Speed ​​God

Chapter 155 Debut Declaration
Radical, tough, resolute—

Bottas displayed an incredulous attitude when facing Lu Zhizhou, a stark contrast to his usual criticized and ridiculed demeanor.

Despite losing position at Turn 1, a focused Bottas maintained his aggressive stance, continuing his attack without giving the opponent any breathing room.

At this moment, Bottas demonstrated his experience, going from having a positional advantage to losing it, from being at a disadvantage on the line to seizing the advantage on the line. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Bottas smoothly completed the transition and switched positions, embracing the heart of the second bend without hesitation.

In the field of vision, Bottas is on the inside line and Lu Zhizhou is on the outside line. Although car number 22 is temporarily leading car number 77 by half a car length, if things continue as they are, car number 77 will be able to regain the lead when leaving turn 2, just like at turn 1.

But then I saw it!

Lu Zhizhou remained calm under pressure, seamlessly switching from defense to offense. He maintained precise control over the steering and braking, and the car's rear wing glided smoothly along the apex of the corner. Despite not having a line advantage, he refused to lose speed in the corner. Even though Ferrari's performance in low-to-medium speed corners was not as good as Mercedes-Benz, he relied on unparalleled handling to create a standoff.

They were not at a disadvantage at all!

Before you could even blink, the exit of Turn 2 was already within reach. Car number 77 used its line advantage to close the gap and left the corner alongside car number 22. The difference between their front ends was barely perceptible to the naked eye, so much so that all the noise in the live broadcast room was silenced.

Then, car number 22 found an even better exit speed from the corner!

With insufficient grip, Lu Zhizhou applied the throttle gently and continuously, gradually overtaking Bottas. He gained the advantage on the next straight, without rushing to widen the gap, but by continuously releasing speed, he regained the dual advantages of position and line, forcefully suppressing Bottas!

"incredible!"

"Lu Zhizhou successfully defended against Bottas's continuous attacks and reclaimed second place!"

In the heat of the moment, people completely forgot that a rookie had infiltrated between Vettel and Bottas. The calm and composure displayed by the three drivers in the intense close-quarters battle made people completely overlook this fact.

A relentless chase, a constant back-and-forth of offense and defense, a relentless battle of wits and collisions—despite their differing styles in braking, cornering, and steering, the three drivers each found their own way to maintain their positions in the chaotic start. Tires screeched, the rear of their cars trembled slightly, yet all remained steady, like four high-speed spinning knives, slicing through Turn 1 with sharp, fluid precision.

Vettel! Lu Zhizhou! Bottas!
...Ricardo!

Four afterimages emerged from Turn 2 one after another, heading straight for Turn 3, leaving no room to breathe, pushing the tense atmosphere to its extreme!
Who would have thought that Hamilton would be the first to fall behind at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix! He had an incredibly strong pole position in Melbourne, foreshadowing a strong start to the new season, but now things seem to be spiraling out of control.

The pressure kept mounting, making the live broadcast room almost suffocating, but the fierce competition between the four drivers, who were determined to fight to the death, maintained its tension.

It's absolutely amazing.

Judging from the start and the first lap, none of them had an advantage. The condition of the three cars should be similar. What follows should be a contest of drivers and strategies.

really--

In the 57th lap of the race, Ferrari took the initiative, pitting on the 19th lap and sparking a pit stop frenzy, with Vettel being the first to return to the pits!

However, an unexpected event occurred at this moment!
"Ferrari, ah!"

In F1 racing, the outcome can be decided by seconds. A one-second difference in the race often requires a great deal of effort to overcome. That's why changing tires in the pit area is absolutely a race against time.

Changing a tire must be completed within two to three seconds; any longer and it's considered a mistake.

At this crucial moment, when Ferrari was far ahead and in control of the race, a fatal mistake occurred in the pit lane, as Vettel spent nearly five seconds changing his tires.

The entire hunting ground erupted in gasps of surprise!
The Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull service areas immediately noticed Ferrari's mistake, and the strategy team sprang into action.

The same applies to the live stream.

"Ferrari, a fatal mistake in the service area!"

“Red Bull, oh, Ricardo has already entered the pits, Horner missed a golden opportunity.”

"Mercedes refused to pit, and the pit area, which was already preparing to change the tires, moved them back, and Bottas stayed on the track to continue racing."

"Ah, Bottas is about to overcut! Wolff responded immediately! Hamilton also stayed on the track, Mercedes reacted quickly."

Ferrari is in trouble!

"So, what do we do now? Should Ferrari keep Lu Zhizhou on the track to keep Bottas in check and control the race?"

"But instead, does this mean Lu Zhizhou has a chance to overtake? If Ferrari keeps Lu Zhizhou on the road, he has a chance to widen the gap and surpass Vettel! The key now is Lu Zhizhou's tire condition, and whether Ferrari is tactically prepared for different challenges? Will we have the chance to witness another historic moment?"

"Arivabene must make a decision quickly!"

"Unbelievable! Ferrari may have ruined their own race!"

The sense of oppression is spreading everywhere!

In an instant, all eyes were focused on the Ferrari pit stop, and the tension and intensity of the ever-changing F1 race erupted in full force at this moment.

however--

"Lu Zhizhou, please enter the station!"

The hunting grounds erupted in uproar!
Ferrari made no response and proceeded with their plan, having Lu Zhizhou pit on lap 20, handing over their lead and instantly shattering the tension.

The monks watching on television could hardly believe it, clutching their heads in despair. How could this be! What happened?!

So, did Arrivabene lose his composure and become terrified in the face of Mercedes' decisive action, or did he confidently and arrogantly ignore Bottas?
This is F1, a team sport where every element is indispensable.

The anger and frustration of Lu Zhizhou could be sensed from the official F1 radio communications: "Why? Why pit now? My tires could last at least five more laps. I should stay on the track and block Bottas. What are we doing?!"

Speak frankly and bluntly—

Lu Zhizhou showed none of the restraint and shyness of a newcomer, nor any of the stereotypes about the land of etiquette in the East, and expressed his emotions bravely and frankly.

Amid Lu Zhizhou's furious outburst, Greenwood remained calm. "Move in. Move in. We'll discuss tactics later."

Then, Lu Zhizhou showed his unruly side as a team player. He needed to express his own opinions and attitudes frankly, but as a newcomer, he also needed to show his teamwork skills.

So, he entered the station.

Then, Bottas became the leader in the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix!
Lu Zhizhou gritted his teeth and quickly regained his composure—this match wasn't over yet!
Mistakes, accidents, chaos—

It sounds like a very long time to describe, but in the actual game, it only takes less than a hundred seconds, and the situation has changed several times.

From Ferrari to Red Bull, then to Mercedes-Benz, and back to Ferrari, the three teams' indirect rivalry sparked a lively exchange in the air.

This time, Mercedes took the lead, and the game then became entirely a showcase for the two Mercedes-Benz duo.

Bottas and Hamilton stayed on the track to set lap times, trying to push their cars and tires to the limit and take advantage of Ferrari's pit stop mistakes and strategic errors to turn the game around.

The race was tense at times, with the overcut tactic shining for the second consecutive race, almost making people doubt that Mercedes could turn the tide.

While it remains uncertain whether Bottas can replicate Lu Zhizhou's miracle by pulling away from the pack, Hamilton has undoubtedly found his rhythm, taking advantage of the gaps between other cars' pit stops to surge up the rankings, incredibly rising to second place, with only his teammate Bottas ahead of him.

For Mercedes-Benz, this was a strategic comeback.

Next, we'll see Ferrari and Mercedes battle it out around the podium.

However, the adrenaline rush didn't last long, and on lap 26, Bottas finally succumbed to the pressure and pitted.

On lap 27, Hamilton pitted.

It's clear they've all given their all, leaving nothing behind on the track, but the car's performance advantage isn't as significant as expected, and Hamilton's desire to remain on the track is now unsustainable.

Overcut failed!
Bottas and Hamilton both trailing Lu Zhizhou once again prove that in this new era, the risks and difficulties of the overcut tactic are indeed too high.

Vettel has regained the lead at the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the fourth change of the leader in the race, from Vettel to Lu Zhizhou, then to Bottas, then to Hamilton, and finally back to where he started.

The ranking order remains unchanged!

Ferrari and Mercedes engaged in a virtual duel, but ultimately returned to the form of a qualifying race. If someone had just turned on the live stream, they might have thought it was a boring, uneventful race, but they would never have imagined it would be such a rollercoaster ride, with suspense rising and falling more than once.

The Bahrain circuit is extremely taxing on tires, and Pirelli recommended a two-stop strategy. However, Mercedes has now delayed its pit stop, completely overturning its strategy. The question of whether they might adopt a one-stop strategy is now hanging in the balance, forcing the strategy teams of Ferrari and Red Bull to work at full speed.

However, one unexpected event after another left people overwhelmed.

Verstappen, who was eager to win, was out of luck. His car seemed to have some problems, and he had to pit early on the second lap to change tires. As a result, he was the only one left out of the pack among the six drivers from the three major teams.

They were as if abandoned, and could not even be seen in the live broadcast.

It wasn't until Verstappen returned to the pits and retired from the race that the live broadcast finally noticed the forgotten Verstappen. Due to damage to his tail wing, Verstappen had to withdraw from the Bahrain Grand Prix, but this was definitely not the way Verstappen wanted to be seen.

After losing to Lu Zhizhou in Melbourne, Verstappen failed to avenge his defeat in Bahrain and instead withdrew from the first match, making the DNF logo particularly glaring.

Then, Red Bull's troubles continued—

Ricciardo, who was temporarily ranked fifth, had to retire from the race due to a malfunction in his car's electrical system.
Another DNF (Dungeon Fighter Online) game!

Red Bull was completely dumbfounded.

Red Bull, which had shown outstanding competitiveness in the free practice, was surprisingly eliminated in both cars for the first time in eight years, and for the first time in two years, finishing the Grand Prix without any points. Horner was extremely frustrated and could hardly contain his anger, falling into a deep sense of defeat.

And that's still not all.

On lap 35, Ferrari was preparing for their second pit stop, with Vettel leading the way. However, a collision occurred in the pit lane due to a malfunctioning traffic light. Sauber's Raikkonen struck two Ferrari tire mechanics, one sustaining minor abrasions and the other suffering a fracture.

Meanwhile, Raikkonen withdrew from the match on the spot.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the malfunction occurred in Ferrari's service area, and the FIA ​​fined Ferrari 50,000 euros.

An accident may be unexpected, but what's worse is the chain reaction that follows—

The Ferrari pit lane was in complete chaos, making it impossible to allow Vettel and Lu Zhizhou to enter the pits. This was the second accident in the pit lane today.

In the midst of the chaos, Arrivabene made a surprising decision: he left Vettel and Lu Zhizhou on the track for the time being to assess the situation.

However, Ferrari didn't move, and neither did Mercedes-Benz.

Finally, Arrivabene gave the order that Vettel and Lu Zhizhou would not pit again, but would run to the end with their existing tires to finish the race.

Everyone was in an uproar, and Vettel even started cursing on the radio.

Ferrari already pitted early, on laps 19 and 20 respectively, and their tires were already more worn than Mercedes'. Now, with a last-minute tactical change, turning two pit stops into one, this means Ferrari's two cars will have to run 38 laps on a second set of tires.

It's 30% more laps than Pirelli's official recommendation.

Doesn't this amount to handing over the offensive power to Mercedes-Benz?
In the second half of the race, Mercedes' tire advantage will be very obvious. If anyone can't withstand the pressure and makes a mistake, Bottas and Hamilton will be able to show their ability to chase and attack.

At this point, Arrivabene's strategy was crystal clear: sacrifice Lu Zhizhou to block the Silver Arrows and create opportunities for Vettel.

At the same time, Arrivabene was also trying to take a risk and go all out, wanting to be the champion Ferrari and not wanting to miss out on the runner-up Ferrari.

The match was indeed thrilling.

As the race entered its final stages, the desert temperature plummeted at night, and coupled with tire deterioration, Lu Zhizhou's grip was swept away by the desert winds, causing his lap times to drop drastically. Bottas launched a full-scale pursuit.

Mercedes-Benz also adapted to the situation, following Ferrari's strategy change, adopting a stop-and-go approach, going all in to decide the outcome at the last moment.

Although Bottas' tires weren't in great condition either, his tires had run six fewer laps than Lu Zhizhou's, and his advantage became apparent at crucial moments.

On average, Bottas was able to close the gap by 1.2 to 1.8 seconds per lap, and the lead he had built up earlier was visibly reduced. The climax of the race took place in the final stages.

Inside the Ferrari repair wall, Greenwood's heart was in complete turmoil. Staring at the data cable on the computer screen, he felt his heart pounding and his palms sweating.

"Zhizhou, the tire temperature isn't rising."

"Watch out for the brakes!"

"There is a strong wind now, and we will lose 0.3 seconds at Turn 1."

Greenwood remained tense at all times, constantly updating Lu Zhizhou on the car and track conditions. As a result, Arrivabene also failed to stay calm and told Lu Zhizhou to hold on a little longer via radio.

Lu Zhizhou, who had been trying to stay focused, could no longer control himself. "Quiet, keep quiet, please let me drive, okay?"

On lap 57, the last lap of the race, Bottas was within one second behind Lu Zhizhou, and DRS was activated!
All was quiet; I was completely focused.

At this moment, Lu Zhizhou was fighting for himself and had no time to pay attention to Vettel, whose tail wing was swaying in front of him. His attention was completely focused on Bottas behind him.

After a full game of intense focus, both body and mind have reached their breaking point. At this point, even the slightest deviation could lead to drastically different results. Precisely because of this, the overwhelming and ever-increasing pressure further crushes the body and nerves, creating a vicious cycle.

Lu Zhizhou didn't have the time or energy to take care of the emotions of the wall repairman.

Amidst the pressure and difficulties, Lu Zhizhou found his composure. The beating of his heart, the surge of his blood, and the roar of the engine were like a symphony. Although onlookers were on the verge of having a heart attack as Bottas relentlessly pursued him, Lu Zhizhou remained calm and in control of the situation.

Little by little, the distance slowly closed. Lu Zhizhou remained patient, waiting for Bottas to enter the DRS range and launch his attack. Then, he held his breath.

On the last lap, we start on the long straight, then the first hairpin turn—

DRS, start!
Bottas closed in quickly without warning, caught the slipstream, and with a quick turn, cut inside, preparing to hug the apex and use his line and speed advantage to overtake!

Lu Zhizhou's eyes lit up slightly. They've arrived!

However, Lu Zhizhou eased off the throttle slightly and glided into the corner. The number 77 car on the inside was completely tense. Bottas immediately remembered the lesson from Hamilton in Melbourne. In order to avoid missing the braking point, Bottas was fully focused and his muscles were tense. He stepped on the brakes a fraction of a second earlier.

Milliseconds.

However, Lu Zhizhou's focus was not on Bottas, but on himself. He relied on the throttle and steering control, and slightly widened the driving line to reduce the angle of entry into the corner, smoothly and smoothly gliding along the curve of the corner, but then slightly pulled back the steering wheel when exiting the corner.

Instead of trying to get close to the inside line of Turn 2, they reduced the angle of their directional changes and went straight towards the outside line of Turn 2, continuing to glide past it from the outside.

When tire grip is severely insufficient, control the steering and braking, focusing on throttle and line control to smoothly corner.

Clearly, Bottas hadn't anticipated this outcome.

I braked a little too early at Turn 1, but I still held onto the apex and was preparing to overtake from the outside of Turn 2 when I found the inside line of Turn 2 exposed. Without hesitation, I made a decisive move to cut inside from behind Lu Zhizhou's car and held onto the apex of Turn 2 again.

Everything is perfect!

Before Bottas could even celebrate, he could see out of the corner of his eye that the two cars were almost side by side at the exit of the corner, but he lost his position in the next second.

The Lu Zhizhou tires had almost zero grip, and the Bottas tires weren't much better. With frequent braking and lane changes in a short period of time, this weakness was exposed instantly. The difference in grip and the swaying of the rear wing determined the winner when exiting the corner.

Race car number 22 barely managed to grip the ground at the edge of its limits, its rear end sliding slightly – at such speeds, this was almost a harbinger of disaster – but Lu Zhizhou remained completely calm, his feet and hands steadily responding, his heartbeat slowing down, and he had completely taken control of the situation.

He found traction half a breath earlier than Bottas and shot off the curve like an arrow.

Within the smallest of margins, everything can change in an instant.

Under extreme comparison, car number 77 seemed to pause briefly, watching helplessly as the red light and shadow emerged and moved in front of it. By the time Silver Arrow tried to catch up, the gap between the two cars had inexplicably widened to the size of a car length.

The victory or defeat has been decided.

The entire venue was completely silent, and the whole world seemed to be spinning rapidly with a buzzing sound!
"Bottas! DRS!"

"Chance!"

"Turn 1, Bottas is blocking the inside line! Bottas is trying to gain lane advantage!"

"Bottas sees a glimmer of hope!"

"Lu Zhizhou! Your driving at Turn 1 and Turn 2 is flawless, and Bottas is trying to overtake you from the inside!"

"Land! Land! Land—of the Continent!"

"Beautiful! Brilliant! Unparalleled! Lu Zhizhou withstood the attack! Lu Zhizhou widened the gap! Lu Zhizhou withstood the fatal blow at the very edge of his limit!"

"Lu Zhizhou escaped death!"

"Lu Zhizhou has already widened the gap!"

"A perfect defense, a textbook response, is not just about defense. The subsequent attack and escape were all calculated clearly. When the tires, the car, and even the driver are all exhausted to the limit, the details will become the key to victory."

"And he had calculated everything perfectly."

"He did it, incredibly, a rookie once again showed his experience and maturity in the face of complex situations in his second professional game."

"Bottas can't catch up anymore!"

In that brief instant, my heart stopped beating, and then I watched helplessly as the red light and shadow disappeared, and the Ferrari service area erupted in cheers.

Lost in the moment! Enraged!

Just 1.2 seconds later, Bottas was still trying to overtake within the DRS range, and before he could even blink, Lu Zhizhou had already slightly increased the distance.

From defense to offense, with a comprehensive strategy and calm response, Lu Zhizhou turned the tide in one fell swoop.

Now, time is running out for Bottas. Mercedes-Benz is powerless to turn the tide. In the service area, Wolff slumped down as if all his strength had been drained, his temples throbbing fiercely, and he had a headache and fever.

Wolff had absolutely no idea that Mercedes' chances of winning the championship would be completely squandered by Lu Zhizhou in the first two games of the new season.

So, did he really make a wrong judgment back then?

"Unbelievable! This isn't the first time, but it won't be the last! Lu Zhizhou has surprised us again!"

“This should have been Sebastian Vettel’s race, his 200th Grand Prix, and he was ready to win.”

"Michael Schumacher! Nico Rosberg! Jason Button! Lewis Hamilton! They've all won their 200th Grand Prix, and now it's Vettel's turn to make history!"

"However, the MVP of the game was Lu Zhizhou."

"After switching to brand new tires on the twentieth lap, he pulled ahead of everyone else, calm and experienced, withstood the unexpected and the pressure, and suppressed his opponent with an unparalleled performance in the face of Bottas' aggressive and tough attack. He once again proved with his actions that what happened in Melbourne in the last race was not an accident."

"Lu Zhizhou used tires that had been worn for thirty-eight laps to withstand Mercedes' all-out effort, winning precious breathing space for his teammate Vettel."

"Lu Zhizhou can be a lone wolf, or he can be a member of a pack."

"He is writing a whole new chapter in history, even more exciting than Hamilton's professional debut in 2007. His future is full of endless possibilities."

"At this moment, who is questioning Ferrari's choice? Who is questioning Lu Zhizhou's qualifications to stand in the F1 paddock? Those farces should come to an end."

With exhilaration and fervor, propelled by the roar of engines, two streaks of red light, one after the other, surged across the finish line—

Vettel, number one.

Lu Zhizhou, second.

Ferrari brought home a 1-2 finish for the first time this season.

Unexpected situations, strategic maneuvering, sudden events, seizing opportunities, and pulling back from the brink—this short race was full of ups and downs, leaving the audience breathless. But in the end, Ferrari emerged victorious, with both drivers reaching the podium for the second consecutive race.

Then, all those voices of envy, jealousy, and hatred, those voices of gloating and kicking someone when they're down, those voices of cursing and sowing discord, vanished in an instant, disappearing without a trace like snow melting away.

The world fell silent, and Lu Zhizhou finally enjoyed a rare moment of peace, something he hadn't seen in two weeks.

Once is luck, twice... it's a coincidence, so should we wait for a third time?

……

Ahhh! Ahhh!
With arms raised and shouts rang out, the crowd erupted in cheers, their eyes wide as they watched Vettel and Lu Zhizhou cross the finish line one after the other. The Ferrari pit lane could no longer contain themselves.

They hugged and high-fived each other, their roars and howls mingling together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Megis remained composed, but the turbulent emotions in his bright eyes inadvertently revealed that he was just like everyone else at that moment.

Shaking his head slightly, Mekes sighed, "His defense at Turn 1 was really bold. It's different from how Melbourne defended Hamilton. Bottas had DRS, but I didn't expect Bottas to be completely led by the nose."

Wow!
A sense of admiration and wonder surged within me, finally reaching the corners of my eyes.

Cleary's face was full of smiles. "I've watched the replay three times. That wasn't just a normal early throttle release; it was using the vortex difference between the front and rear cars—the moment you released the throttle, the temperature of the rear tire dropped by two degrees Celsius, and then it provided extra grip when exiting Turn 2 to complete the defense."

Meijis was slightly taken aback. He thought that after the winter break, he had witnessed Lu Zhizhou's growth and transformation firsthand and should have started to get used to it by now; but he never expected that Lu Zhizhou would continue to bring surprises, time and time again, truly worthy of being called a monster rookie.

Megise looked at Cleary and remarked, "Baby, right? Learning to walk."

There is still room for growth in the future, so what will Lu Zhizhou look like in its complete form?
Beside him, the technical director, Binotto, maintained a smile throughout, but remained silent. However, his gaze, fixed on the monitor, softened and became more focused.

Then--

In an instant, the Ferrari pit lane burst forth like a floodgate opening, its bright and flamboyant red exploding outwards, rushing towards the pit wall, waving its prancing horse flag with jubilation, celebrating its first 1-2 finish of the season, successfully responding on the track amidst layers of ever-accumulating pressure.

Not just because of the victory, but because it was a victory achieved after many trials and tribulations.

Look at the race in Melbourne, the Haas pit lane had a problem that directly ruined the entire race; this time in Bahrain, Ferrari absolutely escaped death.

The pit lane was plagued with unexpected incidents, forcing the team to make serious adjustments to their race strategy. The crisis facing the team was no less severe than that faced by Haas in the previous race and Red Bull in this race, but the two drivers withstood the pressure and completed an unparalleled race.

Lu Zhizhou, in particular, delivered a divine defense in the final moments, bringing Ferrari's imperfect weekend to a perfect close!
Although Vettel was the one who crossed the finish line first, in everyone's eyes, Vettel's share of the championship should at least be shared with Lu Zhizhou. At this moment, everyone's mind, mouth, and eyes were all on Lu Zhizhou, paying the highest tribute to this baby driver.

From keeping their distance to praising the Ferrari service area, Lu Zhizhou's story with the Ferrari service area took a dramatic turn after just two races.

The 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix has concluded, with Vettel finishing first, Lu Zhizhou second, and Bottas third.

Faced with the test of the FIA ​​investigation, Ferrari responded and retaliated with a perfect performance, leaving Mercedes-Benz with a bitter pill to swallow.

So, did Wolf's attempt to steal a chicken end up losing the rice instead?
Additionally, Hamilton finished fourth, while Toro Rosso's Gasly finished a career-best fifth.

Under normal circumstances, Gasly's performance would undoubtedly be a shining example of a rookie, worthy of being highlighted, especially with the Red Bull's two cars withdrawing from the race and the Red Bull Junior team seizing the opportunity to rise strongly, which was truly remarkable; however, in the face of Lu Zhizhou's unparalleled performance, Gasly's brilliance paled in comparison.

There is only one focus—

Lu Zhizhou!
Whether it's champion Vettel or rookie Gasly, they all have to step aside; no one can steal the spotlight from this season's biggest dark horse.

After standing at the finish line to welcome Vettel and Lu Zhizhou, Ferrari staff surged toward the podium like a rolling tide, cheering, dancing and singing.

This scene was particularly jarring to the eyes of the Mercedes-Benz service area next door—

Shouldn't they celebrate? They should be cheering for Bottas on the podium, after Hamilton slipped to ninth at the start but managed to catch up.

But... should they celebrate? What should they be celebrating! The Bahrain Grand Prix should have been more suited to Mercedes, aiming for first and second place, but instead, it became Ferrari's show, and this is definitely not the season start the defending champions expected.

Wolf, wanting to avoid the problem, returned to his office, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk with a grim expression. "This is the second time."

Across from him, James Walls remained expressionless and calm, analyzing the situation with a rational and objective attitude: "Our strategy is flawless, and the opportunity has been created."

Bottas' DRS, that's a golden opportunity.

Unfortunately, it was not fulfilled.

Wolf shook his head, unusually calm. "No, this time it wasn't Walterley's fault. We underestimated the baby. You, me, Walterley, Lewis. Including that Horner guy."

It wasn't just the laymen on social networks; even the professionals in the paddock were no exception. They believed in their expertise, but this time, their expertise became a shackle of arrogance and prejudice, and they all misjudged the situation.

Perhaps Marchionne is the only exception.

Wolf sneered, "After the Melbourne Grand Prix, there was a barrage of criticism, with everyone saying he just had luck. He's now responding with his actions; this is his response, and his declaration."

Anyone with a brain knows that those haters must be furious and wishing they were dead right now.

On the other side, Worcester remained focused, constantly analyzing the data and letting the facts speak for themselves. "His defense is unconventional. His approach to the apex is more like running F1 at the pace of F2."

"No, it should be street racing. It doesn't make sense, but he was able to control it."

In other words, Lu Zhizhou is still an unorthodox individual, not from a formal academy, and cannot be judged by common sense, which is the most troublesome aspect.

Wolff paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Then find the logic. Study his game videos more."

After a brief pause, Wolff regained his composure. "If we can't break through on the track, then we'll continue to put pressure on the media. We need to increase the pressure even further."

In the paddock, everyone faces pressure, even Vettel and Hamilton are no exception; the pressure is constant and there is no room for relaxation.

The key point is that everyone has their weaknesses; no one is invincible. Vettel and Hamilton will face pressure in the new season, and Lu Zhizhou seems to be handling it with ease, which means the pressure isn't high enough. They need to continue pushing them further.

“We should let young people know that the paddock is not as simple as it seems,” Wolf said.

Wols wanted to object, still believing that track-related issues should be resolved at the track, but he was interrupted before he could speak.

A deafening roar erupted outside the pit lane, and the entire Bahrain circuit seemed to tremble as everyone shouted the same name in unison.

"baby!"

"baby!"

Once a mocking nickname, it has now become a slap in the face to the paddock.

(End of this chapter)