Car Racing without Money

Chapter 676 269: China's Grand Prix Champion! (Part 2)

The future is promising!At this moment, the HRT Team pit room is filled with cheering and joy. Briatore, feeling smug, remarks to Odetto, "The team's strategy doesn't need to be extensive, just effective."

"No matter where I am, I can cultivate the strongest drivers and teams!"

When Briatore took over the HRT Team, he boldly claimed in media interviews that he would usher in a return to glory.

Now that moment is drawing nearer.

For Briatore's boasting, Odetto couldn't be bothered to respond.

The Italian old rogue indeed has great team-leading abilities, but what does this have to do with Chen Xiangbei?

Triple-jump drivers should naturally be the brightest stars on the track, akin to Raikkonen.

If Chen Xiangbei were not a Chinese driver but a European one, he would have long been spotlighted as a rising superstar, hailed as the successor to Raikkonen or Senna!

"Bei, can you push a little more speed?"

While everyone was prematurely popping champagne in celebration, Odetto posed a question to Chen Xiangbei.

"It's tough, the tires are slipping badly, and I'm worried the engine won't hold up."

Chen Xiangbei replied truthfully. Like Alonso, he opted for a single-stop strategy, running nearly forty laps on hard white tires.

The East Sea International Circuit has high tire consumption, normally requiring a careful tire strategy to complete the race.

However, Chen Xiangbei started from eleventh position and pushed all the way to the lead.

Though there were intermittent tire-conserving moments, the battles in between were numerous.

If he continues to push speed now, apart from tire conservation, the risk of slipping is nearly one hundred percent!

Additionally, the stability of the engine in overpowered mode remains a hidden concern.

Even with the team deploying a new power unit, they couldn't change the high temperatures and pressures brought by the overpowered mode. Throughout the race, Chen Xiangbei's engine temperature repeatedly breached the warning line.

If not for Trulli's assistance and the safety car opportunity from the accident, giving him a chance to cool the engine, Chen Xiangbei wouldn't be sure if he'd experience another engine blowout like in qualifying.

In this situation, pushing further heightens the risk.

"I'm worried Alonso can't hold Vettel back for long, the only way is to use their battle to widen the gap."

Odetto expressed his concern.

Vettel, now in the same aggressive state as Chen Xiangbei earlier, is cutting through from behind with the momentum of a tiger!

Additionally, the difference between light and heavy fuel loads keeps Vettel's tires at peak grip, guaranteeing Alonso can't block him for long.

Track statistics show Vettel's current lap speed is 0.4 to 0.7 seconds faster than Chen Xiangbei, only slowing slightly during overtaking and battles.

With just five laps remaining, once Vettel surpasses Alonso, overtaking Chen Xiangbei will be a smooth progression.

This is why Odetto didn't join the team members and the audience in celebrating. Instead, he urged Chen Xiangbei to push speed as much as possible; widening the gap secures a greater chance for victory!

"OK, I understand."

Chen Xiangbei glanced at the rearview mirror; Alonso was indeed struggling to block.

The tire lifespan and grip difference sometimes outweigh the difference in car speed.

Simply put, it's like comparing a supercar to an SUV in cornering; the former is destined to crush the latter.

At most, Alonso can hold out for one or two more laps before being overtaken. Chen Xiangbei must extend the gap by roughly two seconds to be safe!

Otherwise, if caught in the slipstream, the pursuit time will be greatly reduced, akin to the pursuit in the DRS zone within one second of the car ahead in future races.

Chasing one second outside the DRS zone may take two or three laps, but once DRS is enabled, catching up might be as easy as a long straight.

"Chen Xiangbei refueled, HRT's speed noticeably increased. Perhaps he feels the threat from Vettel; he's already taking preventive measures!"

Guest Sha Tong, observing speed changes in the broadcast room, realized Chen Xiangbei chose acceleration in the final stages.

Clearly, the threat isn't from Alonso, who's fully blocking, but from the emerging strongest driver Vettel.

"Even through the broadcast camera, we can see Chen Xiangbei's tires are in poor condition. Accelerating after forty laps on hard white tires at this moment might lead to unforeseen risks.

"Such as excessive wear failing post-race weigh-ins, or even a tire burst!"

Hearing Li Bing's commentary, the joyful expressions of many spectators stiffened.

They initially thought Chen Xiangbei's acceleration was to finish the race early and claim his first career grand prix victory.

Yet, crisis looms instead?

In the VIP observation room on the second floor of the pit, Fatty Wang, Zhou Glasses, and his mother Zhao Yumei subconsciously clenched their fists.

"Zhou Glasses, do you think Brother Bei won't encounter any mishaps in the final stages?"

"Don't jinx it, there won't be any mishaps!"

Zhou Glasses swiftly retorted to Fatty Wang. This guy really can't speak nicely.

"No, I'm worried about Auntie. Look, she's already trembling!"

Indeed, Zhao Yumei's body showed faint trembling under the impact of nervous emotions.

While people are more concerned with championship ownership, Zhao Yumei worries about Chen Xiangbei's safety at such astonishing F1 speeds.

Especially after witnessing Trulli's accident, the shock of a racing crash nearly made Zhao Yumei's heart leap.

Now hearing the commentary emphasize Chen Xiangbei lacks grip yet still speeds up to create a safe distance with the car behind, she's genuinely worried about those riverbanks where cars veered off track, reappearing for her son.

She once heard her son Xiangbei say, "I'd rather crash than slow down!"

Back then, Zhao Yumei thought it was a movie line.

Now she knows it reflects a driver's career and what her son Chen Xiangbei is doing now.

With the championship within sight, no need for Odetto's urging; as soon as he knew someone aimed for the title, he'd make the riskiest choice.

Is lacking grip different from challenging bend limits?

It merely means veering off the track.

Living on the brink of losing control has become part of Chen Xiangbei's life.

There's nothing to risk.

On the third last lap, Vettel successfully surpassed Alonso, climbing to second place.

Alonso indeed tried his best to block, but couldn't erase the tire and performance gap.

However, this brought trouble for Vettel, delaying his overtaking by a lap.

"Leader, what's the gap between me and Bei?"

Vettel immediately inquired of Horner, also dreaming of the championship.

"1.9 seconds."

"I can catch him!"

Upon hearing the data, Vettel floored the gas pedal to accelerate. According to prior lap speeds, he could be up to 0.7 seconds faster. Three laps should suffice to catch Chen Xiangbei from behind.

As for the additional 0.2 seconds, it's reserved for overtaking!

Regarding Vettel's determination, Horner had little else to say.

By this race stage, there's no more strategy or tactics involved, purely a contest of car performance and driver skill.

1.6 seconds, 1.2 seconds, 0.7 seconds…

The gap continually shrinks, with Vettel unleashing his strongest performance. When he saw Chen Xiangbei's car tail lights, he also saw the black and white checkered flag waving by the track.

Instantly, a sense of frustration overwhelmed Vettel as the passion for catching up crumbled.

Ultimately, he couldn't achieve it?

Meanwhile, the on-site audience heard Li Bing's impassioned voice.

"It's over, the 10th season F1 Chinese Grand Prix has concluded!"

"The black and white checkered flag appears on the track, and the first driver crossing the finish line is HRT Team's Chinese driver Chen Xiangbei!"

"Let's give a round of roaring applause and fervent cheers to celebrate the birth of F1's first Chinese champion in history."

"I believe he hopes to hear the crowd chanting his name."

"Chen~~~ Xiang~~~ Bei~~~!"