Speed ​​God

Chapter 17 The So-Called Genius

F4 is the most basic simulation mode in the youth training academy, featuring standardized cars, tires, and settings.

Within this framework, it is extremely difficult to improve the fastest lap time to the limit. Even an improvement of just 0.2 seconds requires continuous refinement and research.

However, Lu Zhizhou managed to improve the record by more than 0.6 seconds through ten laps of exploration, ten laps of testing, and ten laps of sprinting.
Moreover, the entire process, from the initial stumbles and frantic movements to the current extreme lap times, took less than an hour.

This is counterintuitive and counter-empirical; it undoubtedly goes completely beyond the boundaries of training manuals and statistical models.

"Never encountered equations before?" A question popped into Montalcini's mind, and his first instinct was that someone was pretending to be weak while actually being strong.

From all perspectives, Lu Zhizhou should not be considered a novice.

The key point is that racing is a very small circle. There may be countless amateur enthusiasts around the world, no less than football. However, "money power" has become the threshold for entering the professional field. Only about 2,500 people have entered the professional field through the test of karting competitions.

Asian faces are even rarer.

The youth training academy cannot afford to miss out on a promising talent like Lu Zhizhou.

Moreover, like everyone else, Montfati had just witnessed Lu Zhizhou's novice-level start and his transformative exploration process.

Everything was pointing to the fact that Lu Zhizhou was a complete novice.

Montaffartini's conviction wavered slightly. "How...how did he just do that?"

Leclerc was also watching Lu Zhizhou, his eyes revealing a high-spirited fighting spirit, his blood boiling, and he couldn't wait to step onto the stage and have a match.

He knew that the record itself had limited significance. In the youth training academy, no one would take the fastest F4 lap seriously. The students' attention had long been turned to in-depth training in F3, F2, and even F1 modes. An introductory test like F4 was worthless. Who would bother to do laps here every day?

But it is precisely because of this that it truly illustrates the point.

Lu Zhizhou wasn't pursuing the fastest lap time in F4; he had no idea where the "value" of this system lay.

It was all just an instinct, an instinct to push speed to its limit, lap after lap, until he felt the limits of the race car.

Or perhaps, it's his current limit.

This is not training, nor is it a test; it is an expression, an instinctive expression from a race car driver.

Uncontrollably, Leclerc's blood began to boil. In addition to warming up, lap times in F4 mode had taken on another meaning. He was itching to try it out, not just to compete with Lu Zhizhou, but to experience it for himself.

Todd remained silent.

His gaze remained fixed on Lu Zhizhou's figure. He crossed his arms over his chest again, entered a thinking mode, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

He has witnessed many race car drivers' "first times," some were impatient, some were timid, some were excited, some were full of enthusiasm but lacked substance, and some had their limits immediately apparent.

Todt wouldn't arrogantly claim he's omnipotent, able to see the potential of every driver at a glance, but he has indeed seen countless drivers, and someone like Lu Zhizhou... who builds order from chaos, extracts rhythm from loss of control, and achieves self-evolution in a short time through intuition and willpower—

He couldn't think of a second one.

Last night on the streets of Rome, Todt could see many racing drivers in Lu Zhizhou, but today, all those thoughts were overturned.

Lu Zhizhou is himself, not an imitator of anyone else.

In recent years, Todt has been far from the front lines. Although he remains active in the racing world and goes to the paddock every weekend, he is no longer fighting on the front lines. He is more often trapped at the negotiating table and surrounded by countless documents. The game of interests and the balance of power are becoming the main theme of his life.

Unexpectedly, what started as a business trip to Maranello at Marchionne's invitation has rekindled my original passion.

It turns out he still loves racing.

Todd glanced at Marchionne without thinking, only to find his old friend also staring intently with excitement, which made Todd chuckle. Marchionne, oblivious, was busy calculating.

He was a businessman. Unlike Todd, he didn't know how to recognize talent, nor did he know how to read data like Montfattini. He only knew about profit.

But that doesn't mean he knows nothing about racing; at least he knows what a 0.6-second improvement means in the world of F4.

0.6 seconds is more than just 0.6 seconds; it is the spark that ignites after the seamless synchronization of cognitive patterns, perceptual abilities, and physical reactions.

A chemical reaction, an outpouring of inspiration, just like an artistic creation.

This is like an apprentice picking up a knife for the first time to carve; not only is their hand steady and their eyes quick, but they are also able to create lines at the level of a master.

He didn't understand the techniques, but he instinctively knew where the answer lay.

This is not luck, not impulsiveness, and certainly not a miracle—it is… genius.

Unlike others, what Marchionne truly admired was not the track itself, but rather the way and process by which Lu Zhizhou reached his limit.

Many drivers achieve lap times by sheer grit and recklessness, relying on risk to gain even a fraction of a second.

But from Marchionne's business perspective, such a risk was too costly, too low-yielding, and lacked stability.

Lu Zhizhou is different. He has his own blueprint, his own plans, and his own understanding. In just half an hour, he was able to establish his own racing language, touch the limits of record-breaking in his own way, and maximize benefits at the right cost. He is more than just smart.

Calm. Wise. Possesses a holistic perspective.

Marchionne believed that Lu Zhizhou also had potential if he gave up racing and became a businessman.

This is what truly interests Marchionne; it's something that very, very few people possess, something that cannot be taught or learned.

Shock, astonishment, surprise—all sorts of emotions collided, surging and pushing to the extreme, yet they numbed me. I stared blankly at the scene before me, lost in my own thoughts, momentarily unable to react. Only the air continued to burn, and the oxygen seemed to be running low.

Finally, Lu Zhizhou stopped on his own.

He has reached the limits of racing, and also his own limits, at least for now. Continuing to blindly set new lap records is no longer challenging.

He left the simulator on his own.

Unexpectedly, when he came out of the state of being immersed in racing, his brain and body seemed to disconnect for a moment. His knees went slightly weak, his steps were unsteady, and he could hardly stand.

The world before him was a blur of colors, and he felt dizzy. He had to hold onto the simulator to control his body and regain his balance.

Although it's just a simulator, and it's just F4, the physical burden is still real. Nearly an hour of exertion and burning leaves the body completely drained.

Previously, I was so engrossed in racing that I hadn't noticed, but now I realized that my clothes were completely soaked with sweat. The continuous excitement and high spirits slowly subsided after I calmed down, but the burning sensation of the engine roar still lingered in my body, and I could still feel the aftershocks of the steering wheel in my hands. I couldn't help but glance at the screen again.

Well, this trip to Maranello, besides the 8,000 euros, can be considered an extra bonus.

After a short pause to catch his breath, Lu Zhizhou quickly regained his composure.

He steadied himself, straightened his back, and scanned his surroundings, only to find everyone silent, as if no one was prepared to speak. So he took the initiative to speak, his voice not loud but clear and strong.

"Is this alright? If there are no other tests, I'll be going now."

He can go to the hotel to finish his work.

　The author, who is currently struggling, is begging for support. Please, dear readers, be sure to read the latest chapter. This will directly determine the life or death of the young boy. Even if you have to wait and see, please do read the latest chapter. Thank you, thank you everyone!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)