[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 141
“It looks like we need to create more ducts or drill more holes in the chassis. The current design is closed, so no matter what we do, we won’t be able to manage the heat.”
“Who’s in charge of this?”
“It’s probably Lead Engineer Enrique.”
“He must be busy… Let’s try to handle it ourselves for now. Let’s maintain the existing form but make some adjustments to the details.”
“Understood.”
After the meeting with all the lead engineers had concluded, the laboratory, filled with anxiety and expectation, returned to operating like a systematic machine, clearly defined in its development direction.
Just as mechanical parts interlock to function as a single machine, the team was collaborating and cooperating smoothly.
The sight of people interacting and teams communicating was itself uplifting. It’s not often you see individuals with a shared purpose pushing each other forward toward a common goal.
This is why people laugh and cry while watching sports.
I couldn’t help but admire the engineers moving in perfect harmony.
“Everyone is so dedicated…”
“The goal has been clearly set. That’s all thanks to you.”
“What? It was all Won-jin’s doing.”
Leclerc replied to my soliloquy.
Though the excitement points for F1 viewers are often thrilling comebacks or fierce ranking battles on the track, that joy exists because of those who work behind the scenes.
The engineers, competing intensely in the darkest places.
Leaning against the second-floor railing, I absorbed the sight of the bustling laboratory filled with various noises.
Riding in the race car that they built with their sweat and effort, Leclerc and I, the drivers, would seize victory and glory based on the engineers’ voluntary and genuine sacrifices.
So, I couldn’t help but feel grateful to them.
“Seeing this enthusiasm puts a burden on me.”
“I’m nervous too, but it’s your debut race. That’s normal.”
“I never thought I’d feel this way again as I’ve always done this. The excitement, anticipation, anxiety, and worry before the season opens… you know?”
“…? You say you’ve always done this? What are you talking about? You’re a rookie this season…”
“Oh, I’m a rookie driver, right? That’s true…”
Leclerc, who is at least 10 cm taller than me, looked down at me with a smile that seemed amused.
With a bit of an old-timer attitude, Leclerc busily teased me whenever such experiential tales came up. His teasing was at just the right level to be annoying without being offensive, but it still bugged me.
It’s not that I was annoyed by what Leclerc was saying, but rather that I was frustrated by the fact that my illustrious career from a past life was worthless in this world.
I had lifted countless victory trophies on the podium, defeated fierce competitors in my debut, achieved championship status, and continued to set records, but there was no way to prove my achievements here, which left me feeling constrained.
“Please, let me be reborn on Jin Hyun-woo’s Earth in my next life.”
I earnestly prayed that whether it be reincarnation or possession, I would be born on the Earth where I was Jin Hyun-woo.
Just as I was cursing, I heard engineers chatting right below me.
“Hey, why isn’t he saying anything? It’s strange for the rookie to be so quiet.”
“Don’t you know? He got a reprimand for it.”
“I thought he was back to work immediately, did he really get reprimanded?”
“It’s not a big deal; they said he’s going to maintain silent training until the season opener.”
Silent training.
As the engineers discussed, that was the punishment given to Won-jin.
There were many opinions about the reprimand. In team sports, anything harming team harmony is almost considered a crime, so some felt the punishment was too light for the severity of the offense.
Even if he made a mistake, he developed the hybrid suspension that gave us hope, defined the direction for aerodynamics and the engine, and made huge contributions to Ferrari that were incomparable. Considering he’s a minor, some thought the action was appropriate.
I was grateful that it ended this way. I thought it would lead to a suspension or something worse, so being only subject to silent training until the season opener was something to be thankful for.
Ironically, this situation stemmed largely from Won-jin’s influence. He was the one who caused the problem; how could his actions also source leniency? Because of his attitude.
After the test, Won-jin apologized not only to those directly involved in the incident but also to engineers who had no connection to it at all. The former was an apology for his careless behavior, and the latter was an apology for the overall impact his actions had on the team.
Failing a hundred times but succeeding once can change a person’s image. Won-jin’s drastic change in attitude, which had always caused trouble, was dramatically effective.
In an instant, the perception of Won-jin flipped from negative to positive.
“Yeah, that seems just right. Seeing him sincerely apologizing yesterday made it look like he has his act together, so there’s no need to treat the kid too harshly.”
“It felt a bit sad, really. He’s still young… it’s the age where parents or teachers should take care of him, but all the staff are busy with their tasks.”
“When he came to apologize to me yesterday, I’d never seen such a defeated look in his eyes. It made my heart soften.”
“We share some responsibility too.”
I overheard the engineers taking a breather and chatting.
Despite the mild discontent regarding the reprimand among most staff at the laboratory, there was no lingering ill will toward Won-jin.
No one who had complaints wished for his expulsion, and now there was even a mood in the lab that they should support him better.
So, it was everyone’s responsibility.
The need for education concerning Won-jin went beyond just technical training as an engineer and expanded into a broader category: education as a person.
Both for the engineers and for Won-jin, it was a development moving in a desirable direction.
With satisfied smiles, Leclerc and I turned our heads toward Won-jin.
Unlike usual, Won-jin wore a tense expression and worked diligently without saying a word, just as the engineers had said. He did not initiate conversations; he only responded when someone else spoke to him first.
Soon, I saw another engineer approaching Won-jin with a pile of documents.
“Jin, how did you design this? I can’t quite grasp the principle and don’t know how the priorities were set.”
“….”
Won-jin received the documents and reviewed them, starting to underline with a red pen without hesitation. He circled items, marked them with stars, and after numbering a few points, he quickly wrote something on the last page.
When the young engineer took the documents back, he exclaimed, “Ah!” indicating that it seemed like he had summarized the key points.
“Thank you, Jin. Just a moment.”
The young engineer seemed to rush somewhere before returning with a notebook and pen. He sat down beside Won-jin, opened the notebook, and immediately began firing questions.
“I understand this, but why do you think improving aerodynamics is more effective for cooling efficiency than fixing the engine? And this one…”
“….”
The process of questioning and answering continued, moving them toward the right answers. The previously chaotic atmosphere seemed to revert to its proper state during this time.
“We should get going too. We really need to practice.”
“Yeah. They said the simulation is all set. We need to prepare for Friday’s practice too.”
Fortunately, Ferrari was still running smoothly and well.
*
*
*
On a Friday night when the stars were clearly visible to the n*ked eye.
The only island nation in the Middle East and the smallest country, Bahrain’s night was filled with a hot wind so intense that it could be called a heat wave.
The night breeze whisked by with a whooshing sound, yet it was not particularly cold.
Despite the warm night breeze, the atmosphere was anything but awkward; everyone was busy.
The Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain was the stage for the opening race of the 31st F1 season.
The ten teams participating in the season were running back and forth beneath the starry sky of Bahrain, each wearing outfits emblazoned with their respective team names, colors, and emblems, preparing for the imminent night practice race.
“Hey! What are you all doing? Make sure to check the tires properly! The ones we need right away must be pre-heated! Hurry up and put the warmers on!”
“We will get ready!”
“Don’t make any mistakes today! It’s just practice, so it’s okay to be a bit slow, but pay attention to every bolt you fasten! If we make a mistake, it will waste all the hard work the engineers put in, and the drivers will suffer for nothing. Do you understand?!”
“Understood!”
The mechanics were busy in their own regard.
“This is the first session of practice. There’s no need to finish analysis from your seats, just make sure to gather solid data from multiple angles. Don’t miss even the small details; check everything.”
“Mr. Yooihyun, Leclerc. We’ve organized two analytical teams per driver and they are ready.”
“Did the final engine check go well?”
“FR3, no problems at all. We completed the precise inspection and operational check with the mechanics yesterday and sealed it in the garage.”
The engineers were also busy.
“The first session is about to start!”
After a long and hectic preparation, the luxurious red race car, in perfect form, was now showing off its allure.
The new race car from Ferrari, equipped with the FR3 engine, V-1.
With ‘V’ for Victory and ‘1’ symbolizing the beginning of all, the V-1 shone elegantly and fiercely under the moonlight.
All mechanics, engineers, and the race car were now ready.
Clop clop.
Leclerc and I, dressed in race suits the same color as the V-1, strolled across the pit with heavy steps.
Putting on gloves and donning heavy helmets, we pieced together the final puzzle for the race. As the last piece, I entered the cockpit.
The picture was complete.
– Are we both ready?
“Ready.”
– Ready.
After our brief declaration of readiness.
[The 31st season of F1 is about to begin! The Bahrain Grand Prix, the first practice session on Friday, is finally starting!!!]
Wow!!!
Along with the resounding voice of the commentator and the thunderous cheers of the packed audience.
The practice session at the Bahrain International Grand Prix was about to kick off, marking the beginning of my very first debut race.
It had finally begun.