Free Web NovelChapter 822: Chapter 336: The Distance Between Dreams and Reality (2)
"Did you see that? This is the result of your weakness. You don’t even need the Mexican kid to slow down and block the lap; just letting him preserve his tires at the cost of his position, and he dares to defy team orders."
"Odetto, no wonder you failed back then!"
The "you" mentioned by the Italian scoundrel naturally refers to the former Ferrari Team.
Destroying the peak of the Ferrari Yue Ma Dynasty has always been Briatore’s proudest achievement.
"Didn’t your so-called toughness lead to the failure of the Renault Team?"
Perhaps it touched a sore spot or a bottom line, as there was a hint of mockery in Odetto’s tone this time.
The turning point for the decline of the Renault Team can be said to be Briatore’s troublesome antics, like the "Spy Gate" affair.
Not only did it cause a team once at the "Three Royal Families" level to fall to the bottom, but even Alonso chose to transfer to the old rival Ferrari and now stands in opposition to the HRT Team.
From Odetto’s perspective, Renault’s success wasn’t due to Briatore’s toughness, and Ferrari’s failure wasn’t due to the alleged weakness. It’s important to know that drivers aren’t just machines that follow orders!
With Odetto’s words, Briatore’s face instantly became grim.
The dissolution of Renault, wasn’t it also his pain?
If he truly didn’t care, then Briatore wouldn’t be obsessed with proving himself through the results of leading the HRT.
He just wants to prove that his ideas and choices back then were not wrong!
Thus, he no longer argued with Odetto, decisively pressed the headset communication button, and said, "Perez, if you successfully defend and help Xiangbei secure the race win, you’ll become the official driver for the team next year."
"Otherwise, be prepared to lose your job!"
The Italian scoundrel never speaks gently or politely to drivers, just like in later years when he returns to Renault to lead the team, openly stating the price for rookies to race five events, meeting the standard means staying, failing means leaving.
Listening to the "threat" coming through the headset, Perez’s expression was grim under the black mask.
Who wouldn’t enter F1 with passion and dreams at first?
Who would have thought that after entering the paddock, they’d encounter the bloody reality brought about by various conflicts of interest?
In other circumstances, ten years later, Perez wouldn’t have even heard this sentence. He would have agreed the moment Odetto gave the instruction, as his youthful spirit and sharpness would have long been worn down by reality. He has also come to understand what true racing genius is in this world!
But now, Perez’s ideals and passions remain, and he still yearns to stand on the highest podium and become a world champion.
At this moment, does he completely accept the fate of being a support driver?
No one can give Perez the answer; the team radio remains eerily silent.
Sawano Hiroyuki, Mizutani Sho, and others look at Briatore, their expressions very complex, while Bard, Perez’s race engineer, is filled with anger.
The Italian old-timer takes the money without doing the work. Even though the Mexican Petroleum Group has already paid HRT Team a large sponsorship fee, helping them overcome the mid-season financial difficulties, establishing a new wind tunnel and successfully entering new-generation car development.
Yet, they still use the seat as a threat!
The silent challenge undoubtedly defies Briatore’s authority, and just as he was about to issue more direct and severe instructions, Odetto placed his hand on his wrist, stopping him from pressing the communication button.
"Perez, Xiangbei needs this victory, the team needs this victory, for HRT."
No threats or exchange of interests, Odetto merely said it was for the team.
He believes that after half a year of working together, Perez can understand what kind of person Chen Xiangbei is and the strength of the HRT team.
There is no absolute fairness in this world, but Odetto dares to guarantee if one day Perez and Chen Xiangbei were to swap positions, he would issue the same instruction.
The team never targets any individual but prioritizes strength!
"Copy."
Finally, Perez’s response came through the headset, indicating he should have understood Odetto’s intention.
After hanging up the call, Odetto glanced meaningfully at Briatore, whose expression was also somewhat complex.
This time, the Italian scoundrel did not debate who was right or wrong, perhaps the answer was already evident.
The situation on track was far from as "intense" as in the pit, which is the nature of the Monaco Grand Prix; most of the time, drivers form a single-file "train," with the pack compressing into a shorter line, and everyone trapped running in it.
The situation today changed a bit as Masa was frantically attacking Chen Xiangbei, indirectly causing the whole pack to speed up slightly.
Masa is seen as a tragic figure in the paddock, his half-minute world championship amplifying the mockery of fate.
Yet, to secure half a minute of the WDC proves he at least has the strength of a near-world champion.
Or to use a more appropriate comparison, except for a rain race, Masa’s abilities could be marginally superior to his Ferrari teammate Leclerc in the later years of the paddock.
In the early five years of his career, the number of victories and championships Masa achieved could be said to be entirely leading, and his teammates included world-class drivers like Fisichella, Schumacher, and Raikkonen.
Of course, such a comparison is more like Guan Gong and Qin Qiong, with many differing variables.
But all this changed after Masa’s accident in ’09, and his situation highly resembles that of his old teammate Schumacher, possessing a glorious history and excellent performance, yet realistically at the twilight of their career—one might even call it the end of their strength.
However, the outside world does not know or perhaps cannot determine the degree of decline.
Similar situations are akin to the later collapse of Ricardo and the transferring Vettel; people still immerse themselves in their past glory.
Masa, affected by injuries, has significantly declined in strength, which is why Ferrari did not hesitate to abandon him and relegated him to being Alonso’s support, the main reason.
With the track characteristics and declining strength, Chen Xiangbei could handle Masa’s offense fairly easily.
Yet, he clearly understands this is just an appetizer; Ferrari’s strategy to wear out his tires means the real killer move is from Alonso’s trailing car behind.
But even knowing this, there wasn’t much Chen Xiangbei could do.
A top driver’s decline is relative; for instance, even though Schumacher underperformed upon his return, he still remained in the upper group, securing race wins and consistently ranking around seventh or eighth, forcing everyone to remain vigilant against him.
Masa, too, while Chen Xiangbei can fend him off, doesn’t mean he can get rid of him, and the victory scales are gradually tilting toward Ferrari.
Thus, the race reached the 18th lap, with Hamilton, ranked sixth, taking the lead into the pits for his first stop. He didn’t want to be stuck in the pack, falling into the train, and preferred seeking clean, cold air to enhance his lap pace, possibly achieving an undercut during other drivers’ pit-stop periods.
Hamilton’s pit-stop instantly encouraged a group of drivers to change tires, also aiming to prevent an undercut; everyone getting back on track again forms a train, ensuring no individual gains a solo advantage.
Among them were Schumacher, Barrichello, Sutil, and other front-row drivers, allowing Perez to ascend to sixth place, right behind Rosberg.
When this series of pit stops concluded, two pack formations emerged on the track: a head group with six cars and a midfield group of about ten cars, with the stragglers slowly drifting by.
The separation of the pack signifies better attacking and defending spaces; many professionals in the pit area understand that the real battle royale of the Monaco Circuit is about to commence.
"Masa, switch positions."
By the 22nd lap, the Ferrari team issued the instruction.
This lap number happens to be the pit window period for the soft red tires, after a series of blocking offenses, Chen Xiangbei’s tire wear exceeded strategic expectations, and the grip had thoroughly passed its peak.
Seeing Alonso’s No. 8 car appear behind him, Chen Xiangbei’s expression was very grave, Ferrari’s double-car consumption strategy finally reached the moment to show its fangs!
