[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 130

“Can this crankshaft hold up?”

“If it’s only to do with the crankshaft, there shouldn’t be any problem. But the issue is whether the cooling system can handle it.”

“With the change to hybrid suspension, the driving style has changed drastically, so I don’t think cooling will be easy… Let’s just reinforce the pistons and crankshaft on our side.”

“Hey, whose turn is it to worry about someone else right now? I’ll go ask.”

Most of the Ferrari staff had been drafted into the engine project, so the laboratory, which I expected to run more systematically than usual, was instead chaotic.

Engineers were moving back and forth non-stop to exchange opinions and progress updates among the teams, while mechanics left their work of fabrication and application based on designs to inform engineers that something was unworkable.

“This is absolutely not going to work. Those making it need to think too. If you design it this complex and then there’s even a minor failure during the race, that’s it, it’s over. Retire!”

“We can’t compromise on this. The cooling has its limits, and one part can’t handle it. To distribute the load across the entire engine, we have to stick to this design.”

“Ah… This will take an enormous amount of time to fix if it breaks… Alright, in exchange, Mr. Engineer.”

“Yeah? What do you want to say?”

“Let’s change this part a bit. Here, at the connection. Simplify this joint section and reduce the strength compared to other parts. That way, if it breaks, it will be easier to replace, and most failures will end with a first failure.”

“It won’t be easy, but… I’ll try.”

Opinions clashed everywhere, and the collision of each philosophy created chaos. There were a few places that barely reached dramatic compromises, but far more were not.

When one door closes, the other one inevitably opens. That famous saying, used positively, also applied fairly to negative situations.

“Just a while ago, you said it was possible! We were going along with that, so what do we do now that you say it isn’t?”

“Come on, you know the situation. We’re in a tough spot too. The cooling team is already saying it’s overloaded; do you want to see the engine explode? What can we do? If the cooling doesn’t work, it’s all meaningless. We have to make a decision…”

“Ah, d*mn… You definitely said it was feasible earlier; which team foolishly made such demands?”

“Must be the power team, where else?”

“Ugh, I might have to change departments. I can’t stay in this miserable one.”

Every time we solved an issue with A, a problem arose with B, and when we resolved problems with both A and B, either A or B would run into issues with C in a chain collision. The engine symbolizes the totality of mechanical engineering, representing the most advanced yet ultimate technology.

Each department would inevitably collide.

In the first place, perfection or an ending is an illusion. Pursuing that illusion can only accompany endless collisions.

“Still, I’ll talk to the cooling team and the power team. They’re still researching it, so they might come up with a solution.”

“Right, if we keep at it, something will work out. For now, we’ll stick to the pre-modification plan. Thanks.”

“Thanks? If you’re grateful, don’t just say it; buy me dinner later.”

“Maybe we can have some pork belly with soju.”

Each’s complicated yet overly tangled stories seemed completely beyond human control, much like nature completing order despite diversity.

We could only leave it as is and pray to reach the invisible ultimate compromise after collisions and more collisions.

I watched them and said to Enrique.

“It’s such a mess.”

“It really is.”

Enrique replied with such a calm expression. He seemed to take this situation for granted.

“But shouldn’t someone be a center point and work systematically? If it continues like this, we won’t have development, just fights.”

If you know you can’t create order, shouldn’t you at least make an effort to establish it?

Right now, the laboratory looked like nothing more than a marketplace.

However, Enrique didn’t seem inclined to rectify the situation. Next to him stood head engineer Logan and Shin Juhyun. Even the director, Minoto, appeared indifferent.

“It can’t help but be a mess. The engine was chaotic from the start, so this was bound to happen. And that’s why we shouldn’t be pushing for order. What we need now is creativity that comes from freedom and competition, not the ease that comes from control posing as order.”

To put it negatively, we had reached a level that couldn’t be resolved by control. It was as if we were naturally seeking order from chaos, perhaps leaving everything to chance.

“Yeah… that makes sense.”

Yet, the more I looked at the actively moving yet creaky laboratory, I had to concede that Enrique was right.

“Let’s aim for simplification, lightweight, and high strength… I’ll set the direction. Let me know if you need anything. We’ll keep modifying it.”

“It might already be overspecced… But since I think we can boost the cooling performance even more, let’s go for it. I’ll try to match it as closely as I can.”

“Hey! That won’t work! Ah… The cooling team said to do it? Then just give me the design like that. We can handle the parts ourselves.”

Right at this moment.

The sharing, modifying, fighting, and adjusting, yielding and taking, and the continuous improvements we were experiencing were not a picture that would have emerged if we were trying to establish order.

Endless competition and development, an unwavering will and action.

Only freedom made it possible.

“I never thought the director or Engineer Logan would allow such complete neglect. I figured they’d at least intervene minimally.”

It was one thing for young Enrique to think so, but I never expected the higher-ups like Logan and Minoto to endorse this free competitive system. They were people who had come through the past where Ferrari had a rigid culture and practices during its glorious times.

I thought they would at least keep suggesting directions. After sharing the preliminary draft of the FR3 created by the four of us, they didn’t intervene at all. They only stepped in when teams faced challenges or when staff approached them for advice.

Enrique, sensing my scrutiny, awkwardly said, making sure I didn’t misunderstand.

“I’m not bragging, but… I guess it was a big deal that Jin and I successfully finished the suspension system. That was probably the first and last time Ji-won and I experienced such freedom. It resulted in the best outcomes across all projects. Since then, they haven’t touched anything at all.”

Yes, that did happen. We achieved brilliant results solely through our intense passion, without any control or oppression.

I had felt it before, but despite being a lower-tier team, Ferrari had strong cohesion. Usually, when a team hits rock bottom, disappointment and distrust lead to disintegration.

Ferrari showed no signs of that.

It had been that way from the start.

A free atmosphere respecting all opinions and humans. Fair and equal speaking rights. Trust and drive toward moving forward were present at Ferrari.

Does going through defeat after defeat bring that about? I wondered at the unusually deep cohesion.

Yet, as I neared the two-month mark in Ferrari, I had no doubts or questions about that cohesion.

These people simply gave their all.

And as always, sincerity has a way of converging in one place.

“Yeah, thinking about it, that makes sense.”

“No, no, I’m not sure. It’s just a feeling, a feeling.”

The open attitude of the upper management was one thing, but the contributions from Enrique and Won-jin were significant. The two newcomers improved the race car’s performance with just the suspension, while also dominating the direction for the future.

Even though newcomer Enrique was the team leader, the team members followed well and produced the best results. There was no need to put brakes on a group that ran smoothly even without a nominal leadership figure.

I lightly tapped Enrique on the shoulder and smiled slightly.

“Why be so humble? Too much humility can be annoying. Didn’t you hear that a lot in school? It’s annoying.”

“It’s not annoying; I just had no friends.”

“Yeah, right. Usually, annoying kids don’t have friends.”

“What are you talking about? You’re just as bad, Yooihyun.”

We exchanged banter and chuckled. How many weeks had it been since we had gotten so close?

Whether it was Leclerc or Enrique, I still felt uncomfortable using the term “oppa,” but I couldn’t switch to casual speech either.

“Ugh… so creepy.”

“What is?”

“Nothing. Don’t mind it.”

Indeed, it gave me goosebumps.

Usually, I would speak casually like a dog, but having Ji-hyun, a native Korean, consistently using “oppa,” I couldn’t help but do the same. If Ji-hyun used honorifics and I spoke casually, it would be really awkward.

I had to adapt as I became a nineteen-year-old girl.

“Shall we go to work? I think Jin was looking for you since earlier.”

“That little brat is looking for me? How disrespectful to my older sister.”

“One year apart and you’re calling me disrespectful… You’re just young and stubborn, aren’t you?”

Instead of answering, I playfully punched Enrique’s arm, and we marched towards the stage of philosophers, the Agora.

Then, upon encountering Won-jin, I faced a major problem.

“Oh, our drivers can manage this, you know? They’ll handle it even if it’s overspecced!”

“Seriously. Youngest, I know you’re smart, and I know your results are impressive, but this is way beyond overspecced! It’s not a skill issue!”

“Yooihyun says it’s doable!!!”

The argument between the drivers, whether Leclerc and I could drive an overspecced race car that overcame the limits of cooling, was unfolding between Won-jin and other engineers.