Speed ​​God

Chapter 171 Fighting Alone
"Ricardo, pull into the station."

In the Ferrari pit lane, everyone was intently watching the screens as Vettel's SF71H entered the track. Not long after, the Red Bull pit lane next door also began to bustle with activity.

I froze for a moment!

Ricciardo followed Vettel into the pits right after him. Wasn't Horner worried that the Melbourne incident would repeat itself? The entire Ferrari pit lane held its breath for a moment.

Horner, sitting in the maintenance wall next door, turned around and watched the blue RB14 No. 3 enter the pit, perform a precise and efficient tire change, and leave smoothly.

Horner glanced confidently at the Ferrari service area before turning to look at the screen, where smoke filled the air amidst the roar of engines.

There was a noticeable pause in the Ferrari repair team, perhaps only for two or three seconds, but you could feel their panic and tension.

Red Bull's unconventional tactics completely ignored Lu Zhizhou's attempts to restrain them. Horner immediately saw through Arrivabene's strategy, rendering all previous calculations and plans futile. Ferrari, which had initially held the initiative, was now back on equal footing with Red Bull, and their team advantage had vanished.

All eyes were on the racetrack—

There was no suspense whatsoever, and it lacked even the tension and excitement of Melbourne.

Before pitting, Ricciardo was about five to six seconds ahead of Vettel. Ricciardo only gave Vettel one lap to try, and Vettel was unable to overtake him. If Vettel had pitted right behind Hamilton, he might have had a chance for an undercut.

Next, we can see Ricciardo smoothly leave the pit lane, return to the track, and successfully navigate Turn 1. 3.8 seconds later, Ferrari's No. 5 car also enters Turn 1. Although Vettel had a clean window right after leaving the pits and was ahead of Hamilton, he still couldn't complete the undercut in just one lap.

From Mercedes-Benz's initial move to Ferrari's quick thinking and Red Bull's unwavering stance, the close-quarters clashes did not last long, and order was restored.

Ricciardo, Vettel, Hamilton, Bottas – none of them changed positions, no one completed the undercut, and everything returned to square one.

Despite the fierce strategic competition among the three major players, the overall landscape of the market has remained unchanged.

No, not entirely. The only change is that Lu Zhizhou is still on the track, just like in Melbourne, where he is becoming the leader of the race.

In an instant, an uproar erupted.

"No way, is that stroller driver going to try and take advantage of the situation again?"

"It's not that easy. After he enters the pits, the position will be returned to Ricciardo, and Ricciardo will still be the champion."

"What is Red Bull thinking? Shouldn't they stay on the track and keep number 22 occupied?"

The chatter was deafening, the atmosphere was more boisterous than ever before. Was another scene from Melbourne about to unfold?

But soon, the general public discovered that the professionals had a completely different opinion, and unanimously applauded Horner's decisive action.

reason?

tire.

Lu Zhizhou's ultrasoft tires won't last much longer either. In one to three laps, Lu Zhizhou will have to pit, and an overcut is almost impossible.

In fact, the current situation is more similar to that of the Shanghai race. Ferrari should pit Lu Zhizhou immediately to prevent his teammate Vettel from undercutting him.

The situation couldn't be clearer.

Ricciardo earned another clean window after his pit stop, with no slow cars allowed, so he could run at his own pace. Vettel, Hamilton, and Bottas all had excellent tires and were trying to pick up speed. If Lu Zhizhou couldn't maintain his lap time, being undercut by Vettel would be a stroke of luck; being undercut by two Mercedes would be a real tragedy.

That would be another strategic victory for Mercedes-Benz.

In the latter half of the race, Hamilton and Bottas were able to use the track's inherent advantages to complete their defense even with their worn-out old tires. Lu Zhizhou's hard-won second place in qualifying is likely to be in vain once again.

Indecisiveness leads to disaster.

According to experts, Ferrari should learn from the lessons of the Shanghai race and avoid repeating the same mistakes. Therefore, Lu Zhizhou immediately pitted, and Ricciardo regained the lead.

The race will be restored within three laps at most.

Not only professionals, but also Ferrari repairmen felt the same way: tense, confused, anxious, and worried about capsizing twice in the same ditch.

At that time, Ferrari will become a laughing stock and will soon become a circus.

“Zhizhou, Project Three. Enter the station, this round.” Greenwood remained calm and composed, but his voice tightened slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Aliwabene with his hands crossed over his chest, his brows furrowed and his expression gloomy.

Lu Zhizhou's voice came through the radio, barely concealing his surprise, "What? No, no, no, no, it's not Project Three, it's Project Five."

"God, David, wake up, stay alert. Project Five! Project Five! We don't have time for jokes, don't force me to name tropical fruits on the radio."

Using tropical fruits to replace profanities was a little joke Lu Zhizhou and Meqis made in private after Bahrain and Barcelona withdrew from the competition.

To speak filthyly, literally.

Greenwood held his breath instantly. Project Five? Wait, what was Project Five again?

In extremely chaotic and stressful situations, the brain needs to process a massive amount of information in a short span of time, and if one is not careful, it may get stuck.

On the track, Lu Zhizhou was drenched in sweat and his whole body was tense, as if he were immersed in water. But perhaps no one would want to believe it, he was very relaxed, 100% focused and at ease. He was not only calm but also clear-headed, and he was fully aware of their situation.

Indeed, Mercedes' strategy disrupted the rhythm, but Red Bull's timely and effective response demonstrated Wolff and Horner's capabilities once again.

Currently, the official recommendation is to run 15 to 20 laps on ultra-soft tires, and Lu Zhizhou is running his 17th lap, not far from the limit of tire wear.

On the surface, this is indeed the situation at Shanghai Station. Ricardo behind him and Bottas in Shanghai are not stuck in the slow trains and no one is slowing him down. At this point, Lu Zhizhou should give up his idea and enter the station immediately.

But in reality, this situation is closer to that of the Melbourne Grand Prix. Because of the different tire conditions, Lu Zhizhou's tires gained a slight advantage by relying on his qualifying strategy. Ricciardo, who used the same strategy, gave up this advantage and chose to restrain Vettel's undercut. In Lu Zhizhou's view, this was actually an opportunity for Ferrari.

Lu Zhizhou is currently on ultra-soft tires, while Ricciardo is on super-soft tires. Before Lu Zhizhou's tires start to drop off a cliff, his lap time can keep up with Ricciardo's.

In other words, if the safety car is deployed in the next three or five laps, Lu Zhizhou can pit and directly overcut Ricardo.

Of course, the safety car incident was an accident, relying on a bit of luck. No one can be certain that, like in Melbourne, a safety car will appear next in Monaco.

That's why Horner didn't let Ricciardo hold Lu Zhizhou back on the track. He didn't choose the vague safety car option, but made the choice that best suited Red Bull's interests based on the current situation.

If a safety car appears in Monaco in the next few laps, then it can only be said that God is standing behind Lu Zhizhou.

However, Lu Zhizhou's Plan No. 5 was not a gamble, but rather a firm grasp on his own destiny—

Track!

The Monaco circuit has limited tire wear, and the track temperature was below 30 degrees Celsius during today's race, further controlling tire wear.

When Lu Zhizhou chose to go all out in Q2 of the qualifying season, it was to seize a possibility, and now, that possibility is about to be realized.

He wasn't going to gamble on luck, but rather to take the risk of completing the overcut.

Project Five —

Lu Zhizhou stayed on the track, trying to take advantage of the slight tire advantage he had gained from his risky Q2 qualifying session and push the Pirelli Ultra Soft tires to their limits.

Indeed, according to Pirelli's official recommendations, the ultrasoft tires have a lifespan of up to 20 laps and the supersoft tires have a lifespan of up to 30 laps. However, the reality is that the 78-lap Monaco Grand Prix generally adopts a one-race strategy.

In other words, every driver needs to push the tires to their limits; more than thirty laps on ultrasoft tires and more than twenty laps on extra-soft tires.

Mercedes is already taking a risk; if Hamilton is to pit once, he will have to run 66 laps on his supersoft tires.

It was precisely because Hamilton pitted on lap twelve that Lu Zhizhou immediately became alert—

He was a rookie, playing in Monaco for the first time in his professional career, and his understanding of the place was all theoretical, lacking practical application; but this could be seen from the strategies of Wolf and Hamilton.

In Monaco, position is of paramount importance, and all strategies revolve around it. Even if the tires are worn out or the grip is insufficient, it doesn't matter. By relying on the racing line and the track advantage, defense can save most of the energy and firmly hold the position.

Therefore, when Ricciardo followed Vettel into the pits and gave up his position, Lu Zhizhou immediately realized that the slight possibility of a cybernetic finish in Q2 was showing a glimmer of hope.

Project Five is that simple.

After a brief period of confusion, Greenwood finally regained his composure. "Project Five, are you sure? We were about 0.3 seconds behind Red Bull in terms of pace just now."

“I’m sure,” Lu Zhizhou said, pausing for a moment. “David, there might only be a 1% chance, but I’m willing to take the plunge. I need your help.”

The seemingly ordinary words filled Greenwood with boundless pride.

Greenwood could sense Arivabene's gaze. He knew Arivabene was also on their radio, but he knew Lu Zhizhou was bold and decisive. Even if Arivabene rejected it, Lu Zhizhou would take the same risk as in Shanghai, just for a sliver of hope.

In Shanghai, Lu Zhizhou fought with all his might but ultimately missed his chance. Perhaps today is his moment of redemption.

“Okay,” Greenwood said.

Lu Zhizhou: "Where did I lose the most time in the third time slot?"

“Lasses,” Greenwood glanced at the data and immediately gave feedback. “Also, the port for the second time slot.”

"Roger that!"

That was it. The radio went silent, then the roar of engines instantly filled the silence, making it suffocating.

Greenwood glanced at Arivabene out of the corner of his eye; his face was expressionless, his lips tightly pressed together, and the oppressive atmosphere emanating from him was palpable even without a word.

This is the second time that Lu Zhizhou has publicly violated the team's instructions.

But at least this time, Arivabené did not speak up to stop him.

A deafening roar, like a summer downpour, engulfed the entire cabin, making the sweltering air almost suffocating.

Difficulty? Challenge?
Lu Zhizhou understood everything. The ultra-soft tires were indeed approaching their limits little by little. The steering wheel was shaking, the grip was fluctuating, and every throttle press felt like a knife's edge dancing wildly.

Although there was no one in front of you, the narrow and crowded track still restricted your movements, making it difficult to stretch out. The ubiquitous guardrails served as a warning, comparable to minesweeping. Even if you were fully focused, it felt like dancing with death, with the danger of collisions, friction, and even destruction lurking in all directions.

This is Monaco, where there is no mercy.

Red Bull already had an advantage here. Although Ricciardo has now switched to ultrasoft tires, giving Lu Zhizhou a slight advantage in the short term, this advantage will not last long given the threat that the ultrasoft tires may enter their degradation phase at any time.

Before Ricciardo pitted, he didn't actually have a chance to push the tires to their limits and create a complete pit window, which disrupted Red Bull's plans. Nevertheless, Ricciardo still managed to widen the gap by using a flying lap while Lu Zhizhou was maintaining his pace and not keeping up.

There was a difference of nearly five seconds between the two, to be precise, 4.772 seconds.

In other words, if Lu Zhizhou wants to complete an overcut, he must establish an advantage of five seconds or more before the Ricardo tires reach operating temperature and before his own tires are completely worn out.

It is harder than climbing to heaven.

No wonder Horner was so confident and let Ricardo enter the pits without hesitation.

But if the game is played in a very conventional and orderly manner, wouldn't it be too boring?
He wanted to see where the upper limit of his lap pace was while keeping the lifespan of the ultrasoft tires declining slowly, which was indeed an exciting challenge.

It's even more fun than ranked matches, since in ranked matches you just have to rush forward, but now you're challenging your limits with your hands and feet tied.

Another mode, another limit.

The first person to notice the unusual situation on the field was Brendel.

"...Smear purple. Lu Zhizhou."

"Wait, isn't this the second time Lu Zhizhou has broken the fastest lap record?"

Croft dismissed it, saying, "Lu Zhizhou is leading and preparing to pit. At this point, pushing the tires to their limits and constantly setting new fastest lap times is the usual practice."

Brendel tilted his head. He knew Croft was right. Judging from all the signs, Lu Zhizhou's pit stop on the twentieth or twenty-first lap was a foregone conclusion. Ferrari's overcut attempt was ultimately doomed to fail.

So, what exactly is the strange thing?
However, the live stream camera couldn't keep focusing on Lu Zhizhou.

Because Lu Zhizhou was about sixteen seconds behind Ricciardo at that time, Lu Zhizhou was leading the race alone, and without comparison or competition, the excitement was not apparent.

In stark contrast, Verstappen, starting from twentieth on the grid, was shining throughout the race, constantly overtaking and quietly approaching the points zone, prompting Croft and Brendel to provide excellent commentary for the live viewers.

Inside the car, Lu Zhizhou's entire world fell silent. Although this was the main race, he was the only one speeding around him; yet it was not like qualifying, where the car and track were constantly pushed to their limits, with each lap exhausting everything. It was as if he was the only one challenging the Monaco circuit.

In fact, racing is always a sport about challenging oneself.

Like when he was jogging in the quiet of the night in Monaco, he felt the undulations of the ground with his feet, and his skin, breath and ears captured the changes in the track space and airflow. He closed his eyes, and the three-dimensional image of the track extended under his feet, looking for the best way to propel the tires under the current conditions.

At this point, the driving lines have been established. The thick tire rubber not only provides grip but also reduces tire wear, so sticking to the driving lines is a wise choice.

But simply sticking to the lane line is far from enough to break the shackles of racing performance and allow him to outpace Red Bull in lap times while driving a Ferrari.

Therefore, the key right now lies in the driver's driving skills, how to squeeze out the impossible from the impossible, even if it's just the slightest bit of a gap.

Braking, accelerator, steering, dynamic balance, understanding of the track and connection of the line, and of course, the smoothness of the entire driving, reducing time loss between high and low speed transitions.

Things were becoming increasingly complicated, but in Lu Zhizhou's hands, they became increasingly simple.

Brendel immediately noticed the words in the upper right corner of the live stream screen: "First timeout, fastest lap, Lu Zhizhou"—

Wow, I got purple again?
Protecting tires and propulsion modes are antonyms in F1 racing, but right now, Lu Zhizhou is trying to explore the limits of racing cars and tracks amidst this contradiction.

The engines roared on, and the air in Monaco was as tight, stagnant, and dense as compressed steel, constantly pulsating and pressing down with slight vibrations.

Enveloped in the sweltering heat and sweat, Lu Zhizhou gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. His peripheral nerves extended along his arms and feet, covering every corner of the race car, sensing the continuous changes in the car's position and the track space. He swiftly and smoothly passed through the first timing segment, already in the zone before Turn 5.

At the hairpin bend number six, a near-zero-speed blind spot, I braked and eased off the accelerator three meters in advance. Instead of pushing the tires to their limits, I relied on delicate and precise maneuvering to control the car, making full use of the slight oversteer at this moment. The steering control guided the car to smoothly and silkily rotate out of the guardrail.

At only 40 kilometers per hour, the speed should appear extremely slow, like a novice driver taking their first ride in driving school. A slight miscalculation could cause them to stall in the middle of the road. Even an F1 car would inevitably be clumsy here. But the number 22 car in front of us is making perfect use of the track width.

A flash of light, surging wildly, leaving only a long afterimage swirling in the bend before the race car sped towards the port area.

Brendel stared wide-eyed and opened his mouth, watching the Ferrari red gleam as it slid from the outside in, seemingly heading straight for the apex of the port area bend.

Like a bullfight.

Just as the Ferrari was about to crash into the guardrail, sending debris flying everywhere, it sped past, grazing the guardrail. It gracefully skimmed the apex of the curve, a hair's breadth away, precise and close, narrowly missing the mark, and then drove straight through the right-angled bend, quickly hugging the left outer wall of the tunnel.

Leaping from one blade to another, like a ballerina's skirt billowing, just as it was about to crash into the wall again, the red hem of the skirt gracefully disappeared just inches away. The rear of the race car showed no noticeable swaying or shaking. The accelerator was floored, and the speed climbed relentlessly, pushing it to its absolute limit—

The tunnel roared and exploded, the beauty of F1 racing speed was fully ignited between the interplay of light and shadow, and the whole world began to shake.

The heart exploded instantly.

Unbelievable! I slammed my fist on the table and stood up in disbelief!

At the right-angle turn in the port area, the gap between the front wing of the Lu Zhizhou race car on the right and the guardrail is only three centimeters; in the tunnel, the gap between the front left wheel of the Lu Zhizhou and the wall is only four centimeters.

The real difference is that even the slightest tremor or deviation can lead to drastically different outcomes.

However, Lu Zhizhou managed to control it, relying on his personal skills and refinement to find a path to the limit within the limited space.

At this moment, completely focused and single-minded, Lu Zhizhou seemed to become one with the race car. The whole world quieted down, and all the noise and clamor vanished into nothingness. With his palms outstretched, he could clearly feel the delicate touch of the wind passing through his fingertips as he raced through the streets of Monaco.

"Second time slot, go for purple!"

Then, the most challenging area for Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz is right before them.

Jan-Plaz completely forgot to breathe; Lasses Corner and the subsequent combination corners were undoubtedly the most challenging parts of the race for the driver's skills.

He could see race car number 22 speeding past the golden terrace and swimming pool area, clinging tightly to the guardrail, as if racing on a high-altitude steel cable; that red car weaving and maneuvering between turns 15 and 16, its precise control of direction leaving a smooth afterimage that created a breathtaking halo.

Then, Lu Zhizhou, with audacious courage, delayed braking. Maria-Plass watched helplessly as the race car seemed to be out of control, hurtling towards her head. Her heart stopped beating completely. Instinctively, she hugged her two children, using all her strength to protect them, her tension reaching its limit.

At the critical moment, car number 22 braked and narrowly managed to stabilize itself just off the edge of the wall.

One steering and throttle control.

A blur of motion, accompanied by a blast of air, crashed down on Maria-Plass. She was momentarily stunned, her eyes wide as she watched the red figure hurtle along the guardrail, making a slight right turn before smoothly darting toward Turn 18, breaking free of the curve like an arrow released from a bow.

Go ahead and go.

The fierce winds swept away the Plath family in an instant. Maria and Young did not react, but the two children instinctively cried out.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

A chill ran from the soles of her feet to her scalp; Maria now finally understood what it meant to dance on the edge of a knife.

This is not brute force, this is not recklessness.

This is art.

This is Senna-style driving.

"Purple! It's purple again!"

In the live broadcast room, Krendel almost jumped out of his seat, his mind racing.

"Lu Zhizhou! He has set a new fastest lap time for the third consecutive time!"

"1:14.933!"

"In the main race, today is the first time a driver has broken the 15-second barrier! Lu Zhizhou is accelerating, Lu Zhizhou is exerting his strength, Lu Zhizhou is attempting an overcut!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Krendel began to tremble uncontrollably. Everything before him seemed familiar, yet he knew it was all completely different.

This isn't Melbourne, this is Monaco.

Croft stared dumbfounded at his partner, who had stood up and was gesturing wildly. Did they... seem to have switched places?
However, at this moment, Brendel completely lost control of himself.

"In Monaco, it is relatively difficult for tires to reach operating temperature, which is why all the cars chose to start on ultrasoft tires. Ricciardo had just switched to supersoft tires and needed some time to help the tires find grip, while Lu Zhizhou, whose tires were in the operating range, seized the opportunity."

"Currently, Lu Zhizhou's average lap time is 0.6 seconds faster than Ricciardo's, and the gap is widening rapidly."

"but!"

"The challenge is, how long can Lu Zhizhou maintain this pace? He's already completed twenty-two laps on his ultrasoft tires, which should be starting to wear off by now. We shouldn't forget that in Q2, Lu Zhizhou only completed one flying lap, which means that he's only completed twenty-five laps on his current ultrasoft tires. Compared to other drivers, he does have a performance advantage, but how long can this advantage last?"

"Also, when will Ricardo start the pursuit? Once he finds grip and picks up the pace, he can quickly make up for lost time."

"This is a contest that pushes the limits. Lu Zhizhou and Ricardo will face off again after the Shanghai event. Who will have the last laugh this time?"

Brendel rattled off his analysis, then looked at Croft, both of them with disbelief in their eyes.

Lu Zhizhou is actually going to challenge the overcut? And he's not planning to bet on a safe car?

Shock, impact—

Not just in the live stream, but Arno couldn't believe his eyes. He didn't even realize that he was clenching his fists and hugging his chest, staring intently at that splash of Ferrari red, his heart pounding in rhythm with the engine roar, completely absorbed in it.

The suffocating feeling of being on the verge of exploding was as if he were driving a race car.

Spotlight, turn on—

In F1 racing, overtaking and battles are always the most exciting and entertaining parts, especially for viewers watching the live broadcast on TV.

It would be too boring if a race car were leading the pack alone; the live stream would just show it running laps and wouldn't be worth watching.

sleepy!

Actually, the Monaco Grand Prix can be incredibly boring, extremely, extremely, extremely boring.

However, things were different now. Although Verstappen was launching a continuous attack from behind, the entire Monaco team's attention was focused on the leader.

The pit lane was no exception. Wolff and Horner all subconsciously looked at the Ferrari pit wall, as did Zach Brown and the other pit walls. Everyone could see the overcut strategy, but no one expected that Ferrari would dare to take such a risk and was gradually making it a reality.

Arrivabene stared intently at the screen, expressionless and silent, effectively blocking the scrutinizing gazes of those around him.

Greenwood unconsciously clenched his fist, so tightly that his fingers curled up and couldn't straighten. "Zhizhou! You're 0.6 seconds ahead in lap pace! Keep it up!"

Despite her best efforts to control it, a hint of tension still leaked out of her voice.

Because he knew that Lu Zhizhou had already pushed himself to the limit, and now they were frantically testing the limits.

Inside the cabin of race car number 22, Lu Zhizhou's world was completely silent.

There were no spectators, no commentators, not even opponents, only his own breathing and heartbeat, and the deep roar of the race car under extreme conditions.

The steering wheel was trembling slightly, the tires were screaming, and the grip seemed ready to betray his trust at any moment.

However, he did not panic. His body became one with the race car. He could feel the friction between every inch of the tires and the ground, as if he had taken off his shoes and socks and was running barefoot on the track. His soles and toes gripped the ground firmly, and he ran faster and faster and more steadily amidst the heat and fatigue.

There is still room for maneuver even beyond the limit.

He was exploring that "room for maneuver," and for the first time, he felt this state so clearly, as if he had finally broken free from constraints and was soaring freely.

Monaco is gradually becoming restless.

At first, there were only sporadic shouts, but then wave after wave of escalating heatwaves spread to every corner of the city.

Sepplayton stood up, straightened his back, and stared intently at the live broadcast, the big screen, and the track in front of him. The constantly refreshing purple time segment was accompanied by gasps of surprise, astonishment, and shock, all eyes were focused on the leader.

"Is he crazy?"

"Jesus Christ, what are we witnessing?"

"Is this what it felt like when people witnessed Série Arnold's meteoric rise in Monaco?"

Luck? Coincidence? Stroller driver?

Those mocking remarks have melted away in the sweltering heat. At this moment, they have long forgotten to launch an attack and are slowly sinking into despair amidst wave after wave of climax.

For them, this was torture.

Lap 25, 1:14.822!
Lap 27, 1:14.777!
The impact is profound, layer upon layer, continuous and breathtaking.

Croft could no longer contain himself. "Lu Zhizhou is using an extremely soft tire to push Ricardo to the brink of defeat!"

"Ricciardo's supersoft tires have entered the working range, but Ricciardo's lap times are still behind Lu Zhizhou's, and he has not been able to turn the tide."

"Lu Zhizhou's setup, which lasted for twenty-seven laps—no, thirty laps—on ultra-soft tires, did not show signs of wear and tear; on the contrary, it continued to break the fastest lap record."

"But! How? How exactly did he do it?"

"God, what are we witnessing?!"

On the twenty-ninth lap, Lu Zhizhou had already gone on ten laps longer than Pirelli's official recommendation, pushing the limits to the limit. His effortless performance was astonishing. Although the Monaco circuit does not wear down tires much, the feat that Lu Zhizhou was performing was still unbelievable.

The steering wheel shuddered more violently, and the car almost slid off the road in the Lacey Bend.

However, at the critical moment, Lu Zhizhou forcefully turned the car back. The problem of oversteer was actually turned into an advantage by Lu Zhizhou. He maximized the effect with more limited operation and further refreshed the top speed when exiting the corner.

"Incredible! Incredible!"

Croft's voice cracked, and he roared and screamed at the top of his lungs, slamming his fist on the table and standing up.

"He's still accelerating! On the Monaco circuit, Lu Zhizhou has shown his talent without reservation, and he can still squeeze out speed even when the tires are at their limit."

"Comparable to Elton Senna!"

Croft abruptly cut off his voice as soon as he finished yelling—

1: 14.233!

Lu Zhizhou continued to break his own lap record. An impossible miracle was unfolding before his eyes. He was so shocked that he was speechless.

In just ten laps, he broke the fastest lap time six times, and he did it on extremely soft tires that had already been used for thirty laps. What kind of monster is this?!

A continuous gushing sound erupted throughout the entire enclosure!

Even the guests on the yacht were no exception; they were only there for the party, not for the racing, but for the spotlight.

However, now, wave after wave of continuous climaxes have drawn all their attention.

Lorenzo clenched his fists uncontrollably, realizing that he had never witnessed Lu Zhizhou's true limits before.

Even today!

Goosebumps crawled up his spine, Lorenzo was tense all over, his mind filled with nothing but the hope that nothing bad would happen in the Ferrari service area.

The Ferrari repair wall was trapped in the scorching hot air, unable to move, almost forgetting to breathe, completely unaware that it was already drenched in sweat.

Greenwood could no longer control himself and shouted in a hoarse voice, "Enter the station! Enter the station! Enter the station!"

Greenwood, who is usually calm and composed, almost roared as Lu Zhizhou was already 22 seconds ahead of Ricardo and the pit stop window opened.

Thrilling and exciting, but worth the risk!
They must seize the opportunity!

Inside the repair area, the highly tense technicians had to control their boiling blood, focusing intently and ready to go, each performing their assigned tasks with resolute eyes fixed on the entrance to the repair area—

Lu Zhizhou, this little baby who sprang from a crack in a rock, withstood the pressure, broke through his limits, and accomplished an incredible performance on the track.

Overcut, everything is ready, just one last step away!
Next, let's look at the repair area—

“We are a team, remember? We completed the competition together,” Lu Zhizhou said, his bright eyes and smiling face sweeping over every face of the technical team.

The air froze instantly.

coming!

The golden terrace and the main grandstand erupted in cheers as the red No. 22 race car slowly entered the pit lane. At this moment, it was clear up close that the tires were severely worn and the surface was blurred. But no one knew how Lu Zhizhou had managed to break the fastest lap record six times.

And what's more, it's actually getting faster and faster?

Pull into the station, stop, change the tire!

"Oh my God! Right rear wheel! A beat too slow! Another shot!"

"2.7 seconds."

"No, the Ferrari service area didn't deliver its best performance!"

Grass!
The technician responsible for changing the right rear tire instantly fell into despair, his shoulders slumped, and he clenched his fists, repeatedly pounding his helmet.

One step, just a tiny step, and 0.5 seconds is gone. It could have ruined all of Lu Zhizhou's efforts, and it could have ruined the entire game for the team.

The air seemed to freeze briefly, once again highlighting the unique nature of F1 racing, with the pit area being a crucial part of the experience.

But in the ever-changing race, there was no time or energy to dwell on the regret of that mistake. All eyes were on car number 22 as it sped off and returned to the track. My heart clenched in my throat, and I couldn't breathe!

Beside him, Mekes patted him on the shoulder immediately, but didn't say anything, only reminding him, "Someone hasn't given up hope."

In an instant, I looked up at the live stream screen in the repair area.

On the right side of the pit lane exit, the No. 3 Red Bull race car was speeding towards them in a grand procession, but the No. 22 Ferrari race car was very calm and determined. After leaving the pit lane, it made a decisive right turn without hesitation, took over the line, floored the accelerator, and sped ahead towards Turn 1.

"Lu Zhizhou! Lu Zhizhou is in the lead! Lu Zhizhou, hold your position!"

Overcut successful!
(End of this chapter)