[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 166

For those who have hope, no matter how long it takes, opportunities will surely come.

The telemetry analysis result of Ferrari’s V-1 brought an opportunity for that Red Bull.

An engineer, who had been watching for opportunities with the keen eye of a hawk, shouted loudly while looking at the completed telemetry analysis chart.

“I found it, Team Leader!”

That cry felt as full of joy as Archimedes’ exclamation of ‘Eureka!’ when he encountered a problem.

Perhaps that’s why.

“What’s going on? Why all the fuss?”

“Did they find something? It’s so noisy.”

“Let’s go and see. Would they act up for no reason?”

Following his light and lively sprint toward the team leader, other engineers began to move in line behind him like a Pied Piper.

The line that followed him was so long.

It seemed to speak of how desperately that Red Bull hoped for success.

The team leader, sitting and examining the telemetry analysis chart, also abruptly stood up.

“What is it?!”

The engineer, who had covered quite a distance, began reporting without taking a breath.

“Team Leader, we found a way to surpass Ferrari. No, that might not be the important part. Perhaps we’ve discovered a stepping stone for even greater leaps.”

“So, what do you mean? Explain it slowly.”

“According to the telemetry, Ferrari’s tire wear was significantly worse compared to other teams. Along with that, the chassis’s vibrations also increased in proportion to the rate of wear. And while wear is one thing, it seems the acceleration of that wear is also more drastic… I believe it’s due to the new technology they introduced this time.”

There was a subtle warmth and strange certainty in the engineer’s tone, suggesting they had dug into the core of the issue.

Despite the rumors about the new technology being applied, no information had been disclosed to the outside regarding Ferrari’s hybrid suspension, yet this engineer was convinced he had captured its essence.

“New technology…”

He continued, gazing at the team leader, who was deep in thought with his chin resting on his hand.

“It’s certain. Of course, I cannot figure out the name of the new technology, but I can at least comprehend its principle.”

The engineer was unfazed. The name attached to it didn’t matter much; what was significant was understanding the principle.

“So, what did you find?”

“I compared the tire wear data, which is the most noticeable phenomenon, with the data on chassis instability caused by vibrations. Both values rose and fell proportionately. To be precise, the instability of the chassis ignited the fluctuations in tire wear. Statistically, there can be no clearer connection between cause and effect.”

“So, you’re saying that something fundamental in Ferrari’s new technology caused the instability of the chassis…”

“Yes, you understand it perfectly.”

The engineer, having confirmed that the team leader grasped the concept, answered in a confident tone, as if it added credence to his views.

“And what I believe… is that the fundamental cause is ‘suspension.'”

“Suspension?”

The team leader furrowed his brow in confusion. A race car is a culmination of dozens of devices and over ten thousand parts interacting, making it impossible to summarize a phenomenon with just one cause.

However, there are significant causes that impact certain phenomena.

Yet, due to the multitude of variables, even identifying the major causes is indeed a very challenging task.

Other engineers nearby shared the same questions as the team leader.

“Is it really due to the suspension? Isn’t the cause more complex? That seems a bit hasty…”

“Right. I looked over the data too, and it just seems like the suspension is either too soft or too hard.”

“I definitely didn’t feel anything strange about it. Tire wear values change based on weight transfer. In a way, that seems obvious…”

Of course, their questions were rational and valid inquiries.

They were not mere complaints expressed with no evidence or productivity but rather insightful questions grounded in clear facts.

Understanding that better than anyone, they came up with a clear and unique solution to break through this situation.

“…So, how will you prove your argument? That’s the crux of it.”

Proof. Very easy yet very difficult.

Though they expressed negative opinions, they all quietly looked toward the engineer who had provided the answers with a glimmer of hope as if wishing he would save them.

And the engineer’s words that soon followed resounded in the laboratory like a verse from the Bible, becoming a ray of light that saved them.

“The change in tire wear values according to the suspension’s operation is a completely natural phenomenon. However…!”

He emphasized the word that would bring a twist while raising a finger. The laboratory, now quiet, began to focus on him.

Ears were directed to his mouth, and eyes to his finger.

“What if the wear values never exceed a certain threshold and stabilize at that value? What if the range of suspension operation, according to that value, has no margin of error like a calculator?”

Every word he spoke had an emphasis, evoking a sense of mission that felt almost fearful.

He too had staked his life on this professional vocation.

“Ah…”

“Could it be…”

“Is that possible…”

The engineers listening were instinctively sensing the desire that was vividly evident in his eyes and were marveling at the facts they hadn’t realized, reacting involuntarily.

“Tires are not something that can be controlled. But those values are evidence of artificial operation, and the only thing that can make that happen is the suspension.”

He projected the telemetry analysis chart he had analyzed and compared onto the large screen for everyone to see.

Tire wear values, numbers of front and rear suspension according to the suspension height, with formulas resembling the data coming out as they compared the two.

When the height of the suspension corresponding to the wear value was 1, it was 2; if it was 2, it was 4; if it was 3, it was 6. It was always maintained at the same ratio. Whether the wear value or the suspension value, whichever value was substituted first yielded nearly identical results that were eerily similar.

However, no one had noticed this fact until now. The first reason was that this phenomenon seemed too obvious, and the second reason was that the fluctuating values were insignificant enough to go unnoticed.

A murmur pierced the silence of the laboratory.

“It’s been proven…”

Proof was complete. His argument had gained strength and belief as it became truth.

Now it was his stage in totality.

“When taking the left front tire as the starting point, categorizing the tires into four areas, from front to rear 1, 2, 3, 4. There are hardly any cases where all four values are the same. The only time the values are the same is when they are completely on the record line in a straight track. Outside of that, the elevations of the track, the depth of each corner, and the vehicle’s vertical and horizontal movement result in all four values being separate.”

The engineer who had made the proof added a word while looking at the values displayed on the screen.

“It’s as if they’re alive…”

By the time he finished speaking, the engineers instinctively knew that the numbers on the screen weren’t simple figures resulting from natural phenomena. Ironically, they also felt an awe as if witnessing some supernatural phenomenon.

“…Is that really possible? I can’t grasp it…”

“How do they move so fluidly and naturally? It’s consistent yet has abrupt aspects, but if this is technology…”

“Who developed such a thing…? Whoever it is, they’re truly insane.”

Those overwhelming emotions transitioned into high praises for the technology developers.

However, one cannot know everything through telemetry.

“Ferrari is highly likely controlling the suspension values with an in-house AI. No, I’m 99.9 percent sure.”

Although even he could not be 100 percent certain, in reality, he was correct.

All of this began with the ‘hybrid suspension.’

This engineer had discovered the undeniable correlation between Ferrari’s hybrid suspension, a technology devised by Mr. Won-jin, and its chronic issues of vibrations and rapid tire wear, digging deeper to unearth the very roots of the matter.

He had found the suspension.

The reason this nonsensical task was possible was that he precisely extracted and analyzed the most crucial details among the numerous specifics found in the telemetry.

Though it may seem simple, it was by no means an easy feat.

Exceptional insight beyond a high level, broad and deep knowledge that far exceeded the term expert, innate sharpness. And everything had to align perfectly, including sheer luck. This was the only way it could have been achieved.

“We can target this point. No, we must achieve it, whether by countering or making it our own. At least one of the two must happen.”

With those words, all the research staff and strategy department members began to move in unison. The researchers started dismantling Ferrari’s suspension, while the strategy members began formulating a way to counter that suspension.

Just as Ferrari had been countering opponents, it was now being countered in return.

The moment when Red Bull’s critical assault on Ferrari began.