Speed ​​God

Chapter 172 King of the Streets
One after the other, one to the left and one to the right, the two race cars were locked in a fierce battle at the pit lane exit, ready to clash at any moment.

Greenwood's reminder came through the radio, and Lu Zhizhou immediately noticed the blue glint in the rearview mirror. Ricardo wouldn't give up.

Putting yourself in Lu Zhizhou's shoes, he wouldn't allow his opponent to overcut so easily either. Even if he couldn't block the exit at the pit lane, he would continue to attack at Turn 1, just like in the first lap of the race. Now, the roles of attacker and defender are reversed, and the duel is happening again.

"Lu Zhizhou! Lu Zhizhou is in the lead! Lu Zhizhou, hold your position!"

Overcut, successful...?
"Ricardo hasn't given up! Ricardo cuts into the outside, attempting to overtake from there!"

Lu Zhizhou was not surprised at all by this scene.

The supersoft tires he had just changed to were still warming up and lacked grip; Ricardo's tires had already entered their working range, and this was the real crisis.

This is also the most difficult step in overcutting now; the darkest hour is often the one before dawn.

Without hesitation or delay, they cut across and blocked the traffic lane.

No sooner had they left the pit lane than Lu Zhizhou had already laid out his plan, forcing Ricardo to drive to the dirty side, overtake from the outside, and then floor the accelerator.

The engines roared, the climb continued, the audience's blood was pumping and their emotions were surging, the whole stadium was in an uproar.

They sped, sped, and sped on, but Lu Zhizhou showed no sign of braking, which pushed Ricardo towards the cliff—

Lu Zhizhou only braked at the limit, approaching the corner in a completely different way. Lu Zhizhou was using Ricciardo's best method to deal with Ricciardo.

With late braking and sharp turns, Lu Zhizhou firmly held onto the apex of the bend, maintaining his advantage in line and position, leaving Ricciardo no room to maneuver.

Ricardo, coming on strong, watched helplessly as the overtaking window slammed shut and hit his nose. He was forced to use a method he wasn't good at: cutting in from the outside.

Not being good at it is one thing, but that's only relative; Red Bull's downforce balance still gives it an advantage. Maintaining rhythm in low-to-medium speed corners makes overtaking on the outside not impossible.

In the field of vision, the Ferrari and Red Bull race cars were seen entering Turn 1 one after the other, with Red Bull having the upper hand in the corner. At this time, Lu Zhizhou's tires were obviously lacking in grip, and his cornering arc and rhythm were unstable. It was visible to the naked eye that Red Bull was closing in and running alongside, eager to overtake.

"Oops!"

A gasp erupted from the audience.

However, Lu Zhizhou did not back down.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his body almost being thrown off balance. The four tires, not yet at operating temperature, screeched simultaneously, and the rear of the car swayed violently.

crisis!

Ricciardo gritted his teeth and swerved the steering wheel, trying to force the red Ferrari off the track!

However, just as he left the apex of the corner, Lu Zhizhou floored the accelerator. Although the newly replaced tires had no grip, they were still able to withstand the instantaneous burst of torque and thrust. With a single press of the accelerator, the race car sped off, like a runaway car losing control on ice.

Amidst the chaos, Lu Zhizhou once again demonstrated his unparalleled absolute driving skills, tiptoeing across the ice and seemingly teetering on the edge while maintaining incredible balance, managing to control the car on the brink of slippage and exiting the corner first.

It was teetering on the brink of collapse, but—

"incredible!"

Croft had shouted himself hoarse, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, his veins burning with excitement and euphoria.

As they exited the corner, Ricciardo seemed to have gained the upper hand, almost running alongside Ricciardo; however, after exiting the corner, Lu Zhizhou took the lead and secured his position.

"Lu Zhizhou! Hold the line! He's incredibly withstood Ricardo's attack!"

And that's not all.

They cruised through the casino square with effortless speed, holding their position firmly in the low-speed corners of Turns 5 and 6, blocking Ricardo's attacking opportunities.

Lu Zhizhou glanced at the rearview mirror. Although Ricciardo was still chasing relentlessly, he was unsure if it was just his imagination. In the straight acceleration range of Turn 2 and Turn 3, Ricciardo seemed to be willing but unable to accelerate. Was it because he felt frustrated by the missed opportunity in the close encounter at Turn 1, or was it due to some other situation?
However, this is not important.

The key is to capitalize on fluctuations and opportunities to build an advantage.

Then, at the No. 7 right-angle turn in the port area, Lu Zhizhou once again performed a knife-edge dance, sticking tightly to the apex of the turn and straight towards the outer guardrail wall. With the tires far from being able to grip the road, he relied entirely on his personal driving skills to make the most of the track width.

You can almost feel the thrill of licking blood from a knife's edge.

In an instant, all exclamations and praises were silenced, leaving only the roaring waves in my mind, and the yachts in the harbor all turned into a group of wooden figures.

One centimeter, 0.1 seconds...

The difference, imperceptible to the naked eye, gave Lu Zhizhou a faster exit speed from the curve, transforming him into a streak of light as he surged into the tunnel.

Before the tunnel, Lu Zhizhou and Ricardo were still side by side, the difference between them barely noticeable.

Leaving the tunnel, Lu Zhizhou was already a car length ahead of Ricardo, smoothly navigating the "凸"-shaped deceleration bend, leaving car number 22 far behind.

Details determine success or failure; small things add up, and minor deviations can eventually turn into advantages.

Arnaud stood on tiptoe, his gaze fixed eagerly and longingly around the corner—

The red Ferrari was still recklessly testing the limits as it entered the swimming pool area, and he instantly raised his hands high and shouted; after the actual distance of two car lengths had passed, the blue Red Bull appeared step by step, and the gap between them had been widened to a safe distance.

Before entering the third time slot, Lu Zhizhou had already bought himself enough breathing space.

"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

Arnaud could hardly believe his eyes. His heart, which had been pounding, finally found its energy at this moment, and exploded, causing him to jump up and down uncontrollably.

Not only him, but the entire Golden Terrace was swept up in a frenzy.

Jan-Plus had completely forgotten about the sandwich in his hand. Looking at the Ferrari that was coming towards him and leading the way, he cheered with tears in his eyes.

miracle!

This is a miracle: challenging oneself to the limit, finding space beyond the peak, and turning the mundane into the magical to complete a textbook-level overcut!

Unlike his luck in Melbourne, at the Monaco circuit, without the help of the safety car and with the ultrasoft tires on the verge of collapse, Lu Zhizhou staged a miracle, completing the most incredible and spectacular overcut of the 2018 season with a full twelve laps of extreme push, holding onto his position as the race leader.

Maria was completely stunned. She couldn't understand racing, and even now, she still didn't understand what had happened, nor did she know what feat car number 22 had just accomplished.

She simply felt that fervor, a belief that awakened hope and passion, a passion to forge ahead, to challenge limits, to challenge herself in the face of the impossible, burning intensely and exhilaratingly.

Perhaps she didn't understand racing, but at that moment she became part of the streets and alleys of Monaco, where the heat surged and transformed into a massive cheer.

Before she even realized it, tears welled up in her eyes, her vision blurred, and Maria watched the two children jumping and skipping with joy. Her smile blossomed as she joined them, leaping and cheering with ecstatic abandon, releasing her passion without reservation.

Ah ah ah ah ah!

"On lap 32, Lu Zhizhou made his pit stop and held onto his position, continuing to lead the Monaco Grand Prix."

"I can't believe it, he actually did it! He squeezed the softest tire to its limit and completed one of the most incredible overcuts in recent years in a full twelve laps!"

"Was this the most exciting game of the 2018 season so far?!"

fanaticism!

The whole of Monaco was in an uproar, descending into madness. The scorching air transformed into a raging inferno, spreading wildly through the streets and alleys.

Unbelievable, inconceivable—

For a full twelve laps, without a safety car, Monaco, a city usually plagued by accidents, was unusually calm, with no unexpected incidents disrupting the race's rhythm.

However, Lu Zhizhou didn't need the safety car's help. He pushed the car and the track to their limits, entered propulsion mode while protecting the tires, and finally delivered a textbook overcut, instantly igniting passion. The crowd inside and outside the track lost their minds and could no longer contain themselves.

"Aaaaaah! Aaaaaah!"

The Ferrari service area erupted like a volcano, with people hugging, high-fiving, and cheering wildly.

Francesco Napi's knees buckled, and he almost collapsed to the ground. He was the one who made the mistake with the right rear wheel, nearly ruining all his efforts.

Napi knelt on one knee, his eyes moist, as a sudden gust of wind and rain pounded behind him, cheering him on. He was genuinely grateful.

Thank you, Lu Zhizhou, for completing this redemption.

The earth shook, the sky spun, and the whole world was engulfed in fervor. Layer upon layer of anticipation, which had been suppressed, accumulated, and brewing, finally exploded at this moment, bursting forth in a cathartic release. Lu Zhizhou, with absolute strength, accomplished a Seine-like miracle in Monaco.

No one is an exception!
However, all the noise, the sensation, and the fervor were ignored, and Lu Zhizhou did not relax.

Previously, Ricciardo faced the problem that the supersoft tires needed time to reach operating temperature, making it difficult to improve lap times in a short period of time. Now, it's Lu Zhizhou's turn to face the same challenge.

In the next three or five laps, Ricciardo will still have the tire advantage and will continue to launch attacks; it's far from time to celebrate.

The adrenaline surged and burned fiercely during the last twelve laps, and now it's starting to slowly drop, which is a crucial moment when it's easy to let your guard down.

Moreover, the game is not even halfway through, so it's too early to celebrate victory.

Lu Zhizhou tried his best to stay focused, constantly on guard against Ricardo who was neither too close nor too far behind him; the difference between the two hovered around a second.

—Oh no! Slow train!

In Monaco, the worst thing is getting stuck in traffic jams because there are very few opportunities to overtake, which means your rhythm can be disrupted by slower cars.

As we see now, the lead car is about to be lapped by the tail car. Once Lu Zhizhou is dragged into a slower pace, giving Ricciardo some breathing room, Ricciardo can regroup and launch another attack. The stalemate may be broken due to unforeseen factors.

At this point, decisiveness is crucial. On this ever-changing track, all decisions and executions must be resolute.

The slow train ahead... is none other than Williams' Stroll.

Although Lu Zhizhou and Stoll had no direct conflict, and nothing happened because of Matteo's presence, in Lu Zhizhou's view, young master Stoll didn't care at all—

It's a slow train, so what?

If this continues until the race organizers issue a blue flag, forcing Stroll to give way, then Lu Zhizhou's race plan will have to be completely rewritten.

No time to hesitate!

Lu Zhizhou quickly glanced at the rearview mirror. Ricardo wasn't following that closely. The polluted air was one reason, and the high risk of rear-end collisions in Monaco was another. Ricardo had obviously noticed Stroll's presence as well. He immediately adjusted his position, took a short breath, and replanned his overtaking strategy.

In other words, Lu Zhizhou is the one who is currently in a difficult position.

With just one glance, Lu Zhizhou had already grasped the situation—

Hamilton, Vettel, and Ricciardo all chose to pit early. If the undercut failed, it meant they would have to run more than 60 laps on supersoft tires. The tire degradation problem in the second half of the race would be a severe test, and none of them were exempt.

That's why, when Lu Zhizhou was unburdened and using the ultra-soft tires to keep setting new lap records, Ricciardo didn't blindly accelerate to keep up. This was not only because he didn't believe Lu Zhizhou could actually make it out of the pit window, but also because he was concerned about his own tires.

Now that Lu Zhizhou has completed the overcut and switched to brand new supersoft tires, he has a clear advantage over the supersoft tires that have already run twelve or even seventeen laps. As long as he can withstand Ricciardo's attack, the tire advantage will become more and more obvious as the race goes on, and he can run at his own pace.

Therefore, the opportunity lies in the Stroll before us.

It wasn't just about lapping; it also involved using Stroll as an obstacle to block Ricardo.

Kill two birds with one stone!
It's not just about overtaking, but about doing it cleanly and decisively, catching Ricciardo off guard and not giving him a chance to overtake you.

Observation, judgment, planning, and strategy—all are accomplished with a single breath.

Next, execute!

Turning his gaze back, Lu Zhizhou had already set his sights on the Stoll ahead. After passing through the port and tunnel, Lu Zhizhou immediately noticed the Stoll's driving lanes.

Ahead lies the "U"-shaped deceleration zone. Cutting from the outside to the inside and grabbing the apex is the conventional choice, but Stroll's Williams has clearly insufficient grip and stability, forcing him to slightly deviate from the center, increase the entry angle, reduce the sway of the rear wing, and try to gain as much speed as possible to exit the corner.

opportunity!

In that fleeting moment, having just encountered a slow-moving vehicle, Lu Zhizhou decisively swerved to the inside, maintained the throttle, and caught up completely.

Sure enough, Stroll braked earlier, creating a slight gap in the transition from high speed to low speed. This was likely an inherent flaw in the Williams car's performance. This gave Lu Zhizhou an opening to turn the tide. Without hesitation, he braked late, overtook Stroll, and plunged into the speed cut.

Stoll: ...Come on, friend, does it have to be this brutal?

In the blink of an eye, before he could even blink, Lu Zhizhou had already slipped into the gap between the deceleration corner and Stroll, grabbing the apex of the corner first.

Turn the steering wheel quickly to the left, making full use of the car's oversteer and insufficient tire grip. Amidst the violent vibrations, rely on the coordination of braking and steering to firmly hug the curve and outline a beautiful arc. What should have been a "convex" shaped line has evolved into an isosceles triangle.

Sharp, direct, and concise.

He swept through the deceleration corner with a straight cut, leaving Stroll, who had braked early, behind!

As we exited the corner, the accelerator was gently and gradually pushed forward, and the lead of half a car length turned into a full car length in the blink of an eye, with the speed continuing to soar.

It transformed into a blur, without the slightest hesitation.

Sepplayton stared dumbfounded at the crowd gathered behind him at the new port, frozen in place, utterly silent—a sea of ​​people, yet not a sound was uttered.

That's it?

Before anyone could react, Lu Zhizhou had already cleanly overtaken Stoll, seemingly without any effort.

Wait a minute, what happened to the difficulty of overtaking in Monaco?

Stroll was a step behind, cutting into the corner from the outside. Although he didn't catch up with Lu Zhizhou, he cut off the line at just the right moment, leaving Ricciardo behind.

Following closely behind, Ricardo, who was panting, could hardly believe his eyes. He stared wide-eyed, speechless, and both amused and exasperated, letting out a desperate wail, "No! No! No! You can't just abandon me like this!" Wait, that doesn't seem to be the correct way to use that word.

But at this point, Ricciardo could no longer see the Ferrari; all he could see was Williams Blue.

"Pretty!"

In the live stream, Croft exclaimed in surprise and slammed his fist on the table!

"Crisp and decisive! Straight to the point! Lu Zhizhou didn't hesitate or waver at all. He remained focused and seized the opportunity as soon as he saw it."

"Stay vigilant even when you're in the lead."

“This is not the first time. In this race alone, Lu Zhizhou has demonstrated his keenness and decisiveness three times: Ricciardo’s rhythm after pitting, his choice of exit line, and his response when lapped by slower cars.”

"Meticulous observation, accurate judgment, and swift execution—all done in one go!"

“Red Bull did not make a mistake; it simply took a risk. But Lu Zhizhou turned that risk into an opportunity and successfully realized it.”

"Ultimately, we consolidated our advantages and laid the foundation for victory."

"incredible!"

"After his withdrawal from Baku, Lu Zhizhou's lack of street tournament experience became a focus of discussion, while Monaco was undoubtedly the ultimate challenge in street tournaments; but Lu Zhizhou proved his ability with an unparalleled and flawless game, redeeming himself with his own hands."

"God, this is absolutely amazing, one thing after another, there's no time to catch my breath!"

Once is a coincidence; twice is luck; but what about three times?
Before our eyes, Lu Zhizhou is gradually taking control of the entire race. This keen observation and control, as well as his incredible overall command, fully demonstrates Lu Zhizhou's talent on the track.

If we add in that incredible performance of the overcut's twelve laps?

Croft awakened a long-dormant memory: in 1984, Senna drove a Tolman race car for the first time in his professional career on the streets of Monaco.

That was Senna's first podium finish in his career, finishing as runner-up behind Alan Prost.

Everything after that is history.

His blood was boiling, his passion was surging, and Croft was completely unable to calm down; his eyes were filled with madness.

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this should be the final outcome of the match. Martin, what do you think?"

In stark contrast, Brendel remained calm.

His gaze was fixed intently on the Ferrari No. 22 racing car that was pulling ahead of the pack on the track, the spotlight completely focused on him.

It wasn't just Ricciardo; they had completely forgotten about Vettel, who was in third place, and Hamilton, who was in fourth. The two four-time world champions showed no brilliance in this race; even Verstappen, who started from twentieth and raced all the way, paled in comparison.

From Melbourne to Bahrain, then to Shanghai, and finally to Monaco, Lu Zhizhou finally proved himself with a flawless performance.

He came for victory.

Brendel took a deep breath and smiled. "Some might say that Lu Zhizhou has made a sexy comeback in Monaco, but I would say that he has never left."

“You are right. The game is now under Lu Zhizhou’s control, unless something unexpected happens.”

"But I personally believe that even if an unexpected situation disrupts the race, Lu Zhizhou will be able to control it. Right now, Lu Zhizhou's supersoft tires give him a clear advantage, and the race will become more favorable for him as the race progresses."

"Overtaking the slower car Stroll as soon as possible was the last test for Lu Zhizhou to take control of the race. Lu Zhizhou passed the test decisively, leaving the problem of the slower car to Ricciardo behind him."

"This is the last straw that broke the camel's back. He made full use of the real-time situation of the track, the car, and the opponents to establish his advantage in all aspects. This race is indeed tilting completely in Lu Zhizhou's favor."

"We are witnessing another piece of history, Monaco is about to give birth to a new king of the streets! Hamilton's best rookie season is facing a full-scale challenge!"

Exclamations, cheers, and a wave of excitement swept through the entire stadium.

This is where Lu Zhizhou's brilliance shines. Stroll's slow car completely held up Ricciardo, who was unable to find an opportunity to overtake.

The race organizers displayed a blue flag, demanding that Stroll give way or face a penalty, but Stroll was already in last place and didn't care at all.

Moreover, Stoll did not intentionally stop Ricardo; he merely gave way subtly. Monaco's narrow streets were the real culprit.

Stoll even complained on the radio, "Why doesn't he go over there? I don't want to see the blue flag anymore."

Ricardo: ...

Meanwhile, news finally came through Ferrari's radio channel, confirming Lu Zhizhou's guess: "Ricciardo seems to be facing some engine problems, and he can't keep up with the pace."

It turns out that it wasn't that Ricciardo didn't want to overtake quickly, but rather that his power unit had a problem.

The kinetic energy motor (MGU-K) in the energy recovery system malfunctioned, so it could not propel itself at full speed.

No wonder!
On the first lap after Lu Zhizhou left the pit lane, he noticed Ricciardo's straight-line speed problem in the first timing segment and immediately seized the opportunity to widen the gap.

Before long, the entire paddock knew that Ricciardo had experienced a problem with his power unit on lap 28. Although he did not retire immediately and remained on the track to hold his position, his rhythm was clearly affected, ultimately leading to Lu Zhizhou's incredible overtaking feat.

In an instant, the haters found another loophole: if the Ricardo power unit hadn't malfunctioned, Lu Zhizhou's overcut would never have been successful.
But this time, netizens simply didn't buy it. Following this logic, what if Lu Zhizhou's Barcelona power unit hadn't failed? What if Verstappen on Baku Street hadn't made a stupid mistake?
It wasn't just the Iron Buddha Temple; onlookers also chimed in with their complaints. Those haters were just mindlessly attacking, and unexpected events are part of the game. Since Lu Zhizhou accepted the unexpected events in Baku and Barcelona, ​​then the same applies to Monaco. Ricardo's mechanical failure shouldn't affect Lu Zhizhou's epic performance throughout the match.

The debate unfolded comprehensively, escalating to a point of contention.

It was even more exciting than the second half of the game.

Entering the second half of the race, unexpected events occurred one after another. Alonso lost power and retired from the race on lap 42. Verstappen and Sainz collided twice, and the yellow flag was briefly raised. However, miraculously, all the problems were resolved smoothly, and the safety car never appeared. The race gradually became calm.

Although Ricciardo managed to overtake Stroll and get away from the slower car, it was too late, as Lu Zhizhou quickly pulled ahead by two seconds.

Ricardo was unable to catch up.

In fact, let alone catching up, Ricardo was in dire straits in the second half, constantly wailing, "Don't overtake me. Don't overtake me."

Ricardo, who now performs stand-up comedy on radio channels, no longer aspires to catch up with Lu Zhizhou; he simply hopes to maintain his position.

Vettel, relentlessly chasing Ricciardo, had closed the gap to about a second, having several opportunities to overtake but failing to do so.

On lap 72, with the race nearing its end, Leclerc, racing on home turf and in 12th place, attempted to overtake Hartley of Toro Rosso in a final push toward the points. However, at the Newport Lagoon deceleration corner, he braked too late, causing him to understeer and rear-end Hartley, damaging his front wing and front tire, and thus being eliminated from the race.

"Do not!!!"

Amid Leclerc's despair, the entire stadium gasped!
Surprisingly, Leclerc went directly into the unmanned run-off area behind the speed bump and came to a safe stop, and the race organizers still did not deploy the safety car.

For the first time in eleven years, the Monaco Grand Prix did not have a safety car! The race thus came to an end.

As Croft said, from the moment Lu Zhizhou overtook Stroll and left Ricciardo behind the slower car, he had extinguished the last suspense of the race. No matter what unexpected events or situations occurred afterward, Lu Zhizhou was able to firmly control the situation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing history!"

"Lu Zhizhou, winner of the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix!"

Everything has settled down.

Lu Zhizhou, Ricardo, and Vettel finished in the top three respectively.

After a two-race gap, Ferrari once again occupied the podium in both races, showing strong performance amidst Red Bull's fierce offensive and Mercedes' relentless pursuit.

Lu Zhizhou, in particular, completed an epic race in Monaco, pushing the "baby driver" craze of this season to a new peak. He raced all the way, leading by a wide margin, and won the championship with an absolute lead of more than 20 seconds. It was an indisputable and wonderful victory!

Hamilton and Bottas are fourth and fifth, respectively.

Force India's Ocon, Toro Rosso's Gasly, Renault's Hulkenberg, Red Bull's Verstappen, and Renault's Sainz occupied the remaining positions in the top ten, securing valuable points for their teams.

Verstappen undoubtedly reached a turning point in his season. Despite encountering a power unit failure in qualifying, he started the race from 20th on the grid and eventually broke into the top ten in Monaco, where overtaking was almost impossible, finishing in ninth place and showcasing his offensive talent to the fullest.

Whether it was the fiercely contested first half or the uneventful second half, Verstappen's tireless pursuit was definitely a beautiful sight to behold.

pity!

In Monaco, there is only one focus: Lu Zhizhou.

A perfect race, a race that pushed the limits in every aspect, Lu Zhizhou conquered the discerning fans with his undisputed performance for the first time this season.

In the live voting on the F1 official website, Lu Zhizhou won the title of Driver of the Day for the first time in his career, adding insult to injury.

Previously, they had all missed out on Melbourne, Bahrain, and Shanghai. Who could have predicted that they would finally receive recognition from fans in Monaco?
The crowd erupted in cheers and jubilation, gathering in a massive wave towards Ferrari number 22. Monaco paid homage, witnessing the birth of a legend.

Pfft!Pfft!
Her heart pounded wildly; the ecstasy and bliss were indescribable. Preston knew that the boy basking in the sunlight would launch a relentless counterattack, retaliating against the doubters with unparalleled performance. But she still underestimated the energy contained within that soul.

It's not about proving myself, but about pushing my limits.

Those twelve laps, pushing the limits of the ultra-soft tires, undoubtedly became a classic memory in Monaco this year, rightfully claiming the fastest lap of the race.

Those doubts, those attacks, those encirclements—none of them harmed or shook Lu Zhizhou. In the end, they only became the driving force for Lu Zhizhou to pursue the ultimate speed.

The second Grand Prix victory of the season came at just the right time!
A smile crept onto her lips, and happiness blossomed in her heart.

Turning his head, Preston could see the dejected Mercedes fans next to him, sighing and lamenting. Hamilton and Bottas were practically invisible throughout the race today. Apart from breaking the deadlock by pitting first on lap 12, they were basically nowhere to be seen on the live broadcast.

All the brilliance and all the highlights belong to Lu Zhizhou!
So, should we kick someone when they're down?
No, these fans of Lu Zhizhou are so kind, how could they possibly bully the weak? Rubbing salt into the wounds of fan number 44 is definitely not their style.

At most, they'll remind everyone who the guy who shone brightly and reached the top today was—

"baby!"

Preston raised his arms and shouted, instantly startling the surrounding Mercedes fans, who cast horrified glances at him, their faces full of frustration.

Do you remember that Hamilton has never beaten Lu Zhizhou in a head-to-head matchup so far this season? The four-time world champion, who was highly anticipated at the beginning of the season, has had all the spotlight stolen by a baby who popped out of a rock?
Seeing the expressions on the faces of those Scottish lads, Preston could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter, shouting with all his might.

After the rain, the golden sunlight shone down again.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the track, Jan-Plus was still caught up in the thrill of the race.

He never imagined that a miracle would actually happen before his eyes; the roar of the engine seeped into his blood, transforming into waves of thunder and tsunami.

He didn't believe in dreams because, like racing, dreams were a privilege reserved for the wealthy. He continued to work every day, busy from morning till night, with no time to breathe and even less time to dream. If he slowed down, the pressure of life might completely engulf his family of four.

However, today, something seems to have sprouted from the depths of my heart. The city is still the same city, but the world no longer seems to be the same world.

Maria was packing up her things; the party was over, and it was time to go home, but she saw two children jumping and cheering loudly.

The Plaths were both stunned. They exchanged a glance, and despite their shock, they couldn't help but smile, their mood brightening as they basked in the sunlight.

The two children joined the crowd in chanting, their voices echoing and resonating through the narrow, crowded buildings of Monaco.

"baby!"

Not only them, but Greenwood almost lost control as well, shouting, "First, the continent. First!"

"Hahaha! This time we didn't repeat the same mistake!" Lu Zhizhou's cheerful laughter came through the radio—

In Shanghai, he fought with all his might until the very end, only to lose to Ricardo by a hair's breadth. In Monaco, he burned with passion and challenged his limits, calmly and keenly seizing the opportunity to turn the tide and defeat Ricardo. After experiencing two consecutive unfortunate events, Lu Zhizhou achieved redemption.

Joy, a pure joy—

Lu Zhizhou slowly returned to the pit area, ready to celebrate with the team, only to find it empty; Ricciardo and Vettel had not returned either.

Emerging from the car, Lu Zhizhou was filled with questions. Not far away, he could see the Netflix photography team rushing around busily. Lu Zhizhou called out to ask them directly.

"Where is the person?"

Netflix team: ...

They could have filmed Lu Zhizhou, but they refused, responding to Ferrari and Mercedes with such a tough stance, so what to do now?
Netflix's team still offered some guidance: "In Monaco, you should park your car at the starting line, where members of the Monaco royal family will greet the top three drivers."

Lu Zhizhou: ?

"Who am I? Where am I? What should I do?" Lu Zhizhou stepped onto the Monaco racetrack for the first time in his life and had never experienced a post-race celebration ceremony before.

Lu Zhizhou ran wildly through the crowd back to the track, where he finally saw the Prince of Monaco and members of the royal family. Ricciardo and Vettel's cars were parked neatly there, but the champion's spot in the center was empty, and the team members surrounded it in layers.

Line up to welcome him, awaiting the return of the king!
"Sorry." Lu Zhizhou smiled.

"I suspect that, like you, I didn't anticipate today's outcome, so I missed a very important part during my pre-match preparation. Is it too late for me to pretend that I actually had the situation perfectly under control?"

A touch of banter, a hint of self-deprecation, and an overwhelming sense of youthful exuberance and confidence.

Prince Albert II of Monaco was a dashing and unruly man in his youth, and was jokingly called the "scandalous prince" by the European media. He had two illegitimate children less than a year after taking office.

Seeing Lu Zhizhou, drenched in sweat but full of vigor, he laughed heartily, "Don't worry, you really controlled the situation perfectly today. No one expected you to withstand the pressure and deliver such a brilliant performance."

Lu Zhizhou spread his hands, "I have indeed been trying."

Amidst cheerful laughter, the live camera lens zoomed in, startling Lu Zhizhou. However, he didn't look away. His smile blossomed, his eyes brightened, as if he could see through the lens and gaze at everyone in front of the television screen. The joyful laughter in his throat mingled with his voice.

"I'm sorry to have disappointed you."

(End of this chapter)