Speed ​​God

Chapter 159: Every Strike Draws Blood
Jiang Mo had always reserved his opinion on racing. Although he hadn't directly opposed or obstructed it, Lu Zhizhou was always aware of Jiang Mo's attitude.

Even if Lu Zhizhou became a Ferrari driver, stood in the paddock that all drivers dream of, and reached the top of the podium in his professional debut, it still couldn't move Jiang Mo. Her worries, her fears, and her wild thoughts would not easily disappear because of these achievements.

"Worrying about your safety is my instinct, and it's also my job," Jiang Mo said.

In fact, Lu Zhizhou sincerely hoped that Jiang Mo could come to the scene to watch a race and experience modern Formula One racing up close, not only for its charm but also for the ever-improving safety features.

For example, the HALO system, which was criticized by everyone.

Because it is unfamiliar, there is fear; because it is unknown, there is mystery. Precisely because we do not understand, we are easily trapped by our own stereotypes.

But once you break through that barrier, things will be different.

Originally, fighting on home turf was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but unfortunately, Jiang Mo still did not show up.

Lu Zhizhou kept these things in mind. He wanted to prove himself and also hoped that Jiang Mo would stop worrying, because he understood what he was doing.

In Shanghai, Lu Zhizhou wanted to deliver a top performance more than ever, not only because it was his home turf, but also because he knew about Jiang Mo's inner turmoil.

And now?
Jiang Mo appeared without warning or any prior notice.

Lu Zhizhou couldn't hide his surprise and stood there stunned. He subconsciously turned to look at Lu Cheng, casting a questioning glance at him.

Lu Cheng gently patted Lu Zhizhou's head, "Aren't you going to greet her? Be careful your mother doesn't turn around and leave again; I can't stop her by myself."

Lu Zhizhou, still somewhat bewildered, stepped forward to greet her, "Mom, what brings you here?"

Jiang Mo deliberately put on a long face, "What, you're not welcome? Are you too nervous and underperform because I'm here?"

Lu Zhizhou's lips curled up, and he chuckled, "In this way, if I don't perform well in the competition, I'll have an excuse ready in advance."

Jiang Mo glared at Lu Zhizhou speechlessly. "Stay focused. Instead of wasting time making excuses, focus on the game."

"Yes, Mother!" Lu Zhizhou straightened his back, stood at attention, and answered in a serious and loud voice.

Zhang Qiaomu, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh so hard he almost fell over.

Looking left and right, Zhang Qiaomu patted Lu Zhizhou on the shoulder to lighten the mood, "Don't worry about your mother, I'll take good care of her today."

"Go and get ready. The doctor told me that you guys are incredibly busy before the competition. You need to adjust your mindset and concentrate. Go back and get ready quickly."

Lu Zhizhou took two steps forward to close the distance, "Thank you, Aunt Qiaomu. I'll treat you to a big meal after the competition."

Zhang Qiaomu smiled broadly, "Okay, then I'll look forward to the feast."

Lu Zhizhou didn't stay there for long. Lorenzo, who had traveled all the way to Shanghai to watch the match, acted as their guide and took care of them. As Song Bo said, Lu Zhizhou needed to warm up, stay focused, and get into match mode before entering the main competition.

He jogged lightly, but couldn't resist stopping and turning around. He saw Jiang Mo and the others waving, so he waved back, took two steps back, and jogged energetically towards the repair area.

He is ready.

This wasn't just a home game; it was the first match Jiang Mo had ever watched live.

Last time in Melbourne, under Lu Cheng's watchful eye, he created a miracle; today in Shanghai, under Jiang Mo's watchful eye, he wants to try again.

His mood blossomed with each leap, and Lu Zhizhou felt an unprecedented surge of energy. He couldn't help but spread his arms and start running.

Standing behind, Jiang Mo watched his son the whole time. Seeing his cheerful back, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up, and he gently shook his head, "He's still just a child."

Zhang Qiaomu looked over. No matter how old the child was, in their eyes he would never grow up. But before he could speak, Song Bo's voice came from the front.

"Aunt Jiang, how did you know? Everyone's calling the eldest child 'baby stroller' these days..."

Zhang Qiaomu looked up at the sky speechlessly, "You still call Xiaozhou a baby? I think you're the one still wearing diapers."

Hahaha, a burst of laughter erupted.

Amidst the banter, Jiang Mo's mind relaxed slightly. Watching the competition up close in the paddock didn't seem as scary as he had imagined.

However, this thought did not last long. As the team pushed the car into the starting straight and the drivers and team began to prepare, the steady heartbeat began to become erratic again.

Actually, the weather wasn't hot today, and it was mostly cloudy. Standing in an open space, there was wind coming from all directions, and there was a slight chill in the air.

But at this moment, the air was still thick with sweltering heat, beginning to distort and distort, as if the temperature was clearly rising, making it hard to breathe; the roar of the engine was like a raging storm, constantly pounding on the eardrums, and Jiang Mo's internal organs began to churn.

This time, neither Lu Cheng nor Zhang Qiaomu's words of comfort had any effect; Jiang Mo simply wouldn't listen.

You can feel that menacing pressure through sight, hearing, smell, and touch—something you can't feel in front of a television.

Then, Lu Zhizhou appeared on the live stream screen.

Focused and composed, she appeared remarkably relaxed, engaging in final discussions with her team. She took a few relaxed jumps to adjust herself before settling into the racing car. A faint smile and a hint of eager anticipation shone in her eyes—a light she had never seen in her son before.

When at work, they are fully engaged, passionate, and exude confidence from the inside out.

Jiang Mo's world also quieted down.

The worries remained, and the unease and anxiety continued to surge, but Jiang Mo silently straightened his back, seemingly able to sense Lu Zhizhou's energy—

Whatever the challenge, face it with your head held high and composure. This is the only way to push your limits and seek breakthroughs; there are no shortcuts or tricks, only head-on victory or defeat.

Quietly, Jiang Mo clenched his fist, focusing his attention intently on the screen.

At this moment, Lu Zhizhou was completely focused and had entered a state of concentration. All the distractions outside the track disappeared, leaving only him and the race car, the track laid out before him, and the team's strategies and tactics. His relaxed mind was ready to operate at high speed.

The warm-up lap was successfully completed, and an incredible cheer erupted from the main grandstand, with red hues overflowing and cascading down like lava.

The air was a blur.

The red light illuminated, and the cheers and screams reached a whole new level, tearing apart the roar of the engines as they slammed into the track like a storm.

five!
CCTV-5 and Five Star Sports abruptly cut off the audio, falling into complete silence, as if their brains had briefly stopped functioning at a historical crossroads.

The world was completely silent.

One!

All five red lights lit up and then went out simultaneously.

In an instant, it starts and stands out.

Lu Zhizhou remained alert, but he immediately realized that despite his best efforts to control himself, he had become slightly too excited.

His starting speed was incredibly fast, almost on the verge of a false start! This must be his best start ever!
however!
Without a moment to think, Lu Zhizhou immediately noticed a bright red figure resolutely pressing in from his left diagonal front.

No way, another one?
……

The starting line design of the Shanghai International Circuit is very unique. Although the starting lines of F1 circuits are generally straights leading to corners, the first corner of the Shanghai International Circuit is a combination corner.

Like a snail shell, it spirals and tightens, forming a vortex of over 720 degrees that extends downwards.

This means that the driving line must be laid out from Turn 1 onwards; otherwise, the rhythm in the subsequent combination corners and the top speed when exiting the corners and connecting to the straights will all become a disaster.

Furthermore, as the radius of the curve gradually decreases, the space for adjustment in the curve will also become smaller and smaller. This can be understood as, at the beginning, there is still a chance to make up for the deviation, but the opportunity for subsequent correction will gradually disappear.

This is why the competition for starting positions and lanes at the Shanghai International Circuit will be exceptionally fierce.

Pole position, located on the left, is precisely the standard racing line on the Shanghai International Circuit. With a line and position, the driver can calmly climb a gentle slope to complete the classic "outside-inside-outside" line, perfectly cut into Turn 1, and smoothly and effortlessly begin the descent along the spiral curve into the torrent.

All in one go!
Correspondingly, for the second starting position on the right, the route selection is a bit more difficult. After the start, there is a small gentle slope. If you are willing to give up the opportunity to overtake and compete for first place, a left turn outwards, following behind the pole position car, taking the "outside-inside-outside" route, then it is very simple.

However, if you want to overtake and gain an advantageous position at the start, it's like dancing on the edge of a knife, finding a point of entry amidst the limits and constraints. Going inward might not give you enough speed to enter the corner, while going outward might not give you enough grip. It's definitely a test.

It's on the verge!
The instant the red light went out, Lu Zhizhou shot off like an arrow, heading straight along the right side, trying to stay close to the inside line and gain a faster entry speed into the corner.

however!
Almost simultaneously, Vettel, positioned diagonally ahead on the left, made a decisive move without hesitation, cutting inside as he started his run, crossing the middle and moving to the right.

extrusion!

The main grandstand gasped instantly!
Following Bahrain, in the second consecutive race, Vettel squeezed into Lu Zhizhou's lane at the start, and the fierce battle began the moment the clock struck.

Here we go again!
Facing his rookie teammate, the four-time world champion showed no mercy, displaying his decisive and ruthless side on the track.

Lu Zhizhou was not surprised by this; in fact, he had prepared himself mentally long ago.

The problem is that plans can't keep up with changes.

Preparations aside, the unpredictable nature of F1 often catches people off guard, and Vettel took advantage of Lu Zhizhou's lack of experience to his advantage.

"Damn it! Is he closing the door?"

Lu Zhizhou was furious, but there was only silence on the radio; there was no response.

Squeezing into the lane is one thing, but even if you squeeze in, you still leave a window open; closing the door is another matter entirely, directly cutting off and blocking the lane. If you're not careful, it can lead to a rear-end collision, scraping, or even both vehicles being knocked out. According to the rules, this is not allowed.

Right now, Vettel is trying to close the door.

He made full use of his pole position advantage, cutting across the lane cleanly and decisively, not only occupying the driving lane, but also blocking Lu Zhizhou's path, forcing Lu Zhizhou to squeeze into the exit lane of the pit lane. A little to the right was the grass!
In an instant, Lu Zhizhou was trapped!
In the silence of the radio, Lu Zhizhou immediately realized that his quick reaction at the start should have been a good thing, but he had failed to get into the lane before Vettel closed the gate, and now he was in trouble because the distance between him and Vettel was too short, leaving him with limited room to maneuver.

At this point, it was too late to switch to the middle lane or even the outside lane. On the left, Bottas and Hamilton could be seen closing in one after another, forming a siege.

There is nowhere to run!
At the very start, before he could even react, Lu Zhizhou found himself trapped.

All of this is thanks to the kind care and love from my teammates.

In a flash, Lu Zhizhou calmed down. He had no time to pay attention to the radio; he had to thank Vitter for his high regard and vigilance.

For him, this was an affirmation, meaning that Vettel truly felt a thorn in his side.

So how could he let his teammates down?

With no position, no line, and absolutely no room for adjustment, Lu Zhizhou was at his wit's end. Going with the flow was the only option, as any rash move would result in him being eliminated from the race in the first compound corner.

Clearly, this was not Lu Zhizhou's plan.

However, going with the flow requires a comprehensive strategy. With wolves lurking around and competitors in advantageous positions, they will not easily let go of such a golden opportunity.

then!

Instead of braking, Lu Zhizhou began to ease off the accelerator, controlling his speed and line as he entered Turn 1, relying on the control of the accelerator and steering wheel to tightly grip the apex of the turn.

If they could catch Vettel's slipstream, that would be ideal, but at this point Vettel had already created a car length gap, not waiting for Lu Zhizhou.

The live stream showed that Lu Zhizhou was not going fast, but he was sticking close to the apex of the corner. Bottas had caught up by braking late into the corner and was now half a car length ahead of him. Hamilton also seized the opportunity and followed Bottas closely, running alongside the back half of the No. 22 car.

A Ferrari passed right next to two Mercedes-Benzes as it entered the spiral bend.

Wheel to wheel! Point to point!
At this moment, Bottas was in a particularly bad mood.

He had clearly taken a favorable position and should have been able to overtake easily, but Lu Zhizhou maintained an exceptionally good rhythm in the corner, forcefully blocking Bottas's line and entering the second corner without giving an inch, immediately putting Bottas under even greater G-force.

Bottas was fully focused and gritted his teeth, finally using the advantage he had built up earlier to gain a faster exit speed and overtake!

Seeing Lu Zhizhou's unhurried yet perfectly steady positioning, he quickly turned right to take the middle and got closer to the apex of the bend, securing his position and making sure he left Lu Zhizhou behind. His heart finally started beating again, and his eyes immediately set on another Ferrari in front of him.

However, Hamilton was not so lucky.

Hamilton attempted to overtake from the outside, but despite appearing to be at a speed disadvantage, Lu Zhizhou completely blocked the line, subtly exerting pressure. Hamilton, who couldn't gain an advantage by braking late like Bottas, was helpless against Lu Zhizhou. At Turns 2 and 3, Hamilton, positioned on the outside of the corners, tried to increase his pace, but lacked the power and never managed to find an opening.

Turn 4 was already ahead, and with the spiral combination corner about to end, Lu Zhizhou's tenacious defense, despite being on the defensive, left Hamilton helpless.

To make matters worse, Verstappen, starting from position five, has relentlessly caught up, now targeting the fierce battle between Hamilton and Lu Zhizhou—

The fisherman profits.

Verstappen cut inside and caught up with Lu Zhizhou's tail. Despite being in a bend, he wasn't worried about the dirty air and followed Lu Zhizhou closely, eventually becoming parallel to Hamilton.

Emerging from Turn 4 and entering the short straight, Verstappen caught Lu Zhizhou's slipstream, cut right, accelerated, and instantly followed Lu Zhizhou, squeezing Hamilton behind him.

Moreover, Verstappen did not hesitate to launch an attack from the inside right side in the fifth high-speed turn, wanting to overtake Lu Zhizhou in one fell swoop!
The entire Shanghai International Circuit held its breath. Jiang Mo clenched his fists, sweat pouring down his face. He never expected that Lu Zhizhou would encounter a series of dangerous situations so soon after the race began!

The fierce, cutthroat exchanges left no room for respite!
……

The first combination bend, wide at the beginning and narrowing at the end, not only spiraled but also gradually narrowed in space. Lu Zhizhou fully utilized this geographical advantage, relying on precise and meticulous control to firmly hold the line. Even when he was at a disadvantage in terms of rhythm within the bend and his tires had not yet reached operating temperature, he withstood wave after wave of impacts.

Vettel. Bottas. Hamilton.

However, the matter was not over yet. Verstappen had already clung to him like a leech and launched an attack without hesitation.

Turn 4 (left) and Turn 5 (right) are both high-speed curves.

Lu Zhizhou firmly maintained his line in the compound corner and finally gained higher top speed at the exit of the corner, instantly breaking away. Hamilton, who had been stuck in position, was clearly limited in speed when exiting the corner. In the blink of an eye, the two cars that were just closely connected had already separated by half a car.

However, Hamilton's crisis was not completely over. Verstappen had already seized an opportunity in the chaos, noticed Lu Zhizhou's predicament, and like a shark smelling blood, he decisively and without hesitation stepped forward, squeezing into Lu Zhizhou's right side to force his way up.

Before one wave subsided, another struck, like a tsunami.

With Hamilton on the left and Verstappen on the right, Lu Zhizhou is trapped in a predicament, like a sandwich filling.

At this point, Lu Zhizhou had no choice but to drive along the inner lane of the track, maintaining a steady throttle and relying on steering to control dynamic balance. He kept the car stable amidst the turbulent currents from both sides, speeding through two high-speed corners in the cramped space. As long as he maintained his top speed, he could break free.

really!

Hamilton was stuck in the corner and had to ease off the throttle early to avoid understeer, which slowed him down instantly as he exited the corner.

Verstappen attempted to overtake from the inside, but his rear end swayed slightly in the dirty air, causing him to miss his best opportunity.

In an instant, get rid of it!
Verstappen was fully focused, his pupils slightly contracted. He was trying to seize an opportunity in the high-speed corner. Clearly, car number 22 was in a state of chaos and passivity. Not to mention grip, the car's balance and the swaying of the rear wing were particularly noticeable in the turbulent flow of the corner. This was the best window to overtake.

However, number twenty-two miraculously escaped death!

Since GP3 burst onto the scene last year, this guy's rise has been incredibly fast. He has broken all the records he created with overwhelming force, leaving behind all the capital that made him famous and made him a living in the paddock. The guy he once looked down on has now moved ahead of him.

What's even more brutal is that before the season started, he was that guy's benchmark, but now, that guy's name is on par with Hamilton and Vettel. In people's eyes, he no longer seems to be qualified to be that guy's competitor.

He wanted to surpass him, just as he longed to surpass all his rivals running ahead of him in the paddock.

From Melbourne to Bahrain and then to Shanghai, their first head-to-head showdown on the track has finally begun today.

Verstappen remained focused, calm, and unwavering. Even though the number 22 car had broken away from his number 33 car, he did not attempt to launch a forced attack at the hairpin turn six. Instead, he lagged slightly behind, closely following the number 22 car.

As soon as they exited the corner and onto the short straight, Verstappen immediately caught up and took hold of the slipstream. By this time, the two young men had already pushed Hamilton out of the way. Hamilton, who had been driving off the lane on the dirty side, was unable to catch up with Lu Zhizhou, and the gap was about to reach a car length.

Two streaks of light, one red and one blue, swiftly glided towards the next two high-speed corners. Verstappen remained calm, patiently waiting for his opportunity, like an assassin.

Turns 7 and 8 are S-curves, and high-speed ones at that. In the ongoing high-speed offensive and defensive maneuvers, Lu Zhizhou never had a chance to adjust his line. Instead, he maintained his rhythm in the curves by adjusting his driving style, skillfully holding his defensive position.

He's in the middle, and no matter whether the opponent tries to attack from the inside or the outside, he can make the corresponding defense immediately.

This is a strategy to turn the tide and take the initiative in a passive situation. It must be said that Lu Zhizhou is truly breaking with convention, demonstrating both skill and daring.

Then, Verstappen observed that Bottas was ahead of Lu Zhizhou, and he tried to attack Vettel, but Vettel also cleverly blocked the position so that Bottas was trapped between the two Ferraris, and Lu Zhizhou was closing the distance between him and Bottas.

So, here comes the problem——

Will Lu Zhizhou launch a counterattack? If the answer is yes, where will Lu Zhizhou launch his counterattack? At the last spiral compound bend?
Lu Zhizhou is trying to turn the tide in an unconventional way, which means that if Verstappen wants to break the deadlock, he also needs to subvert the rules.

opportunity?

No, no, Lu Zhizhou didn't exploit any loopholes, but Verstappen didn't care. He attacked even without an opportunity, and it was an unconventional overtaking point.

At turn eight, he noticed that Lu Zhizhou in front of him was not having optimal grip, and his tires were not yet fully warmed up!

Without hesitation, Verstappen pulled away from the slipstream, but instead of cutting inside, he cut to the outside, abandoning the idea of ​​grabbing the inside and catching the apex, and forcefully broke through from the outside—

It's now!

Late braking, next to the higher position!
Verstappen glanced at the guy out of the corner of his eye. He wasn't sure if the guy was startled, but he was certain that in the blink of an eye, the guy's defensive space was almost gone.

Drag the brakes, run along the outside of the curve to create a fuller arc, maintain speed, and keep a tight grip on the opponent in the curve, creating a wheel-to-wheel stalemate.

As he exited the corner, Verstappen accelerated, gaining a faster exit speed. The rear wing quickly retracted, and he surged forward like a knife cutting through water, cutting back to create pressure and jamming the line.

A difference of a hair's breadth! A change in an instant!
Car number 33 had already rushed towards the next corner before car number 22, leaving Lu Zhizhou with no chance.

The condition of the car itself was one aspect; it had been bumping and adjusting since the start of the race, and it had been slow to find grip. Verstappen was another; Lu Zhizhou admitted that he did not expect Verstappen's actions, as he launched an attack at Turn 8, an inexplicable place and an atypical overtaking position.

Not only was it sudden, but it was also decisive, leaving no room for breathing or reaction; the outcome was already decided.

Verstappen's attack this time was truly beautiful and deserves applause!

Lu Zhizhou knew nothing about Verstappen's offensive and defensive styles. This was the first time he had experienced it firsthand. Everything was too sudden. No wonder he was hailed as a once-in-a-decade genius in the paddock. There was a reason for it. He had a feeling that they would face each other many, many more times. They didn't even need to wait for the next time. Today would be enough.

Amidst the chaos, the jolting, and the dizziness, Lu Zhizhou repeatedly lost his position, but he had no intention of wallowing in self-pity or blaming others.

"Sorry. It was my fault." Over the radio, Lu Zhizhou readily and frankly faced the result of losing his position, even though it wasn't a mistake but rather his opponent breaking the balance with a better performance. Lu Zhizhou still said this and quickly focused his attention.

Ahead, Red Bull finally showed its strength. They were unwilling to let Mercedes and Ferrari dominate the game, and they were determined to win the championship. Verstappen's speed after exiting the corner was excellent. In the blink of an eye, he had already gained a lead of one and a half car lengths and was quickly chasing Bottas.

Behind them, in the sharp turn nine, Hamilton noticed the clash between Lu Zhizhou and Verstappen—

While you are sick, I will kill you.

For rookies, such moments often lead to emotional fluctuations and distractions, and Hamilton capitalized on these openings to launch his attacks.

Calm, sharp, accurate, and lethal strike.

The dagger, its edge revealed!
Hamilton seized the opportunity, realizing that the previous three seconds of slump and dejection were just a smokescreen, and prepared to turn the tide by having the two sides fight it out.

Here it is, coming right away.

Unlike Melbourne, Hamilton appeared more patient and determined, decisively cutting inside, taking control of the line, and holding on tightly to the apex of the bend.

At this point, Hamilton's front wheel had already passed Lu Zhizhou's rear wheel. If Lu Zhizhou were to forcefully close the door and cut off the lane now, not only would there be a risk of friction, collision, and flying off the track, but it would also violate the defensive rules.

If a violation is detected, you may be penalized with a ten-second penalty.

In other words, Hamilton has already gained the upper hand.

However, despite being attacked by Verstappen and Hamilton in a mere second, Lu Zhizhou did not panic. On the contrary, he was fully in control, his blood boiling and his heart surging. In the blink of an eye, he reacted reflexively, and the driver's instinct launched a counterattack.

Delayed braking.

Lu Zhizhou did not cut in to defend, but instead allowed Hamilton to block his position, and braked half a car length later than expected!

Wheel to wheel!
The two cars entered Turn 9 side by side. Hamilton quickly closed the gap as he entered the corner, but by the time he reached the apex, he seemed to have stabilized and the gap did not narrow further.

At this moment, Lu Zhizhou's calm and top-notch handling ability can be clearly seen. He braked late but did not push the braking system to its limit all at once. He turned the steering wheel, released the brake, and slowly released the accelerator.

In the brutal, hand-to-hand combat, they clung tightly to the apex of the corner, stubbornly withstanding Hamilton's onslaught, narrowly navigating Turn 9. It was like racing along the edge of a cliff, teetering on the brink of collapse, with no time to catch their breath, before facing a second consecutive right-angle turn—

Correct the direction, floor the accelerator, cut through the apex of the corner, and pierce out of the corner!
Get rid of it instantly!

Hamilton, who had just been locked in a wheel-to-wheel battle, was caught completely off guard. As he prepared to tackle Turn 10, he had to ease off the throttle slightly to avoid understeer because of the sharper angle. But in that split second, Lu Zhizhou seized the opportunity and floored the accelerator to speed onto the straight.

Then we can see that Lu Zhizhou stabilized the slightly swaying rear wing by making subtle adjustments to the direction, and Ferrari's advantage in straight-line speed was fully unleashed, widening the gap in one go.

The entire audience was stunned.

From Bottas to Hamilton, then Verstappen, and back to Hamilton, they launched a full-scale attack on Lu Zhizhou. They hadn't even left the second time slot yet, and the offensive and defensive confrontation had already gone on for four rounds. It was dazzling and overwhelming, and even the commentators in the live broadcast room couldn't keep up with the changing situation on the track.

One second I was praising Verstappen for surpassing Lu Zhizhou, the next I was amazed by Lu Zhizhou's superb defense that left Hamilton behind.

A series of climaxes! A sweltering heatwave!
"My God! What a crazy and chaotic start! Unbelievable! Incredible!"

“Vettel launched an attack right from the start, showing no mercy or restraint, forcing Lu Zhizhou into a situation with almost no room to maneuver, directly pushing him into a predicament surrounded by wolves. After Bahrain, this is the second time in a row that Vettel has shown the qualities of a killer when facing a rookie opponent.”

"Although Lu Zhizhou held his line steadily, Bottas still managed to overtake, while Verstappen, like a shark smelling blood, launched two consecutive attacks and finally succeeded in an unexpected way at Turn 8, overtaking Hamilton and Lu Zhizhou to move up to third place!"

"Don't forget Hamilton. He tried to attack twice, but Lu Zhizhou showed incredible toughness in the chaos, almost fighting head-on with fists, and stubbornly held on to Hamilton's attack, preventing him from sliding further into the abyss."

"It was a chaotic and disorderly start, but also an absolutely spectacular one!"

Full of passion and excitement, Croft launched into machine gun mode, his words flying everywhere. No one expected the start to be so spectacular.

What a show!
Vettel's unexpectedly decisive and ruthless play must have given the home crowd a real scare, while the two clashes between Lu Zhizhou and Hamilton plunged the passionate fans into despair. Waves of gasps could be heard from every stand, and the race went straight into its climax right from the start.

Brendel, standing nearby, was no exception; he tried to regain his composure amidst the chaos and calmly begin his analysis.

"A classic starting chaos!"

"Look, even before the tires were fully warmed up, Lu Zhizhou was still able to precisely control the braking point and successfully blocked Hamilton's two attempts. This shows that he has a very delicate grasp of the car's grip."

"But the problem is that the continuous defense and turbulence reduced his exit speed from the corner, giving Verstappen an unexpected attacking opportunity."

"Overtaking on the outside of Turn 8 is extremely rare, but Verstappen used a fuller line and controlled drag braking to force Ferrari to stay behind. Verstappen is showing his unparalleled attacking talent. Clearly, he is not satisfied with letting Lu Zhizhou steal all the spotlight."

Awe surged within my heart.

Croft finally managed to pull his thoughts back. "So, our current lineup is: Mercedes' Bottas is attacking Vettel, Red Bull is watching closely, and Ferrari has barely managed to control the situation after a fierce battle."

"The first six cars have already established a stable formation, but don't think you can relax now. We're only just getting into the rhythm phase. Tire life and pit stop strategies will be the core of the competition from now on. Pirelli has provided three pit stop strategies for the Shanghai International Circuit, with one pit stop being the most likely."

Brendel immediately added, “Absolutely right. The first wave of pit stops should be around lap 20. We know that Red Bull and Mercedes-Benz are always risk-taking in their strategies, especially in terms of tactics, they like to take the lead. Considering the track temperature and tire wear today, I’m a little curious about who will be the first to pit and break the balance, and when they will pit.”

"The key is how the other teams respond, or whether they believe in their straight-line speed and tire life. This will be the focus of the strategic battle in the first round."

After the first lap, Vettel, Bottas, Verstappen, Lu Zhizhou, Hamilton, and Ricciardo, the top six cars, passed the starting straight in turn.

Without a doubt, it's clear to anyone with eyes to see that "home team hope" Lu Zhizhou and "King of Shanghai" Hamilton are in trouble and have both lost their positions.

Lu Zhizhou, in particular, was completely overwhelmed by Vettel's aggressive attacks.

CCTV-5, Five Star Sports, and social media were filled with lamentations. The live broadcast repeatedly replayed the starting scene, attempting to recreate the chaos and excitement of the opening and to analyze the situation of the game. However, for the home audience, it was like rubbing salt into their wounds. They had anticipated the situation of being surrounded by wolves, but they had not anticipated the reason why Lu Zhizhou fell into the trap.

The soaring heart was violently pulled back to the ground amidst the heat and frenzy, and the Shanghai International Circuit erupted into chaos like a volcano.

However, amidst the chaos, Lu Zhizhou quickly regained his footing, found his focus in the terrible situation, and minimized the losses as much as possible.

Currently, the top six are all very close, mostly within two car lengths of each other. However, DRS cannot be activated at this time. If overtaking is desired, tires must be sacrificed, and tires are precisely the key factor going forward.

The battle has only just begun!
(End of this chapter)