[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 206
The party of F1 officials, marking the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ten teams from 1st to 10th place. This party, where both winners and losers participate, was a celebration of each other’s achievements and a comforting space for failures.
In the grand ballroom of the Grand Continental, the most luxurious hotel in Bahrain, the celebration was taking place in a massive hall that could easily accommodate over a thousand people.
“To celebrate the conclusion of our first season and first Grand Prix safely!”
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!!”
Hundreds of attendees were enjoying the party, drinking wine and champagne. Just moments ago, they were rivals, but for those who find the meaning of life within F1, they are no different from indispensable companions in life.
Because of each other, they can compete, develop, and find objectives. Hence, a competitor is both an opponent and the closest person.
Thus, the party filled with sincere congratulations and worries proceeded in a warm atmosphere.
However, there was one team. Only one team could not share in this joyous spirit.
“…We won, so why does all the attention go to them?”
“It feels unfair. We worked our tails off, but we’re treated as the leftover dish.”
“This is a stolen victory…”
That team is Mercedes Benz.
With Lewis Hamilton, the record holder for most championships in F1, and the unparalleled genius Max Verstappen as their only rival, they were undoubtedly the strongest team.
As befits their reputation, in Season 30, both drivers were in a dominating championship battle, leaving other teams far behind.
In Season 31, during this season’s first Grand Prix, the Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes exhibited outstanding performances.
Lewis Hamilton aiming for his 8th championship finished 1st, while Max Verstappen, vying for his first championship title, took 2nd, allowing Mercedes to monopolize the points. There was no tension or pressure. While questions might arise over who finished 1st, there was no trace of anxiety.
No matter who finished 1st, it would be a driver from Mercedes anyway.
This was not just a thought limited to Mercedes. It wasn’t arrogant or conceited either. Everyone watching F1 accepted Mercedes’ victory as a matter of course.
1st and 2nd places always belonged to Mercedes, and Mercedes had never betrayed their belief. While the protagonist on the top step of the podium might change, the majestic shining star of Mercedes always existed above.
Yet, Mercedes was receiving an uncharacteristic cold shoulder. Initially, the focus of public interest after a Grand Prix should be directed towards the 9 teams besides Mercedes, but today, they felt almost completely alone.
To finish 1st and still be treated like leftovers was naturally infuriating for the Mercedes personnel.
“Even when we overwhelmingly take 1st and 2nd, all we get back is a trophy. To be frank, we completely wiped the floor with them.”
“Look, everyone is gathering over there by Ferrari. The cameras are all over there too.”
“But why is Red Bull over there? Don’t they have any shame?”
The attention that rightfully should have belonged to Mercedes was now directed towards Ferrari, who currently held 3rd place overall and 6th and 7th place in the drivers’ standings.
Not all, but most teams were clustered around Ferrari. Mechanics, engineers, drivers, and directors alike were sitting at Ferrari’s table, mingling with Ferrari personnel.
Even Red Bull, who had suffered a crushing defeat and dramatic reversal against Ferrari today, was seated at their table, smiling broadly. Drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Pérez, having faced painful defeats, seemed to have no pride left as they mingled freely with Mr. Yooihyun and Charles Leclerc.
As if they were in a meeting, they sat close together, exchanging serious conversations.
That scene did not match the party atmosphere. There were clearly winners and losers at this party. Red Bull was the loser, and Ferrari was the winner, yet there was no sign of either in their appearance.
Only the figure of a companion hoping to move forward together was visible.
“It’s not Ferrari’s fault, but… I feel annoyed.”
“I don’t want to say this, but to be honest, it’s frustrating.”
The Mercedes personnel furrowed their brows.
Just as they did on the circuit, the Mercedes team members, who always branded themselves as the protagonists, felt an inexplicable jealousy towards Ferrari.
They knew that Ferrari, having hit rock bottom in recent seasons, had strengthened their foundations by acquiring rookie drivers and extensively re-engineering their race car. They also acknowledged that this attempt was successful, publicly declaring Ferrari’s revival through the Bahrain Grand Prix.
But still, it was Ferrari. While they could not deny the noticeable growth compared to the past few seasons, they remained just that—Ferrari.
Once, Ferrari had an aura that Mercedes could not touch. Like the sun hanging in the sky, the Ferrari of that time existed as the one and only team, glowing with perfect glory.
Ferrari. The weight and stature of that name were akin to something sacred that no other team in F1 could dare shoulder.
However, the past is just the past. What matters is the present. The current Ferrari resembled a team that had lost all its shine in the massive halo of Mercedes. Every team felt like that. When the championship title is not the goal, simply defeating Mercedes becomes the ultimate objective, given the overwhelming stature that Mercedes holds in F1.
So, if that is the case. If all teams should be like that…
In response to the influx of questions directed at Ferrari, their director Minoto replied:
“Ferrari only walks the path of Ferrari. We will continue to do so.”
“The leap of the Bahrain Grand Prix is just the beginning. Our leap will not stop until we reclaim Ferrari’s glory.”
“Good performance? Compared to the past few seasons, it’s more than satisfactory, but… what does performance matter? What’s important is that Ferrari is on the path to reclaim its name.”
Minoto’s belief-filled answer suggested that Mercedes was not even a consideration on the road towards Ferrari’s glory.
At a glance, his words appeared arrogant and utterly foolish, akin to the aspirations of foolish individuals chasing unrealistic dreams.
“…”
“…”
However, the person who spoke those words, that team was Ferrari, causing Mercedes to inadvertently fall silent.
Even if they would be deemed rude for speaking up against the current Mercedes, it was precisely because it was Ferrari!
The jealousy they felt could be transformed into anxiety that shook their hearts.
Yes, that is why Ferrari is Ferrari.
At Minoto’s unwavering and solid voice, the directors of the other teams’ eyes widened in surprise.
“…”
“…!”
“Ferrari walks the path of Ferrari… That’s a thought we’ve never entertained.”
Taken aback, each director gazed blankly at the glasses of wine and champagne they held. As they looked at the liquid sloshing around, releasing a deep fragrance, they began to reflect.
“Why was I only worried about overflowing this glass…?”
“Why didn’t I think about what I could put in this glass, rather than focusing solely on how much…?”
They had been so blinded by the ranking that they hadn’t considered what to fill their team with. The direction of the team was solely focused on rank as they moved toward better positions.
But Ferrari was different.
“The path of Ferrari….”
Their path, not obsessed with rankings. There was romance in it for them. There was significance. It represented the purpose of existence that they should seek as humans.
Upon hearing that, the drivers began to think as well.
“I’ve been holding the steering wheel, but all I’ve really been doing is putting my foot down on the pedal firmly…”
“No one was truly in control of the team’s steering wheel. Everyone was just distracted, trying to go faster…..”
They thought they were steering and skillfully adjusting the direction of their lives and team. However, just one word from Ferrari’s director Minoto made them realize their thoughts were delusions.
Perhaps it wasn’t Ferrari that pursued the unrealistic, but rather themselves.
They believed they were holding the steering wheel. Yet upon reflection, what they were actually holding was an illusion. What they grasped was truly nothing.
“I… What was I holding? What was I racing for…?”
The drivers bowed their heads with deeply sunken gazes.
In the face of the true meaning that penetrates life, their misguided goals and directions easily faded away.
In that moment, they realized.
What had risen through this Grand Prix was not a ranking.
What had risen was the meaning of Ferrari.
“Ferrari is truly rising… No, is the true Ferrari rising?”
That moment was the starting g*n for Ferrari’s revival and the moment when the anxiety of ‘what if’ began to take deep root in their hearts as they looked towards the position occupied by Mercedes.