Car Racing without Money

Chapter 705 - 282: The Top Authority of Paddock Politics (Part 2)

You know this is the first Korean F1 Grand Prix, and Korea Auto Federation is very ambitious about it, hoping to enhance international influence through Korea Station, and drive the development of the whole area, with an indirect economic impact possibly reaching hundreds of billions of US Dollars.If this incident escalates, Chen Xiangbei may at most be fined a few tens of thousands of US Dollars for improper conduct, which would be a heavy loss for the Korea Auto Federation and the organizers.

After weighing the pros and cons, it’s better to honestly apologize.

"Damn, why do we have to apologize to the Chinese? What’s the hidden agenda here?"

"Even openly showing the middle finger can avoid punishment, what kind of backing does Chinese Driver Bei have?"

"I protest! The FIA and the F1 council are shielding the Chinese driver!"

"Chinese shopkeeper, get out of the Korean track!"

Finally, a Korean spectator completely lost it and shouted hysterically.

Of course, the result was being escorted out by on-site security, serving as a dire warning to others.

Let the Korean spectators who still intend to stir trouble understand that the discipline in the pit will be real!

With the end of the clamor and shouting, the countdown for the first practice session also hit zero.

Chen Xiangbei drove the HRT Racing Car back to the repair station, greeted by the technical team, and everyone went about their jobs as usual without mentioning the verbal storm in the pit, focusing wholeheartedly on work instead.

Because compared to the waves in the grandstand, Chen Xiangbei’s practice session results were quite unpromising!

Chen Xiangbei had achieved a fastest lap of over 1 minute 35 seconds 5 on the simulator, already very close to the computer-simulated ideal lap, with such a result he was quite likely to secure pole position at Lingyan Circuit.

However, in the first practice session, Chen Xiangbei’s fastest lap was only 1 minute 38.344 seconds.

Of course, nobody would push hard in the first practice session, especially on a brand-new track, most drivers are just getting familiar with track characteristics and providing feedback for vehicle calibration.

Yet with this lap time, Chen Xiangbei ranked beyond the fifteenth position, even slower than substitute driver Perez!

"Bei, were you affected by emotions?"

Seeing Chen Xiangbei disembark from the racing car, Odetto targeted the psychological state.

It’s evident that Chen Xiangbei showing the middle finger in the repair lane signified being influenced by the grandstand’s words and insults, but due to trust in Chen Xiangbei’s emotional control, Odetto had never expressed any opinion.

Yet this performance left Odetto quite dissatisfied!

Knowing that many drivers’ abilities don’t equate automatically to track performance, generally, if one can exhibit eighty to ninety percent of their capability on track, it counts as excellent.

To show one hundred percent, that’s considered as unemotional Autobots.

If one can show one hundred and one percent, it would result in a legendary lap scene.

After all, humans are not machines, once on track they will be influenced by all sorts of factors, such as weather, track atmosphere, media coverage, personal emotions, etc.

Chen Xiangbei is ultimately a young man; past emotional stability doesn’t mean he can restrain himself all the time.

Objectively speaking, with tens of thousands of people insulting you, few can remain unfazed.

"No, I feel the engine power output is very unstable, lacking the usual linear response."

"Additionally, with the simple low-downforce calibration scheme, I’m struggling quite a bit."

Chen Xiangbei replied calmly.

To affect one’s emotions is based on losing control, and it’s no exaggeration to say, that at present, Chen Xiangbei’s ability can crush the entire Korean racing circle, including the rally events they pride themselves on.

The reason Chen Xiangbei showed the middle finger was purely to see the crowd losing it and to disgust them fiercely.

Facts proved, Chen Xiangbei calculated correctly, the most vocal group in the crowd now feels worse than swallowing a fly.

"How do you plan to calibrate?"

"Medium downforce scheme, aim to provide sufficient grip in consecutive turns, while avoiding too much time loss on straights."

"Feedback on details?"

Odetto probed further.

"Differential increased to ensure better traction in medium-low speed corners."

"Adjust brake balance to 55:45, with suspension harder front and softer rear. Engine performance output too low, with the ability to run high-speed corners and long straights compromised, then can only recover in the front half."

Chen Xiangbei’s previous low downforce calibration scheme followed East Sea International Circuit’s usual style, to pursue tail speed in high-speed corners and long straights, relying on HRT Racing Car’s superior aerodynamic layout with twin diffusers and stalling wings, competently overpowering opponents!

However, this move doesn’t work on Lingyan Circuit.

The root of overpowering lies in performance and speed, originally HRT Racing Car’s performance was almost at the pinnacle inside the pits, but this practice session felt like sliding to third or fourth position, possibly even lower.

And with non-linear power response, Chen Xiangbei felt quite uncomfortable while driving.

Consider it on a civilian car, with the same force slowly pressing the accelerator, the acceleration response is fast at times, slow at others.

Ordinary road driving might be acceptable, but in F1, such elite racing, a tiny error could result in vast differences.

If high-speed corners and long straights can’t match up no matter how calibrated, the strategy becomes to rely on Tan Ji’s horse race tactics and invest in low-speed corners.

Depending on ultimate car feel and control, "street race" in the front half to shake off the opponent!

"Street race breakthroughs are quite difficult, especially since it’s the first time running Lingyan Circuit."

"Bei, are you confident?"

"Odetto, have you forgotten my performance in Australia?"

Facing Odetto’s doubt, Chen Xiangbei smiled and countered.

"Though Australia Station integrates some streets, it’s fundamentally different from true street races like Monaco, Singapore; the concrete guard walls at Lingyan Circuit obscure vision and are more dangerous."

"I am still the champion of East Bay Circuit."

With Chen Xiangbei’s words, Odetto froze for a moment.

He indeed forgot the stunning performance Chen Xiangbei had in the Australian Grand Prix.

A Renault junior formula driver encountering F3 Racing Car for the very first time, and it was the most challenging Grand Prix, wherein Chen Xiangbei set a record by securing the champion title.

Compared to his naive past, Chen Xiangbei is now an F1 station champion.

No matter how unfamiliar or dangerous, it couldn’t surpass East Bay Circuit, right?

"Very good, maintain this mindset."

Odetto nodded, extremely affirmative in response.

It’s frequent that he applies the strictest standards to Chen Xiangbei, yet in the end, still realizes he has underestimated this Chinese kid.

This guy’s mentality is far stronger than anyone else’s understanding!

During their conversation, the screen hanging on the wall happened to show the scene of on-site reporters interviewing McLaren Team’s Hamilton.

"Hamilton, your driver ranking points from the last station were surpassed by HRT Driver Bei, and some unpleasant incidents occurred during the race, which you criticized and appealed after the race."

"Coming to Korea’s Lingyan Circuit this station, do you believe you can complete your revenge on Bei and win the station champion?"

Hamilton is full of an extremely strong desire for victory, even surpassing people like Senna, Schumacher. He can sacrifice anything for the championship!

For this question, Hamilton replied without hesitation: "Driver Bei won’t be my opponent, I will show the world who the true champion is!"

Hamilton has reason to say this, becoming world runner-up in the rookie season, then world champion the next year, could be regarded as the first rookie in F1 history.

Even future Verstappen couldn’t surpass this achievement.

Other drivers hearing this might have various feelings and emotions, but none would be like Chen Xiangbei’s excitement.

Yes, excitement!

No matter how domineering or confident Hamilton’s declaration, it’s presented under a premise.

That means he absolutely considers Chen Xiangbei as an opponent!

Only opponents of the same level would make grandiose statements to respond.

The ants on the roadside don’t even have the qualification to be mentioned alongside!

The second seven-time champion in history, starting an entire era for drivers, now places himself in the position of an opponent.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei should be excited!