Car Racing without Money-Chapter 491 - 192: Clash of Team Philosophies (Part 3)

"Are you worried about Xiangbei’s safety, or are you afraid of losing your cash cow?"

Odetto bluntly unveiled Briatore’s true thoughts.

"What’s the difference?"

"The difference is that the former is about honor, the latter is about interest."

"Honor can bring interest, and interest can breed honor."

Briatore replied calmly and then added, "Just like wanting to win a championship, both the driver’s skill and the car’s performance are indispensable."

"Odetto, you should understand that the world is not just black and white."

Hua Bu never felt that there was anything wrong with his working style and philosophy. Without sufficient profits and returns, how can you maintain the team’s operations and build a powerful racing car?

Without our integration and operation, the HRT Team would be like Lotus and Virgin, unable to build even a basic racing car development base, let alone ensure subsequent upgrades to maintain competitiveness.

Honor and faith can’t feed you; the F1 Paddock follows the law of the jungle!

"You’re right."

"But interest can only buy equivalent value, whereas honor can make drivers risk their lives for it!"

Odetto had lived through the crazy era of F1 and witnessed countless drivers who would rather crash than slow down.

You could say he’s stuck in the past and unable to keep up with the times.

Yet Odetto prefers Chen Xiangbei to become an old-school driver like Lauda and Senna. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

They truly can disregard life and death on the track!

"Xiangbei, the S2 timing section is 0.2 seconds slow. In the S3 sector, ride on the curb and step on the gas for a faster speed!"

After finishing his conversation with Briatore, Odetto turned and issued an aggressive team order to Chen Xiangbei.

Throughout the S2 timing section, Chen Xiangbei not only encountered Jamie’s car but also two slow cars tire-warming ahead.

Although they did not completely block the racing line, Chen Xiangbei was bound to lose some speed while avoiding them.

The F1 race is like this; it pursues details with utmost precision.

Mistakes considered by outsiders or common sense might be line errors or something like slipping.

In fact, an F1 mistake is merely taking an extra steering adjustment in a corner while correcting the line.

Just this little steering action would result in a delay of a few tenths of a second.

"Roger that."

Chen Xiangbei’s response came through the earpiece, while the race data monitoring screen in the pit room showed a dramatic increase in throttle pedal pressure.

In response to Chen Xiangbei, Odetto turned his gaze to Hua Bu.

There was no doubt that Chen Xiangbei and he were on the same page!

The TF110 sped up frantically, bend after bend passing by Chen Xiangbei’s eyes.

He had no idea about his lap time but knew he was blocked by several slow cars, forcing him to do his utmost to regain time, otherwise, he risked elimination in the first qualifying session.

At the craziest moment, Chen Xiangbei’s car’s front nose grazed the protective barrier next to the track.

Luckily, F1 car front wings generally have some elasticity; otherwise, it would’ve shattered.

The HRT Racing Car roared past the timing line, and its lap time appeared on the big screen above the track, which was also transmitted to the pits of various teams by the circuit command center.

When the paddock crowd saw Chen Xiangbei’s ranking, surprised expressions were written on everyone’s faces; could this Chinese Kid reach seventh?

"OH, an incredible event occurred, the newcomer from China, Chen Xiangbei, has reached seventh on the leaderboard with the fastest lap in the first qualifying session, even surpassing his teammate Trulli."

"If not for being blocked by the slow cars, I believe Xiangbei could be even faster."

"Xiangbei has proved that his advancement is based on talent, not payment!"

Commentator James was very excited, not only for Chen Xiangbei but also delighted with his own judgment.

The Chinese newcomer did not disappoint indeed.

The most difficult reality to accept psychologically belongs to his teammate Trulli.

Other drivers can look for excuses concerning the car, but he has no excuse at all.

His pride in qualifying has reached the point where he can’t keep pace with the Chinese rookie?