F1: In Ferrari, Schumacher at the start.

Chapter 44 A Race Against Time: Home Day

[The screen goes completely black, and the roar of an engine grows louder as it approaches.]

[Subtitle: Main competition day. Shanghai, China.]

[Camera cuts in]

An aerial view of the Shanghai International Circuit from a drone. The main grandstand is already a sea of ​​red.

The scene shifts to the entrance of the paddock, where a large number of fans are holding banners, markers, and other merchandise, crowding on both sides of the fence.

[Interview footage: James Walls]

James sat in front of the black curtain, wearing his team uniform, with a serious expression.

Voiceover: "James, what does the Chinese Grand Prix mean for Lin Feng? And what does it mean for the team?"

James, with his hands crossed on his knees, said, "The pressure, the immense pressure. There are hundreds of thousands of people watching him, and he qualified sixth, which exceeded the team's pre-race expectations. But it also puts us in a position where we can't afford to make any mistakes."

[The camera switches back to a tracking shot]

Nine o'clock in the morning. A black sponsored commercial vehicle was parked at the entrance of the paddock.

The car door opened, and Lin Feng, wearing sunglasses and a backpack, stepped out. He was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt from the Williams team.

As the camera zooms in, a hint of fatigue can be seen on Lin Feng's face, but upon seeing the camera, he immediately adopts a casual expression.

Lin Feng waved at the camera: "Good morning. If you find me looking like I've been boiled, it's because Walter tried to murder me at the bathhouse last night."

The photographer quickly followed Lin Feng and passed through the check-in gate.

A group of Chinese car enthusiasts erupted in screams.

"Lin Feng! Awesome!"

"Go Lin Shen! Get on the podium today!"

Lin Feng stopped, took a few notebooks and a hat, quickly signed his name, and then swiped his card to enter the enclosure.

[Camera switch: Williams team rest area]

Lin Feng pushed open the glass door of the rest area, where the therapist was already preparing a massage bed.

A young, curly-haired boy, wearing a Williams jersey, was sitting on a sofa in the rest area, looking down at his phone.

This is Franco Clapinto, a reserve driver for the Williams team.

Upon seeing Crapinto, Lin Feng immediately turned to the cameraman and waved, "Come here, come here, point the camera at him."

The photographer cooperatively zoomed in on Crapinto.

Crapinto looked up, staring blankly at the approaching camera and Lin Feng.

Lin Feng cleared his throat, extended his right hand, and pointed at Crapinto.

Lin Feng: "To all the car enthusiasts watching this documentary, please allow me to formally introduce this gentleman, Franco Crapinto, from Argentina."

Clapinto gave the camera an awkward smile and waved, "Hey, Lin, what are you doing?"

Lin Feng ignored him and continued speaking to the camera: "He is our team's reserve driver. If I get an upset stomach before the race, or if I suddenly lose my appendix like Carlos Sey, then he will put on his racing suit and sit in my race car."

Lin Feng leaned closer to the camera and lowered his voice: "Do you know what this means? It means that he silently prays for me to get sick every day."

Clapinto's eyes widened, and he immediately jumped up from the sofa: "Lin! I didn't! Don't lie to the camera! James will kill me!"

Lin Feng laughed heartily and patted Crapinto on the shoulder: "Just kidding. Franco is a good driver, he performs very well in F2, and he didn't go to the sauna last night, so his physical condition is definitely better than mine now."

Clapinto sat back on the sofa with a sigh and shrugged at the camera.

[Interview footage: Franco Clapinto]

Crapinto sat in the interview chair, smiling helplessly.

Crapinto: "Lin is a madman. He hasn't been with the team long, but he's led everyone astray. But to be honest, seeing him get P6 in qualifying was unbelievable even in the pit. He seems to know the limits of that car better than the engineers."

[Camera switches back to following view: Drivers' parade segment]

Noon.

An open-top bus slowly drove onto the track, with twenty drivers standing on it.

The camera shot from below, and the sunlight was a bit too bright.

Lin Feng and Zhou Guanyu stood together. The cheers were deafening as the bus passed the main grandstand.

Zhou Guanyu, microphone in hand, shouted into the stands, "Shanghai! How are you all doing!"

The cheers from the stands almost drowned out the sound of the bus engine.

Lin Feng leaned against the railing, looking at the dense array of five-star red flags in the stands.

The microphone picked up his low muttering to himself.

Lin Feng: "That's ridiculous. It feels like all the traffic police in the city are here on duty today."

[Scene transition: Forty minutes to go before the race, starting area]

The people are a mixed bunch.

The race car was pushed into the starting grid.

Engineers, mechanics, media reporters, and VIP guests crowded onto the track, creating a bustling atmosphere.

Williams' number 28 car was parked in the sixth grid.

The technicians are checking the parameters, and the tire warmer blankets are wrapped around the four red soft tires.

James Walls stood beside the race car, looking at the data on his tablet.

A voice-over asks, "James, what's the strategy for today?"

Without looking up, James said, "Start, Turn 1. Turn 1 is a dangerous spot. Lin is in front of Red Bull and Ferrari, and behind him is Alonso. He has to hold his position, but he can't wear down his tires too much."

The camera panned past James and captured the VIP area.

Lin Feng's parents stood outside the fence, while Lin Guoqiang recorded a video on his phone. Chen Yafang clasped her hands together in prayer.

Gu Ailing, wearing sunglasses, stood next to them, watching Lin Feng walk towards the departure area.

Lin Feng walked to the race car, gave the mechanic a high-five, and then turned and walked towards the fence.

He hugged his parents through the fence.

Lin Feng: "Dad, Mom, let's go watch TV in the lounge. It's too noisy outside."

Chen Ya-fang nodded: "Be careful, don't bump into anyone."

Lin Feng smiled and then looked at Gu Ailing.

The two didn't speak, but bumped fists across the fence.

[Scene transition: 15 minutes before the match]

The starting area was cleared, and non-essential staff left the track.

An announcement was made, and everyone stood up.

The pre-race flag-raising and national anthem ceremony for the China Grand Prix has officially begun.

The camera zooms out.

At the starting line of the track, dozens of staff members held up a huge national flag, and twenty drivers stood in a row behind them.

Lin Feng stood in the middle to the right, with his hands behind his back and his hat off.

Zhou Guanyu stood to his left.

[The ambient noise subsided, leaving only the sound of the wind.]

The prelude to the national anthem began.

The melody of "March of the Volunteers" resounded throughout the Shanghai International Circuit.

[Close-up shot]

The camera slowly zooms in and focuses on Zhou Guanyu's face.

Zhou Guanyu's eyes were slightly red, his gaze fixed on the large screen in front of him. As the national anthem played, his lips moved slightly, and he silently sang along with the melody.

The camera pans and cuts to Lin Feng.

Lin Feng's expression was serious as he slightly raised his head to look at the national flag on the main grandstand.

The camera only captured Lin Feng's clenched back teeth and slightly bulging masseter muscles.

The hundreds of thousands of fans in the main grandstand sang the national anthem in unison.

The sounds converged, creating a sonic boom that even made the camera lens tremble.

The song ended.

The entire audience erupted in cheers and applause that lasted for a full minute.

[The camera cuts back to a tracking shot, fast-paced editing]

Lin Feng turned around and strode towards his race car.

Put on a fireproof balaclava and a helmet.

The engineer helped him attach the HANS system.

Lin Feng stepped on the edge of the race car and slid into the narrow cockpit.

The mechanic handed over the steering wheel, and Lin Feng gripped it with both hands. With a "click," the connection was complete.

[In-car view]

Lin Feng pressed the radio button.

Lin Feng: "Radio test. Paul, can you hear me?"

Race engineer Paul's voice came through: "Clear sound, Lin. Track temperature 42 degrees. Wind direction changed, headwind at turn one, prepare for warm-up lap."

Lin Feng: "Received."

[Interview footage: Lin Feng]

Lin Feng, dressed in racing gear, sat in the interview chair.

Voiceover: "What were you thinking the moment the engine started?"

Lin Feng winked at the camera: "I don't want to think about anything, I'm just looking at the car in front of me."

[Screen switches to the racetrack]

The last staff member on the track was evacuated.

The green light comes on.

The engines of twenty race cars roared to life at the same time as the warm-up lap began.

Race car number 28 drove out of the starting grid.

Lin Feng swerved the steering wheel left and right on the straight road, rubbing the tires to increase their temperature.

[In-car view]

After one lap, Lin Feng drove his race car back to the sixth starting grid.

Once the engine has come to a complete stop, engage the clutch and increase the engine speed.

Zhou Guanyu, who was behind, stopped at tenth place.

[Heartbeat sound added as background: thump, thump, thump.]

The pursuing vehicle stopped at the back of the convoy.

The starting indicator lights above the track illuminate.

A red light.

Two cups.

Three cups.

Four cups.

Five red lights came on.

Lin Feng stared intently at the traffic light.

Red light off!

Game start!

[The engine roars to life, then the screen goes black.]

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