Car Racing without Money-Chapter 543 - 211: Low-Key, Forbearing Killer (Part 2)

Chapter 543: Chapter 211: Low-Key, Forbearing Killer (Part 2)

However, Chen Xiangbei’s fastest lap time in the entire practice session so far is only 1 minute 30.778 seconds!

This result is worlds apart compared to his stellar performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

During the first practice in Bahrain, Chen Xiangbei dared to push his lap time by the second lap, but today in Australia, as the first practice is nearing its end, the Chinese rookie’s racing line is still very conservative, not even daring to eat the curbs much.

Moreover, if Red isn’t mistaken, did Chen Xiangbei slide at the beginning of the practice session?

It’s just that back then, the broadcast camera wasn’t focused on Chen Xiangbei’s car, and the distant view was quite blurry, making Red uncertain.

"That’s indeed the case, it’s clear that Xiangbei is driving very conservatively."

Among the many "legends" who have retired from F1, Prost understands Chen Xiangbei the most.

After all, he has good relations with Renault, also a French team, and once helped the current team leader Blair persuade Chen Xiangbei to join.

Prost has watched Chen Xiangbei’s lower-level formula racing, knowing the Chinese kid’s driving style is as fiery as his personality, full of youthful exuberance.

If he is confident, he will try early to probe and challenge the track’s limits.

No action from Chen Xiangbei in the first practice means he doesn’t have absolute confidence in conquering the Albert Park Circuit.

Guessing the reason, Prost thinks it’s probably unfamiliarity.

No matter how astonishing the racing talent shown by the Chinese rookie, he ultimately lacks enough race experience and proficiency, and the racing simulator cannot provide drivers with an absolutely authentic handling experience. The "semi-street" surface conditions and complex climate environment exacerbate these shortcomings.

Think about it, can a racing simulator simulate a sudden breeze on a real track?

The answer is obviously not!

"Professor, do you think Xiangbei can adapt to the track through three practice sessions?"

Red asks another question.

"I don’t know, what do you think?"

Prost’s face shows a smile; he habitually doesn’t speak too definitively.

"I don’t think he can."

Although Red has no hostility towards Chen Xiangbei, he doesn’t have a good feeling due to the environment’s influence.

The first practice session is about to end, and in the remaining two sessions, Chen Xiangbei still needs to go through qualifying and long-range calibration feedback. He doesn’t have enough time to familiarize himself with the track.

"Then let’s wait and see."

The two chatted briefly before turning the topic to other drivers.

Currently, the broadcast camera is focused on Hamilton, as the McLaren Team has also brought new upgrade kits to this session.

Compared to the "reverse upgrade" of the HRT Team, the McLaren Team’s speed is astonishing.

Hamilton has already run a time of 1 minute 24.993 seconds in the first practice session.

If track conditions don’t change much, and Hamilton still retains some strength, he might have a chance to break Schumacher’s track record!

During the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing Team maintained its lead with exhaust diffuser black technology, but unexpectedly, in the second race, McLaren Team caught up, showing the heritage and strength of the old "Big Three."

Not only is the track camera focused on Hamilton, but testing engineer Mazzola has also walked out of the pit room, getting as close as possible to McLaren’s maintenance station to observe what changes the car has.

The F-duct’s effect isn’t that exaggerated, McLaren must have other upgrades.

Mazzola possesses a remarkable talent—his keen observation of detailed changes.

Technical Director Bob Bell brought him to the race, hoping in some way he could "learn" from other car’s upgrade ideas to provide reference for TF110’s subsequent upgrades.

"Xiangbei, there are two minutes left in the first practice session, maybe consider returning to the pits early."

Odetto gave Chen Xiangbei a notification. Since he hasn’t grasped the new characteristics of the car, it might be better to return early and discuss calibration plans with the engineer.

"What’s Trulli’s current lap time?"

Chen Xiangbei did not answer directly but asked a question in return.

"Mid-downforce calibration, 1 minute 25.845 seconds."

"So fast?"

Hearing Odetto’s response, Chen Xiangbei was a bit surprised.

The first practice is often the slowest among the three practice sessions, and if Trulli hasn’t deliberately pushed the limits, this result horizontally compares to surpass his performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix!

"Well, he is more adapted to the old kit."

Trulli is considered an old driver from the same era as Schumacher. In the era when racing simulators were not perfected, they preferred understeer styles.

Many things are blessings in disguise.

Trulli didn’t use the upgrade kit, but it turned out to be "fortunate out of misfortune"; otherwise, with such severe oversteer characteristics, he might end up crashing.

"I still want to finish the last lap."

Chen Xiangbei chose not to return to the pits, partly stimulated by Trulli’s lap time.

Aside from resource allocation for primary and secondary drivers, he simply doesn’t want to lose even in pure competition.

An F1 driver in their rising period must be filled with a strong desire to win; otherwise, they will soon be eliminated from the paddock.

Even someone as strong as Kimi Raikkonen, driving "nurturing style" cars late in his career, received countless criticisms.

The only comforting point is that he left the seat to the Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu.

On the other hand, Chen Xiangbei feels he vaguely grasps the characteristics of the upgrade kit.

While the best car must be balanced and stable in all aspects.

Limited by design styles and practical situations, there will still be various biases.

Compared to understeering, Chen Xiangbei actually prefers oversteered characteristics; in some sense, his adaptation speed might be beyond expectations!

It’s just that during this last lap, shortly after Chen Xiangbei started driving, a slow car appeared ahead, blocking the driving line.

Chen Xiangbei isn’t surprised by this; blocking during practice sessions is common, especially after F1 teams expanded, worsening the crowded track traffic situation.

But when Chen Xiangbei changed lanes, the car in front also changed lanes again to block him, making things a bit unusual.

Through the visor, he took a careful look at the car in front, with orange, white, and green paint colors—colors of India’s national flag, so the identity is evident; it’s Sutil from the Indian Force Team.

Honestly, Chen Xiangbei’s deepest impression of Sutil is no more than his track conflict with Trulli.

Other than that, they seem to have no intersection.

Not understanding what the other party intends to do, plus all of Chen Xiangbei’s focus is on controlling the car. He has no time to play any cat-and-mouse games with Sutil on the track.

So he changed lanes again, and this time stomped on the accelerator, planning to directly lose this guy.

The result was unexpected; Sutil almost accelerated simultaneously, determined to block in front of Chen Xiangbei’s car!

Once it could be accidental, twice it’s definitely intentional.

Damn, did this jerk mistake identity, bringing the grudges with Trulli to mistakenly harm me?

Chen Xiangbei was full of confusion, but if Sutil knew his thoughts, he would probably tease about forgetfulness!

During the Bahrain Grand Prix queue, Chen Xiangbei arrogantly stepped on the accelerator, cutting in front of Sutil, leaving him entirely humiliated.

The most crucial point is that the Indian team’s high management already has competitive motives against Chinese drivers and even the HRT Team; they can’t lose to the Chinese kid!

Sutil’s loss there caused him to be "criticized" by the driver management.

Originally having grudges, followed by colliding with Trulli during the race, Indian Force now regards HRT as their primary enemy.

Chen Xiangbei cut in line, blocking in front last race, and this time encountering Chen Xiangbei behind, Sutil certainly wants to find the scene!

At this moment, during the large-scale return period of drivers, abnormal scenes on the track naturally attracted the broadcast camera’s attention.

Looking at the "dragon-drawing" scene of two cars on the track on the screen, Red was puzzled at the moment.

He doesn’t know about the Bahrain Grand Prix incident, so he cannot understand what happened.

Sitting next to Prost, however, shows a playful smile.

The F1 paddock in the eighties and nineties was exploding with tension; drivers vying with each other happened countless times, a situation he was too familiar with.

Now let’s see if the Chinese rookie is truly tough or just pretending to be tough?