Car Racing without Money-Chapter 523 - 204: Winning the Crowd’s Cheers (2)
"This overtaking tactic is too dirty; it’s like saying what kind of manager there is, what kind of driver there will be!"
Mercedes race director Robert disdainfully replied.
In his view, Chen Xiangbei did not rely on technical superiority, but more on using collision tactics to threaten.
Rosberg, although not a driver with historic-level talent, due to his background and lower-level Formula results, would surely not engage in corner warfare like Chen Xiangbei, a barefoot rookie.
How many more times can Chen Xiangbei use these rogue tactics?
Facing the strategy group’s remarks, Ross Brown did not speak.
Because both Chen Xiangbei’s driving skills and his tactics on the track made him feel unfamiliar.
The once naive Chinese rookie had quietly undergone a transformation.
At this moment, Schumacher’s voice sounded from the headset, and he said to his racing engineer, "Andrew, collect data on the HRT Racing Car; this car’s grip in corners is astonishing, it seems Red Bull’s aerodynamics direction is correct."
Compared to a single race’s win or loss, Schumacher cared more about who could laugh last over the entire season.
After so many laps of attacking and defensive battles, and closely observing the overtaking scenes, he could already make a judgment on Chen Xiangbei.
The Chinese rookie’s strength is indeed impressive, but the TF110 car should not be underestimated.
Straight line speed is not inferior to Mercedes, and cornering speed is even more overwhelming!
As a "rookie" team, to possess such a car ahead of legacy ’The Big Three’ really went beyond many prematch predictions.
Merely saying nothing, Mercedes’s funds and technical strength rank top in the whole paddock.
As long as they can find the right direction for car development, they can use upgraded kits in the next race.
"Understood."
Race engineer Andrew responded, then hesitated before asking, "Michael, is your physical condition okay?"
The outside can only see Schumacher unable to surpass Chen Xiangbei, only his team engineers know the real reason.
Schumacher’s motorcycle accident not only caused cervical vertebra fractures affecting control but also resulted in a blocked artery on the left side of the neck, leading to nerve damage, causing a decline in some advanced functions.
For instance, the human sensitivity to rotation and yaw!
Schumacher was 41 years old in 2010, already past the peak period of physical function, inevitably leading to a decline in reaction speed.
Now adding cervical spine and nerve damage, he could no longer precisely control the car as he did in the past, completing entire corner control in one go, instead occurring too many corrections within corners.
Even changing the driving method, adopting later, more aggressive braking, processing the car’s dynamic changes through sensation and experience.
Andrew discovered Schumacher’s change in driving habit, so he couldn’t help but ask.
"I’m fine."
A simple and straightforward answer as always, Schumacher never shows his vulnerable side.
"OK, COPY."
Upon hearing this response, Andrew released the talk button, silently sighing.
Standing nearby, Ross Brown heard the entire conversation and was even more mixed-feelings inside.
At his peak, Schumacher received the evaluation from teammate Elvin, capable of pushing the car to the edge of the accident for 76 consecutive laps.
The current Schumacher is clearly lacking a lot.
This is not just a deterioration of state but also the degradation of tire wear resistência.
The car tires’ grip is exhausted too quickly, unable to let drivers freely push the car mechanical grip limits.
A dozen or so cars on the track are still racing, at this time Alonso showed his strongest stance, overtaking Hamilton, Masa, and Vettel consecutively and reached the leading position.
Your Red Bull has the exhaust diffuser tech, my McLaren also has the F duct technology.
The difference in car performance is enormous, it’s about driver skill competition.
The young Vettel is ultimately not an opponent to the seasoned Alonso.
Simultaneously, Hamilton also showcased his extreme speed, coming to the forty-sixth lap, finally surpassed Ferrari Team’s Masa, reaching third place.
Historically, three generations of kings, old, middle, and young, took the podium.
Soon came the third pit-stop window, this time HRT technician crew team worked very precisely, changing the only set of brand-new soft reds with the fastest efficiency, allowing Chen Xiangbei not to lose speed and position.
For these last ten laps, Chen Xiangbei doesn’t need to consider tire preservation, he can fully PUSH to chase Masa in front, or even Hamilton ahead, to fight for a podium opportunity.
Unfortunately, the previous entanglements and defense opened too far a distance from the lead group for Chen Xiangbei.
Plus, the performance advantage of the HRT Racing Car is only stronger than the declining legacy Renault, and the Mercedes in consolidation phase, this year’s Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari "New Three," TF110 doesn’t outperform anyone.
Even if Chen Xiangbei advances at full speed, using a life-risking approach to chase, he still couldn’t see Masa’s taillights.
Finally, his ranking stayed at fifth place.
However, compared to the seventh position in qualifying and his many fantastic overtakes and defense scenes during the main race, it was enough to win the audience on-site and their cheers.
Even pre-race fans who harbored disgust and prejudice against Chen Xiangbei had to admit the Chinese rookie isn’t a paid amateur!
"Fifth place in his debut, who else says Chinese drivers are no good!"
