Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 312 For the Team's Victory

As Odette finished speaking, design director Bob Bell got up and left the outdoor command post, then went to the waiting technicians in the maintenance team and called out to them.

"Last race was undercut by McLaren, and this race we achieved a perfect two-car pit stop on the same lap, which proves that you are the best crew in the paddock, bar none!"

"Next, we're going to teach Ferrari a lesson in defeat!"

Bob Bell was in high spirits, and facing his old rival Ferrari, he seemed to have rediscovered the passion he had during the "Red vs. Blue" era.

The same Briatore team leader, the same Renault team, the same red Ferrari squad.

The only change is that Alonso, the former dragon slayer, has now sided with the evil dragon Ferrari.

But what hasn't changed is that the HRT team has once again welcomed a prodigy, who possesses talent and courage that rivals Alonso's, and has become the new generation's dragon-slaying prodigy!

Encouraged by Bob Bell, the crew members, who were initially tense and solemn, were instantly energized and became somewhat excited.

While the HRT train crew is indeed a new force, it does not mean they are weak.

Led by Liang Chi, the chief technician from China, the training volume and intensity of the crew are in no way inferior to other top teams, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they far exceed them.

Countless practices lead to the most precise and fluid teamwork, and the confidence built up with each success.

If the crew members had some doubts before that they were the best team.

So now they are convinced that they can defeat all their opponents in the paddock.

Including top luxury brands like Ferrari!
"That's right, we are the best crew team!"

Chief technician Liang Chi responded to Bell, his mindset now growing in exactly the same way as Chen Xiangbei's.

From looking up to looking straight ahead, and then to looking down.

Gradually, the aura surrounding F1 was shattered, and it was realized that the opponent was just a "mortal" like himself, not an invincible "god".

What top-tier teams and factory crews can do, HRT train crews can also do.

Maybe we can do even better!
"HRT team is the No.1 in the paddock."

"YES, we are the best team."

"The North has won the victory, and we will also win the war."

"For the North, for HRT, for the Championship!"

The shouts of the mechanics drew the attention of other crew members in the maintenance lane, especially the Ferrari and McLaren teams, who were performing pit stops for Alonso and Hamilton to change tires.

Already in a tense state, hearing the shouts of the HRT convoy made me feel even more agitated.

Of course, beneath the passion and excitement lay reason. After Odeto stirred up the emotions of the team members, he, along with Hiroki Sawano, Sho Mizutani, and others, stared intently at the tire-changing time on the screen.

Ferrari changed tires in 2.93 seconds.

McLaren changed tires in 3.07 seconds.

This is a below-average tire change time in both paddocks. It's unclear whether it was due to the "noise" from the HRT team or a flaw in the crew's coordination under pressure.

"Nice!"

Upon seeing this number, Odette once again couldn't contain his emotions and shouted out.

This means that if Chen Xiangbei can pit in under 2.5 seconds on the next lap, he will be able to undercut Alonso!

Time ticked by, and the HRT crew mobilized in full force. They moved the spare tire from the maintenance station to the parking space in the maintenance lane as quickly as possible, waiting for Chen Xiangbei to arrive.

Even at this moment, the tires were still wrapped in warming blankets, and they were timing it perfectly.

It's worth noting that the average temperature at the Lingyan Circuit today is around 20 degrees Celsius, and the road surface temperature is even lower, around 10 degrees Celsius. If the tire warming blanket is removed even a second earlier, the tire temperature could very well drop by one degree Celsius.

Even if Chen Xiangbei successfully undercuts Alonso, after he exits the pits, he will only be slightly ahead of the Ferrari, right in the slipstream area.

Alonso's extra lap was essentially a warm-up lap, as he had already reached the operating temperature.

Chen Xiangbei's cold tires will most likely not be able to stop Alonso's attack, and his previous successful catch-up and the time advantage of pitting for tire changes will all be in vain.

That's why the HRT crew didn't remove the tire warming blankets; they wanted to achieve perfection in every detail!

In addition, some teams do not remove the warm-up blankets in advance, which is also part of the strategy of hiding the tires, so that the opposing teams cannot see what type of tires you want to use.

However, at this stage of the competition, almost every team's tactics are out in the open. As long as there are still brand new soft red tires available, they must be used. Chen Xiangbei is no exception.

The black and orange No. 13 race car drove into the pit lane, and members of other teams also came out of their pit garages, focusing their attention on the HRT team's pit bay.

They wanted to see if the fledgling HRT team truly had the ability to challenge the Ferrari team.

Chen Xiangbei looked at the "crowded" crowd in the maintenance passage, but he didn't feel much. He just needed to do his job and leave the rest to the crew members.

Furthermore, Chen Xiangbei has absolute trust in his team, which is a fundamental requirement for any racing team and a guarantee of victory!

The automatic speed limiter on the steering wheel restricts the race car's speed to a standard 80 km/h, just like the cruise control on a civilian car, preventing the driver from manually exceeding the speed limit.

Generally, speeding in maintenance lanes is slightly more common, for example, running at 81 or 82 when the speed limit is 80, or speeding too fast at the entrance and failing to slow down completely when braking.

However, Haas rookie driver Berman later set a record in practice by passing through the pit lane at an astonishing speed of 260 km/h under red flag conditions.

If crew members or FIA weighing personnel were in the maintenance lane at that moment, the consequences of a collision would be unimaginable.

Berman was also penalized with a 10-place penalty in the race and a 4-point deduction from his super license for his dangerous driving behavior.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei wouldn't allow himself to make such a basic mistake.

Especially during the undercut (tactical overtaking) period when every second counts, a time penalty caused by speeding is not just a mistake, it's practically a crime against the entire team!
Although Chen Xiangbei had no subjective fault, the fact that other crew members came out to watch objectively blocked his view, making it difficult for him to accurately locate the HRT maintenance parking space.

The only way to make a rough judgment is by looking at the sign hanging at the top.

Briatore, who was originally relaxing comfortably at the outdoor command post, immediately sensed the potential dangers upon seeing the massive crowds.

He jumped off his seat and shouted at the other train crews in front of him, "Make way, make way, don't block the North's entry!" If anyone else had said this, it probably wouldn't have been very intimidating, but the Italian old rogue's experience and reputation as a villain had a great effect at this moment. The crew members blocking the HRT maintenance bay all took a step back.

Although Chen Xiangbei's view wouldn't be blocked and he wouldn't cause any farce like entering the wrong station, a brief hesitation would waste unnecessary time.

Chen Xiangbei's entry window was, to be precise, only 0.5 seconds!
The crew members had already removed the tire warmer blankets, and dozens of eyes were fixed on Chen Xiangbei's race car.

With a precise stop, the HRT race car came to a smooth stop in the maintenance bay. The mechanics swarmed around it like machines, using incredibly precise coordination and speeds beyond what was expected to change the tires on Chen Xiangbei's race car.

The scales of victory are now tipping in the wind with the movements of their hands!
The other teams were also watching this scene, while glancing at the stopwatch on the testing equipment out of the corner of their eyes.

In 0.05 seconds, the front and rear jacks lifted the race car to the ground. Two technicians held the car to prevent it from shaking, while four other technicians with pneumatic wrenches simultaneously rotated and removed the lug nuts from the tires.

In 0.35 seconds, the four bolts were removed, and the old tire was quickly detached from the axle. Then, the mechanics switched positions, and four more mechanics with new tires came over and precisely wedged the tires into the axle.

In 1.87 seconds, the tire change was completely completed. The entire process was flawless, and the teamwork was so smooth and seamless that it was a pleasure to watch!
However, this scene was probably not so pleasant in the eyes of Ferrari team principal Domenicali, whose expression was already very serious.

His intuition told him that HRT's tire-changing speed had surpassed that of Ferrari, but how much faster it was, he would have to wait for the final figures.

In 2.27 seconds, the pneumatic wrench had tightened the lug nuts, and the tire crew members raised their arms to indicate that the tire change was complete. Almost simultaneously, the front and rear jacks were lowered, and the start indicator light above turned green.

Feeling the bump as the race car landed, Chen Xiangbei released the clutch and stepped on the gas. Race car number 13 shot out of the pit lane like an arrow and into the adjacent pit lane.

At that moment, the stopwatch for the tire change stopped abruptly, the number frozen at 2.39 seconds.

"Long live the HRT trainset!"

Before the crew could even celebrate, a roar erupted from the VIP stands above the repair station.

2.39 seconds is not a record-breaking pit stop for tire changes; in the era of small tires in F1 paddocks, it was merely considered an excellent standard.

However, for the newly formed team under immense pressure, being able to outpace Ferrari and Mercedes at crucial moments is a remarkable achievement. Chen Xiangbei once again used a pit stop strategy to undercut his opponent!
"The HRT team's discipline and teamwork are outstanding; it's no wonder they've brought together the strength of three teams!"

"I have a feeling that the HRT team will be able to replicate Mercedes' miracle this year."

"Go Chen Xiangbei! Go HRT!"

"Become the strongest team in the paddock, and let me witness history!"

The fans at the scene also got emotional. In fact, compared to improving the drivers' performance, building a top-level racing team is much more difficult.

Throughout the races, even though Chen Xiangbei made mistakes, the HRT team remained steadfast and withstood all the pressure, never letting the drivers and fans down.

As expected of Toyota's final dance, it inherited the mantle of Super Aguri and the essence of Renault, completely replicating the shadow of Honda's final dance at last year's Brawn GP team!

"GOOD!"

Bob Bell watched Chen Xiangbei's car headlights disappear into the distance, clenched his fist, and roared.

Whether it was the pre-race car repairs, the mid-race pit stops with both cars on the same lap, or the recent extreme overpowering of Ferrari and Mercedes, this was a truly remarkable performance.

The crew members performed flawlessly!

The team was united by Chen Xiangbei's performance in the last race, and now Chen Xiangbei should be proud of having such a strong team. Only their absolute unity and precise cooperation can make an F1 professional team the key to victory.

Bell believes the starting point for the championship team is today!

Chen Xiangbei couldn't join the team's celebration. As he drove out of the pit lane exit, he could already see Alonso's fiery red Ferrari in his rearview mirror, with the Mercedes Silver Arrows following closely behind.

"Alonso, the opportunity is right in front of you. Show this Chinese newcomer what a true king is!"

Domenicali roared into the headset, "Chen Xiangbei can stop Schumacher, but he can't stop Alonso."

This is the man who shattered Schumacher's dream of eight championships!

Alonso did not respond; he had already made his stance clear by accelerating.

Faced with the aggressive Alonso, Odeto also pressed the call button.

"North, block Alonso, for the HRT team."

Previously, Odette's voice calls only mentioned Chen Xiangbei himself, but now he says it's all for the HRT team.

The reason is simple: Chen Xiangbei was able to stand in front of Alonso at this moment and gain a 0.5-second advantage, which relied on the speed and efficiency of the entire technical team.

Previously, it was the drivers who had an advantage that couldn't be squandered by the crew.

Now, the crew members are using their own efforts to help Chen Xiangbei stabilize and even overtake the advantage he has gained on the track.

Emotions and help are reciprocal, and Chen Xiangbei should not let the crew down.

"I will, for HRT."

Chen Xiangbei understood what Odeto was trying to say, and he gave an extremely firm answer.

Schumacher can't surpass me, and neither can you, Alonso!

With a press of the accelerator, even before the new soft red tires reached their operating temperature, their inherent characteristics still provided excellent grip.

What's even more terrifying is that Chen Xiangbei's decision this time is no longer to go all out on defense as before. Instead, he is frantically increasing his speed, trying to shake off the car behind him!
The former is passive, the latter is active.

At this moment, Chen Xiangbei was truly prepared to risk his life.

"Faced with Alonso's attack and pursuit, driver North showed no signs of backing down or fear, and even abandoned the defensive route, demonstrating great courage and absolute confidence."

"To be honest, I have never seen this kind of confidence and momentum in a young driver."

"If I had to describe it in four words, I would say it's unstoppable!"

Red gave Chen Xiangbei high praise, and he also knew that in the end, the competition between drivers was no longer a contest of driving skills, but a battle of mentality and momentum.

Compared to his previous match against Schumacher, Chen Xiangbei seems to have evolved, and he gives people a completely different feeling.

For a fleeting moment, Red's intuition even told him that Chen Xiangbei was still suppressing Alonso in terms of momentum!
(End of this chapter)