Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 317 The Strongest Hexagonal Rookie
Chen Xiangbei's answer was very casual, but his tone was extremely firm.

What's there to worry about if you offend Mercedes?
Let alone the fact that the current Mercedes is not the seven-time champion that will be crowned in the future, it doesn't matter even if it's more than ten years from now.

HRT is not a Mercedes customer team and currently has no financial problems. There is no conflict of interest between the two parties. So what if it has a great reputation?

To put it bluntly, Mercedes, without the halo of its parent company Daimler Group, is just a newcomer to the F1 paddock this year, just like the HRT team, and its performance is even worse than that of the HRT team.

What right do they have to put on airs?

As for Schumacher, to be honest, the consequences of offending him ten years ago would have been very serious.

In terms of skill, I believe no one in F1 history can compare to him, not even if Senna were reborn.

Perhaps Senna could surpass Schumacher in terms of absolute speed for pole position, but he definitely couldn't outrun him in overall race results. Their head-to-head match in 94 already provided a certain answer.

Schumacher was a perfect all-rounder, the kind of player who had no weaknesses during his peak.

Chen Xiangbei felt inferior to him.

In terms of ruthlessness, Schumacher was second to none; his willingness to do anything to win was not just empty talk.

The racing legend was ruthless not only to others, but also to himself.

Even in terms of arrogance and overbearing manner, Chen Xiangbei is slightly inferior.

But that was all in the past.

Schumacher is already at the end of his career, while Chen Xiangbei is just beginning and has a long period of growth ahead of him. As a result, the gap between the two will only widen.

If the racing king wants revenge, Chen Xiangbei welcomes it.

Sometimes, to ascend to a higher status, one needs a stepping stone with sufficient influence.

Only two people in the paddock are qualified: Schumacher and Alonso.

"NB Chen Xiangbei, this is the true spirit of a Chinese driver!"

"That's right, what's there to be afraid of in racing? A driver can lose, but he must never be afraid!"

"Is North using Yin-Yang Vettel?"

"The best rookie must be full of confidence in himself, and North showed that very well."

Compared to previous times when Chen Xiangbei made such remarks, most of the audience members were sarcastic and thought that this Chinese kid was just trying to gain attention by creating a stir.

Instead, they are greeted with cheers and applause.

The factor that caused this change is simple: grades determine everything.

When you're a complete novice with nothing to show for it, saying you're not afraid of Mercedes or Schumacher is just a joke to others.

If you still dare to shamelessly boast, then who else should we mock but you?
However, Chen Xiangbei proved with two Grand Prix victories and a top-ranked points total that he is qualified to challenge Mercedes and Schumacher, just as Alonso ended Ferrari's invincible dynasty back then.

In competitive sports, results are the only way to have a voice!
"North, never underestimate Schumacher; you'll only ignite his competitive spirit."

Hank also smiled; he knew Schumacher's personality all too well—fiery and tough at heart.

If Schumacher encounters another "dragon-drawing" defense like today, he might just knock Chen Xiangbei off the track.

Why not use the word "collision"?

The point is that Schumacher has countless ways to keep himself in the paddock and continue racing.

"Hank, I will never underestimate Schumacher."

Chen Xiangbei nodded, not arrogantly denying Schumacher's fighting spirit.

However, he then added, "I'm really looking forward to this day."

To become the king of the F1 paddock, there are two things you can't do without.

First, we cannot be without achievements.

The second point is that one cannot be without equally matched opponents.

It's easy to understand why there are no achievements, but many people probably can't understand why there can't be no competitors.

Because achievements need to be compared to opponents, playing against a group of terrible players will lower the value of one's own achievements.

Senna was great because of Prost, Alonso reached the top because he defeated Schumacher, and Verstappen took the crown from Hamilton.

The strength of your opponent is the best prerequisite for proving yourself!
If possible, Chen Xiangbei hopes to witness the day when Schumacher returns to his peak form with renewed fighting spirit.

Being able to compete against a racing legend at full strength is definitely a lucky thing for a driver's career!

Unfortunately, following the trajectory of history, no one can escape the erosion of time, and this day may never come.

After saying this, Chen Xiangbei was taken back to the drivers' lounge by staff to await the upcoming awards ceremony.

Not long after, Vettel and Webber, who had finished their interviews, also arrived at the drivers' lounge. They happened to be separated from Chen Xiangbei and did not meet in the post-race interview area.

Chen Xiangbei and Webber had a conflict at the Australian station, and the two had no contact in private. Their relationship was not good, and they just nodded to each other as a greeting.

As for Vettel, the two had no prior conflict, and Germans are generally easygoing. When Chen Xiangbei met Vettel at the paddock, they even shook hands and gave each other a high five.

But today, Vettel only forced a smile and nodded to Chen Xiangbei. The reason for his low spirits, besides being defeated in the last moment and taking the runner-up position, was the real key reason for the loss!

No one knows better than Vettel himself why he lost.

During his three-year F1 career, Vettel understood very well that in the paddock, weakness meant vulnerability.

He has never considered himself a coward. From the day he entered the paddock, he has always faced competition within the team, including now, when he is also engaged in a fierce battle with Webber. Vettel has always maintained a tough stance.

But when he was fighting Chen Xiangbei for the lead, he chickened out!

Vettel wasn't too scared to hit the brakes, but his momentary hesitation also prevented him from flooring the accelerator to take that risk.

In a battle between masters, the outcome can often be decided in the blink of an eye.

That split-second hesitation put Vettel a car length behind Chen Xiangbei, ultimately deciding who would take first and second place in the race.

Although the team voice chat was full of congratulations and consolation after the race, Vettel knew very well that his performance had disappointed Marko and others, which was not the behavior expected of a champion driver.

Disappointment is far more painful than failure.

Chen Xiangbei was naturally unaware of Vettel's inner thoughts, nor was he interested in knowing them.

The F1 paddock is a place where only the victors and the vanquished are worthy of the title; to become king, one must pay the price, including the life of a driver.

Even a player as strong as Senna still met his end on the track.

If you're not prepared to risk your life, you'll have to accept failure.

The path you choose, you have to walk it, even if you have to crawl. After a short rest and adjustment, Chen Xiangbei and the others walked towards the podium. To be honest, after experiencing the jubilation of winning the championship on home soil, their excitement threshold was greatly increased, and they no longer had that kind of trembling excitement.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei was still very happy to win the championship.

Especially when facing the ridicule and provocation of hundreds of thousands of South Korean spectators, and then winning the championship by riding on their heads, making them obediently stand up and listen to the national anthem, that feeling of gritting his teeth but being helpless also made Chen Xiangbei feel extremely exhilarated.

I love the way you guys can't stand me, but can't do anything about it!

As the national anthem ended, the crowd below erupted in another burst of enthusiastic cheers as they looked at Chen Xiangbei standing on the highest podium.

"The Chinese champion who dominates the Korean circuit!"

"The strongest rookie, and perhaps the strongest driver of the future!"

"In the past, the title of 'God of Cars Bei' was a vision; in the future, 'God of Cars Bei' will become a convention!"

"Chen Xiangbei, I have witnessed your being condemned by thousands, and I have also awaited your being the center of attention."

"Champion, driver Bei!"

In contrast to Chen Xiangbei's calm demeanor, many fans and spectators in the audience were moved to tears.

Throughout the entire Korean F1 Grand Prix, for most of the time, the voices of Chen Xiangbei's supporters were drowned out by the hundreds of thousands of insults and jeers from the audience, and the frustration of being unable to fight back made them feel even worse.

Witnessing Chen Xiangbei reach the pinnacle now brings an equally exhilarating feeling of triumph.

Moreover, it wasn't just Chinese viewers; the number of foreign viewers cheering for Chen Xiangbei was significantly higher than before the competition, by more than an order of magnitude.

The world's largest fan base will always be the champion's fans.

If Schumacher or Verstappen didn't have so many championships, their actions in the paddock would have been heavily criticized. Where in the world would they find so many fans and supporters?
Regardless of whether these people like Chen Xiangbei or not, the moment he becomes the champion, the human instinct to admire the strong will be activated, and their subconscious will shift their stance.

Even the opponents, when faced with the champion, naturally lack the confidence to speak, just like the speechless South Korean audience, who were left with only envy, jealousy and hatred in their hearts.

"Vettel is a complete waste. With Red Bull's powerful performance, he couldn't even stop the Chinese on the last lap."

"If Vettel had shown some backbone, we wouldn't be suffering like this now."

"Without dirty and despicable crash orders, Chen Xiangbei wouldn't even be able to get past Schumacher."

"Yes, it was because Schumacher was knocked out that the continuous undercut window occurred!"

"If only one day, our South Korean drivers could stand on the highest podium, how wonderful that would be..."

Amidst all the sarcastic remarks, one of the home-field South Korean spectators, watching Chen Xiangbei's celebration ceremony, silently uttered the last sentence.

The surrounding area instantly fell into a deathly silence once again.

Yes, no matter how much he slanders himself, even if the FIA ​​Post-Final Investigation Bureau ultimately cancels Chen Xiangbei's championship, he still won the F1 Chinese Grand Prix and is undoubtedly the number one Asian driver.

There are practically no South Korean drivers in F1!

Good or bad grades are a matter of ability; if you don't even have the right to sit at the table, you'll always just be a bystander.

Just like how, for a long time afterward, Chinese audiences eagerly awaited the emergence of a Chinese F1 driver.

This hope ended with the arrival of Zhou Guanyu.

"Boss, you may have really made the wrong choice."

In the Williams team's pit garage, watching the broadcast camera show Chen Xiangbei walking off the podium and embracing his crew in celebration, team director Heide quietly uttered these words.

He once asked Sir Williams if he regretted missing out on Chen Xiangbei.

Sir Williams answered no, saying he had better options at the time.

With the passage of time, perhaps no young driver is a better choice than Chen Xiangbei.

Two consecutive race wins, his position at the top of the standings, and his formidable mental fortitude on the track all demonstrate his potential to become a future racing superstar.

If Sir Alex Ferguson had chosen Chen Xiangbei back then, perhaps the Williams team could have achieved greatness again today!
After all, in the 60-year history of F1, Williams has won nine Constructors' Championships, second only to the super giant Ferrari, and even McLaren is slightly inferior. They fully deserve the title of "great again".

Faced with the words of team director Hyde, the proud Sir Williams remained silent this time.

Being speechless, in a sense, already tells the answer.

He regretted it.

For the Williams team, which is in a downward spiral, signing a super rookie may be its last lifeline, but Sir Williams has pinned his hopes on Hulkenberg.

From a newcomer's perspective, Hulkenberg looked good in these two games, reaching Q3 and scoring points.

However, compared to Chen Xiangbei's grades, it was like comparing heaven and earth.

If time could turn back, Sir Williams would not have refused Staller's invitation.

Of course, it's pointless to talk about this now, as the F1 paddock has witnessed the birth of a superstar!

Following the conclusion of the awards ceremony, the FIA ​​quickly released the results of Mercedes' appeal.

There is no evidence that Perez deliberately crashed the car. Collisions are normal on the track, and Chen Xiangbei cannot be considered to have illegally profited from them. Therefore, his result is valid.

The HRT team was not surprised by the arbitration result.

Because damn well, no crash order was ever given!

Even Briatore himself was speechless at this moment. He had no choice but to do so before in order to help Alonso achieve his third title, but now he just wanted to be a good person.

However, the public discourse both inside and outside the paddock did not end with the conclusion of the match.

On the contrary, the next day, reports from various media outlets around the world pushed public opinion to another climax.

Chen Xiangbei may have a home advantage in the Chinese Grand Prix, but in the Korean Grand Prix, with a brand new track, coupled with his top speed and comparison with his teammates' top speeds, there is no objective reason to deny Chen Xiangbei's strength.

The BBC, Yonhap News Agency, Sky Sports, Xinhua News Agency, CNN, Japan's NHK, and almost all traditional media with global influence, as well as online media such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Weibo, and YouTube, published news about Chen Xiangbei's consecutive championships on their homepages.

The headline on Sky Sports was written by Hank, and as always, it was stirring up trouble.

The Birth of the Strongest Newcomer: A Disruptor of the Old Order in F1!

CNN's headline was: "Two-time F1 champions make history, can driver Bei continue his miracle?"

Yonhap News Agency's headline was rather sour, written with extreme reluctance: "Chinese driver wins Korean Grand Prix in controversy; motorsport should not be a barbaric sport of crashes."

As for the headline from Japan's NHK, it was quite unique, praising itself on the one hand while completely acknowledging Chen Xiangbei's strength on the other.

"The successor to Toyota's will, the strongest hexagonal newcomer, the black phantom on the racetrack from the Chinese Empire—Chen Xiangbei!"

(End of this chapter)