How Did I Become an F1 Driver?

Chapter 1191: Chapter 451: Spineless Coward (2)

Meanwhile, Qin Miao, who has been using a white porcelain helmet design all year, finally decided to bring out his first special edition helmet of the year at the Japan Grand Prix.

Many fans who love collecting Qin Miao’s miniature helmets watched as other drivers cycled through four or five, even seven or eight helmet designs over the year. Qin Miao, in his over a year of professional career, had used only four different helmets before the start of the Japanese Grand Prix.

After all this time, they had only managed to collect four helmets, and Qin Miao’s helmet display case naturally looked quite empty.

Now, upon learning that Qin Miao was releasing a new helmet, they were all overjoyed, spreading the news as if it were the New Year.

This week, the special edition helmet Qin Miao brought features many elements from the Tang Dynasty. The helmet is an overall dark yellow, adorned with pavilions, Tang Sancai pottery, and many portraits characteristic of the Tang era.

These elements, clearly not traditionally suited for helmets, have been artistically processed and arranged by domestic artists on Qin Miao’s helmet, making it particularly harmonious, lending a touch of archaic charm to the modern technology-laden racing helmet.

After announcing that he would use the new helmet at the Japan Grand Prix, Qin Miao was naturally questioned by many Japanese journalists at the pre-race press conference about whether there was an implied meaning behind wearing it.

Qin Miao unequivocally denied it to the reporters.

But everyone knew that Qin Miao typically spoke in standard diplomatic terms during press conferences, rarely behaving this way, making his actions’ implicit meaning quite clear.

Exactly.

Indeed, there is an implied meaning, but you just can’t find any evidence.

Many more extreme Japanese fans were greatly irritated upon realizing this.

However, traitors exist in every country, let alone in Japan, a nation that humbles before power but lacks virtue.

In the world of F1, Qin Miao is currently an absolute authority and symbol of strength.

So, many Japanese fans don’t care about this; seeing Qin Miao makes them happy. After all, besides being the 2021 world champion, he’s also the only F1 world champion from Asia in history.

As for Qin Miao’s helmet?

Isn’t this an ancient Japanese style?

What? Tang Dynasty?

I don’t care; this is an ancient Japanese style!

All in all, in the few days in Japan, Qin Miao stirred quite a storm, though he was largely indifferent to it, focusing primarily on hotel training, familiarizing himself with the track, and occasionally holding remote video conferences with the team factory department.

Time quickly passed to Thursday.

Qin Miao originally thought that after his press conference, the Japanese fans would regard him with hostility, similar to his experience at the Dutch Grand Prix this season.

A target of a thousand accusations.

However, Qin Miao somewhat underestimated this nation’s intrinsic servitude.

As Qin Miao drove his Maybach into the circuit entrance roundabout, he was surrounded by Japanese fans waiting there.

Seeing Qin Miao arrive, they became incredibly excited. Qin Miao considered raising the car windows to avoid any thrown rotten eggs, but soon, he heard the enthusiastic chants of the Japanese fans on-site: "Qin Miao! Qin Miao! Qin Miao!"

There were also Japanese words like "Ganbatte" cheering for Qin Miao.

Qin Miao was truly surprised by this but still maintained a professional racer’s basic demeanor, warmly smiling and waving to greet the Japanese fans on-site.

Instantly, these fans became even more excited.

Entering the circuit, away from the local Japanese fans, Qin Miao chuckled silently, realizing that a proper Japan Grand Prix had unexpectedly become another home race for him.

Back at the paddock, Qin Miao checked in and, amidst the crowd’s bustle, returned to the Mercedes team’s garage.

After greeting Reyes, Qin Miao put on the team uniform brought over by Barber and asked, "Do we have any upgrades on the car this week?"

Reyes, holding a tablet, was confirming the current work status of the team staff.

With the advancement of technology, various sensors have become stable and miniaturized, naturally also affecting F1, a high-tech competition.

Many of the team’s inspections can be done using electronic devices, and this method has proven reliable.

Hearing Qin Miao’s question, Reyes confirmed the changes to the car this week and shrugged, saying to Qin Miao, "There’s no upgrade to the car this week. The car’s overall status is the same as last week, still set up for high downforce."

Qin Miao nodded regretfully. Since acquiring the skill to enhance team development capabilities, Qin Miao had been eagerly anticipating team upgrades.

Unfortunately, under the budget cap, the team struggled with upgrades.

"Let’s hit the track; Qin Miao, you haven’t run the Suzuka Circuit yet. It’s crucial to become familiar with it, and I just checked the weather; there’s a low chance of rain in the next three hours." Reyes put away his tablet after seeing Qin Miao changed.

Qin Miao nodded, called Barber Frankie, and, with a few technicians, they entered the track through the pit lane connection.

This time, Qin Miao stayed focused on the track, eschewing any casual behavior. Despite the skills’ assistance and high familiarity from simulator practice, Qin Miao knew walkthroughs were necessary before fully integrating simulator-learned skills.

They completed a lap, taking over two hours.

This was the time spent even with Qin Miao and other team members riding scooters around the track.

The time-consuming parts involved recording the track’s smoothness, asphalt grip, curb angles, slopes, curb heights, grass smoothness, and gravel trap texture.

Overall, the process was extremely tedious yet essential.

At least Qin Miao learned that some corner buffer zones were suboptimal, with grass deceleration more effective than gravel traps.

Additionally, although there was no rain while walking the track with his crew, they found many areas with standing water.

Furthermore, weather forecasts predicted rain throughout the week.

While walking the track, they had to estimate which corners would likely have standing water during a race, affecting grip and needing avoidance in wet conditions.

To experienced F1 drivers, this knowledge is typically garnered from a single track walking lap before a race. But for Qin Miao, who hasn’t raced on this track before, it’s new.

After returning to the team garage post-walk, Qin Miao began recording driving techniques and cornering methods for the track.

This week’s Japan Grand Prix follows a standard race weekend schedule, with practice sessions on Friday and Saturday mornings. If track conditions permit, Qin Miao can test tire and fuel consumption while practicing the lines he recorded.

However, by Friday morning, Qin Miao pulled back his hotel curtains, anxiously seeing the Mie Prefecture outside drenched in heavy rain, leaving Qin Miao pensive.

Not giving up, Qin Miao took out his phone to check for any possible weather changes. But instead of a weather forecast, he saw a meteorological report from the team weather department.

Friday:

First practice: Rain.

Second practice: Heavy Rain.

Qin Miao: ...