[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 183

The start was chaotic beyond belief.

In a situation where speed was absent, the threatening roar of engines echoed, and drivers who knew they shouldn’t squeeze in continued to do so, resulting in a melee as they made contact with each other’s tires, engaging in fierce battles right from the beginning.

It seemed everyone was unable to hide their excitement for the first Grand Prix of the 31st season.

“I need to get out of here.”

I had to escape from this chaos.

More precisely, V-1 needed to get out. I couldn’t waste tires that seemed they couldn’t be managed even with utmost care in a situation like this.

I needed to think long-term rather than focus solely on immediate losses.

– Can you do it?

“I have to try.”

There was no time to think about whether I could do it or not on the circuit, and I shouldn’t think about it. There could be no delay between thought and action.

I would try first. Attempt the best-case scenario, and if that didn’t work, I could try a contingency plan.

Since it was the start, there was no opening to get out. I was trapped in the middle with cars in front and behind, as well as on either side.

But if there was no gap, I needed to create one.

“I have to hurry…”

Soon I would be entering a corner, and everyone would slow down, at which point there would really be no way out.

I would get swept up in the flow.

To my left diagonally was Manuel Ricciardo in 7th place, and to my right diagonally was Lando Norris in 5th place.

Both drivers were formidable opponents, close to the pinnacle. They wouldn’t allow me to break through without a fight.

So the timing was crucial. At the moment I saw a glimmer of hope in the tiny space between tires, I had to dive in like a spear.

To do this without sacrificing my tires was impossible. It was unfortunate, but once I entered the corner, wheel-to-wheel was inevitable. If damage was unavoidable, it was better to move towards something that could yield a greater reward.

“Let’s wait.”

I adjusted my speed and surveyed the situation.

The flow moved slowly at almost the same speed. To break the flow, I needed to adjust my pace.

As I approached the first corner, the leading cars began to slow down, creating an overall speed difference—that was the chance I was waiting for.

Grrr! Grrrr!

Finally, the speed at the front started to decrease, and a fragile possibility opened up.

I seized the opportunity and momentarily pressed the accelerator. The tires, having been subjected to excessive force for just a brief moment, began to slip slightly before V-1 shot forward with power.

It was a sudden acceleration.

I turned the steering wheel sharply to the right, then to the left.

Screech! Screech!

I slipped past Ricciardo, removing the rear tire that was hanging on by a thread.

Once I cleared the first hurdle, the second one tested me immediately.

With the sudden acceleration, Norris’ side filled my view in an instant. I quickly raised my speed and turned sharply.

The tires responded almost immediately to the steering wheel, allowing the race car’s nose to pivot with agility.

“I’m going to go outside like this.”

All of this happened in a blink of an eye. If I could quickly get to the track’s edge, I could speed up ahead at the following corner and take the inside line.

I pushed forward without releasing the steering wheel.

Swish!

Due to the overzealous direction change, the left rear tire collided with Ricciardo’s tire.

Fortunately, it was just a glancing blow, no worse than a mere friction. The degradation in tire condition stung, but such sacrifices had to be made.

With a slight wobble and the expansive range of motion, V-1 was the first to occupy the wide outside space.

As my field of vision cleared, I felt a breath of fresh air.

“Phew…”

Though it had only just begun, the excessive concentration caused beads of sweat to form. The mental fatigue from the previous situation shouted out for relief.

But there was no time to rest.

The situation on the circuit rushed forward, and the drivers had to react without a moment’s pause.

– Now!

Without hesitation, I pressed the accelerator to gain speed and dove into the corner.

I passed Norris, who was constrained by the flow of the car in front, and dove my nose in ahead of him.

It was the moment my ranking changed from 6th to 5th.

Norris looked sharply at me from the side, but what could he do? I was the one entering the corner first.

Leaving a frustrated Norris behind, I took the corner smoothly.

The next corner followed the opposite direction of the first corner. I steered back onto the normal trajectory from the line I had previously avoided while chasing the leaders.

Though the third corner that followed was shallow, the first straight of the Bahrain circuit would flow swiftly like a dam bursting open, allowing the previously stagnated flow to rush forward.

I had to make use of that speed. I needed to stay as close as possible to reduce tire wear and cling on until I could use the slipstream.

Mercedes Benz and Renyo. Compared to the race cars of the top teams that occupied the 1st to 4th positions, Ferrari’s V-1 was at least a class lower in performance.

To be honest, there was virtually no way for me to catch up to them. Still, the reason I had to keep up with them was to shake off Norris, who was behind me.

In short, it was a desperate struggle for ranking defense.

Being aware of the menacingly approaching Norris, I raised the RPM of V-1 and activated DRS.

【 DRS ON 】 / 【 LOW 】

The flattening rear wing released the downforce that was pressing down on the chassis, increasing speed, and the low rake hybrid suspension seemed to give V-1 wings as it lifted the chassis lightly.

It felt like the weight was disappearing. The freedom to almost take off simultaneously shifted the grip of the chassis, making it wobble slightly.

I firmly gripped the vibrating steering wheel with both hands, anchoring my arms.

Soon, the vibrations settled, and V-1 began to cruise.

“Whew…”

Having pulled out all the stops to aid acceleration, I fixed my gaze on the tail of the race car ahead of me.

“Valtteri Bottas…”

It was Renyo’s Valtteri Bottas, who achieved 2nd place in the team standings and 4th place in individual performance during last season.

An experienced driver who had previously worked as champion Hamilton’s wingman in my world.

As long as there were no issues with the race car, my chances of overtaking him were slim.

Bottas wasn’t the type to make a catastrophic mistake, and fundamentally, the disparity in race car classes was too significant.

I let go of my ambitions and passed through corners two and three.

– The tire condition is alright. It’s just slightly worn on the sides, so there’s no need to worry too much about it.

Before entering the straight, Enrique spoke.

That meant to run with ease.

With the vast straight ahead of me, I squeezed out the restrained engine.

Vroooom!!

With a sound that resembled an explosion, V-1 shot toward a single point.

Speed increased, then increased, and increased.

Breaking through 300km/h, then 310km/h, 320km/h, 330km/h…

“Whew…!”

My vision blurred, and finally, the background disappeared.

It felt like time had stopped as only the taillights of Bottas, just ahead, shone with a consistent interval.

“Ah…”

The feeling of being launched toward a single point, my sight and existence swiftly fading away.

This sensation, as if everything except me had vanished, was indescribably euphoric.

Soon, the growing emotion subsided with the decreasing speed and RPM.

I was approaching the fourth corner.

Screech!!

With the sound of the brake heating up, the same series of actions repeated.

Turning off DRS, adjusting the settings to high rake, reducing speed, and turning the steering wheel. Staying alert in front and behind, defending my line while pouring all my focus into it.

The straight was simple. I just needed to attain the maximum speed I could.

Corner, straight, corner, corner, corner, straight, corner, straight…

For about a minute, I perceived and reacted, oscillating between crises and opportunities, attacking and defending, all of it.

A brief yet long, simple yet profound minute passed.

Name / Time / Laps / Team

⑤ Yihyun Yoo 1:03:091 +5.120 2/57 – Ferrari

Finally, one lap was completed.

Out of 57 laps, just a single lap had gone through this arduous process.

I would need to repeat this grueling process 56 more times before the race would finally end.

It was a relentless struggle with no end in sight.

Breaking through the sound of the air piercing at 300km/h, Enrique’s voice came through.

– The first lap was perfect. You defended your position well.

“It won’t last long.”

– So, there’s no need to push too hard. It’s strange to say this as an engineer, but… you’ll get caught up eventually anyway.

Right. I would be caught up by that infuriating rookie Norris.

However, sometimes you have to push through to the end, even if you know the outcome.

“Still, I’ll keep going. To the end.”

The race was just beginning.

Grrr!!!

Even the V-1, a mere machine, was fiercely resisting its fate.