Speed ​​God

Chapter 151 The Edge of Limits
Calm, composed, focused—

Lu Zhizhou realized that the car was slightly unstable, so he simply turned the car outwards a little, not blocking Hamilton's driving lane, but forcing Hamilton to widen the driving lane.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Zhizhou also made a larger arc, lightly skimming over the top of the first Jones Turn. The throttle and steering were perfectly coordinated with the rhythm, and the center of gravity of the car, which had just been slightly drifting, returned to the ground. It nimbly emerged from the apex of the turn, firmly blocking the line, and rushed towards the second Brabham Turn.

Hamilton was completely blocked from view.

Overcut successful!
"what!"

Wang Lin raised his hands high and shouted.

His fists were clenched tightly and filled with sweat. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest, and he even forgot he should breathe.

I stared intently at the TV screen until car number 22 overtook car number 44 and took the lead; at that moment, I could no longer control myself.

"Aaaaaaaaaaa!"

Not only Wang Lin, but the small square was bustling with activity, joy and happiness were evident on their faces, and no one could believe their eyes.

The same was true in the live stream room, where it was like a volcanic eruption.

"incredible!"

"Incredible!"

"Rookie driver Lu Zhizhou seized the opportunity when the safety car was deployed to quickly complete his pit stop and exit the pits before Hamilton, continuing to lead the Australian Grand Prix."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing history as Lu Zhizhou continues to dominate the race, suppressing both Hamilton and Vettel, two four-time world champions."

"The Ferrari overcut tactic has been incredibly successful!"

"God, Mercedes has made a fatal strategic mistake. They never expected that the young Lu Zhizhou would turn the whole situation upside down."

Cheers erupted, cheers erupted, and then everyone was stunned.

Albert Park was completely unprepared for this turn of events. The baby car driver who had been a cause for concern in the free practice session, seemingly unable to even make it into Q3, had miraculously taken the lead with a bit of luck, completely turning the tide of the race.

In the epic showdown between Hamilton and Vettel, Lu Zhizhou emerged out of nowhere, disrupting the game and drawing all the spotlight to him.

No one anticipated this scenario; the season opener was exciting enough!

At this moment, Hamilton was only 0.8 seconds behind Lu Zhizhou, a difference of just one second, enough for the defending champion to launch an attack at any time.

However, he couldn't, because the safety car was still on the track, and overtaking was prohibited.

Hamilton could clearly see the number 22 car right next to him, but precisely because of this, he became even more frustrated and started communicating with the radio.

"What's going on? What happened?"

"Why didn't anyone tell me that number 22 was arriving at the station? Tell me what's going on, or did I do something wrong?"

Despite Hamilton's best efforts to remain calm, watching Lu Zhizhou beat him to the punch was a bitter pill to swallow.

Normally, Lu Zhizhou's overcut would have been impossible; but he did, and Hamilton lost his lead.

Now, the situation is completely different—

Tires remain a key factor; Lu Zhizhou's tires have been used five fewer times than Hamilton's.

On paper, the wear difference of five laps is not irreversible, but there are still differences.

If Hamilton takes the lead over Lu Zhizhou, he will play defensively with less tire wear, and the defending champion is confident of holding off the younger players behind him.

Now that Hamilton is behind, he must attack, and with his tires worn out, those five laps could play a crucial role in the final stages of the race.

A single move can have far-reaching consequences, completely disrupting the entire situation.

However, it was to no avail.

Wolff stared at the No. 22 car leading Hamilton on the live broadcast, his heart aching. At that moment... should he have been tougher?
After a brief pause, Wolff quickly regained his composure. Instead of dwelling on the mistake, he decided to focus on the present. Showing his shrewdness, he spoke to Hamilton via radio, "Focus on the present, Lewis. We have plenty of time. That rookie can't be without making mistakes."

He paused for a moment, then said, "If he doesn't make a mistake, we'll put enough pressure on him to force him to make one."

Wolff is right, the game is not over.

The Melbourne race consists of 58 laps, and the race is not even halfway through yet, with more than 30 laps to go. Anything is possible.

GP3 and F1 are different.

In GP3, the race is already over, and Lu Zhizhou can happily welcome the championship; but in F1, the race is not even halfway through, and the real test is yet to come. The pressure from physical fitness, mentality, concentration, and other aspects is on a completely different level, which is simply hell for a novice.

And Lu Zhizhou? That kid has only ever run GP3!

The defending champions need to regain their focus immediately.

Sure enough, on lap 31, the safety car returned to the pits and the race resumed. Hamilton wasted no time and immediately launched an attack.

Lu Zhizhou was mentally prepared for this, so before crossing the starting line, he slightly controlled his speed, forcing the car formation to slow down.

However, Lu Zhizhou didn't play any tricks. As soon as he saw the traffic jam being forced to slow down, he immediately floored the accelerator and widened the distance without hesitation.

Turns 1 and 2, Lu Zhizhou braked late without hesitation, making full use of his tire advantage and using precise and delicate maneuvers to get away. Although Hamilton was chasing closely behind, Lu Zhizhou's calmness and rationality left no room for error, allowing him to maintain his advantage.

At 0.749 seconds, the gap between car number 22 and car number 44 was still breathtaking, but at least Lu Zhizhou held onto the lead.

At this point, just look behind you and you'll see it's complete chaos. Ricciardo is trying to attack Vettel, Alonso is trying to attack Ricciardo, and Verstappen has simply overtaken Hulkenberg and moved up a position. All the drivers are seizing the opportunity when the safety car leaves to launch their attacks immediately.

The polluted air turbulents caused widespread disturbance.

As the leader, Lu Zhizhou had a clear path ahead of him, without any congestion, and he could run at his own pace.

Soon, Lu Zhizhou realized that things were not so simple.

After Hamilton's attack at Jones Bend failed, he immediately changed his strategy and closely followed Lu Zhizhou's pace.

However, Hamilton did not rush into an attack; clearly, he needed to keep the tires in check.

But Hamilton had enough patience. Like a skilled hunter, he always stayed close behind his prey, moving with ease and confidence. The chilling threat clung to the prey's back like a shadow, making it impossible to predict when he would strike.

Fear and stress accumulate little by little.

Moreover, although Hamilton adopted the same strategy as Lu Zhizhou before, the defending champion's ability was inadvertently revealed at this moment.

As Lu Zhizhou followed Hamilton, the gap gradually widened, with the largest difference exceeding three seconds.

Hamilton followed Lu Zhizhou closely, never leaving his side, maintaining a distance of about 0.8 seconds, meaning he remained within the DRS attack range the entire time.

Unhurried and composed, like a cat playing with a mouse, Hamilton, despite being the one trailing, seemed to be taking control of the game.

Stimulate!

On the surface, the race entered a stable period, with no offensive or defensive maneuvers. The drivers were controlling their pace to protect their tires, without pushing forward or overtaking, and everything seemed uneventful.

However, undercurrents were surging, the air was tense, and the ever-increasing pressure could explode at any moment, causing restlessness to spread throughout Albert Park.

"Undoubtedly, this is a severe test for Lu Zhizhou. The four-time world champion driver is always lurking behind him, and you can't shake him off no matter what you do. You can't predict when he will launch an attack, so you have to stay on your toes at all times."

"It's not just about being fully focused on defending against the opponent; you can't afford to make any mistakes yourself either. Any slight deviation could become Hamilton's chance to turn the tide."

“I am not envious of Lu Zhizhou at all now. This young driver is being roasted over a fire.”

Croft was right; Lu Zhizhou quickly realized that the lead position was not comfortable, especially when the pursuer was Hamilton driving a Mercedes.

Although both players controlled the pace, Hamilton was clearly more at ease.

When Lu Zhizhou sped up, Hamilton sped up too; when Lu Zhizhou made adjustments, Hamilton made adjustments as well.

Moreover, Hamilton was not in a hurry to close the gap and try to overtake, because he knew that his tires were worn out five laps more than Lu Zhizhou's. Even if he overtook Lu Zhizhou early, he would still have to face the pressure of Lu Zhizhou's attack later. This also shows Hamilton's confidence. He believed that he could launch an attack at any time and deliver a fatal blow, so there was no need to rush.

Thus, Hamilton, like a shadow, relentlessly followed Lu Zhizhou.

The pressure of "being able to launch an attack at any time but not launching one, instead skillfully following and toying with the opponent" continued to build in the air.

The live stream makes it even clearer; just look at the difference between the two race cars—

The time was compressed from 0.8 seconds to 0.6 seconds, then pulled back to 0.9 seconds, and then compressed into 0.7 seconds.

Back and forth, trembling and uncertain, the constantly shifting but never widening advantage to more than a second remained within the DRS attack range throughout.

Even watching this scene on a TV screen is enough to make your heart race, let alone Lu Zhizhou in the race car.
Wang Lin could barely hold on; his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to explode. "If you're going to attack, then attack! What's the point of just hanging there like this?"

"I can't take it anymore, my heart really can't take it."

Beside him, Song Bo was equally nervous, his hands clasped tightly together, praying and cheering for Lu Zhizhou. His muscles were taut, and his hands were almost inseparable.

But Song Bo managed to maintain a semblance of composure. "See? This is Hamilton's strategy. He's waiting for the boss to break down."

Wang Lin's eyes widened. "So insidious!"

“Strategy. That’s called strategy,” Song Bo shouted back. “But you’ll see, the boss will make him reap what he sows.” A look of conviction flashed in his eyes—

Even if the opponent is a four-time world champion!

Secretly, I cheered for Lu Zhizhou, and also for myself.

In the Mercedes-Benz service area, a strange light flickered in Wolff's eyes; the young man's performance was even better than expected.

In fact, Lu Zhizhou was not without mistakes; his lap times inevitably fluctuated. However, these minor errors did not create many opportunities. Moreover, Lu Zhizhou's corrections and recovery were top-notch, and his overall rhythm control was truly impressive, not only sustained but also stable.

Wolfe opened the radio, "Lewis, excellent work, everything is perfect. We are now in a favorable position, wait for the command, and we will launch the attack."

"That baby is about to give up."

Meanwhile, at the Ferrari repair wall, an unseen tension and tension permeated the air between the two neighboring units, making it unbearably hot and suffocating.

Greenwood: "0.7 in the back. Focus on controlling the tempo; no need to worry about defense for now. Hamilton's tires are wearing out faster."

"Understood." Lu Zhizhou's voice remained as calm as ever.

But in reality, his hands were already sweating, and the ever-increasing pressure was making it difficult to maintain 100% focus. The physical and mental strain was slowly becoming apparent; moreover, the signals from the race car were making each lap of driving and control more dangerous.

The tire temperature gradually rose, and although it hadn't yet exceeded the threshold, he knew he was on a very thin line—

Too fast, and the tires will deteriorate quickly; too slow, and Hamilton will launch a close-range attack.

At the same time, the brake pad temperature kept rising, and both the race car and his own reaction speed slowed down, which meant that his driving details also needed to be adjusted.

However, this was not easy, because he had no experience. He had never driven a race car at 300 kilometers per hour for more than an hour, and he also had to face the pressure of being relentlessly pursued. Without any reference points, he had to figure it out on his own. The only thing he could trust was his intuition.

The most difficult part is maintaining this pace and state of mind, for twenty or twenty-five laps.

Whew. Whew!

Lu Zhizhou's breathing became extremely light, and the continuous pounding of his heartbeat gradually faded away above his eardrums. He kept replenishing his water but was still thirsty. In a state of complete concentration, he seemed to suddenly feel light, as if his soul had left his body. The next second, he felt the raging storm.

Take a deep breath, pull hard, and forcefully drag your soul back to the ground from the storm!
boom.

All the noise vanished in an instant, even the roar of the engines that had been raging disappeared in the wind, and Albert Park became quiet again.

Lu Zhizhou was immersed in the No. 22 race car, carefully feeling and re-feeling the state of the moment, sensitively capturing every braking point and every driving line. More importantly, he felt every contact between the race car and the track, and the continuous undulations extended along his fingertips.

He was a little excited, but that excitement quickly turned into focus, and he became completely immersed in the competition, entering a different state.

With a quick glance out of the corner of his eye, Lu Zhizhou indeed spotted the silver race car number 44 in the rearview mirror, which appeared like a shadow behind the rear wing and never disappeared.

Therefore, his task is not to shake off the shadow, but to prevent the shadow from swallowing him.

Greenwood's warning came through the radio: "Control ERS release. Be careful, he could launch an attack at any moment."

"Received," Lu Zhizhou replied.

With your left hand, gently turn the energy release knob one level to the right to give the tires a little breathing room; at the same time, adjust the brake offset further back to enter the corner more smoothly.

This isn't for defense, but for maintaining stability. The race is now in its forty-fifth lap, and the end is fast approaching. If Hamilton wants to surprise his opponent, he must launch an attack in the next ten laps, disrupt Lu Zhizhou's rhythm, and overtake him.

Before the storm arrives, Lu Zhizhou needs to regain his composure and fight hard in this ultimate cat-and-mouse game.

The forty-fifth lap passed peacefully.

The forty-sixth lap, still no movement.

On lap 47, without warning, Hamilton began to build up his energy at the end of the starting straight, using his ERS energy to quickly catch up, instantly reducing the gap to 0.5 seconds and getting close to the DRS window.

In an instant, the wind and clouds surged, and the rolling air currents tore apart the main straight. The silver turbulence stirred up by car number 44 approached like a hurricane—

coming!

Pressure, overwhelming and engulfing Lu Zhizhou.

However, the baby rider remained steady, making no obvious mistakes and maintaining a pace advantage despite Hamilton's close pursuit.

That ten-meter gap, so close yet so far, was also a torment for Hamilton.

From the effortless cat-and-mouse game to the frustration of being unable to break through, the pressure was two-way, and Hamilton's mind was slightly disrupted.

Clearly, this wasn't the season opener Hamilton envisioned. Despite not making any mistakes, he finished second and was consistently outmatched by the rookie.

The same applies to qualifying and the main race.

Hamilton didn't like this feeling, especially since Vettel wasn't even leading the pack at that moment!
Hamilton maintained his patience, but it eventually ran out. "When can we begin the attack? I think the time is ripe." There was no response on the radio; he was probably reading data.

Hamilton had already taken the initiative: "Never mind. I'm starting the attack."

Without hesitation, on the straight leading to Jones Turn 1, Hamilton made a feint to the right, but then immediately turned left to cut to the outside. With a quick turn, he shot into the corner like an arrow, ready to use his speed advantage in the low-to-medium speed corner to overwhelm his opponent.

DRS, activated!
A gust of wind, tinged with silver, swept down from Lu Zhizhou's right side, its roar tearing through the stillness of the space and forcing its way in, causing the entire world to begin spinning rapidly.

"Good timing."

Lu Zhizhou's eyes lit up slightly. He did not move his defensive line, but instead braked half a second in advance when he caught sight of the movement in the rearview mirror out of the corner of his eye.

It wasn't later, it was earlier.

In this way, the car's nose points more sharply when entering a corner, and with the help of steering, it cuts extremely hard on the inside line and is the first to pass the apex of the corner.

This scene seems familiar!

On the first lap, Hamilton executed a similar defense at Jones Turn 1, and now Lu Zhizhou is defending Turn 1 in his own way.

Hamilton attempted to bypass the defense from the outside, but Lu Zhizhou instead made full use of his inside advantage, forcefully resisting Hamilton's DRS advantage.

Wheel to wheel! Shoulder to shoulder!
In Jones Bend No. 1, the red and silver cars lined up side by side, locked in a fierce chase, before finally revealing their sharp edges and engaging in close combat.

The steering wheel slipped slightly. After forty-six laps, the car's condition had changed. Lu Zhizhou gritted his teeth, as he could feel the rear wheels of the car slipping slightly.

If you give it just a little more gas now, the rear of the car will swing out!
He didn't give it to him.

In the nick of time and in the blink of an eye, Lu Zhizhou was completely immersed in the race car and the track, feeling the friction and engagement between the tires and the ground.

It looked like it was about to collapse and was on the verge of collapse, yet it flowed gracefully and lightly through the bend, a wonderful state of effortless mastery.

However, Hamilton was in great distress.

Originally, he was the one who activated DRS and launched the attack, but Lu Zhizhou's simplified driving style firmly blocked the driving line, giving him an inherent advantage on the inside of the line and controlling the angle.

Hamilton, positioned on the dirty side of the outside line, found himself on the defensive.

At this moment, Hamilton, who was unleashing his full speed, was in great discomfort due to the pressure of the lane markings. His steering adjustment space was very limited, and he now had to rely on the rhythm of the Mercedes car in the corners to outmaneuver his opponents.

however!
Just as Hamilton was preparing to turn left and follow Lu Zhizhou into the apex of the bend to try to overtake, he found that the front wheels did not respond in time.

Push your head!

Damn it, Hamilton made a quick attempt to take control, but immediately realized that the wear and tear on the tires and the overheating of the brakes made the situation extremely difficult. Even the four-time world champion had to slam on the brakes and barely manage to control the wild horse on the edge of the cliff.

result--

The left front wheel locked up, emitting a puff of white smoke. Hamilton tried his best to turn the tide, but he still couldn't control the situation, and the car left the track and landed on the grass.

The entire audience was shocked, and even Croft felt a chill run down his spine, momentarily cutting off his voice.

Meanwhile, car number 22 remained absolutely calm in the fierce close-quarters combat, until the car locked onto the track and straightened its course.

Then he gently pressed the accelerator.

The next second, the rear wheels gripped the ground, and the rear wing of car number 22 extended forward again, pulling forward once more. Before it could even blink, it shot off.

"Pretty!"

"Unbelievable! Unparalleled!"

Croft finally found his voice, and his adrenaline surged, as if his skull had been opened, the stimulation and pleasure reaching the heavens.

"Lu Zhizhou! Rookie Lu Zhizhou!"

"Not only did they withstand Hamilton's attacks with precise and meticulous defense, but they even turned defense into offense in Jones Bend 1, forcing Hamilton to make mistakes."

"Hamilton did not expect Lu Zhizhou's defense to be so tough, and he did not expect Lu Zhizhou to remain calm under continuous pressure."

"In this offensive and defensive battle, the defending champions seemed a bit impatient."

"but!"

"Beautiful! Lu Zhizhou has executed an incredible defensive play! He continues to lead the Australian Grand Prix!"

The situation was instantly reversed.

Hamilton had initially closed the gap to within 0.5 seconds, but after Turns 1 and 2, the gap instantly widened to 1.1 seconds, showcasing the speed of F1 in a visibly impressive way.

A slight difference is a thousand miles away.

This was the first time Lu Zhizhou had pushed Hamilton out of the DRS range, a full sixteen laps after the safety car was deployed.

And that's not all.

Hamilton first locked up his tires, and then went onto the grass. The already worn tires suffered even more damage, and the grip fluctuated significantly.

He immediately sensed Vettel closing in like a shark smelling blood, and he had to control the pace slightly to avoid ruining his game.

1.5 seconds; 2.1 seconds.

In just two laps, Lu Zhizhou remained calm, quickly widening the gap and further consolidating his lead.

In front of the television, Wang Lin could no longer contain himself. He clenched his fists, jumped up and down, and cheered wildly, even pounding his chest uncontrollably.

He turned to look at Song Bo, no longer caring about anything else, and eagerly asked, "No way? No way? Boss won't win the championship, will he!"

For once, Song Bo didn't speak. Instead, he swallowed hard, his brain buzzing. Even after witnessing it firsthand, he couldn't help but doubt everything.

"Calm down. Stay calm!" Song Bo didn't know if he was shouting to Wang Lin or to himself. "The boss said that anything is possible until the car crosses the finish line. The race isn't over until the very end. That's true when you're behind, and it's true when you're ahead."

Song Bo stared intently at the television screen, his eyes glued to it.

Throughout the long history of Formula 1, countless legendary stars have set numerous records—

Lewis Hamilton's best debut result was third place in Melbourne in 2007.

The fastest career Grand Prix winner was Juan Manuel Fangio, who won in just his third Grand Prix in 1951.

The youngest career Grand Prix winner was Max Verstappen at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, when he was only 18 years and 229 days old.

And now, all these records will be updated if Lu Zhizhou can cross the finish line first!
However, Song Bo knew that the very purpose of a record is to document miracles, and besides, Hamilton would not surrender.

Sure enough, Hamilton came back again!
……

Unexpected. Situation. Mistake.

One wrong step leads to another, and Mercedes-Benz watched helplessly as the season opener spiraled out of control. So, where did things begin to go awry?

Was it Bottas's Q3 incident, or did no one consider Lu Zhizhou a threat throughout the entire free practice session?

The Mercedes service area was rather somber, but Hamilton was an exception.

You can't become a world champion by surrendering so easily!

Moreover, Hamilton hadn't forgotten that Mercedes' cars were superior to Ferrari's, so since he was now in a passive position, he decided to go all out.

He still has a chance in the final five laps before his tires wear out completely; Lewis Hamilton won't be easily defeated.

"Two seconds. Lu Zhizhou still maintains a two-second lead. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Mercedes-Benz to turn the tide. Time is running out for Hamilton."

"However, Lu Zhizhou slowed down a little, as if his tires were also approaching the wear threshold, and it was uncertain what the tires were in now."

Without needing a reminder from the live stream, Greenwood had already taken the lead, saying, "Pay attention to the brake temperature. The front left brake is already at 480 degrees Celsius. Try short braking when exiting the corner on the inside line. Don't drag the brakes for too long."

Lu Zhizhou: "Received. The right side is also starting to get hot. I'll lower the energy recovery level by two."

Inside the cockpit, the energy recovery rotary knob for steering was turned one notch, and the knuckles turned white the instant the left hand swerved.

It is indeed a matter of physical strength. Despite the preparation and training during the entire winter break, it seems that the test of the official competition will still be severe.

But at this point, the problem is not so much physical exertion, but rather an excessive mental workload. Each lap requires more than 300 real-time adjustments based on track temperature, wind direction, tire wear, and the distance to opponents, making the mental strain even more intense.

He had done extreme training in a simulator, but the reality was different.

The race car continued to shake on the ground, the G-force causing a dull tightness in my internal organs, soreness in my shoulders and neck muscles, and a dry throat that made it impossible to make a sound.

My heart, which had been pounding wildly, seemed to have run out of strength, and I could no longer feel the secretion of adrenaline.

However, Lu Zhizhou found it all very interesting.

This was the first time in his life that he had truly felt his limits.

He actually reached the limits of his body, mind, will, racing, and speed—limits he had always pursued and sought.

It turns out that it wasn't just imagination, but something that actually existed.

So, if we take another step forward and break through this barrier, what will we see?
While the Ferrari repair wall was nearing its end, the Mercedes repair wall was brewing a new storm.

"Lewis, mode six, battery fully charged, next lap."

"Roger that!"

On lap 50, car number 44 suddenly burst into a faster pace than in the previous laps, and its acceleration in the third time slot showed a more ferocious attitude.

2.1 seconds. 1.6 seconds. 1.2 seconds.

Incredibly, within just one lap, Hamilton had rapidly closed the gap and launched a full-scale attack.

"Hamilton is closing in! 1.2 seconds. 1.2 seconds. Don't let him enter DRS range. Repeat, 1.2 seconds!"

A reminder came over the radio. Lu Zhizhou glanced at the rearview mirror, but his mind remained calm and undisturbed. It seemed that after reaching the extreme of pressure and exhaustion, he had climbed past the peak and regained his focus.

Lu Zhizhou did not respond to the radio, but instead adjusted the ERS discharge mode to its highest level, preparing to respond.

But at that moment, the instant the accelerator was pressed, the steering wheel flashed a red warning light.

"Fuel criticality!"

Currently, refueling is not allowed during F1 pit stops. In other words, cars must be precisely weighed before entering the race. Furthermore, after the race, the organizers need to weigh each car, and if the weight is below the standard, the car will be disqualified.

Obviously, these are things that GP3 ​​will not encounter, and daily training in Maranello cannot fully simulate the conditions of an official match.

For Lu Zhizhou, everything was brand new; there was always another mountain to climb, and one difficulty after another.

“Zhizhou, eight laps to go. You need to save 0.1 liters per lap.” Greenwood was also slightly flustered. This kind of situation almost never happened with Raikkonen, but regardless, they were trained to provide a solution immediately. The rest—

It all depends on the driver.

The radio requested a fuel-limiting maneuver, but Hamilton was closing in at full speed and needed to accelerate defensively; saving fuel would be tantamount to giving up.

Faced with a real predicament, Lu Zhizhou calmed down completely. His brain quickly calculated every possible 0.05-second reduction in rhythm for each curve, every earlier braking point, and every shorter exit route. He connected all of these factors and, little by little, he could save some time.

This is extreme management.

But the next second, Hamilton made his move.

At Turn 13, without DRS, Hamilton steadily controlled the slipstream, pulled off a strong inside dive!

This was a classic example of an attack that induced someone to make a mistake.

Hamilton did not intend to overtake at Turn 13. He planned to use the performance advantage of his car in the last combination corner to force Lu Zhizhou to make a mistake at the limit. Even if it was just a slight overshoot, he could make up the gap and continue to close the gap and launch an attack through the straight and DRS.

Racing, in essence, is like playing chess; it involves strategy and tactics.

but!

Lu Zhizhou... he actually stopped!

Similar to the previous offensive and defensive standoff, yet completely different, last time it was the outside, this time it was the inside. Hamilton adopted a different strategy, while Lu Zhizhou seemed to be responding to all changes with the same approach, but in reality, he was addressing the root cause of the problem.

Last time it was braking early, but this time it was releasing the accelerator early. The entire driving state of the race car was completely different, and the situation of offense and defense also changed.

As can be seen in the field of vision, the number 22 Ferrari slowed down, did not brake too late rashly, but instead braked half a second earlier than Hamilton after releasing the accelerator.

Hamilton, who had been waiting for the later braking point, almost missed the corner entry point!
In an instant, the entire audience held their breath, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

"God!"

"Lu Zhizhou deliberately gave way; he was luring Hamilton to overshoot!"

In the battle of offense and defense, the old fox was unable to gain any advantage over the rookie. On the contrary, he put himself in a passive position.

Not only the spectators, but also those involved in the race held their breath in a split second.

A chance encounter on the edge of the limit turned into a fleeting brush, with heaven and hell seemingly intersecting.

In that brief instant, the difference in the two drivers' reactions became the deciding factor on the track. Car number 22 cleanly and decisively returned to the lane, while car number 44 was squeezed into the turbulent area and lost its speed.

Light and agile, that red afterimage moved so smoothly and continuously through the raging waves that it was impossible to blink before it had already emerged from Turn 16, leaving the silver arrow behind it 1.5 seconds behind. It swept through the starting straight with a surging wave of air, and the pupils and irises could only capture that ray of light burning fiercely in the air, leaving a long tail.

It resembles a contrails.

The roar of the engine lingered in my mind, leaving me in a daze.

The people in the main stands witnessed this scene clearly, and they were dumbfounded and speechless, unable to believe their eyes. What was this?!
(End of this chapter)