[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 176

As the fireworks burst, my senses were jolted by a sudden influx of messages, and I instinctively looked back at the ranking board.

The first and last time I saw the ranking board was truly a revolution.

Name / Time / Laps

① KING 1:04:833 19/20

② Maniel Ricciardo 1:05:089 +0.256 19/20

③ Charles Leclerc 1:05:302 +0.469 19/20

④ Sergio Perez 1:05:442 +0.609 19/20

‘Have I succeeded…?’

I had come thinking I should just focus on my own progress rather than overtaking, yet all those who had started ahead of me were behind me.

I couldn’t believe that I had managed to break through a situation where the answer was not visible. Up front, Ricciardo was openly defending, and Perez in front of me was desperately blocking my way to protect Ricciardo’s first place, fulfilling his role as a wingman.

So, in this situation, there was no way to solve it with just 20 laps.

Yet I had overcome that situation. I’m not sure if I should say it was solely my ability or if it was due to external factors like mistakes from the Blue Bull Duo…

Anyway, I succeeded in the comeback, so it’s safe to say my efforts weren’t in vain.

Grumble! Grumble!

As I received the checker flag and finished the race, I slowed down and came to a stop on the grid. Since it was practice, there was no need to be greedy about records.

Leaving the cockpit and throwing off my helmet, I wiped away the sweat and reminisced about the past laps.

‘It wasn’t easy. It’s one thing to cut the strings of awareness, but it’s another to maintain that state.’

I had succeeded for a few laps, but it was indeed difficult not to be conscious. If I told myself not to think, the thought of “don’t think” would circle around in my head, just like not being conscious was no different.

As I endlessly repeated the commitment to not be conscious in my mind, it soon became an obsession that dominated my entire thought process. The very phrase of not being conscious turned into a contradiction where it became conscious.

It felt like something I could use, but couldn’t maintain for long—a feeling akin to a special move that could only be used once.

Thinking about that, I realized I had gained a significant burden: reaching a level where I could use the special move like a regular attack.

Of course, that was something I couldn’t even begin to consider at the moment.

However, this burden felt rather joyful. I had been worrying a lot lately, feeling like my growth had stagnated, and it felt like the blocked path had finally opened up.

Surely, after overcoming this, a moment of stagnation would return, but for now, I was satisfied just to have a path to walk.

I clenched my fist, igniting my fighting spirit.

After all, people need a burden on their shoulders.

“Mr. Yooihyun!”

At that moment, for reasons unknown, Ricciardo approached me with an apologetic expression.

“You did well.”

“You too, you did great! But…”

“…What is it?”

There was something tense in the air as his words trailed off.

As expected.

“Actually… I had the broadcast running until just a moment ago.”

“Broadcast? What… are you talking about Kiwich?”

“Yeah, from start to finish. Oh! I obviously turned it off now. I thought it would be more fun that way. I’m sorry for not mentioning it earlier.”

“…”

In the brief silence, I recalled the things I had said earlier.

I wondered if I had made any mistakes, but since the conversation was so short, nothing bothered me.

Some provocation I had intended hit me instead…

Those words were exchanged between us and, aside from being a bit embarrassing, none were problematic.

Above all, I didn’t feel particularly bad. While it was frustrating that he had deceived me, I understood Ricciardo’s feelings as a veteran who knew how precious fans were and how much he cared for them.

Still, Ricciardo’s unilateral actions were annoying, so I hardened my expression and spoke in a lowered voice.

“Did I… say something wrong?”

“No, no. Not at all.”

“Is that so?”

“…Are you angry?”

Seeing my cold response, Ricciardo, of course, as well as Perez and Leclerc, who were victims too, visibly swallowed hard.

Normally, I would have tormented him further, but with two unrelated people present, I immediately relaxed my expression and smiled brightly.

“What a shame that there was nothing. It would have been more fun to have something to broadcast, right?”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. In a way, being a driver is a profession that also involves presenting your face, so how could I get angry over something like that? I’m not that narrow-minded.”

“Whew, that’s a relief.”

As I laughed innocently, Ricciardo finally began to laugh as well.

Yet, it felt a bit disappointing to end it like this…

“By the way, you said you turned off the broadcast, right?”

“I turned it off when I crossed the finish line earlier, why?”

“In that case, let’s have a real race.”

“A real race?”

Perez looked at me as if to say, “A real race? Are you saying everything we’ve done so far has been fake?”

With nothing to hide, I spoke immediately.

“Blue Bull will race with the Blue Bull race car, and Ferrari with the Ferrari race car. Again, it’ll be 20 laps, except this time, two people will take turns in one race car for 5 laps each.”

What I meant by ‘real race’ was not the race car provided in For One, but races using each team’s race cars.

It felt a bit uneasy to pull in sensitive data from each team, which was confidential in the same room, but that could be handled by turning on the data sharing deactivation. The moment the race ended, the data could be erased, erasing any potential worries.

Besides that, this ‘real race’ had a different significance from the earlier practice race.

If this race were to happen, it would be not just simple practice; it would allow us to preview the processes and results that would occur in the main event.

That was something that wouldn’t be easy for either Leclerc and me or Ricciardo and Perez.

Perhaps it was a situation where the momentum of each team and each driver could diverge here.

“Hmmm…”

“Well….”

The once light atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

It was likely a complex thought process.

While I had ahead in qualifying, considering the recent standings of the two teams in F1, Blue Bull clearly had the upper hand, while Ferrari was at a disadvantage. It was not just a simple disadvantage but an objectively significant one.

So, for Blue Bull, losing was equivalent to a total loss, while for Ferrari, winning would mean more than just breaking even, and even in losing, there was nothing to lose.

Facing Blue Bull in an official competition was unavoidable, but in private, it was a practice game that should never happen.

An expected proposal that should be rejected for whatever reason.

Yet,

“Don’t tell me you’re backing out now? That would be a bit disappointing…”

They could never refuse.

I was about to provoke the driver’s pride that transcends any reason.

“They say it’s better to be the first to get hit… if you’re not confident, you don’t have to do it. Whether you get hit now or later, the main event is today anyway.”

“…!”

“You…”

This time, unlike before, with a genuinely charged provocation, Ricciardo and Perez’s eyes sharpened. Even Leclerc, who was on my side, widened his eyes at my somewhat aggressive remark, staring at me.

Soon, Ricciardo and Perez took the bait.

“Alright. Let’s give it a go.”

“Why not, let’s do it once. But let’s make it transparent and set the host settings for everyone.”

“Of course. That’s how it should be.”

[‘Maniel Ricciardo’ has been granted host authority.]

[‘Sergio Perez’ has been granted host authority.]

[‘Charles Leclerc’ has been granted host authority.]

Yes. The game has already begun. There’s no retreat, only moving forward or falling behind.

Before more time passed, I spoke first.

“We’ll go first.”

[Loading race car data ‘Farrari V-1’. Data sharing deactivation and automatic deletion system applied.]

[1%…….]

“Let’s do it too.”

[Loading race car data ‘Blue Bull B-10’. Data sharing deactivation and automatic deletion system applied.]

[1%…….]

As the loading percentage slowly increased, the race car data took shape on the grid, forming from the part particle unit.

Red and blue. The race cars of Ferrari and Blue Bull were gradually revealing themselves.

“……”

“…”

[Synchronization of race car data ‘Farrari V-1’ is complete.]

[Synchronization of race car data ‘Blue Bull B-10’ is complete.]

After a long silence, the race cars finally revealed their complete forms.

The weight of the seriousness distinctly pressed down on us.

In a serious atmosphere, Perez was the first to speak.

“I’ll go out first for Blue Bull. What about Ferrari?”

“I’ll go out first for Ferrari. Let’s start right away.”

“Let’s get ready.”

As the conversation finished, climbing into the V-1 felt incredibly comfortable.

And yet, it felt uncomfortable.

‘You can do it, Mr. Yooihyun.’

As I held the steering wheel, overcoming a massive burden, I heard Leclerc’s solid yet infinitely warm voice.

-Show me, Mr. Yooihyun.

I chuckled and responded to him.

“I’ll show you, so keep your eyes wide open and watch closely.”

It was time to give Leclerc his assignment.