Car Racing without Money-Chapter 438 - 175: Drivers Must Adapt to Their Cars (Part 3)

Chapter 438: Chapter 175: Drivers Must Adapt to Their Cars (Part 3)

Using another ace up his sleeve, Alonso defeated the once ace, Schumacher.

Briatore had the right to be arrogant; Ferrari was indeed his defeated opponent.

However, Odetto, who was standing beside him, turned visibly pale upon hearing this.

He was once an employee in the Ferrari Dynasty, and Briatore’s words completely trampled on the pride of Odetto’s career.

But now Hua Bu is the team manager, and Odetto has transitioned to become a race engineer. This proud old man from Italy can only endure it...

"Bell, how is the car adjustment going?"

After mocking the Ferrari Team, Briatore turned to the technical director, Bob Bell, and asked.

In most cases, the team’s technical director stays at the headquarters for upgrades and research.

However, the TF110 car is special; essentially, it’s a product of the Toyota Team. Bob Bell and a group of Renault technicians didn’t participate in the research and development. They can only know its specific performance from the documents Toyota provided but can’t fully understand the design concept.

Bob Bell needs to gather enough data during the winter test to determine the prototype car’s future development direction.

"We’ve completed the basic adjustment based on the characteristics of the Catalonia Circuit and Xiangbei’s driving style."

"Additionally, the RVX-09 engine data has been adjusted to peak levels, with the highest horsepower reaching 800. Plus, the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) provides an additional 60 horsepower. At full throttle, the maximum horsepower can reach 860."

[860 horsepower?]

Upon hearing this number, Chen Xiangbei was a bit taken aback.

As the season ends, many F1 team engine data have been decrypted.

Last year’s championship-winning BGP001 car had a maximum Mercedes engine horsepower of only 830.

F1 power units are manufactured to the rule limit, squeezing out almost every ounce of potential.

Generally, engine suppliers rack their brains to optimize, with the improvement roughly around 10 horsepower.

This means that this year’s new Mercedes W01 car will have a maximum horsepower of around 840, which is 20 less than the TF110 car.

It’s known that an F1 car’s horsepower increases by just 10, allowing it to lead several kilometers in tail speed on long straights. Often, the ability to overtake comes down to this tiny speed advantage.

No wonder Lu Xiaoman was so excited upon arrival, informing that the ignition test measured horsepower exceeded Renault’s new engine this year. 860 horsepower is indeed impressive.

"Bell, don’t consider Xiangbei’s driving style; just proceed with adjustment based on the fastest speed."

"A qualified F1 driver needs to adapt to the car’s style, not the other way around!"

The ability to adapt to a car has always been one of the standards for evaluating a driver’s core competence.

Every car’s development direction is different, or the resource tilt towards drivers varies, naturally leading to driving characteristic biases.

Like understeering or oversteering.

This phenomenon was most evident in the later Red Bull Racing Team, as the world believed the team engineer accommodated Verstappen, creating a super oversteering car based on his driving style.

To the extent that, for a period, Verstappen faced doubts that he relied on the team’s "specialized car" to gain competitive advantage, being practically Marco’s favorite.

However, facts proved this wasn’t any specialized car; it was simply a deviation in the development direction.

Verstappen could achieve good results due to his unmatched car sense and incredible adaptability.

So many teammates could not adapt to Red Bull’s "specialized car."

TF110 is a Toyota legacy, meaning it’s impossible to develop according to Chen Xiangbei’s driving style, making biased adjustment meaningless.

Better to proceed with adjustments according to the theoretical fastest speed of the car, letting Chen Xiangbei actively adapt to this car.

If he can’t adapt, it means he’s not a qualified F1 driver.

At least, he can’t become a top-notch F1 driver!

Faced with Hua Bu’s instructions, Bob Bell turned his gaze to Chen Xiangbei.

Although the logic holds, Chen Xiangbei is ultimately a newcomer and sometimes needs some space to grow and adapt.

"Bell, you don’t think I’ll have special care for Xiangbei, do you?"

Having worked together for years, Briatore instantly grasped the intent from Bell’s expression.

Chen Xiangbei did provide "help in times of need," and there’s absolute control of Chinese capital behind the HRT Team.

But so what?

A driver without capability can’t create value; Hua Bu remains impartial in this regard.

Just like in later times, he wouldn’t give Duhan the space for trial and error; if you can’t drive, then get out.

Even Colapinto, whom Hua Bu favored and brought benefits, was given a pre-notice of only five opportunities before racing.

Anyway, pressure is maximized; if you can’t perform, get out.

Hua Bu even harbors a thought of selling the Renault Team seat on a rotating basis every six races, providing it to the capable!

In terms of morality, it’s indeed ruthless and cruel.

On the contrary, this crazy "raising of Gu insects" behavior could potentially single out an SSR card of a Gu King.

"Understood."

Bell shrugged at Chen Xiangbei, changing the car adjustment according to Hua Bu’s instructions.

After all, he wasn’t particularly familiar with Chen Xiangbei; teams are made of iron, but drivers come and go. If the Chinese rookie can’t adapt, Hua Bu might kick him out someday. There’s no need to care too much.