Chapter 106: Chapter 86: Pole Position of the Track Record (5K)
Doesn’t this prove the issue?
"Ooshima, tailgate car #13, use the car in front to set the fastest lap time."
The Toyota Team immediately issued another directive; since they’ve been overtaken, they might as well tailgate.
"Received."
This time Ooshima Kazuya replied without hesitation; he was already prepared to tailgate.
The faster Chen Xiangbei drives, the faster he will go as well!
Four race cars lined up like a long serpent, linked together as they sped down the track. Soon, Chen Xiangbei’s lap time emerged: 2 minutes 07.987 seconds.
This time was about three seconds slower than his fastest solo lap but was a very normal lap time.
The reason is that in a real race, it’s difficult to have an ideal track environment for setting lap records. Especially during the first few laps, when tire temperatures and fuel weight affect performance, it typically results in one of the slowest lap times of the race.
As the car gradually reaches its optimal working condition and fuel consumption is at its lowest, that’s the time to set the fastest lap!
Lap 3, Lap 4, Lap 5...
The track lap times are continuously refreshed, with Chen Xiangbei’s fastest lap reaching 2 minutes 06.573 seconds, a second off Kobayashi Kamui’s track record and 1.5 seconds off his own hidden record.
At this point, Chen Xiangbei’s car nose is already at Yamamoto Naoki’s rear bumper; in the closest corner, the gap between the two cars can be measured in centimeters, looking on broadcast as if they were about to collide.
In formula racing, particularly at the F1 level, centimeters aren’t an especially exaggerated unit of measurement.
In street races like Monaco, at speeds around 200 km/h, precision at a centimeter level is necessary to keep the front wing from brushing the wall; otherwise, you cannot become a top driver, nor have any hopes of winning the championship.
A local "extreme guy" like Leclerc can achieve a lap with millimeter-level precision.
To put it simply, his iconic scene is having the front wing tear the advertisement paper on the guard wall without damaging the wing!
Honestly, for ordinary people, such a control limit is simply unimaginable. Not to mention driving, even watching an F1 driver run the Monaco Circuit through on-board footage can make your palms sweat.
"Director Sawano, how long until the qualifying ends?"
Chen Xiangbei asked through the mic at this moment.
"About ten minutes."
"I’m going to push for an overtaking lap now."
Chen Xiangbei’s time with the car, tailgating Yamamoto Naoki in front, has allowed him to maintain good tire wear by not attacking, putting him in an optimal state.
With about four to five laps left until the end of qualifying, theoretically, Chen Xiangbei should tailgate for two more laps, further reducing fuel consumption to lower car weight, which could result in a faster qualifying lap.
However, Chen Xiangbei has noticed a slower car group ahead, meaning in these few qualifying laps, the first team of these cars is about to lap the rookie drivers.
Even if he overtakes Yamamoto Naoki and pushes at full speed, he’ll be blocked by the lapped cars.
"You’re showing a very good lap time, second among all drivers. Do you want to take the risk?"
Currently, first is Ooshima Kazuya enjoying tailgating the most, second is Chen Xiangbei closing the distance, and third is Yamamoto Naoki.
"Must act now, the timing is such that Guoguang’s second driver will block, and that’s when Yamamoto Naoki will push at full speed!"
Chen Xiangbei isn’t a rookie lacking experience; Guoguang Team’s other driver acting as the lead in tailgating is clearly serving a "wingman" role. Next, he’ll definitely slow down to let Yamamoto Naoki pass, then block him and Ooshima Kazuya behind.
"PUSH!"
Without hesitation, Sawano Hiroyuki issued the team directive.
After receiving the directive, Chen Xiangbei accelerated with full throttle, downshifted and sped up, using the slipstream effect to overtake.
Before DRS was invented, overtaking through slipstream effect was the mainstream method on straights, the most proficient being "Head Man" Alonso.
In a sense, Alonso’s adaptability to F1 cars is unparalleled; he’s driven various cars with different power and technology, even altering basic overtaking methods, yet still remains among the top tier drivers for twenty years.
Senna and Schumacher likely don’t possess Alonso’s adaptability.
Fortunately, Chen Xiangbei belonged to the new-old alternating driver generation in his previous life, experiencing the end of slipstream effect overtaking era in entry-level formula racing.
Otherwise, a pure new generation driver might struggle to adapt to overtaking methods without DRS.
Yamamoto Hikari never expected Chen Xiangbei to take action at this time; when he realized the situation was wrong and tried to block by changing lanes, Chen Xiangbei had already overtaken him with faster tail speed, with the front wing crossing over his rear wheel.
"Mukai, block car #13!"
In the pit box, Guoguang Team’s racing engineer witnessed the overtaking scene and quickly issued the directive to Mukai Takuma, the second driver.
"Roger that!"
Mukai Takuma responded and directly changed lanes, attempting to block Chen Xiangbei’s car.
But at this point, approaching the corner, Mukai Takuma’s tires were severely worn from leading the laps, and he couldn’t keep his line.
Chen Xiangbei, like slicing through butter, relied on grip advantage and took an intersecting line in the corner, instantly overtaking two cars!
This sight directly caused an uproar at Suzuka Circuit.
Guoguang Team is considered Japan’s top private team, and Yamamoto Naoki is regarded as one of Japan’s strongest rising drivers, yet he couldn’t withstand a single round against the Chinese rookie?
Ordinary spectators were baffled by what happened, even Fuji TV’s two commentators were dumbstruck, thinking this situation would persist until the end of qualifying.
But what shocked them even more was yet to come!
After overtaking, Chen Xiangbei quickly used the corner to disrupt tailgating and shake off Mukai Takuma.
When passing the start/finish line again, without any hindrance from the car in front, Chen Xiangbei began a full-speed push; the car cut across the track like a meteor, capturing everyone’s attention.
minutes 05.411 on the big screen silenced the whole audience.
Host Nakajima Hideyuki was speechless for quite a while.
So, the leaked photos were true; the Chinese rookie had already broken Kobayashi Kamui’s lap record!