Car Racing without Money-Chapter 505 - 197: The F1 Main Race Begins (Part 2)
At this moment, a driver in white and orange colors came to Chen Xiangbei’s side, and it was the youngest F1 World Champion, Hamilton!
"Not adapting well?"
Hamilton asked proactively.
Looking at Hamilton beside him, Chen Xiangbei was stunned for a moment; his first reaction was a feeling of unreality.
Even though I’ve seen many aspects of this world, this is the first time we’re communicating up close. This "virtual" figure, whom I could only see on TV screens, is now speaking to me.
"It’s alright."
Chen Xiangbei replied with a smile.
"I’ve had the same experience as you before. Keep it up."
Hamilton had long noticed Chen Xiangbei and was aware of his "loneliness".
This similar scene, Hamilton could feel it deeply.
As the first black driver in F1 history, he has walked through the eyes of discrimination.
In driver parade events in the early years, Hamilton could often be seen walking out of the driver tunnel, with no one greeting him, just like Chen Xiangbei’s situation today.
Even while standing on the parade float, scenes were sometimes strikingly distinct, with Hamilton isolated standing by himself, except for his friend Sutil, who occasionally initiated conversation with him.
It’s just that this friend was later abandoned by him.
At that time, Hamilton had already realized the potential discrimination due to skin color.
When asked by the media, he once clenched his fist and replied, "These sorts of things won’t knock me down but will make me stronger. Learning to build confidence amidst the storm, turning sorrow and anger into strength to grow stronger!"
This is why Hamilton often engages in some "politically correct" actions in later years. To some extent, it is because he experienced it himself and hopes to change the status quo through continuous voices.
"I understand, thank you."
Some things don’t need to be spelled out; Chen Xiangbei could understand what Hamilton wanted to express.
As the two were conversing, the previously noisy cheers on the track gradually unified and became orderly.
"Schumacher~~! Schumacher~~! Schumacher~~!"
A thousand words converged into one name, which was the welcome of over fifty thousand spectators on-site to the King of Cars’ comeback.
"This is the glory of the seven-time champion; I hope to have such a day myself."
Hamilton’s eyes seemed distant, his tone filled with longing as he muttered.
When any unrelated track, different team fans, are willing to collectively cheer out a single name.
Without a doubt, this is the highest glory for a driver!
Hearing Hamilton’s words, Chen Xiangbei instinctively wanted to reply: In the future, you will have this day.
But he swallowed the words.
History has changed; the championship will no longer be exclusive to Hamilton.
...
The parade lap completed, and the drivers returned to their pits for the final preparations before the race.
The team mechanics were performing final checks and preheating the fluids for the TF110, while Briatore came over to Chen Xiangbei’s side, resting his hand on his shoulder and asked, "Nervous?"
"Is this a pre-race psychological session?"
Chen Xiangbei asked reflexively.
Many teams have a dedicated psychologist for drivers before the race, to avoid excessive pressure or distractions impacting performance.
HRT Team saved money by not having dedicated psychologists, often having the strategy team say a few words to complete the task.
"NO, I was just asking."
"Seems like you’re not nervous."
Briatore remained nonchalant; he couldn’t wait to pressure the drivers to death, yet offer psychological counseling?
Later on, for rookies like Duhan and Colapinto, he would inform them in advance early in their career that they were in a five-race countdown, ready to open up the seat to sell to the next "fated person" if they didn’t perform.
In a way, he shared a belief with Chen Xiangbei, that if an F1 Driver can’t withstand basic pressure and needs counseling, what are they doing on the track competing? 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Quickly step aside to free up the seat so the team can generate revenue!
Hua Bu’s inquiry was purely to tease Chen Xiangbei, while also proving that the Chinese Kid’s psychological quality is not bad.
"Any other matters?"
Chen Xiangbei replied irritably, although he wasn’t nervous, it didn’t mean he enjoyed being teased by the Italian bully before the race.
"Want me to share some racing tricks with you?"
"Go ahead."
"Rosberg has a slow race rhythm initially, but once he gets into his stride, his stability is terrifyingly high. Kubica is very fast and extremely aggressive; he will launch a fierce attack on you."
"If you can’t overtake before Rosberg hits his rhythm, the outcome of the race will be decided early."
"Xiangbei, I predict you have only three laps of opportunity."
Briatore said his "secret" very calmly.
"Three laps?"
"Three laps!"
Hua Bu confirmed again, objectively as if Chen Xiangbei was not even his driver.
"Got it."
Chen Xiangbei replied expressionlessly.
In fact, without Briatore’s "secret", he was more aware of the strength of Rosberg and Kubica.
Rosberg, needless to say, the future world champion driver, defeating the peak Hamilton with stability.
Kubica hadn’t driven any good cars, hence no brilliant results.
But both Alonso and Hamilton once rated him as their toughest opponent.
In history, the 2010 season was also Kubica’s peak year.
"GOOD, very stable emotion, keep going like this!"
Watching Chen Xiangbei consistently remain calm, Briatore showed satisfaction on his face.
The Chinese rookie is becoming more and more to his liking!
The fluids quickly preheated to the set temperature, and the race command center issued the start signal.
Chen Xiangbei got into the cockpit, gently tapped the accelerator, and drove onto the main circuit’s starting grid, followed by a massive group of several dozen team members behind him.
Because even in the short waiting time for F1 race starting, there are still demands for cooling, tire warming, and protection. To prevent the high temperatures of the Bahrain Circuit, there’s even a dedicated person holding an umbrella for Chen Xiangbei, making the logistical support meticulous to every detail.
The heatwave on the track distorted the air, and the F1 engine’s idle roar at eight thousand RPM subtly painted the race’s tense atmosphere, even Chen Xiangbei, who maintained his composure, now showed a serious expression on his face.
To say there’s no pressure is actually false.
A true driver must fight against the state impact brought by pressure, keeping themselves in extreme calm at all times!
Soon, two red lights lit up on the track indicators, indicating the formation lap is about to begin, and all team members must evacuate the track.
"Xiangbei, just run with a normal mindset."
Odetto didn’t have much to instruct, nor did he give any performance demands to Chen Xiangbei.
As a rookie, Chen Xiangbei had already done enough; no need to give him too much pressure.
"Go Chen Xiangbei!"
"Go North Brother!"
Team members began cheering on Chen Xiangbei, then demonstrated their professionalism, smoothly and orderly, bringing all the equipment to the behind of the track guard rails.
This was different from Renault Racing, as team members didn’t completely leave and return to the pits. They still waited outside the barriers for the car to start, to respond to possible emergencies like a starting stall.
As the countdown "beep, beep, beep" sound of the lights went off, drivers began to rev their engines to start.
The first formation lap had no overtaking maneuvers, plus the high temperature of the Bahrain Circuit didn’t demand much tire warming, so the drivers on-site drove quite leisurely, smoothly, and smoothly completed tire warming.
Just like this, twenty-four cars returned to the starting grid again, twenty-four cars returned to the starting grid again, but this time the atmosphere was completely different. Twenty-four cars returned to the starting grid again, but this time the atmosphere was completely different.
