Car Racing without Money

Chapter 669 266: After All, It's a Team Game (2)

Many times, there is a contradiction between rules and sympathy.Trulli's aggressive blocking of the overtaking line, commonly known as "closing the door," did not leave Hamilton any room for buffering. As long as the car behind chose not to yield, a collision was almost inevitable.

As the youngest world champion and one of the brightest stars in recent years, Hamilton has no shortage of fans worldwide, and naturally, there are those who stand up for him.

"Bei, Trulli's accident, watch for the double yellow flag."

Odetto's voice came through the headset, reminding the driver not to overtake or speed during the yellow flag period.

"Odetto, how is Trulli's situation?"

Chen Xiangbei immediately asked.

The speed of an F1 car is too fast, and the rearview mirror offers very limited vision.

Before turning the corner, Chen Xiangbei vaguely saw two cars veer off the track, but as for how the collision happened and the situation, he couldn't perceive it as straightforwardly as a broadcast camera.

However, with the double yellow flags out on the track, it indicates a significant accident, likely involving a retirement.

"The voice system in the car is damaged, Trulli is unable to report his condition, medical personnel have already rushed over, and we are also waiting for news from the race control center."

One of the most common scenes in an F1 broadcast is the team members standing in the pit, with faces full of seriousness or worry as they watch the monitor. They too cannot instantly learn about the condition and injuries.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangbei felt a heavy weight in his heart.

To be honest, he's never experienced a scene where a teammate was injured.

Because whether it's in lower-tier formulas, F3 or F2 cars, teammates are often not as fixed as in F1, and there's no such two-car cooperation in the paddock.

To use the more familiar NBA analogy, F2 is more like a development league, highlighting the word "independent."

You just need to fully showcase your speed to achieve higher ranks without any foolish acts of two-car strategies to help a teammate, let alone Trulli risking himself to forcefully close the door.

The relationship between Chen Xiangbei and Trulli isn't particularly good, at best an acquaintance.

But in the six months after winter testing, the two entangled in a relationship that gradually blended from adversaries to friends, long past initial hostility, maintaining their pride unwilling to compromise.

Although Trulli became the second driver following team orders, Chen Xiangbei understood that the collision wasn't planned; it was a voluntary sacrifice and contribution by Trulli.

Precisely because of this, Chen Xiangbei felt mixed emotions.

Often, a favor is the hardest debt to repay!

"Trulli was rescued from the cockpit, and since the control center hasn't cut the broadcast, the injuries should be within an acceptable range."

Soon, Odetto reported the incident again.

There's an unwritten rule in F1 broadcasts, that if a driver has an accident but the camera continues to show the rescue, it is likely the injury isn't very serious.

Because in history, including the serious F1 accidents like Senna's, the broadcast footage would cause psychological harm to the driver, family, and fans, especially with any bloody scenes.

Thus, it was agreed within the FIA that when on-site medical personnel preliminarily determine the situation is very serious, the rescue footage wouldn't be shown, and the final result will only be released officially.

If the injury is not serious, or within an acceptable range, the rescue process will be broadcast live.

Now the race center hasn't cut Trulli's rescue footage, and he can be seen walking out of the car with the help of medical personnel, indicating that the injuries are not too serious.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangbei let out a sigh of relief.

"Bei, F1 has never been a one-man show. Today you should feel what team means."

"Good luck, don't let Trulli down."

Odetto isn't someone who fusses over words, nor does he like to say emotional lines.

But at this moment, he still emphasized it.

This home race, whether it's the team's effort in undercutting Hamilton or Trulli's two-car tactic passing Rosberg.

All showcased the unity, cooperation, and dedication of an F1 team!

Even the King of Cars, Schumacher, often needed Barrichello's cooperation.

And focused as Verstappen might be, he relied on Perez's defending too.

Young people often become arrogant after achieving a little, today Odetto wanted Chen Xiangbei to know that F1 is ultimately a team game.

After saying this, Odetto looked meaningfully at Perez.

In this young Mexican, he saw the shadow of youthful arrogance, unwilling to be subordinate.

Having this ambition isn't a problem, provided there's the competence.

Now Odetto agrees with what Briatore once said, a mediocre team can accept fair competition between two drivers, but a championship-contending team must clearly define the first and second drivers.

Only with clear hierarchy can internal friction be minimized.

If Perez someday becomes an official HRT driver, either he must defeat Chen Xiangbei in one go, or understand his status and situation.

For someone who can't win and can't afford to lose, Odetto can't accept!

"I will."

Chen Xiangbei's tone was filled with determination.

No matter what the reason Trulli helped, he wouldn't let his efforts be in vain.

For himself, for Trulli, and even more for HRT!

The process of clearing the damaged cars lasted longer than expected, initially only mid-field drivers pitted for tire changes, hoping to improve positions with better grip.

As time passed, the front teams' strategy groups judged the double yellow flags would continue for a while, so they let Vettel pit for a tire change.

After being overtaken by Alonso on the first lap, Vettel remained in second place, and multiple attacks ended in vain.

Behind Vettel was his teammate Weber, also an exceptionally proficient long-distance race driver, capable of extracting speed from any car he's given.

Of course, you shouldn't expect him to exceed the car's limits in speed.

Unable to surpass, to avoid Alonso benefiting as a bystander, the team strategy group wouldn't allow Weber to attack and cause internal depletion, effectively becoming two Red Bull cars trailing and inhaling exhaust.

However, the attacks gained some benefit in consuming Alonso's tires.

Now the Red Bull Racing Team decided to have Vettel pit for new tires, then rely on the RB6's paddock-leading pace capability to catch up, and during which have Weber relay an attack on Alonso.

As Odetto emphasized, F1 is ultimately a team game, with the two Red Bull cars at the front, they have the capital to play relay races.

On the contrary, if Alonso pits for tires, he'll lose the lead, and Masa, long lagging behind, couldn't lend a helping hand!

"Bei, are you considering pitting?"

During the cruise waiting for the yellow flag to end, Sawano Hiroyuki's voice came through the headset.

The race has reached thirty-one laps, meaning twenty-five laps remain.

Many drivers took advantage of the yellow flag and safety car period to change to new tires. As the race entered its final stage, Chen Xiangbei's set of forty-lap old white tires, putting aside overtaking the last two opponents could defend against the chasing pack would be challenging.

Sawano Hiroyuki worried about a scene where efforts were in vain.

"Not considering, I can finish the race."

Chen Xiangbei refused Sawano Hiroyuki's suggestion, although pitting during the safety car could reduce window time.

But having the pack close up by the safety car shortens the distance, pitting would lose many places.

The Toyota engine's performance and speed are not much weaker than Red Bull, but the stability gap is significant.

If forced to push and squeeze the engine for overtaking, Chen Xiangbei worried about a qualifying engine blowout scenario.

Moreover, most importantly, Chen Xiangbei had already caught up to Weber and Alonso during the safety car compression, shortening the planned chase time and indirectly extending tire life.

Red Bull's relay was compared to a mantis stalking a cicada, so why couldn't he be the oriole lurking behind?