Free Web NovelChapter 748: Chapter 303: Unconcealed Sharpness (Part 2)
At the same time, with Briatore’s departure, Renault has fallen from a championship-contending team to a point where they can’t even compete among the top four, ranking even behind new teams like HRT. It’s a complete insult to the prestigious factory team’s name!
Perhaps hearing the celebration from the HRT Team or sensing the eyes from afar, Blair turned slightly to meet Briatore’s gaze, creating an inexplicable tension in the air.
From Blair’s perspective, the culprit for Renault’s downfall is none other than Briatore!
This old rogue not only got himself banned from the paddock but also caused a series of penalties leading to the departure of many technical staff, including the design director, Bob Bell.
One needs to understand that the research and development team is the soul of an F1 team; without top technology as a foundation, how fast can a car really be?
Taking over a disintegrated team and being able to maintain the main structure is already a considerable task. How can Briatore have the gall to blame others?
"Briatore, they aren’t having it easy either."
Sensing the strong provocation and sarcasm, Bob Bell spoke up to offer a word of persuasion.
He wasn’t as angry and aggressive as Briatore, understanding the current situation and difficulties faced by Renault.
Many believe that a prestigious factory team should inherently be strong, but in fact, there’s an old saying, "The bigger the ship, the harder it is to turn around." How could he not have deep feelings for Renault, where his career peak was created?
Hearing Bob Bell’s persuasion, Briatore retracted his gaze.
In some ways, he too has feelings for Renault and has very good personal relations with Renault’s management.
In later years, after Briatore had his fill, he returned to the F1 paddock as a Renault consultant and soon took on the team leader role again.
His relationship with Renault is much like the relationship between Red Bull and Marco.
It goes beyond just the team’s main body, reaching a connection with the group owner, binding the two sides closely together.
On the track, Chen Xiangbei naturally wasn’t concerned with these grudges and disputes. After Kubica pitted to change tires, he moved up to eighth place, with most of the cars ahead starting on soft red tires.
Although theoretically, the peak grip of the soft red tires lasts only eight laps, there are too many tire masters in the paddock; some "tire gods" can make a set of soft red tires last 30-40 laps under no pressure!
The reason why Perez was known as "Master Pei" in later years is that at his peak, he could make a set of tires last more than ten laps longer than his opponents.
Moreover, this ability is not unique to him. In fact, any world champion-level driver has unparalleled tire management skills. Perez became famous because, as a mid-level driver early in his career, he displayed tire management skills comparable to top drivers.
Chen Xiangbei knew very well that if he didn’t continue to push and pressure the drivers ahead, this group of "tire gods" in the first echelon could easily stretch a set of soft red tires to about twenty laps, achieving an effect comparable to neutral yellow tires.
Such an outcome would nullify the long-distance advantage of Chen Xiangbei and Perez, an outcome that was unacceptable.
However, F1 driver’s radio system can only communicate with their team’s engineers and team leader; the two drivers cannot speak directly to each other.
Chen Xiangbei wanted to chase them down, which would typically require him to relay through the team strategy group, making it essentially a team order, instructing Perez to push at full speed to close the slipstream on the car ahead.
Clearly, Chen Xiangbei would not experience battles or let the car go if he wanted the team to issue the directive.
Without going through the team, wanting Perez to understand his intentions leaves only one path: mutual understanding.
Chen Xiangbei and Perez were unfamiliar with each other and did not have any personal relations, and mutual understanding in this regard seemed implausible. But sometimes, to achieve a common goal, you don’t need a telepathic connection; actions can also signify intentions.
At this moment, Chen Xiangbei used Perez’s slipstream to perform an eject overtaking maneuver.
[Betraying the donkey who carried the mill?]
Seeing this scene, everyone in the paddock’s first reaction was disbelief.
In the previous second, the two HRT drivers displayed harmonious collaboration, using the slipstream to chase and successfully pressure their opponents.
And in the next second, Chen Xiangbei seizes the opportunity to overtake?
Perez helped him gain a position; even an ungrateful person wouldn’t bite back so quickly, but Chen Xiangbei truly inherited Briatore’s ways, not considering the second driver as a person!
To be honest, it’s not only everyone in the paddock who was shocked, but even Perez himself felt a bit hurt seeing Chen Xiangbei closing in rapidly.
Although he provided the slipstream help voluntarily, theoretically, he shouldn’t expect gratitude.
But Chen Xiangbei, couldn’t you at least avoid overtaking and stabbing him in the back?
Moreover, Chen Xiangbei’s maneuver was so sudden, Perez had no mental preparation, let alone prepared to defend.
At this point, changing lanes to block had no time; forcibly blocking would inevitably lead to a crash. Rationality told Perez that he couldn’t make such a move, being just a substitute driver, as causing an internal incident would seriously affect his contract.
The only option was to helplessly watch Chen Xiangbei overtake, which served as a lesson well learned through experience!
"Gosh, Driver Bei is too ruthless, repaying kindness with enmity."
"Treacherous Chinese guy, using any means to win."
"I once thought Chen Xiangbei embodied the driver’s spirit; now I’m so disappointed in him."
"Didn’t Chen Xiangbei give way to Perez before? Why do this now?"
Numerous voices of doubt echoed throughout the stands; everyone was completely perplexed by Chen Xiangbei’s actions.
Even if he ultimately finishes ahead of Perez, it would ruin his reputation; Verstappen’s past situation is the best example. During that time, the rumor mill couldn’t have been worse, likening him to a public enemy.
Fortunately, "Autobots" were practically peerless, using their exceptional driving skills to overshadow the negative aspects. Otherwise, the media storm could have been tenfold worse.
Just when Perez and everyone else thought Chen Xiangbei was about to complete the overtake, the speed of car number 13 suddenly decreased, returning to its position behind car number 14.
This scene again left everyone bewildered. Chen Xiangbei had already made too many "mysterious moves" in this race, leaving people completely unsure of his true intentions. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
But Perez understood.
Chen Xiangbei was indicating to him to speed up, or else he would be overtaken!
[Do you think I’m slow?]
Understanding Chen Xiangbei’s intent, Perez wasn’t angry; instead, a slight smile crept onto his lips.
He wasn’t an aggressive driver by nature; his career could be described as "accumulating strength slowly," step by step reaching the position of world runner-up.
According to Perez’s style, he would never accelerate at such moments; he knew that pushing to catch up with the car ahead heavily wears the tires, filled with unpredictable risks.
But at this moment, he felt Chen Xiangbei’s fighting spirit and passion!
The opponent is not merely satisfied with making it into the points, not even satisfied with successfully achieving the podium through tactics.
Chen Xiangbei seeks an absolute victory to win the championship!
No wonder the Chinese driver, even as a pay driver, faced countless questions and ridicule, yet kept making miracles to become the most brilliant rookie of the 10th season.
It wasn’t just the car’s performance, not completely his driving skills and talent.
It was more about that unyielding fighting spirit and refusal to give up!
No American driver would not wish to inherit Senna’s legacy and become their country’s hero.
Now, Perez admits from the bottom of his heart that Chen Xiangbei is much more like Senna than himself.
[Then let’s go all out!]
Perez silently said to himself, then floored the pedal to speed up and push, no longer prioritizing tire preservation.
The two HRT Team cars, like two meteors, sped along the Lingyan Circuit, closing the gap towards the car ahead, Schumacher, by over a second per lap.
At this moment, an unexpected scene unfolded: Schumacher entered the pit lane entrance, also choosing to avoid their onslaught!
