Speed ​​God

Chapter 114 Reaching the Top Strongly
In the world of Formula One racing, flooring the accelerator and pushing the limits is just the tip of the iceberg.

The real test lies in those corners where grip is repeatedly tested—scorching brake discs, tires at critical temperatures, every release and release of the throttle—it's all a gamble, like walking on the edge of the limit, unable to cross the line yet unable to hesitate, exploring the ultimate potential of the race car and oneself in a constantly changing dynamic balance.

That's the charm of Formula One racing.

The race, consisting of 24 laps, is only a third of the way through; the real test is yet to come.

Now, Lu Zhizhou can clearly feel the wear and tear on the car from the Red Bull Ring, and he believes Russell is in the same boat. No one can afford to be complacent.

In the upcoming races, a more detailed and comprehensive strategy is needed. He doesn't want to give up the advantage he's worked so hard to gain in the final stages of the race because his tires lose grip or his brakes overheat and fail to stop, and watch helplessly as his opponent wins.

Then, Russell quickly discovered that Lu Zhizhou had completely entered his own rhythm, methodically widening the gap and leaving the leader far behind.

The pace wasn't fast, but rather remarkably steady.

Russell was shocked to learn from his game engineer that Lu Zhizhou's pace was similar to his own, but he consistently outpaced him by a significant margin.

To everyone's surprise, Lu Zhizhou, who had never had any Formula One racing experience, was so adept at controlling the pace, showing none of the panic typical of a novice.

However, if Russell increases the pace to close the gap, Lu Zhizhou will immediately increase the pace to widen the distance again.

Russell kept trying to launch an attack to turn the game around, but he couldn't find a suitable window. He approached the DRS zone several times but failed to find an opportunity to activate DRS.

In addition, his own tire wear is not optimistic, possibly even more serious than Lu Zhizhou's.

Damn, what a terrible starting position!

The gap narrowed, then widened, then widened again, and then silently widened a little more, like quicksand, gradually plunging Russell into despair.

Russell always felt like he was running in Lu Zhizhou's rhythm, unable to break free. That kind of frustration and resentment weighed heavily on Russell's chest. He kept trying to vent and release it, but he couldn't find an opportunity. He could only hold his breath and get lost in the roar of the engine.

A sense of powerlessness loomed over me, like a persistent shadow.

Before they even had a chance to catch their breath, the short, fast-paced Red Bull Ring race was over, with cars roaring past the finish line one after another.

Lu Zhizhou took the lead and, despite being constantly pressured throughout the race, remained in control of the competition and was the first to cross the finish line.

1.878 seconds later, Russell sprinted across the finish line, his tail fin visible the entire time, but he never actually got a chance. Sitting in the cockpit, he took a deep breath but couldn't exhale, overwhelmed by his own powerlessness and frustration, unable to feel happy.

"Number One, the Continent. Number One!"

Borrepell tried to control his voice, and in the last three laps, he clenched his fists and silently reminded himself that this was not the first time and there was no need to make a fuss; but when he saw Lu Zhizhou withstand the pressure of Russell's full-field press and cross the finish line first without making a mistake, his joy still burst forth.

Precisely because this was not the first time, but the third time in a row, the shock and surprise erupted instantly, overwhelming me.

If someone had told Borrepeller before the season started that the new season would begin with a three-game winning streak of "main race-sprint race-main race", he would probably have laughed himself to exhaustion. Such an absurd idea only exists in Hollywood movies. Even fairy tales don't write like that anymore because children wouldn't believe it.

However, that's exactly what happened.

Borrepeller was both excited and emotional.

"Zhizhou, a perfect game." "In the second half of the game, George was always looking for an opportunity, and you never made a mistake, maintaining the initiative. I believe George wouldn't like this situation, but in our eyes, it was a perfect performance."

"Congratulations. Keep it up, Zhizhou, keep it up!"

Lu Zhizhou let out a long sigh over the radio, but did not speak.

Borrepell immediately understood. It seemed that Lu Zhizhou had been tense the whole time and could only breathe now. On the surface, he seemed to be in complete control, but they should not forget that this was only Lu Zhizhou's second official match.

Just as Borrepeller was about to praise Lu Zhizhou again, he heard Lu Zhizhou's half-joking voice, "Only the second half? I thought the opening was the key."

Borrepeller paused for a moment, then chuckled, “The start was even better, the start was excellent, and the start after the safety car was even better.”

Lu Zhizhou: "Yay!"

Borrepeller couldn't help but burst out laughing.

For the average viewer, the beginning of the match was probably the most exciting, with close-quarters combat and fierce battles, full of thrilling moments; but for Borrepeller, the second half of the match was of greater value.

If the Spanish Grand Prix showcased Lu Zhizhou's offensive capabilities—his keen ability to find opportunities to overtake opponents one by one on a track where overtaking is not easy, including his sharp start in the race—can also be seen as a form of offensive prowess.

The Austrian Grand Prix was the first time they witnessed Lu Zhizhou's defensive capabilities. Whether it was the restart after the safety car or the control of the pace in the second half of the race, Lu Zhizhou demonstrated calmness and wisdom in both close combat and long-range battles. Facing Russell's all-out offensive, Lu Zhizhou did not show any weakness.

In Borrepeller's view, it was worth a fortune.

In some ways, this victory is more valuable than the Spanish Grand Prix.

Just as Borrepel was about to praise Lu Zhizhou again to give the young man some confidence and face the upcoming pressure of the paddock with his head held high, he was unexpectedly drowned out by a burst of cheers from behind. A group of people swarmed up and surrounded Borrepel.

"First."

"First!"

"Oh le oh le oh le, oh le... oh le oh le oh le!"

Turning around, Borrepeller could see the entire maintenance area jumping and celebrating wildly, with everyone raising their arms high as if they were on a dance floor, shaking their heads and legs wildly.

True professionals can immediately see the value of this victory.

More importantly, everyone in the ART team felt the pressure. As the defending champions, they were already the target in the paddock. Although they won the Spanish Grand Prix with two titles, the team's performance was far below expectations and they did not show collective competitiveness. After Lu Zhizhou emerged, this pressure increased tenfold or even a hundredfold.

Lu Zhizhou ranked second in the qualifying round, only three-thousandths of a second behind his teammate Russell. Despite such an excellent performance, some people were still making sarcastic remarks.

The ART team was truly indignant on Lu Zhizhou's behalf; everyone in the pit area was holding their breath in anger.

I can criticize my own driver, I can watch the drama unfold, I can observe. Everyone else, get out of here. Those malicious bastards, all of you, go away.

Now, Lu Zhizhou has retaliated with a spectacular victory, giving the onlookers a resounding slap in the face, and the repair area has instantly erupted in excitement!
　This is the fourth update today.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)