[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 105

“I think manual conversion might be better than automatic conversion.”

“Manual conversion?”

“Yes, by adding buttons to the steering wheel so that the driver can switch to manual conversion.”

“Just a moment.”

Enrique, who was inferring a valid reason for Won-jin’s assertion, immediately pulled a chair from his place and sat down in front of him.

Since it was a conversation that touched on the essence of the project, it seemed that the dialogue would be quite lengthy.

Won-jin handed him a blueprint designed with automatic conversion as the focus and began.

“First of all, I think the idea of freely converting the suspension to match the driving course is really good. Like speed or the angle of the steering wheel, and it’s the same with the set values set accordingly.”

As Won-jin said, the setting values set to allow the race car to automatically switch between high rake and low rake were very objective and reasonable.

The system was designed to calculate whether the current point was a corner or a straight line based on the movements of the driver and the race car and to move the suspension into the appropriate position. Even though it was a machine moving, it was well-constructed enough to not feel alien even if it was said that a human was controlling it.

However.

“But the problem is that there are too many variables in racing. There are always unpredictable situations on the circuit, and the system cannot intervene in such sudden situations.”

“Sudden situations…”

Machines are definitely more accurate and precise than humans. It’s only natural since they repeat the same actions according to predetermined values without any error. If compared to repetitive actions like manufacturing, humans can’t keep up with the efficiency of machines.

However, that doesn’t necessarily lead to the conclusion that machines are better than humans. The world isn’t made up of such simple things. No matter how many variables are added, there are situations that even the humans who built the machines cannot predict.

Wonders created by unstable creators can’t be perfect.

What is needed at such times is the flexible response that comes from real-time situational judgment.

And that’s an area only humans can handle.

Although artificial intelligence in autonomous vehicles is gradually opening that horizon, that is only common sense applicable on ‘roads’ defined by laws and rules.

Wherever there exists the element of ‘competition’, situations that transcend common sense happen frequently. In F1, such things were useless.

“Yes, I think we need to reconsider the utility of sudden situations that happen countless times. Of course, this system doesn’t manage the whole thing; it only handles suspension changes. However, since it only deals with the suspension, it wouldn’t be bad to give the driver a choice.”

So, to summarize Won-jin’s words: While the current system is excellent in terms of efficiency, he suggests shifting the judgment of suspension conversion from the system to the driver to maximize efficiency.

At this point, like the drivers opening the rear wing and using DRS as a sort of booster, it was a suggestion to change from automatic to manual, allowing drivers to use it directly.

Given the overwhelming number of variables on the circuit, the momentary response capability of humans was far superior to that of machines, making his proposal fully understandable.

Moreover, if the purpose of the project shifts from automatic to manual conversion, there would be no need to waste time on those tedious setting values that took ages. The driver, not the engineer, would take on that tedious calculation.

It might be unfortunate for Mr. Yooihyun and Leclerc.

Such a shortened perspective would be extremely useful for Ferrari. With the season opening just around the corner and Ferrari hesitant to touch the engine, time was the second most precious resource after manpower.

In short, Won-jin’s proposal was one that achieved a higher accomplishment for the project while also being a significant help externally.

Enrique, who understood the meaning of Won-jin’s words well, finally spoke up.

“Actually, it’s not like I didn’t think of that when creating the project. I wasn’t unaware of the significant advantages of manual control. The problem was…”

However, despite being aware of all that, the reason they had no choice but to set the goal as automatic rather than manual was.

“It’s because we had to consider the overload on the drivers.”

When one door closes, another opens. When you gain one thing, you inevitably lose another.

In this case, while it was possible to expect increased efficiency due to human responsiveness and shortened development time for reinvestment, there was also the risk that if efficiency decreased due to human responsiveness or if mistakes happened, it could lead to a negative outcome.

“Everyone knows that manual is better than automatic, but the associated risks are quite considerable. If the driver controls the suspension, their fatigue level will be extreme. During racing, there are already numerous things to be mindful of, and adding another burden would only increase the load…”

This was where the shortcomings of humans clearly became evident. When multitasking, the focus inevitably drops, and fatigue can increase. It’s a natural chain of events that leads to a decline in work efficiency.

There was a reason why Enrique and the engineers had so fervently shouted for ‘machine-like humans and human-like machines’ during the project establishment phase.

For flexible situational judgment. Such that there is no sense of fatigue, nor any decline in efficiency over time…

Yes, it was a ridiculous notion.

“And that’s why manual conversion was excluded from consideration. Some might say, ‘What’s the big deal about adding one button?’. But adding 1 to 0 is completely different from adding 1 to 10.”

It was an area that could not be approached lightly, as the disadvantages would outweigh the advantages. Because of this, manual conversion had been excluded from the options.

All the engineers unanimously supported moving forward with automatic conversion.

And the fallacies of that desk debate.

“Have you perhaps talked to the drivers?”

Won-jin pressed on.

Effort.

Often used and easily accepted, this word is, in fact, not very convenient for humans. It’s rather the most inconvenient.

If sitting in a chair studying for hours, running long distances every day, and repeatedly lifting heavy dumbbells were infinitely easy, there wouldn’t be anyone who failed in this world.

Everyone would be rich and fit.

Some define that as something you are born with.

Saying that the total amount of effort an individual possesses is fixed. That the size of that total is different for everyone, and after expending it all, a time of recharging is needed, and to expend more than that, one must wear down mental strength.

Well, effort itself has some degree of coercion associated with it.

Anyway, I thought that effort was also part of talent. It’s a talent that has the potential to be changed more than other talents. Because anyone can endure if they just try. However, enduring is definitely not an easy thing either.

“If we cut down just a little more, we can overtake during Rallyking’s pit stop. Let’s push forward while utilizing the backmarkers as much as possible.”

Haerari: I’ll give it a try.

After the pit stop, or rather after being overtaken. Harry maintained a continuous flow of concentration without a single interruption.

Was it the large total of innate talent, or had the size of the talent been changed over time?

Whatever it was, Harry’s effort and focus on continuously upgrading himself to fit the circuit were remarkable.

“Um,…”

The statement from a top teacher that studying is the most difficult thing in the world comes to mind.

Studying for 12 hours a day is easy, but when you add “every day, without fail,” the difficulty becomes hellish.

It wouldn’t be surprising at all that Harry, a living testament to that, managed to endure it.

Name / Time / Laps

① Rallyking 1:38:810 0.794 58/78

② Haerari 1:38:016 57/78

As they enter the second half, concentration naturally tends to drop. However, seeing that Harry is not just maintaining but actually getting faster seems to indicate the opposite.

There are such humans; the more they do, the more immersed they become. When time is added to concentration, it doesn’t diminish but rather increases.

No need to look far for examples; that was me.

Like recognizes like, so Harry also possessed similar traits to mine.

Ding—!

As Harry exited the previous corner, the gap to Rallyking narrowed by a further 0.01 seconds. The same ding—! sound was heard clearly in the next corner as well.

In the straight where he was using the backmarkers to slipstream, that sound echoed continuously.

Thus, the gap gradually decreased. The moments where the gap lessened combined and expanded beyond the decimal to the unit and tens place.

“I’m still improving…”

It’s difficult to pinpoint one thing, but Harry’s driving was continuously entering new phases.

Whenever a problem was identified, she solved it in the next corner, and simultaneously resolved new issues that arose thereafter.

A positive cycle of resolution and discovery was constantly ongoing, and she was gradually ‘improving.’

Yes. Harry’s strength was improvement.

With her sharp mind, she brilliantly identified one improvement point after another. Just that alone might be quite a miraculous talent. Usually, many often do not even realize they have issues, but Harry could view herself objectively.

Having this objective self allowed for rapid advancement.

In summary, her investment efficiency over time was significantly higher than that of others.

[Is something supremely fast?]

[Are we about to reverse again?]

[Every lap, the record is getting shorter.]

[Not much time left. Considering the time spent in the pit stop, we can almost say she’s overtaken.]

[It’s really close now.]

Entering the latter part of the race, her talent began to manifest its worth, securing speed and grip with super softs as her potential exploded.

Even the viewers who had been close to hurling insults began to reinstate their support for Harry’s change, which they could not pinpoint. Whether she knew it or not, Harry was raising the graph upwards, energized by their cheers.

Finally, as Rallyking returned to the track after a significant lap time loss due to tire degradation from the pit stop.

Shuuaak—!!!

[Wow, suddenly she’s ahead;;;]

[At this point, I think we can really say it’s over.]

[Seriously, when did she get this far? That’s creepy.]

[Haerari (growth-type)]

[My heart’s pounding from the first race…]

The lead was with Harry.