[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 172
“Just like Red Bull has two drivers, Ferrari has two drivers as well.”
What I meant was clear.
I would willingly sacrifice myself for them. Leclerc, you are to take their bones based on my sacrifice.
If the two from Red Bull take something from me, Leclerc will take something from them.
I did not accept their proposal thoughtlessly. And this was a plan that could only bring greater benefits.
While they only need to surpass me, Leclerc can absorb the advantages of two and assess the disadvantages to leap even further than them.
Above all, I was confident that no matter what they took from me, I would not lose. I would not allow them to take my “unique something” in the first place.
Well… it wouldn’t be easy for them to take it anyway.
“You…!”
“Wait, don’t look at me with such teary eyes. I’m doing this all for the team.”
Though I said that, it wasn’t that I excluded Leclerc from my considerations concerning his slump. Racing is a world where even teammates can become competitors, but after all, Leclerc is my only teammate.
Moreover, while F1 may seem like an individual sport, it is hard to say it is completely so. In teams divided into first and second drivers, the second often assists the first, and in teams without a clear distinction between first and second, the driver in better condition on any given day takes the lead and gets help from their teammate.
Typically, the second driver marks the biggest threat to the first driver, and those who have experienced being marked know how frustrating it is.
In F1, where overtaking is difficult, attempting to defend rather than attack can be infuriating.
So, if Leclerc grows, it’s not just good for him. It’s also beneficial for me, as I could receive help at any time.
Looking at it this way, I feel sorry for treating Leclerc too much like my wingman, but…
It’s unavoidable. The reality is cold, and currently, it is true that I am in better form.
If the day comes when Leclerc’s form is better than mine, the situation will change completely. At that time, I too will humbly accept that fact, so Leclerc, don’t feel too wronged.
However, contrary to my concerns, Leclerc, looking moved, hugged me tightly and said.
“Thank you. I was just wondering about the limits of practicing with Clon…”
Thinking he found a breakthrough, Leclerc looked elated.
Having not abandoned the sinking ship that is Ferrari, he must have been continuously looking up at the sky even in that deep abyss, making this opportunity feel even sweeter.
Perhaps his reaction should be considered normal. I feel the same way; for him too, it wasn’t the time to be picky about warm or cold rice. Furthermore, if it weren’t for me, practicing with the Blue Bull Duo would not even have been arranged.
They wouldn’t practice with Leclerc if they weren’t fools.
I slowly pushed away Leclerc’s arms wrapping around me and said.
“First, let go of this… I have to go make the room I promised. I’ll send you an invite soon, so just wait a moment.”
“Okay. I’ll wait!”
Soon, a room was created under conditions set like those of the Bahrain Grand Prix to take place tomorrow, and the duo from Red Bull began to enter.
“I thought I was going to d*e waiting. Nice to see you!”
“Nice to meet you, senior.”
“Yeah. Now you’re really my junior. Please take care of me!”
“No, I should be the one to take care of you.”
Maniel Ricciardo, who entered first, greeted us with his signature broad smile, revealing his teeth.
“Wow… I know this is a bit forward for a first meeting, but… you really have a face that’s too good to be covered by a helmet.”
“Thank you. I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“It’s amazing how your talent isn’t hidden behind your looks. No, your talent is really something else.”
“That’s too much praise. I’m not that great, regardless of how you look at it.”
Sergio Perez, facing me, sincerely complimented me with an expression of genuine admiration.
After a simple greeting, we spent a little more time chatting. It wasn’t a waste of time. I was a rookie just debuting, and if Ricciardo and Perez had no intention of retiring, they were faces I would see for at least a few more years.
So, it wouldn’t hurt to break the ice in this instance. After all, F1 also runs on relationships between people.
Although the likelihood that Ferrari and Red Bull would exchange contracts is nearly nonexistent, in F1, where team transfers happen often every season, yesterday’s teammate could become tomorrow’s rival, and vice versa.
That means one of these days, Ricciardo or Perez, who came looking to devour me, could end up being my teammate.
Even beyond that calculated relationship, both of them were nice individuals whom I wouldn’t have any reason to distance myself from.
Right now, their sly actions are merely at a level that is naturally acceptable for participants in a competition.
After chatting a bit, I spoke to them before we started practicing.
“Let me invite one more person before we begin practice.”
Ricciardo and Perez tilted their heads, looking puzzled.
“Who? Is someone else coming?”
“Well, it seems everyone who should be here is already here…”
Sneaky humans…
There was no way they didn’t know whom I was planning to invite, and seeing them pretend not to know while two of them were already here made it hard for me to hold back.
You have to be a bit more reasonable when looking down on others.
“Come on, you know who it is… I’m bringing someone with Ferrari’s name, do you really think I would come alone?”
“No, I—”
“Then let me invite them.”
Cutting Ricciardo off, I promptly invited Leclerc. Soon, Leclerc’s new model began to materialize on the grid where we were standing.
“How’s everyone doing? You weren’t planning on doing it without me, were you?”
“Haha, absolutely not.”
“Leclerc! How could we do it without you?”
Seeing the three sly ones calmly trying to keep an eye on each other was quite amusing.
It seemed I wasn’t on their radar at all…
“Since everyone is here, let’s start quickly. I don’t like complicated stuff, so we’ll go with the basic rules of ranking matches.”
I’ll make sure they feel how much of a big mistake that is.
*
*
*
[Randomly selecting grid order…]
[Grid selection completed.]
[Grid 1 – ‘Maniel Ricciardo’]
[Grid 2 – ‘Charles Leclerc’]
[Grid 3 – ‘Sergio Perez’]
[Grid 4 – ‘KING’]
Sitting in the race car and waiting on the pit, we entered the circuit according to the grid order. When it was my turn to glance at the grid, I saw three drivers in race cars of the same shape but different colors.
Maniel Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez. In terms of teams, it was somewhat balanced, with Red Bull and Ferrari evenly matched.
By the way, why am I in last place… I truly have no luck.
While waiting for the signal to start, I muttered to myself, and perhaps Leclerc caught it through the voice.
– What did you say?
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just thought it would be fun.”
– Ah…
After a brief silence, Leclerc spoke again.
– It wouldn’t be fun if we lose. I hope it’s entertaining until the end.
“I agree with that.”
Yeah. No matter how much it’s practice or a friendly match, it isn’t fun to lose. Especially for someone like us, who is blinded by the competitive spirit and dedicated our lives to racing, we absolutely cannot accept defeat.
Perhaps the duo from Red Bull feels similarly about the practice.
It would essentially be a practice that isn’t actually just practice.
Aside from the grid, everything is set under the same conditions, limiting the total number of laps to 20.
In other words, it’s a pure test of the drivers’ abilities with no variables allowed.
Therefore, practice disguised as indirect cooperation turned into a battle of pride between Ferrari and Red Bull.
Perhaps all four of us here are aware of that fact.
Even though the engine noise filled the air, the night in Bahrain felt even more silent.
In that silence, the red signal began to illuminate the bodies.
Maniel Ricciardo (Overall): Let’s have a gentleman’s game.
I could hear Ricciardo’s voice filled with energy as he suggested having a gentleman’s game.
As I contemplated his voice, I placed my foot on the accelerator, ready to jump out at the signal.
“I’ll be courteous… and leave you in the dust.”
As long as I’m with them, Ferrari won’t lose.