F1: The Making of a Racing God

Chapter 116 Things are changing

During the waiting time before the race started, Shu Long and his crew didn't communicate much; they just quietly drank Red Bull from their tubes.

Today's tactical arrangements are not complicated; just go all out and charge forward.

Strategically, it's basically a red and yellow card stop. As for when that stop will be early or late, that depends on when Ferrari and Mercedes enter the pits.

It can only be said that once the competitiveness of racing cars increases, even the races seem to become easier.

Why bother with all that complicated strategy differentiation? It's just about fighting for the position we deserve. Just do it the normal way.

Moreover, as a very traditional street circuit, it is not easy to find a window of clean air when there is a stop, especially since Shulong started from the front row and the track conditions were already good enough.

However, compared to the relaxed Red Bull, the three Mercedes-Benz brands in the front row are not having an easy time.

"Lewis, you absolutely must pay attention to Shu Long behind you at the start today. If you want to compete for the championship, you can't afford to waste too much time with him."

Upon hearing this, Hamilton turned his head and glanced at the little blue red bull behind him in the rearview mirror, then moistened his slightly dry lips with his tongue.

It's a pity that he didn't get pole position yesterday, otherwise Bottas would be the one facing the pressure of starting in Shulong now.

Nervous? Perhaps a little, but mostly I feel a long-lost excitement.

Hamilton had long known that this little guy had an extraordinary start, but he hadn't actually experienced it firsthand yet, so he couldn't help but feel a little curious.

With Rosberg's swift retirement, his recent championships haven't been as prestigious. Most of his races seem to have been won naturally, with him taking pole position, leading the pack, and then winning.

Isn't it boring?

Rather than acknowledging his exceptional driving skills, most people would probably just think that he simply drove fast.

Last year, Ferrari put a lot of pressure on him for a while, but Vettel often lost his composure while driving, so it can be said that the championship race was basically settled after the summer break.

If things continue like this, perhaps no one will question that he is a great driver, but even if he achieves seven championships like Schumacher, he may be inherently inferior to Schumacher in terms of legendary status.

It is often said that great drivers need equally great rivals to make them stand out.

Hamilton knew he was lucky; he seemed to have never driven a truly slow car since his debut, and sometimes he did feel the loneliness of being at the top.

He had spent so much time on the mountaintop that sometimes he almost forgot what competition felt like.

He seemed to have grown so accustomed to being on the throne that when a real opponent appeared to challenge him, his first reaction was somewhat out of control.

When a reporter first asked him about his teammates winning the championship in the opening game against Australia this year, his answer was tinged with a hint of stubbornness:

“Aside from having a bit more beard, I didn’t notice any particular changes in him.”

Many fans and media outlets have offered their interpretations, saying that Bottas has always been very strong, but no one has noticed it yet.

But only Hamilton himself knew that he was indeed under considerable pressure at the time, which is why he deliberately refused to acknowledge his teammates' excellence.

This is a very dangerous sign. The precursor to the fall of a strong person is that they slowly become complacent and only want to immerse themselves in past glories without improving themselves. They also lose the most basic qualities of a driver - the courage and determination of a challenger.

The summit is defined by people. Even if you have achieved something unprecedented, you can only consider yourself a climber who is still halfway up the mountain.

Before a driver is completely unable to keep up, the only challenge they ever have is to push their own limits.

Bottas seems to be getting better and better lately. In the four races of the 19 season, he has won half of the pole positions.

It's worth noting that Hamilton himself has always been known as "Liu Yiquan" (meaning "Liu One Circle"), but recently that nickname seems to be gradually changing to "Bo Yiquan" (meaning "Bo One Circle").

This undoubtedly gave Hamilton a greater sense of urgency. Human nature dictates that he still doesn't want any variables to emerge that could threaten his pursuit of seven or even eight titles.

But this doesn't stop him from learning to adjust his mindset a little. Perhaps a stronger opponent can better unleash his potential and fighting spirit?

Besides Bottas, it seems that many talented young people with championship potential are gradually emerging.

Verstappen, who has caused him trouble for several years, Leclerc, who showed the most direct championship-contending ability as soon as he started driving a Ferrari this year, and of course, Shulong, who is currently driving a Toro Bull that looks like it's about to explode.
They may overthrow it, or they may turn it into an ornament to make their throne even more magnificent.

"Don't worry, Bono, I know what to do."

Meanwhile, a similar conversation is taking place in Ferrari's TR.

However, compared to Mercedes, which had an absolute advantage in both position and route, this lead of just one car length really made Uncle Waitou a little unsure.

He was once known for his speed of reaction. For a long time after the light-out program was modified, Vettel himself maintained the fastest clutch response.

But that's all in the past. The person who broke his record is right beside him now, and that person is only 19 years old.

"Dude, I'm thirty-two years old, and honestly, I don't think I can definitely stop it 100%!"

"How about we prioritize defending Verstappen? GP just told him that after the start, he should try to catch the tail of the dragon first."

"That's a good idea; our engine has a significant power advantage."

If you were to randomly select a few people from inside and outside the paddock to answer, what would be the most striking impression Shulong, who has just participated in his fifth Grand Prix, gives people?

So most people's answer is probably not about Shu Long's age and appearance, nor his aggressive and flexible driving style on the track, but rather his super start that always puts him in a higher position at the beginning of the race.

The speed at which a car starts is not entirely dependent on the clutch response. A better start is the result of a combination of operations including the accelerator, steering, clutch, and gear selection.

But countless results have proven one thing: Shulong's start is truly unbeatable!
When Shu Long was still starting from the fourth or fifth row, these high-class luxury car teams didn't feel it particularly clearly.

But if Shu Long really starts from the second row, the sense of oppression is really not ordinary.

Especially since the distance from the starting line to Turn 1 at the Baku circuit is not very long, and with Mercedes and Ferrari's engine power advantage not being fully utilized, Shulong's cannonball start poses an even greater threat.

The green light came on, and led by Bottas, the cars began a lap of warm-up. Besides calming themselves, the drivers were also observing their opponents' reactions.

Can you really tell anything from it? Not necessarily.

Just like how martial arts masters always talk a lot to show off their skills before a fight, and then test each other's martial arts prowess.
Or, before entering the exam room, students will subconsciously observe the expressions of the people closest to them: those who stare blankly at the table and their fingers are either academic geniuses or slackers. Unless absolutely necessary, don't take the exam lightly, because who knows if they are experts or complete failures.

The girl is good-looking and always looking at her studies. Maybe her grades aren't top-notch, but at least she's reliable. She seems the safest bet.

It might be hard to distinguish true underachievers, but those who are so nervous before the exam that they're sweating profusely and looking around anxiously are definitely not to be trusted, even if they have good grades; they're likely to underperform.

Take Verstappen, for example, that restless guy. Even with the tires warming up, he has to push the front of the car forward to make his presence known. You can tell at a glance that he starts like he's going to make a big splash on the hour.

Vettel seemed a bit distracted, as if his attention was focused on the cars behind him, and he didn't seem particularly eager to fight for position.

Shu Long, on the other hand, behaved very well throughout, just doing his own thing, which is exactly the kind of student who is hard to distinguish from a slacker.

However, when Hamilton noticed the slight angle at which Shulong was stopped on the starting grid, he immediately sensed the strong aggression hidden beneath that innocent-looking exterior.

This guy not only wants to take down Ferrari, he even wants to take down Mercedes?
"Beep, beep, beep"

Accompanied by the loud beeping of the signal lights, five red lights lit up one by one, and twenty race cars roared in unison on the track. Even the commentator couldn't help but hold his breath at that moment.

"Lights out! The competition officially begins!"

"Vettel! He seems to have a good start, even keeping close behind Bottas!"

"Wait a minute, it seems like Bottas didn't get off to a good start! And what about Hamilton? Can he get past Shu Long? What is he doing?!"

A blue Lamborghini's headlights had barely gone out when it pulled up alongside the Ferrari, but it seemed completely uninterested in the red car next to it, sucking in Hamilton's slipstream and immediately making an inside layup.

Not only did Ferrari fail to withstand the dragon's initial attack, but they probably didn't even attempt to "resist" it, choosing to give up without any resistance.

Hamilton reacted quickly, only slightly closing the door outwards and not making any excessive defensive moves before pulling back to the center line.

Sure enough, Shu Long's inside move was just a feint; he almost squeezed into the open space in the middle at the same time he faking Hamilton inside.

Unfortunately, Hamilton, the seasoned veteran, wasn't fooled. The two cars changed lanes almost simultaneously, and Toro Rosso's attack was instantly neutralized.

This is a street circuit, unlike other paved tracks where you can let the two outer wheels go slightly out of bounds to find some space. Here, the track is as wide as the street.

Especially at Turn 1, the apex is blocked by the wall, and forcing your way into the inside will only put you in a very passive position.

Turn 1 is another right-angle turn. Here, rather than trying to gain position on the inside, the most crucial point is to get a sufficient entry angle to ensure exit speed.

Despite the brief exchange lasting less than ten seconds, Hamilton engaged in three rounds of psychological warfare with Shu Long during that time.

When Shu Long stopped on the starting grid, the front of his car was slightly pointed towards the center line, indicating that his original intention was more to launch an attack from Hamilton's right side.

However, with Ferrari blocking the midcourt line, and Hamilton having already prepared for this inside attack, in order not to waste his starting advantage, he could only try to create enough space for himself.

Originally, the initiative was in Shulong's hands.

If the old man stays in the center line, he can naturally take advantage of the situation to brake late on the inside. If the old man is shaken off to the outside, then Shulong can naturally take the advantage of exiting the corner as planned.

Who would have thought that this series of meticulously planned offensive strategies would be completely thwarted by the old man's anticipatory maneuvers?

No wonder you have the experience of a five-time champion, you're awesome!
The regret didn't even have time to fester in his heart. Soon, Shu Long activated his second starting plan. Instead of continuing to compete with Hamilton in braking, he turned around and squeezed the cornering space of the "waist-headed uncle".

The pre-race GP's TR against Verstappen was also relayed to Shu Long by Hamelin. Originally, the tactical choice between attacking Mercedes and defending Ferrari seemed to have gained another option.

Shulong's move immediately made Verstappen realize that this was an opportunity. He braked late in the braking zone, blocking the possibility of Uncle Waitou changing lanes, and turned around to catch Shulong's slipstream and quickly exited Turn 1.

perfect!

In Shu Long's pre-race predictions of all possible outcomes, this current ranking can be considered the second most perfect scenario, second only to surpassing Mercedes.

Judging from the qualifying lap times, Ferrari's absolute speed in this race was only slightly over 0.2 seconds faster than Toro Rosso. However, it wouldn't be difficult to defend against such a small advantage in a street race.

In particular, the Baku circuit has a large number of low-to-medium speed right-angle turns and many narrow low-speed corners, making battery management much simpler than at the Shanghai International Circuit.

However, the Ferrari engine, which could suddenly explode at any time, is ultimately a hidden danger. Therefore, it would be very appropriate to sandwich a Red Bull engine, which has a similar absolute speed to itself, in the middle, and pull a small train to increase the margin for error.

Before Mercedes-Benz had left the DRS zone, the long train line passed without incident.

However, starting from lap six, a large number of midfield cars began to pit for yellow, and by lap ten, nine cars had completed their first pit stop.

Tire wear and other issues are actually not too bad, but if small teams want to score points, they have to take the initiative to change their strategy. Switching to yellow tires early and running them to the end might even result in some points being won.

This undoubtedly threw the pre-match calculations for the entry windows into complete chaos.

The large number of cars entering the pits did create a significant window of opportunity, but in addition to the two Williams cars that were gradually moving away, there were also Grosjean and Gasly starting on yellow tires.

These two race cars are not slow. Gasly is driving a Red Bull, while Haas is using a Ferrari engine. It won't be easy for them to dominate on the straights.

Moreover, the first stint of a yellow tire is bound to be extremely long, and if it gets blocked for too long, the race is basically over.

But on the eleventh lap, the guy with the crooked head, annoyed by the trains blocking his way, couldn't resist the temptation of the undercut and went straight into the station to change to yellow.

This was the only option for Ferrari.

Once you enter the station, you'll be blocked by Grosjean and Gasly, and here you'll be blocked by the two bull trains. It doesn't really matter either way, but it's obvious that Hass and Gasly are a bit easier to overtake.

Fortune changes, and things may change, so why not take a gamble?

(End of this chapter)