Car Racing without Money-Chapter 147 - 99: Top-Tier Professional Psychological Game (5K)
Similar situations in F1 races are seen quite often, with several front cars blocking the way in nearly every qualifying race, causing drivers to frantically comment over TR.
The Renault European Cup, with its thirty racecars, means the chance of encountering blockages is even higher than in F1.
When the track gets blocked like rush hour traffic, how can one achieve the fastest lap during a flying lap?
"Are you saying that by going out on the track now, it won’t be congested?"
Odetto casually retorted, with the basis of thirty racecars laid out there. Even if you go out immediately at the start of the qualifying, you’ll still find many cars on the track after completing the tire warm-up.
For junior formula racing, there’s never such a thing as the best time to leave the pits; it depends entirely on the driver’s spontaneous performance!
Then Odetto added, "Moreover, Xiangbei, I’ve only prepared enough fuel for two flying laps for you; if you go out now, the remaining fuel won’t pass post-race monitoring."
Upon hearing this from Odetto, Chen Xiangbei showed no significant reaction, but Sawano Hiroyuki turned his head and looked at him in surprise.
As a rookie driver from China, running his first race at Silverstone Circuit after just one practice session, they had only prepared enough fuel for two flying laps.
Does team leader Odetto trust Chen Xiangbei so much that he won’t even allow for margin of error to adjust in the pits?
"Team leader, isn’t this a bit too risky?"
[Risky?]
Facing Sawano Hiroyuki’s skepticism, Odetto laughed.
"How can you improve lap times to compete for pole position without taking risks with light fuel?"
"Besides, I’ve already declared to the media, Xiangbei will become the champion of the first Renault European Cup, starting from pole position will secure an absolute advantage!"
"Odetto, you really have high hopes for me..."
Chen Xiangbei replied with mixed feelings, the race hasn’t even started yet, and this old man has already reserved both pole position and championship, showing more confidence than the drivers themselves.
"NO, NO, NO, Xiangbei, you’re making a mistake in understanding."
Odetto shook his head to explain: "F1 races are commercial sports, and drivers need to consider commercial value and benefits apart from absolute performance."
"Drivers lacking buzz and topics become invisible in the paddock; no sponsors or advertisers would be interested."
"Pre-race hype and promotion are also part of enhancing a driver’s commercial value."
"Xiangbei, remember, you need to flaunt your personality; the low-key attitude of Chinese people doesn’t fit in the paddock!"
Odetto, a veteran in the formula racing field, knows very well what is required to compete for an F1 seat; often, commercial value is no less important than a driver’s skill.
Declaring boldly to win the championship will directly ignite post-race public opinion.
Even if you don’t win the championship, being ridiculed by various parties won’t matter; at least the audiences will remember a boastful Chinese driver.
Conversely, staying low-key and moderate would mean after a race no audience remembers you, possibly even scarce TV broadcast shots; sponsor’s advertisement money would be wasted, and they won’t take such a loss again!
Using a phrase from the online world of later years, it’s called being famous for infamy, which is far better than having no presence at all!
Of course, to clean up one’s image in the end, you still have to rely on performance.
Just when Odetto was promoting his "hype" ideology, the cheers from the spectator stands thundered, drowning out the roar of the racing engines.
A row of conspicuous red numbers appeared on the track’s broadcast screen, indicating the current fastest lap time.
minute 58 seconds and 593 milliseconds!
Almost simultaneously, this lap time was streamed to the Super Dream Team’s track monitoring screen.
The team members fell silent, their expressions growing serious.
They never expected that only ten minutes into the qualifying race, the lap time had already moved below 1 minute and 59 seconds, merely a 0.1-second difference from Chen Xiangbei’s practice best!
At this rate, Chen Xiangbei’s practice fastest lap is likely to be surpassed.
To be honest, the team members knew internally that Chen Xiangbei’s fastest lap of 1 minute 58 seconds and 482 milliseconds couldn’t directly secure pole position in the qualifying race.
But they didn’t anticipate this moment would come so quickly!
It must be noted that as time progresses, the track’s grip improves, stimulated by adversaries’ chase, qualifying lap times will be continuously refreshed.
It’s possible that a lap will emerge that is 0.5 seconds faster than Chen Xiangbei.
A difference of 0.1, 0.2 seconds, Chen Xiangbei still has a great chance to surpass with effort.
Reaching a level of difference at 0.5 seconds already draws a class distinction, making it exceptionally difficult to surpass for pole position.
This year’s Renault European Cup participating drivers’ skill indeed seems strong.
"Mizutani, who achieved this lap time?"
Odetto immediately turned to inquire Mizutani Sho on the console.
"Manor Team’s Da Costa."
Chen Xiangbei wasn’t unfamiliar with this name either, this driver had never entered F1, but won the 2020 FE electric formula championship and became teammates with Vergne. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Sometimes one has to admit the European Region is full of hidden talents, even in a single Renault Junior Formula, there exists a mid-tier F1 driver, two FE world champions, Asia racing really can’t compete!
Before the Super Dream Team members in the P room recovered, the track screen’s lap time record had been continually broken.
In just a few minutes, Carlin Team’s Magnussen became the leader, achieving a time of 1 minute 58 seconds and 66 milliseconds, already surpassing Chen Xiangbei by 0.3 seconds and more.
"A time of 1 minute 58 seconds is estimated not maintainable, must progress to 1 minute 57 seconds."
Sawano Hiroyuki mumbled to himself, at first he thought Chen Xiangbei’s practice lap time would at least secure a steady place within the top ten in the qualifying race.
Now it appears it’s not guaranteed; adversaries are exhibiting too strong capabilities!
It was not until this moment that Odetto’s expression finally had a trace of seriousness.
He started to speak: "Xiangbei, now you understand why I only prepared enough fuel for two flying laps."
"If even with a light car you can’t defeat the adversaries, re-entering the pits for another run will still lead to no avail."
"Exert your 100% capability and fight for this chance!"
