Chapter 78 - 10: Actually Got Selected

Chapter 78: Chapter 10: Actually Got Selected

Sure enough, as the pit crews informed their drivers that the race was nearing its end, many began to make their moves.

Antonio stared at the car several lengths ahead of him. Catching up from this distance was a pipe dream, so he shifted his focus to the rearview mirrors. Latifi was not too far behind and could launch an attack at any moment.

However, this worry was entirely unnecessary. Latifi’s attention was fully occupied with defending against Verstappen.

On the track, the third and fourth cars quickly transitioned from a single file to running almost side by side. Verstappen had clearly started to accelerate.

Up ahead, Latifi refused to be outdone. He squeezed out the last bit of performance from his tires, speeding up and immediately seizing the racing line down the middle.

When two cars had nearly identical performance, the trailing car could only overtake by forcing the opponent into a mistake, relying on a fake-out, or using absolute technical superiority to complete the pass.

Obviously, Verstappen chose the second method. Seeing Latifi take the middle line, he still aggressively thrust into the inside line, looking as though he was going in for a do-or-die battle.

Spotting this in his rearview mirrors, Latifi swiftly drifted toward the inside to squeeze Verstappen.

Unexpectedly, Verstappen suddenly changed direction, darting out to the outside line. Relying on later braking, he once again pulled level with Latifi.

Having achieved this position, Verstappen made absolutely no concessions. He ruthlessly squeezed Latifi, intending to pin him dead on the inside line.

"Dangerous driving! What the hell is he driving!" Latifi roared over the team radio.

But because of that slight concession, his speed had already dropped significantly compared to Verstappen’s.

Verstappen couldn’t hear Latifi’s radio, but for some reason, he still explained over his own, "I left him plenty of racing room."

After saying this and gaining a slight lead, he became even more aggressive. He firmly occupied the optimal line, placing his car in tricky positions to relentlessly suppress Latifi.

Five corners later, he had completely overtaken Latifi.

CLAP CLAP CLAP.

Applause erupted from Verstappen’s pit garage.

Jos watched this scene in silence; the overtake still seemed reckless and unpolished.

Significant changes were also happening at the back of the pack. Many drivers chose to launch their attacks, turning the previously orderly queue of cars into a chaotic mess reminiscent of a race start. Everyone had been saving their tires for a final push at the very end!

WHOOSH!

With lightning speed, the final three laps concluded. Amidst the waving checkered flag, Wu Shi crossed the finish line.

"WOO-HOO!" he shouted over the radio. His slight mistake at the start had allowed him to deliver some quite spectacular dogfights.

"Good job, you won the first race! Congratulations," his engineer replied over the radio.

As the cars drove back into the pit lane one by one, Wu Shi parked his car steadily behind the number one spot. He unfastened his gear and stepped out of the cockpit just as the pit crew ran over to celebrate.

After hugging everyone, he went to the weighbridge to complete his weigh-in.

Verstappen walked over as well. After a fist bump, he asked, "I saw you tangling with Antonio for half a lap at the start."

"Yeah, my start was a bit slow," Wu Shi replied.

"Oh, same here. Who knows how long those damn lights took to go out," Verstappen muttered.

"Congratulations on getting a podium finish," Wu Shi said.

"Thanks. This race made me realize I still have a lot of shortcomings," Verstappen said, suddenly turning the topic to himself. "Before, I was just practicing with you. Back then, I took the gap between us for granted, and even Jos did the same. In reality, the gap between us should be getting smaller and smaller."

Wu Shi nodded. "Yes, everything has its limits. Your technique is becoming more skillful and experienced. Give it a few more years, and the gap between us won’t be as big as it is now."

"Hah, in a few years, I will definitely surpass you," Verstappen laughed.

"Oh? I’ll look forward to your attacks!"

Because the Florida Winter Series was not very popular, there were reporters conducting interviews, but they weren’t actually there to write any major reports. It was just that the news media had to show up to ensure comprehensive coverage.

That evening, after the day’s races concluded, nobody went out to celebrate. With two more main races scheduled for the following day, it was impossible for them to relax just yet.

Sid visited Wu Shi’s hotel room and told him what had happened that morning.

"Chairman Montezemolo?" Wu Shi was unfamiliar with this name, both in his past life and his present one.

"Yes. If you race well in the Europe F3, getting into F2 will be a sure thing," Sid nodded.

"I think we can wait until September to discuss it further," Wu Shi suggested.

"Discuss what?"

"Discuss an F1 driver seat for 2015."

"Are you crazy?!" Sid exclaimed. How could that be possible?

"Anyway, we’ll talk about it when the time comes."

Wu Shi waved his hand dismissively, offering no explanation. After all, according to the normal course of history, this year—2014—would see Verstappen shine brilliantly in the F3 Round 17 Rain Battle at the Norisring, directly catching Marco’s eye.

He wondered if that impending change would be enough to make Rafa loosen their tightly closed grip and let him in. If Rafa still refused to let him skip grades, then his choices would no longer be limited to Rafa alone. The Mercedes-Benz Junior Driver Programme would definitely extend an olive branch as well.

As for Red Bull? He didn’t think Marco would choose him, but it was still worth a conversation. And as for McLaren, going there would probably mean rotting in career prison for a while. If his goal was to win championships, joining Mercedes-Benz now would actually be the best move. However, he might have to wait until after 2016 for a chance to move up. But wouldn’t Williams be quite nice too?

"Hey! What are you thinking about?" Sid interrupted Wu Shi’s daydreaming.

Wu Shi shook his head and tapped his forehead a few times. He was really getting ahead of himself with all these imaginary choices, he thought with a wry smile.

The next day, the second main race started as scheduled. Wu Shi still occupied the front row, but his opponent had changed yet again.

Although Director La was often ridiculed in F1, the strength he displayed in lower-tier racing series was actually not bad. As the saying goes, before entering F1, everyone thinks they are Schumacher.

In the racing series prior to F1, the maximum performance of the cars is limited. Being able to handle a car at a top speed of two hundred kilometers per hour does not necessarily mean you can handle one at three hundred. A corner you can take comfortably at a hundred kilometers per hour might leave you trembling with fear if you try it at two hundred. At a hundred kilometers per hour, you might perfectly control the car to hug the barriers and use every inch of the track, but at two hundred, attempting the exact same maneuver will only end in a crash.

Nevertheless, Wu Shi still had to pay careful attention to the situation. After all, he was using a set of tires that had already endured three flying laps, making the wear quite severe—his limit-pushing driving style chewed up tires far faster than the other drivers.

"Be careful, Latifi should be using his newest tires," his engineer informed him over the radio.

"Copy."

Wu Shi came to a halt on the starting grid and locked his eyes on the starting lights ahead. Armed with yesterday’s experience, his mind was completely focused on the lights, the clutch, and the throttle.

VROOM!

The engine maintained a steady RPM. The lights illuminated one by one and went out almost instantly.

"Damn!"

Wu Shi jolted to attention, releasing the clutch in a split second.

VROOOOM!

The race car darted forward. On the computer screen in front of his engineer, Wu Shi’s reaction time appeared.

0.133 seconds.