[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 168
How many times have I raced around the circuit, constantly interacting with Leclerc?
I modified the angle of the steering wheel, adjusted the limits of acceleration and deceleration, and countless times revised the timings for them as well.
Whenever a single value changed, everything would return to square one. If the angle was off, or the speed increased or decreased, and if the timing was delayed or sped up, it felt like all the plausible plans we had set would go up in smoke. Repeating this process over and over, it began to seem as if the numbers were mocking us.
Yet, we were preoccupied with building and dismantling, building and dismantling, as we set up and planned entirely new racing lines.
The more I fell into racing, the more the existence of ‘I’ faded, until it ultimately seemed to disappear.
Ironically, those moments were when I felt most alive.
“One more time. Just one more time. One last time!”
It was so much fun that it couldn’t be described in words or compared to anything else.
After squeezing in somehow into what we believed were the right answers, we corrected the errors we discovered and we got faster and faster.
When our newly constructed racing lines and plans started to work, a spark that sent a tingling sensation through my whole body exploded.
0.01 seconds decreased, then 0.02 seconds, then 0.03 seconds. 0.1 seconds decreased, 0.2 seconds, 0.3 seconds. The “barrier” that I thought couldn’t be broken so easily crumbled and rebuilt countless times.
I wondered how many laps had passed.
When the clearly decreasing lap times were racing into the decimal points, we stopped talking. Having shared all the information and knowledge, there was no longer any meaning in conversing.
Leclerc, perhaps thinking the same as I was, heaved a sigh and began to speak with difficulty.
“I think we’ve roughly got the framework down… Shall we stop here for now?”
“Then let’s take some time to practice individually. We’ve been talking so much that I can’t concentrate properly.”
“Right. I’ve shared all the organized notes with you, so keep checking that. Update me immediately if you have anything to add.”
Finally, we wrapped up tuning in on specific corners or straightaways and moved into individual practice.
Vroom-!!!
Unlike the rational planning, the practice runs occurred instinctively. As the race car rapidly approached the corner before my eyes, all the information I had stored in my head transmitted through my fingertips and toes.
Screech!!!
The brake pads glowed red as they slowed down, soon exuding a white heat.
We had agreed to apply more force in braking to dig deeper inside.
Vroom!
As the heavy steering wheel began to turn with the movement of my expanded shoulder and arm muscles, the front wing cut through the wind and paved the way. The body of the race car slipped in between the split air late. The rear wing lowered the body while resisting the air adequately.
We had planned to quickly release the steering wheel as we approached the end of the turn, then step on the accelerator in stages according to the gear for a strong exit onto a straight line. However, here, it might be better to take a timing for acceleration just a bit faster.
…I recalled the conversations shared with Leclerc, reflected on them, and evolved them as I continued to shape the notion of the perfect lap.
As practice progressed, a steadily rising curve without decline was drawn.
Indeed… the practice just before the main event was the most efficient.
Vroom-!!!
The sound of the engine reaching its performance limit resonated pleasantly in my ears, free of any unnecessary thoughts.
*
*
*
We were sprawled out in the middle of the empty grid in Bahrain. Although we knew it was virtual reality, we gazed at the starry night sky and had a lively conversation.
Naturally, the subject was racing and driving.
“I think it’s best to use the inside of the curb as much as possible. This corner seems to have much better grip there. What do you think?”
“I agree with that. But I’m not sure if I can use it freely because of tire management…”
“That might be true, but as long as we’re careful in the initial part of each stint, we should be alright, right? We can manage in the early to mid-phase and use them more freely in the later part. After all, we’ll have three sets of tires for a two-stop, so as long as we don’t push the car too hard, it should be fine.”
“Exactly. Let’s use them carefully based on the situation…”
Leclerc’s point was that we should maximize the tire usage within our limits before changing to new tires. It’s what a professional should naturally do, but the reason I was contemplating that was the same as his understanding.
The doubt about doing what was expected of us because we were professionals. Change is bound to be there.
However, this time, there was a clear reason not to overuse the tires, even without such grand reasoning.
That was Won-jin’s hybrid suspension.
That technology, which gnaws away at the durability of the tires, posed serious restrictions as much as it had advantages. Running without considering the limitations posed an extreme burden on the driver, making it far from unusual for the tires to burst at any time, which remained as our biggest concern even after several practices.
Moreover, unlike practice runs, the main event was quite literally ‘competition.’
“I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t know what could happen. While there might be instances where the tires wear out faster than we think, the opposite will never be the case.”
The condition of the tires was truly uncertain.
With uncertain tire management just from the practice runs, it wouldn’t be manageable during the main race. There would definitely be wheel-to-wheel situations at the start, and there would be times when we had to push hard in battles for position, overtakes, or defenses.
Wanting to preserve the tires in all those situations could be greed. Sometimes you must give up something to gain anything.
This was like the greed of trying to catch two rabbits running in opposite directions, a hunter’s arrogance that was even more dangerous than greed.
Just as I was about to suggest we be cautious until the very last pit stop.
“True, you’re right. Honestly, looking at the weather, I’m not sure if we’ll even have a chance to use them… but we can do it, right?”
Leclerc suddenly looked at me and asked.
And then
Leclerc answered himself.
“That’s you, Yooihyun.”
“…”
With an expression and voice filled with conviction even more than mine, I couldn’t utter a single word.
Leclerc was sincere. The slight smile on his lips and the attractive gleam in his eyes certified his pure, unblemished intent without a trace of falsehood. The meanings perceived from his expressions were so clear and pure.
“…Thank you for believing in me…”
I managed to blurt just three words. I was grateful for his faith in me, and I felt sorry for not readily reciprocating his sincerity.
And along with that, I felt a tremendous emotional turmoil rising in my heart like a great storm.
If I myself could not believe in me, how could someone else be so confident in my success? It was such an electrifying and touching experience…
I had no choice but to turn my head away. The reflection of my face in his eyes was so blatant that I felt tears would come if I looked any longer.
Perhaps sensing my discomfort, Leclerc shifted his gaze back and began retrieving the stored data.
[Updating season 31, Bahrain International Circuit, qualifying data for Red Bull.]
[1%……]
A clone of Red Bull data-fied from just a few hours prior’s qualifying was materializing on one side of the grid.
Clones of Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Pérez. They would perfectly recreate the fastest lap they achieved during this qualifying here.
Leclerc must have been thinking about how to beat them somehow.
“From now on, let’s race against the clones. You did stage a comeback at the last minute, but it won’t be easy, right?”
The unwavering young driver from Ferrari extended his hand towards me, who was still lying down, urging me to accept the challenge. I smiled and gladly took his hand.
As Leclerc helped me up by putting strength into his arm, he added.
“This time, luck like feeding on Daniel’s last-minute performance won’t work, so you’re going to have quite the struggle.”
“What? Luck? You can’t say that, especially not if it’s coming from you.”
“Shut up. Let’s start quickly.”
Goodness. To think that a person who knew better than anyone how difficult that was would say such things.
It seemed he was determined to provoke me.
[Update complete.]
[The clones are functioning normally. Would you like to start the clone race?]
“Start!”
With my mutter, the clone race began, and we cut through the air of Bahrain alongside the clones.
I wondered how many laps it had been.
“…What’s this?”
At that moment, I received an unexpected friend request.
[Friend request received from ‘Maniel Ricciardo’.]
[Friend request received from ‘Sergio Perez’.]
From the two drivers belonging to Red Bull, no less.