Car Racing without Money-Chapter 536 - 208: Only the Mediocre Escape Envy

Last year, the Brawn GP Team’s advanced technology, the double diffuser, similarly spread rapidly after only a few races, with all teams adopting it. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

This year, the speed of "copying" has significantly improved, especially since Chen Xiangbei pointed out the McLaren Team’s "F-Duct" and stalling wing’s benefits, providing teams with a clear development direction.

The advanced experience is right in front of them, so why not copy it first!

After Mazzola finished explaining the characteristics, he added: "However, the stalling wing has not undergone comprehensive wind tunnel testing and has yet to experience full-scale model simulation; its specific effects are still to be assessed."

"Additionally, the McLaren car’s stalling wing and F-Duct work in tandem, and we have yet to unlock the airflow guidance pathways in the car body, the degree of impact from this aspect is also uncertain."

Mazzola informed Chen Xiangbei of all the pros and cons, with no withholding of information.

During the era of empty cars, copying air kits was easy because these things couldn’t be concealed; as long as you could take high-resolution photos, you could replicate them perfectly.

Unlike the ground effect cars of later generations, unless there’s a severe accident lifting the car, you cannot see the aerodynamic design of the chassis.

The F-Duct is the same; without disassembling McLaren’s car body, you won’t know the internal structure.

"Copying" can only replicate the appearance; understanding the inner essence requires time.

"Got it."

Chen Xiangbei nodded without saying much.

He understood that the upgrade kit is such; it must be verified by drivers to determine the correct answer.

After finishing the car assembly, Chen Xiangbei didn’t stay in the paddock long and went alone to the track to stroll, equivalent to pre-walking the course.

The Albert Park Circuit, as its name suggests, isn’t an all-weather professional track but a "semi-street" circuit temporarily transformed from park road sections.

Ordinarily, Albert Park shows no traces of a race track at all, appearing like a lakeside roadway where ordinary people can drive their family cars in to wander around and enjoy the scenery and lake breeze.

Every year during the Grand Prix period, Albert Park undergoes extensive modifications, even the paddock and race command center are converted from sports centers.

But compared to ordinary streets, the Albert Park Circuit is much wider, with lawns providing buffer zones.

However, comparatively speaking, the Albert Park Circuit still features narrow tracks, small buffer zones, unique road surfaces, low tolerance rates, and so on.

Especially for newcomers like Chen Xiangbei who have never raced here, it poses a severe challenge.

As Chen Xiangbei stepped onto the track, the first thing that caught his eye was the "sleek and shiny" road surface, indicating that this year Albert Park was repaved with asphalt.

New asphalt is a double-edged sword for racing; the benefit is that it makes the car much smoother, eliminating concerns of chassis bumps and baseboard wooden block wear.

The drawback is reduced grip in the first year; coupled with the track’s high lateral load characteristics, it demands extremely high tire management!

While Chen Xiangbei scanned the edges and corners of the track, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure, that was Trulli who surprisingly appeared here as well.

Ever since deciding to settle the score at the Australian Grand Prix, the two entered a competitive mode, reverting to their previous state of mutual non-interference, barely speaking to each other in daily life.

Chen Xiangbei saw Trulli, and the latter naturally saw him as well.

After hesitating for a moment, Trulli finally approached and asked, "Are you walking the track?"

"Sort of, taking an early look."

"This track is tough to run on."

Trulli quietly replied.

This time, both sides wouldn’t share data, meaning they had to rely on themselves to explore the track and adjust the cars.

"What makes it tough to run?"

Although the two were competitors, Chen Xiangbei wouldn’t miss the opportunity to ask.

Whether or not to ask is his business, whether or not to answer is Trulli’s business.

Just like the Bahrain race where Trulli "mocked" Chen Xiangbei as a rookie, he accepted it without hesitation.

Humbly seeking advice is the inevitable path for a driver to improve himself.

You may let others think you’re cocky, but you cannot really be arrogant yourself!