F1: The Making of a Racing God

Chapter 107 There Will Always Be Hungry Wolves Accompanying (5K)

It took Shu Long about nine laps to catch up with Vettel and Verstappen, who were originally more than two seconds ahead of him, after he pitted on lap 9.

During this period, the two exchanged positions four times in front of Shu Long's eyes. Each time, after overtaking using DRS, they were overtaken again on the next lap or even the next DRS.

Because all the battles took place on the DRS straight, these struggles didn't actually affect their lap times too much. In fact, as their fuel levels gradually decreased, both of their lap times were approaching 1:34.

What concept is this?
The two Williams cars achieved a lap time of around 1:35.2 in qualifying, while Shu Long's own qualifying lap time was only just under 1:32, and he had his engine and discharge power at almost maximum!

In order to catch up with the two monsters ahead, these nine dragon coils really put in their best effort!

Now that Gan Mengning has been brought up, everyone will probably understand.

It's like that kind of thing where it seems like it doesn't exist, but you have to pretend it does, and then after a lot of effort you open the packaging and wow, it really does exist!

Before the competition began, probably no one in the entire crew expected that the seemingly ordinary STR14 could unleash such potential.
"Watch out for the dragon. Now, use the DRS in front to control the engine temperature, adjust it to STRAT 5, and manage the battery power a bit."

"Copy! My God, it's unbearably hot in the cockpit! And the worst part is I don't have any water to drink!"

"So try to avoid the dirty air ahead. There are a few abnormal readings on the car, so try to be as gentle as possible when entering corners. I know it's not easy, but there are less than five laps left in the race, hang in there, buddy!"

"To be specific, I feel like the temperature in this cockpit is almost 60 degrees Celsius! My brain is refusing to think!"

"Reduce your reliance on engine braking. Our tires are in good condition, so use the brakes a little more. Also, pay attention to the engine speed and shift up a little earlier, especially in fifth and sixth gear. Don't linger in those gears for too long."

After a brief response, Shu Long made some minor modifications to the race car settings based on Hamelin's suggestion, and then ended the short conversation.

The high temperature in the cockpit made him a little irritable. It didn't have much of an impact on his physical strength, but his throat, which was so dry it was almost smoking, made him not want to say a word. He even felt inexplicably irritated when listening to others speak.

In the laps he made to close the gap, especially in the third stage, he practically turned the engine power up to qualifying mode, and then quickly switched it back up once he got to the starting straight. He was really squeezing every last drop of potential out of the car.

However, this setup is mostly used only in qualifying because, in addition to protecting the lifespan of the power unit, the car's cooling capacity does not allow it to be kept at its limit for such a long time.

Engine malfunctions are only one aspect; the key issue is that the driver himself can't handle it either.

Although the cockpit of an F1 car is exposed, due to the overall aerodynamic design, the amount of airflow directly passing through the driver is actually very small. There are some air intakes in the cockpit to help drain water and cool the car, but these are only enough to ensure that the driver won't be roasted alive inside the car.

After all, this is an extreme sport, and it is always a huge test for both the car and the driver!

Fortunately, they finally caught the DRS ahead in time, giving both the race car and the dragon a little breathing room.

With a third party suddenly entering the fray, both Vettel and Verstappen became much more restrained.

Both of them had switched to new yellow ones, and their mileage was four or five laps more than that of Shulong. After a high-intensity 15 laps, they were now almost at their performance limit, so they had to be wary of this ambitious little Red Bull.

This meant that Shulong wouldn't find an opportunity in the short term, and it felt like the outcome of this match was destined to be P5.
If the three-man train formation at this point consisted of Vettel, Leclerc, and Shulöfn, the outcome of the match might indeed be considered a foregone conclusion. However, the problem lies in the fact that the person sandwiched between them is named Verstappen.

Verstappen has a unique characteristic: as long as he can keep pushing forward, he will never let go of any possible opportunity before the game is truly over!

On the fifty-third lap, Shu Long noticed that the taillights of the Red Bull ahead were starting to flash, and he could sense an unusual opportunity without even having to think.

Ferrari's engineers also conveyed this message to Vettel in the TR, and the choice of racing line became noticeably more cautious.

Verstappen is about to make his move!

At the high-speed, full-throttle Turn 7, Ferrari and Red Bull started discharging their engines almost simultaneously, their pace suddenly accelerating and drawing the attention of the entire broadcast.

Just as the audience's gaze gradually zoomed out with the camera, a red and blue racing car, which seemed to follow them like a shadow, flashed by like a ghost.

Like a hungry wolf lurking in a corner, licking its wounds, it may seem harmless, but the hot, bloody breaths between its fangs silently warn anyone who approaches of its danger.
Just wait for the prey to get close and relax, then bite and crush their throat bones!

The conversation between Shu Long and Hamelin had undoubtedly sent a message to the other two teams: it seemed that Toro Rosso, as the second team, was exhausted, both in terms of the car and the driver.

On the surface, this is indeed the case. The dragon, which had been 0.4 seconds behind Red Bull, somehow fell back to 0.8 seconds behind again.

This is a very common practice among small teams and is not surprising.

Top teams consistently rank in the top three, and the points earned in each race can be astronomical figures that the bottom teams can't earn in a year. Sometimes, losing a dozen or so points doesn't really have much of an impact on the big picture.

Conversely, mid-range cars experience fluctuations in competitiveness at each race, and it's not possible to guarantee that the car can reach that level in every race.

They might have managed to snag a dozen points in this race, but in the next race, it could be difficult to even squeeze into the points zone. When the car starts to show signs of malfunction, most mid-table teams will prioritize protecting the car and focus on securing their current points first.

Earning a few more points won't beat Mercedes, so it's more practical to make sure the teams behind us don't get a chance.

Having figured these things out, both Red Bull and Ferrari relaxed their vigilance somewhat towards the Toro Rosso.

However, they overlooked one point: Toro Rosso has now accumulated 20 points, ranking fourth in the team standings, thanks to Shu Long's sixth and fifth place finishes in the first two races, plus a fastest lap and a point contributed by Albon.

Haas, Arrows, and McLaren are tied for fifth place, all with only six points, far behind Toro Rosso.

The Toro Rosso is only 7 points away from the current Red Bull team's 27 points.
Therefore, the risks that the three major racing teams can afford to take, the home team Shulong can also afford to take just as many!

On the fifty-fourth lap, Shu Long maintained a considerable degree of restraint, quietly narrowing the gap between himself and the car in front to about 0.6.

Verstappen was still searching for the right angle, but Vettel, who knew his impetuous junior quite well, gave him no room to maneuver.

This narrowing of the gap doesn't actually reveal Little Red Bull's intention to attack, because compared to the previous contestants who were also engaged in a game of cat and mouse, Shulong's side was actually minimally affected.

However, on lap 55, the gap between the third, fourth, and fifth cars had narrowed to 0.3 before entering Turn 11.

The convoy inside the paddock noticed this even before the broadcast cameras, but now the die was cast and the die had to be cast.

The straight after Turn 13 is very, very long, long enough for teams with quick reactions to make their trade-offs.

"Max, watch out for the dragon behind you. You know what the important thing is."

"I know! I'm aware of it!"

The same message was also transmitted to Vettel's earpiece, but to his dismay, he couldn't find the little red bull in his rearview mirror.

The dragon is hidden in the shadows; he is consciously using the Red Bull car in front to block Ferrari's view! The race is about to end on the next lap, and this may be his only chance to attack the car in front. It can be said that Vettel's choice of line in the heavy braking zone before Turn 14 will directly affect his success rate in overtaking this time.

Before that, Shulong needs to ensure that Vettel receives a sufficiently limited amount of information!
To avoid giving Verstappen a slipstream, Vettel started making a big S-shaped movement on the straight, which briefly exposed Toro Rosso in the rearview mirror, but he quickly disappeared behind the trailing Red Bull.

This was enough for Vettel, as it confirmed both Toro Rosso's general location and its ambitions.

Last time, my seat was stolen because my car broke down, and I let it go. But now it's happening again?
Even if you're trying to fleece someone, you can't just target Uncle Tilted Head like that!
Vettel has watched Verstappen grow step by step since 15, and it can be said that he knows Verstappen's driving style and thinking very well. In comparison, this junior named Shu Long seems to be a bit hard for him to understand.

Fear and vigilance stem precisely from the unknown.

Compared to Verstappen, whose next move was predictable, Vettel felt he should focus more on the Red Bulls further back in the game.

The disadvantage of not having DRS on the straight is too great. Even though Vettel has now unleashed the engine power limit and is discharging at full power, he still can't stop Verstappen from driving the Red Bull and at least getting alongside him.

There are essentially two options for defense: either go inside to block the way, or go outside to create opportunities on the curve.

There are only two options for offense: either attack the inside to gain an advantage, or attack the outside to create a bend.

Ultimately, the outcome depends on which driver's skill is more refined, so it's difficult to say who is better or worse.

Verstappen quickly made his choice – to drive to the inside!

This was not unexpected for Vettel. Knowing that brat as he did, there was almost a 90% chance that Verstappen would do the same.

The key is the other one.
Vettel astutely detected Shulong's movement toward the outside line and decisively followed suit, merging into the outside line on the left side of the track as he entered the braking zone.

That clever kid, he thought exactly the same thing!
There's a reason why so many drivers still choose to defend on the outside at the end of the DRS straight, even though they know they'll often be forced into position by the inside.

Firstly, the exit line of the outer lane is wider and straighter, which means that the cars on the outer lane can accelerate over a longer distance, have better traction, and the engine power can be released more fully.

Of course, there is another, even more crucial reason.

The perimeter defense offers more options and greater freedom, allowing for early or late interventions, unlike the interior defense which almost exclusively relies on late interventions.

For Shulong, who wants to break through the train formation, the choice is often more important than the limit!
Vettel, who was too focused on Toro Rosso, overlooked one thing: the variables brought about by Verstappen's confident push to the limit, and pushing to the limit inherently carries the risk of making mistakes.

Ferrari's blood-burning engine is no joke; its monstrous horsepower caused Verstappen to pull up a little too late, compounded by the relatively high wear rate of Red Bull's yellow tires at this race.
Shu Long, positioned in a perfect spectator spot and constantly monitoring the movements of the car in front, was able to detect the abnormal rolling speed of the Red Bull's front wheels almost the instant Verstappen stepped on the brake pedal, thanks to the exceptional dynamic vision provided by his "Eagle Eyes".

"He's going to lock it up!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Shu Long, who was originally planning to steal the crossover from the outside, braked at the last second and then cut into the inside line that Verstappen had opened up.

Vettel reacted quickly. Upon seeing the Red Bull car that had launched a suicide terrorist attack in his rearview mirror, he abruptly stopped his car, which had already begun to enter the curve, and tried to avoid the collision while attempting to circle around the intersection of the Vestaliban's inner lane.

Unexpected yet reasonable, as soon as Vettel turned his head, he saw that the little blue bull had already taken the spot.

Looking back, Verstappen, who had just locked up his tires as if he were about to go down with the track, regained front wheel grip after two quick attempts to track the trail, and the two of them sped away together, clinging to the tail of the dragon.

"Oh, Fxck!"

Ferrari's engineers were trembling with fear. The race had entered its final, crucial moments, and they dared not utter a single unnecessary word.

The engineers dared not speak, but Vettel had now completely transformed into an "honest man," the rambling German farmer repeating "Honestly!" the entire way in the TR.

But after entering the final lap at Turn 10, Vettel quickly got back into racing mode without needing any reminders from the engineer.

Toro Rosso doesn't have an engine like a Ferrari, which means they still have a chance!
The scene was almost exactly the same as the previous lap, except this time Shu Long was the lead car.

The current situation is truly hopeless.

Actually, Shulong didn't intend to overtake both cars in front of him in one go during that lap. He had consumed too much battery power while chasing, and the charging time of just two laps was not enough to replenish enough power for defense. The ideal tactic was to take them down one by one and always ensure that he had DRS to catch.

But man proposes, God disposes; Verstappen made a mistake.

While creating an excellent opportunity for Little Red Bull to overtake, it also forced Shu Long to become the locomotive breaking through the wind, so coincidentally that he even suspected that Max's last close call was intentional.
Before even entering the braking zone, Shu Long could only watch helplessly as the Red Bull roared past him from the outside, followed by a Ferrari that had accumulated a lot of wake and was ready to get its revenge.

Being overtaken was a foregone conclusion. Shu Long glanced at his nearly depleted battery and decisively released the overtaking button. He only tried to use his new five-lap yellow tires to push the limits of late braking before turn fourteen.

It didn't hold on tight! And it certainly didn't stop Red Bull at all!
Ferrari had just set a bad example in the previous lap. Shu Long first tried to slow down Vettel's exit from the corner, and then focused all his attention on the last corner of the race.

He saved up his last bit of power for this moment, with just a small section of DRS left!
Contrary to his usual behavior, he braked earlier, quickly downshifted to fifth gear, and flew directly over the sausage shoulder at the heart of turn sixteen!
Despite the risks, Shulong's goal was to enter the DRS zone as quickly as possible after exiting the corner by using earlier cornering maneuvers and shorter driving lines.

The car's chassis slammed heavily onto the track, sparks flying as the little Red Bull raced along. Almost at the exact moment the car touched the DRS line, before the indicator lights on the steering wheel even lit up, Shu Long pressed the DRS button at the absolute limit.

The main grandstand was completely silent. Almost all the spectators were craning their necks in their seats, their eyes fixed on the two Red Bulls that were almost touching each other.

The somber atmosphere of waiting for the final result contrasted sharply with the commentator, who had been almost invisible throughout the match but was now making his presence felt with his roars.

"Is there still a chance?! There's still a chance! Shulong is closing in fast! Checkered flag! The two race cars are almost side by side, who will cross the line first?!"

I can’t tell the difference, I really can’t tell the difference!
Not to mention the human eye, even the tournament organizers seemed to have some trouble distinguishing them for a while, with the initials of Shu Long and Verstappen's names being mixed up and down for quite some time.

This damn leaderboard has a certain delay; it's not until they've all cruised into Turn 1 and started cooling off their cars that the little checkered flag finally confirms the results.

"Our P4, Dragon? Are you alright?"

"Huh? It's alright. Actually, I guessed it even before you said it. I felt like I was falling behind a little before crossing the finish line."

"Yeah, it's a bit of a shame, Verstappen crossed the finish line first with a 0.07-second lead over us."

"We were a bit unlucky. The last stretch of the race where we could use DRS to accelerate was too short. If we had been a little further back from the finish line, the podium might have been ours."

"So, try to adjust your emotions? After all, it's your home turf, so try saying something to the fans."

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(End of this chapter)