[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 53
“I am the F1 champion.”
Before a multitude of viewers, KING spoke with a serious voice about his ultimate goal: to become a champion.
The journalists were quickly trying to discern whether KING’s statement was serious or a joke amidst the sudden silence.
It was too distant and perilous to be considered a serious ambition.
While he might somehow debut in F1, it was uncertain if he could become a driver for a strong team with a winning car.
Setting aside issues external to the driver, such as the team and race car.
Lewis Hamilton, who is attempting to break the great record of becoming an eight-time champion after already being a seven-time champion.
Though he has not yet achieved the title of World Champion, Max Verstappen has been growing and posed a genuine threat to Hamilton by just 10 points last year.
These two drivers, one an ongoing legend and the other a new legend, were showcasing extraordinary skills, to the extent that they are said to have opened a new era in F1.
But that’s not all.
The profession of an F1 driver is allowed to only 20 individuals worldwide.
It was unimaginable for KING, who was just starting to gain fame in a competition where the true elite battle, to even think of becoming a champion or scoring points.
However, KING wasn’t showing any signs of joking around.
His ambition to become a champion was genuine.
The journalist who had asked the question posed it again in an effort to turn his self-assurance into fact.
“Do you really mean you want to become a champion?”
Just as KING was about to respond,
All the lights in the venue dimmed except for the spotlight shining on the trophy in the center.
“From now on, there will be a selection of the circuit where the 16 drivers will compete in the race for victory.”
A low and deep voice resonated, as if coming from within a cave.
Holographic images of 16 rectangles depicting the circuit slowly emerged in the air, rotating in a levitated state.
“The draw for the circuit that will be the battlefield of the Round of 16 is about to begin!”
The 16 circuits that were rotating in the air began to spin rapidly in a clockwise manner around a thick rectangular box.
[Mexico City Circuit]
[Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit]
[Belgium Spa-Francorchamps Circuit]
[USA Circuit of the Americas]
:
:
The square maps, which had been spinning at a dizzying speed, began to slow down.
From 10 times a second, it changed to 8 times, then 5, 3, 1…
And finally, it stopped at 0.
[Belgium Spa-Francorchamps Circuit]
“The Belgium Spa-Francorchamps Circuit will be the stage for the Round of 16.”
The selection of the battlefield for the intense Round of 16 had concluded.
*
*
*
“Spa Circuit, huh…”
The Belgium Spa-Francorchamps Circuit.
Boasting the longest length of 7.004 km among circuits, it is a very historic and traditional circuit.
With its length, the Spa Circuit only runs the shortest 44 laps and is known for its high average speed, featuring a variety of corners that make it very popular.
In particular, the steep uphill Eau Rouge-Raidillon slalom that comes after passing Turn 1, La Source,
Is the most famous corner at Spa, providing an outstanding thrill to view the race from that position.
However, drivers passing through this corner must endure a maximum gravitational acceleration of 6G, akin to a vertical climb of 12 floors.
“It’s going to be extremely tough…”
All in all, Spa is a challenging circuit, but its difficulty adds to its value.
There are plenty of overtaking points, clear full acceleration points, and the notoriously unpredictable weather, which means race participants must always prepare diligently, making it an exciting circuit.
I, who enjoy responding in real-time to numerous variables, also liked the Spa Circuit.
“In 10 minutes, the Round of 16 race will begin. Competitors, please enter and finish preparing for the race.”
[User kiwitch invited you to ‘KiwiChi Championship Round of 16, KING VS Maniel Ricciardo’ room. YES / NO]
“Yes.”
Now it was time to greet a former ally with whom I had shared countless races on the circuit.
“Ah, why is the weather like this again?”
Once I entered the pit, I couldn’t help but exclaim.
Circuit: Spa-Francorchamps
Weather: Overcast, Light Rain
“Why does it always rain…?”
Of course, I don’t mind the rain.
When it rains, the situation on the entire circuit changes, so strategies must be altered, and driving techniques must be adapted accordingly, which is fun.
There is a unique thrill in smashing through the raindrops as I move forward…
But this time, I really hoped it wouldn’t rain.
I was expecting extreme racing with Ricciardo, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, pushing the limits of our race cars, but if it rains, I would inevitably need to slow down.
“Change to wet tires.”
[Switching tires to wet tires.]
I reluctantly switched to wet tires.
It was only lightly raining, so I could have opted for the intermediate tires, but the risk was too high.
Even though it was drizzling, the circuit’s length makes predicting the track conditions per lap quite difficult, and with only two drivers, the limits of the race car’s drainage capacity and rounds made the situation hard to expect.
Even if I slightly lost grip, I couldn’t lose control.
One Man Show: Good tire choice. Maniel is also starting on wet tires.
KING: There’s no choice but to go with wet tires. By the way, I wish it hadn’t rained.
One Man Show: Maniel is in the same boat. He was all excited to race against you, but now the rain has him a bit down.
The optimistic Maniel is looking forward to racing with me.
Should I say he’s kind, or should I say he’s positive?
Either way, he is undoubtedly a driver with a good personality.
[Another rain condition, teacher^^7]
[Baku! Baku! Baku! Baku!]
[Will we see it today? Wa-ta drift?]
[It always rains on the Lonely King’s domain.]
[Need to concentrate a lot while going through Eau Rouge.]
[Still, it’s easier to overtake and run than in Baku.]
[KING and the honey badger’s rain-soaked Spa Circuit matchup? I can’t resist this for sure, haha.]
《User Angae Na Aga Porini donated 300,000 won!》
– Angae Na Aga Porini. Win for me.
Having finished setting up, the chatroom lit up with discussions about the race against Yao-ming in Baku City.
Even I think it was quite an impressive race, being my first broadcast and the dramatic nature of my rivalry with Yao-ming.
The circuit was pouring rain as if a water park had opened, making it quite a memorable race for many reasons.
“Thank you, Agaporini! Winning is something I would do even without asking.”
I responded to the visible chat while slipping on my suit and mounting the race car.
The feeling of the seat hugging my body perfectly is always refreshing.
Just getting in makes my heart race, and I feel an overwhelming sense of omnipotence as if I could accomplish anything.
It’s like I become one with the race car, merging together, perhaps?
That moment when the race car, made solely for me, meets the me, made for the race car.
Tires, rear wing, front wing, steering wheel, pedals, diffuser…
A jolt of electrifying current flows through all the components that make up the chassis and my body, syncing in an instant.
This sensation, this feeling!
This omnipotence.
“Race preparation complete.”
[Entering the race waiting room, heading to the grid. KING’s grid is the first on the right.]
Clack!
Once the visor closed, my world truly began.
*
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*
“Max Verstappen! He approaches Eau Rouge very aggressively even in these track conditions!”
“The line was absolutely perfect. He hasn’t reduced his exit speed, completely blasting through the Kemmel Straight!”
“Bottas is doing well, but it’s still not enough. Following closely, the spray makes visibility difficult, and the airflow is extremely unstable.”
The race between Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas was flowing as a one-sided lead for Max.
Max’s aggressive and fierce driving style was unmasked even at the rain-soaked Spa Circuit.
Despite holding the lead, he wasn’t playing it safe.
Faster than before.
Faster than now.
Even faster in the future!
He was aggressively lowering lap times like a person possessed by speed.
“Unless the weather clears up, it looks tough for Bottas to overtake.”
“That’s right. Bottas has the enormous burden of having to follow Max’s gambling moves exactly to succeed in overtaking.”
“But anything can happen on the circuit. Let’s keep watching till the end.”
The commentators were analyzing the race with an optimistic outlook for Bottas, but the outcome was essentially decided.
For Bottas to keep up with Max’s driving was impossible; the harsh conditions made it extremely difficult for him.
Whether he attempted to overtake directly or pitted early to take advantage of new tires and create clean air for an undercut, the presence of rain forced him to use wet tires, meaning it was also a loss to pit in early.
For Bottas, there was nothing to be done but hope for a mistake from Max.
Chwaaaak!!!
The Mercedes Benz race car, the Silver Arrow, carved through the circuit, splashing water everywhere.
Despite the intense racing situation, Max’s mind was completely elsewhere.
“KING… who exactly is he?”
His thoughts were solely consumed by KING.
KING, who appeared in the F1 scene like a comet, was on an entirely different level from the drivers who had previously attracted the attention as promising talents.
With seamless and precise steering wheel and pedal control.
An extraordinary sense that always brings out the limits of the tires, regardless of the situation.
Superior adaptability to changing conditions and excellent improvisation.
Listing his advantages would be endless; he was a driver with balanced abilities across all metrics.
“KING is truly an amazing driver, Max.”
The words of Lewis Hamilton, his teammate and senior, weren’t shocking.
“Looks like Hamilton recognized him too,” Max nodded.
From what he heard, it seemed that not only Mercedes but all teams in F1 were eyeing the recruitment of KING.
Even Max, who was considered a serious contender for the next season’s championship, couldn’t help but be interested in him.
Now that he had begun to gain the upper hand in the competition against Hamilton, the emergence of a talent of a different caliber was hardly a welcome sight.
“I wonder what it feels like to race against a driver even Hamilton acknowledges…”
Rather than feeling jealous or envious, Max was burning with competitive spirit regarding KING’s skills and his own.
If KING is an impeccable, intelligent champion,
Max sees himself as a fearless bull, charging forth for victory without a care for the consequences.
“I want to meet him in the finals soon. No, it would be even better if we met in F1.”
An intriguing battle where no one can predict who will fall was unfolding magnificently in Max’s mind.