[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 4
“Everyone, move to the pit! Get ready to wait on the grid once everything is set.”
We moved toward the pit where the race cars would be, following the teacher’s instructions.
This must be the time to prepare our strategies before the actual start.
While the identity of For One is fair results through fair competition with identical performance and vehicles, I wondered how enjoyable it would be if that were all there was to it.
Considering the weather and my grid position, I thought about which tires to start with and when to pit in. Would the pit stop be a one-stop strategy or a two-stop strategy?
F1 isn’t just a sport where you drive fast; it’s a strategic motorsport where you must calculate numerous variables and control them as you wish.
“Let’s go eat something delicious after today’s class. It’s been a while, time for a change!”
Just before entering the pit that had my name on it, Jihyun Lee suggested going outside for my sake, knowing I was feeling down.
Though I was Mr. Yooihyun, and it didn’t matter whether we went outside or not, I appreciated Jihyun’s consideration and nodded.
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
I wanted to call her by her name, but I still felt a distance calling her Ji-hyun, and addressing her as Ms. Ji-hyun seemed awkward, so I settled for this.
As I entered the pit, a red race car was waiting for me.
I couldn’t help but admire the sleek rear wing as I ran my hand over it.
“It’s really well designed.”
I had seen the design of the 31-year-old F1 race car in the lounge earlier, and it was indeed very graceful.
It’s the pinnacle of aerodynamic design.
Like a shark swiftly swimming through water or an eagle soaring through the sky, the race car before me looked as if it was born to sprint across the ground.
I touched various parts and physically felt the reasons behind its design. Riding a machine without understanding it versus riding with a perfect understanding makes a significant difference in sensory perception.
If you understand the machine well, you can push its limitations, strengths, and weaknesses efficiently while maximizing its performance.
Knowing the race car as well as your own body is essential.
Just as I was feeling the race car, I touched the tires.
[You can change the tires. There are three tires set for this race.]
C5 – SS (Super Soft)
C4 – S (Soft)
C3 – M (Medium)
As expected. When they said you could set the weather and temperature, I anticipated that I could change the tires according to my preference.
“How many laps is this race?”
[The number of laps set for this race at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France is 20 laps.]
F1 races about 300 km per race, the length of the Paul Ricard Circuit is 5.842 km, and the originally required number of laps is 53 laps for a total of 309.626 km.
“With 20 laps, I shouldn’t need a pit stop.”
The French circuit is known for a one-stop strategy, and with 20 laps, that’s less than half of the original lap requirement.
No need for a pit stop.
So the tires are decided then.
“Change the tires to C5, Super Soft.”
[Changing tires from the currently set C3 to C5.]
I only needed to run for 20 laps, and the temperature wasn’t too hot, so I opted for the C5 Super Soft tires.
The harder the tires, the higher the durability, but they transmit the engine’s acceleration and the brake’s stopping power to the ground less effectively, making them slower. Softer tires are the opposite.
You may have seen how the tires bulge and feel like they’re going to burst when the race car starts.
As the temperature rises, the tires become softer and adhere better to the road.
Increased grip means that the overall performance of the race car improves, and for the driver, it means they can trust the car and drive faster.
Of course, the durability is lower, making tire management skill crucial for the driver.
If the tires wear out too quickly before completing a lap, you’ll have to pit stop and suffer a loss of about 30 seconds.
For someone like me, a genius, it would be better not to think about doing 20 laps on Super Softs.
With the sound of the electric driver, the tires were replaced in an instant.
The side green line symbolizing the C3 tire changed to the red line of my race car.
“Matching everything is the best.”
I had to check many settings one by one, but since there wasn’t a significant difference from the F1 car I had driven in 2021, I could easily adapt.
I also switched the steering wheel back to the design I used and rearranged the buttons.
I calmed my racing heart and entered the cockpit of the race car that was set up.
The custom seat wrapped around my body, the brake and accelerator were at a comfortably spacious distance from my toes, and the steering wheel fit perfectly in my hands.
“d*mn, this is it. I should have driven it as Jin Hyun-woo…”
To be driving a car that should have been raced among the world’s best in the F1 Grand Prix among kids.
No matter how I think about it, my d*ath felt unfair, but I should be thankful that I got to drive again.
Thinking positively, maybe I died off well.
F1 on this Earth is comparably much larger and more popular than it was on my original Earth, so my competitors should be of a higher caliber, and the feeling of achievement when winning should be even greater.
[Please put on the fireproof suit and helmet.]
Fireproof suits and helmets were neatly lined up in front of me.
They said they added realism, but seeing them take care of safety, which isn’t even needed in virtual reality, made me wonder if I should call it inflexible or commend it for being realistic.
“Both the fireproof suit and helmet in red.”
The fireproof suit automatically put itself on, and the helmet was held in my hand.
When I stood in front of the mirror to check my appearance, my mouth fell open.
I knew from the first day of being in Lee Hyun’s body that looking good in a fireproof suit means you must be quite beautiful.
From her face to her figure, it was so perfect that you’d believe it if they said God had crafted her.
Even I couldn’t take my eyes off the reflection of Ms. Lee Hyun in the mirror.
If others saw, it would be called narcissism, but if you had a face and figure like that, falling in love with yourself would be understandable.
After finishing my admiration, I put on the helmet and entered the cockpit.
[Would you like to finish the settings?]
“Yes. I’m ready.”
[Going to the race waiting room, heading to the grid. Your grid position is 20th.]
Vroom!!!
The engine roared like the race car was ready to run, and we were soon teleported to the grid.
*
*
*
Bam!
As I positioned myself on the grid, I could see my classmates’ race cars.
“So, this is what it feels like from the back of the grid.”
I might sound unlucky, but I had always been in the top positions on the grid, so being at the back, especially 20th, was a first for me.
“I can’t see what’s in front… especially that b*stard Song Dan-g*n.”
Since Song Dan-g*n was leading with a time of 2:03:321, he’d be right up there.
I needed to at least check the color of his vehicle to focus on blocking him…
As I was licking my lips, various pieces of information began to pop up in my vision.
To my left was a real-time ranking chart with names, vehicle colors, and numbers. To my right was a mini-map of the Paul Ricard Circuit showing the current positions of the drivers.
“Song Dan-g*n. Black. Number 1. Confirmed.”
Quickly checking Song Dan-g*n’s information, I etched the black color and the number 1 into my mind.
I would not only quickly take his lap time but also focus on blocking that b*stard’s vehicle to trouble him.
I would play with him thoroughly.
Jihyun: “Do your best, fighting!”
Yooihyun: “You too, good luck.”
Jihyun’s car, positioned second on the grid, was pink, number 2.
I need to remember that.
The leader: “It will start right after the formation lap.”
The students followed the leader, who would likely be our teacher, zig-zagging behind the safety car.
Brakes and tires need to reach an adequate temperature to perform at their best, so the formation lap is necessary for warming up.
Grrr! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sounds of the engine and tires brushing the surface. The feel of the steering wheel and the responses of the brake and accelerator.
Everything is perfect.
“This is s*x.”
After the formation lap ended, the race cars took their positions on the grid.
One.
🔴 ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
The starting signal began to rise.
Two.
🔴 🔴 ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
Three.
🔴 🔴 🔴 ⚫ ⚫
Four.
🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 ⚫
Five.
🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴
The always suffocating tension swelled.
⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
Boom!
Grrr!!!
Wow!!!
As the red lights turned off, the race cars began to dash forth.
*
*
*
Song Dan-g*n: “Hey, does he really have no brain? What was he thinking coming out on SS?”
Jin-sol Yang: “Does it make sense for him to use SS with his skills? Is he planning to pit stop during the 20 laps? Yooihyun definitely cheated on the theory exam.”
Young-hwan Joo: “It’s tough to manage tires even with S. What’s the point of teaching if they don’t use it? The teacher’s gonna blow his top.”
Soobin Kang: “I guess he’s confident. Just focus on your own races.”
The 2nd year A class students of the Formula 1 Seoul Branch Academy were chatting away in a group, throwing insults at Yooihyun.
They had chosen tire strategies using S or M to avoid pit stops during the 20 laps, and it felt ridiculous that Yooihyun, whose skills were far below theirs, had chosen SS.
Song Dan-g*n: “I’m gonna set a new record and mark Yooihyun, so remember that.”
Young-hwan Joo: “You really are a menace, Dan-g*n.”
Jin-sol Yang: “Haha! Don’t make it too obvious. You’ll get called out by the teacher again.”
Soobin Kang: “….”
After the formation lap ended, they stood on the grid, unaware until the start signal dropped.
They didn’t know that the Yooihyun they were cursing was not who they thought.
From behind them, Jin Hyun-woo, the three-time consecutive F1 champion, began to unfurl the massive wings that had been hidden within Yooihyun’s body.