretical lap time is 1.5 seconds faster than mine!
Even though this wasn't a race and he wasn't at his best, that speed was still astonishing.

Even though Rosberg was overtaken by Chen Xiangbei in the opening match and witnessed Chen Xiangbei's appearance in the rain in Australia, Rosberg still subconsciously didn't feel that this Chinese newcomer was stronger than himself.

The opponent's good performance is more like a mismatch between Guan Yu and Qin Qiong.

Try a different track, and you might just be the one standing on the stage!

But this time Rosberg came prepared, yet Chen Xiangbei still easily caught up with him.

Faced with the facts, Rosberg felt his arrogance and conceit instantly crumble.

"Holy crap, Chen Xiangbei is so fast! He's already caught up with Rosberg!"

"It seems like the overtaking wasn't an accident; it was just that the German deliberately provoked us, and Chen Xiangbei's pursuit was a retaliatory act?"

"Previously, the media only publicized Chen Xiangbei's strength, but today I've witnessed it firsthand. He's indeed tough!"

"Go Chen Xiangbei! Let Rosberg know who truly rules this track!"

The audience realized Chen Xiangbei's intention and instantly erupted into a frenzied clamor.

To some extent, Chen Xiangbei's choice to launch a strong counterattack was precisely to achieve this effect.

He demonstrated to the audience that Chinese drivers are not pushovers on the track, nor are they objects to be provoked or bullied at will.

Anyone who dares to provoke us will only face an even fiercer response!

"Rosberg, move to the defensive line, the North is about to launch an attack."

The Mercedes engineer's reminder came through the headset: things had come to this point, and even if they didn't want the drivers to drive aggressively, they had no choice but to proceed.

This is now a matter of the driver's competitive spirit and self-confidence.

Rosberg didn't reply to the team engineer's reminder; he focused all his attention on the number 13 car behind him.

The two race cars sped along one after the other. Rosberg, who was defending with all his might, really showed his strength and talent, and almost no flaws were revealed. Chen Xiangbei could not find any space to overtake.

But if the stalemate continues, Chen Xiangbei will definitely be the one who suffers.

The reason is simple: his tires have a shorter lifespan than Rosberg's, and overtaking requires more grip than defending.

If Chen Xiangbei fails to overtake on the next lap, his tire grip will be significantly reduced, and any risky overtaking maneuver will likely result in him going off the track or colliding with another vehicle.

On other tracks, Chen Xiangbei wouldn't be afraid of car damage and wouldn't care about the results.

At the Donghai International Circuit, Chen Xiangbei aims for a complete victory!
Faced with this situation, everyone in the HRT team's pit lane was on edge. They were worried not only that Chen Xiangbei wouldn't be able to overtake him, but also that he might do something rash.

Even the entire team staff at the pit lane were all focused on the monitor screen, their faces filled with expressions of amusement. The Chinese kid had brought too many variables to the new season.

Chen Xiangbei, however, remained calm, having already identified a way to overtake.

After Turn T13, the main straight of the Donghai International Circuit stretches for 1.2 kilometers, with top speeds exceeding 350 km/h.

Chen Xiangbei didn't know the Mercedes race car's maximum performance limit; that was confidential data belonging to the team.

But he knew how fast the TF110 was!
Especially with the combination of low downforce and a stall wing, Chen Xiangbei is confident that he can outrun the Mercedes on the long straight.

What "Silver Arrow"? It's nothing special!

With a heavy slam on the accelerator, the Toyota engine roared deafeningly, and using the slingshot effect created by the wake, Chen Xiangbei instantly pulled away.

"We're about to overtake!"

"Is the Chinese newcomer choosing to attack on the main straight lane, intending to overpower Rosberg?"

"HRT's TF110 outperforming Mercedes-Benz's W01, doesn't that sound a bit surreal?"

"That's normal. The TF110 is much faster than expected, while the W01 is not as fast as expected!"

The members of the repair shop's fleet were discussing it animatedly, with many even sounding excited.

The prevailing theme in this world is that the underdog always triumphs over the strong, which is more likely to attract supporters.

From an outsider's perspective, both Chen Xiangbei and the HRT team are considered weaker compared to Rosberg and Mercedes.

However, the reality is quite the opposite of what the outside world perceives.

Chen Xiangbei and the HRT team are the real powerhouses!
The TF110 race car passed the rear wheel of the W01, then moved to the side box of the car, and then stood side by side with the front of the car.

Rosberg watched helplessly as Chen Xiangbei overpowered him, flooring the accelerator and making it impossible for the Mercedes to catch up with the HRT.

This is not just due to the slingshot effect of the tap, but also the leading advantage in racing car performance!
As the TF110's speed increased, Chen Xiangbei successfully overtook Rosberg when the car entered the braking zone, seizing the best entry line and blocking Rosberg's path.

Looking at the black and orange race car in front of him, Rosberg's Dao heart shattered instantly. In his daze, he could no longer control the braking force precisely. He slammed on the brakes, the tires locked up, and then with a "bang," the tires burst. The entire race car drifted and came to a stop sideways on the track.

At the same time, Chen Xiangbei looked at Rosberg, who had given up and turned off the engine, through the rearview mirror, and a disdainful smile appeared on his lips.

A future world champion? You've really picked the wrong opponent!

(End of this chapter)