"Odetto, what’s my rank for this lap?"
Chen Xiangbei asked, his voice noticeably weak at this mont.
After intense three sessions of qualifying rounds, although it seed like just a few tid laps, every lap was pushed to the limit, all out, risking everything, and the ten-minute break in between was far from enough to catch a breath.
Especially with the high temperatures at the Bahrain Circuit, wearing fla-resistant underwear coupled with heavy racing suits, along with the open cockpit of the Formula car, it was akin to standing under the scorching sun of over thirty degrees, wearing a heavy quilted jacket!
And considering the tight full helt, it’s even more uncomfortable than wearing a "big quilted hat".
This is an experience Chen Xiangbei never went through in his previous life, after all, the supporting races for the F2, F3 Level considering logistical costs are mostly held in the European Region, with a maximum temperature of just around twenty degrees.
Don’t be fooled by the re ten-degree difference, the actual experience differs vastly.
No wonder Bahrain would be converted to night races later; midday qualifying rounds are hard to endure even for F1 Driver with top-tier fitness.
"Seventh."
Odetto maintained his "cool" deanor, giving a simple response.
Yet this ti, after answering, he added.
"Not bad."
Honestly, for a rookie F1 Driver, advancing to Q3 in the debut qualifying round is already worth boasting about, not to ntion defeating an older teammate to achieve a seventh place ranking.
Odetto originally wanted to give more straightforward praise to Chen Xiangbei, but considering the real determinant, the race, has yet to co, many things should be moderated.
The wavering emotions during the qualifying rounds indicate that Chen Xiangbei hasn’t reached the "car man" level yet, excessive praise could easily lead young people to beco arrogant and complacent.
[Seventh?]
Upon hearing this rank, Chen Xiangbei felt conflicted.
Happy, yet sowhat unsatisfied.
The application of the waste gas diffuser allowed the TF110 Racing Car to start off strong in the race.
The extre cornering speed is the best evidence, currently, HRT Racing Car is only second to Red Bull’s RB6, reaching the top two level in the paddock.
The problem is such a lead is hard to maintain for the entire season.
For long, it may last three to five races; for short, the next race station, big teams can replicate and imitate through developnt.
In fact, in the top-tier team’s research bases, there are already new air kits, just temporarily not equipped onto racing cars due to lack of field results validation.
Just like last year’s double-layer diffuser, a few races later beca an average team configuration, causing Brown GP Team’s mid-term scores to almost collapse, stabilizing the situation through selling shares to Daimler Group and Abu Dhabi Investnt Authority.
How long HRT’s lead advantage will last, Chen Xiangbei doesn’t know.
But he knows being caught up is definitely a matter of ti, this is the essence difference between big teams and dium-small teams.
The developnt foundation and heritage gap between both can’t possibly be compensated in just one short season.
Even an industry giant like rcedes takes several seasons of dormancy to build their own eight-ti champion dynasty.
Although rationality tells Chen Xiangbei, contending for the championship in the first season seems more like a slogan, or an unreachable dream.
Such a statent might be ridiculed.
But a dream not ridiculed seems to have no value to be realized.
Chen Xiangbei still wants to work towards this goal, just like Brown GP Team last year, establishing a strong moat with early technical advantage, even if other teams catch up later on, still able to laugh till the end.
The seventh place ranking in qualifying is clearly not enough!
Even though Bahrain Sakhir is a track good for overtaking, TF110’s long-distance advantage is not as prominent as in qualifying, making it harder than expected to improve positions.
Chen Xiangbei had many thoughts, while the event comntator was in awe.
"WHY? How could this be possible?"
Emil instinctively voiced this question, initially assuming eighth was Chen Xiangbei’s limit.
Unexpectedly, old tires could raise a position!
No one knows better than Emil, the local, how much Bahrain Circuit "tire consumption" demands.
The old tires in the second flying lap mostly fare slower than new tires, unless the driver hid capabilities, or there’s a burst of improvent in a short ti, or else such a reversal situation shouldn’t occur!
"Very surprising, isn’t it?"
Jas rely smiled in response to this.
After all, he is experienced; Emil’s reaction mirrors his mood when explaining Chen Xiangbei’s Renault and F3 race.
The Chinese Kid always brings unexpected surprises and impacts at unpredicted monts!
"Qualifying in seventh already surpasses Raikkonen’s debut."
"If he can maintain stability in the race, Xiangbei might not only score in his debut but also has a chance to break into the top six again rivaling Raikkonen."
Emil found it incredibly difficult to utter this, as it truly stretches beyond his scope of understanding.
Everyone knows Hua Bu’s statent on Chen Xiangbei’s equivalence to Raikkonen is Italy’s old rogue unmasked marketing hitch.
Yet now Chen Xiangbei is touching the rookie heights of Raikkonen then!
"The stereotype brought by Xiangbei’s identity as a Chinese driver led many to underestimate his talent and ability."
"When you take off the tinted glasses, you can truly feel the brilliance of a rookie in the paddock."
"Emil, Xiangbei is definitely worth the anticipation."
Jas expressed this sentintally, if Xiangbei were an European driver, likely long regarded as a rising star in the paddock!
User Comments
0 comments from readers