[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 54
Shukaaaaaak!!
Yooihyun met Maniel again on the circuit.
Her mindset was more about the rival driver who persistently followed at a proper distance than about tuning the racing line and designing the perfect cornering.
It was Maniel Ricciardo.
‘Even as Maniel, his persistence remains unchanged.’
Daniel had a reputation as the “King of Positivity” both on and off the track, possessing resilience that never allowed him to give up, no matter the circumstances.
His nickname as the “Daredevil Honey Badger” was due to his relentless passion for racing, not recklessness.
In this world, was Maniel still Maniel?
He persistently pursued Yooihyun’s pace, steadily keeping up.
Like a sculptor who dedicates time and effort to transform a large, solid rock into a statue with hammer and chisel.
He burrowed into both sides of Yooihyun’s race car, dedicating all the laps, corners, and tracks he had relentlessly run.
The tower of effort that Maniel had built was now pressing his car side by side with hers, which once seemed impossible to run alongside.
Vroom!!!
Of course, due to KING’s almost supernatural driving and brilliant design that appeared as if he had anticipated everything, Maniel’s overtaking attempts repeatedly ended in failure,
Vroooom!!
But Maniel never ceased to play in the way he could and had to.
Name / Time / Laps
① KING 1:33:880 8/44
② Maniel Ricciardo 1:34:020 +0.140 8/44
In the rainy race, the parts of the race car did not overheat, but Maniel’s passion was red-hot.
Every time Yooihyun saw Maniel like that,
She couldn’t help but think,
‘Perhaps that is the true attitude of a driver?’
The way Maniel constantly tried and tried again, even in failure, demanded her utmost respect as a fellow driver.
Thus, whenever Yooihyun faced Maniel on the circuit, she would fall into deep contemplation about a driver’s attitude.
Maniel burrows, burrows.
Yooihyun blocks, blocks.
In the long battle racing at 300 km, they gnaw away at each other’s concentration, throwing everything they’ve got into the muddy race.
This is the greatest fun a driver can offer to the audience!
Zshaaaaaak!!
Shuaaaak!!
The spray from the two race cars began to grow more intense.
*
*
*
La Source.
The first corner, sharply turning at a narrow angle.
Not reducing speed in a long race car at this corner leads to track exit.
Kiliiik!!
To escape in the shortest distance and step on the accelerator again, it is necessary to slow down sufficiently while turning.
O Rouge – Radillon.
Winding from downhill to uphill, the second corner.
It is the most challenging and fastest corner where full acceleration must be maintained.
Click!
【 DRS Deactivation 】
Turning off DRS to secure downforce and quickly escape with full acceleration.
Kemmel Straight.
A long straight immediately unfolding after O Rouge – Radillon.
Depending on the exit speed of the corner, lap times can decrease or increase.
Since I maintained enough speed by stepping on full acceleration in the previous corner, there won’t be any issues.
Click!
【 DRS Activation 】
Reducing downforce with DRS to push ahead faster.
Le Combe.
A chicane with consecutive right, left, and right turns from the 5th to the 7th.
Just before entering, it is the chicane where the most position changes occur; if the racing line is lost for even a moment, a position is conceded.
Knowing that, Ricciardo anticipated the moment and, rather than doing an out-in-out, burrowed inside to enter the corner.
① Maniel Ricciardo 1:34:020 +0.140 8/44
② KING 1:33:880 8/44
The order briefly changes.
But there’s no need to follow closely.
Since I’ve already broken into the racing line, I’ll take priority in the next corner.
Passing through the 6th and 7th, I regain my lead.
The 8th corner at Bruxelles, the wide U-shaped 10th corner at Pouhon.
Paddock, Stavelot, Blanchimont, Bus Stop chicane…,
And back to the 1st corner.
La Source.
To complete the remaining 34 laps, I must repeat the same process.
“Haah…”
Exhausted body.
Diminishing concentration.
Breath rising to my chin.
Yet paradoxically, the more I forget myself, the more I become immersed in the race.
Vroom!!!
My race car, like it’s racing its first lap, or even fresher than before, begins the 9th lap in top condition.
*
*
*
– Certainly, KING has once again shown breathtaking control in the rain condition that he displayed in the 1024 strongest competition.
– He is an incredible driver more and more every time I watch. The control is one thing, but watching KING race gives the impression that he completely dominates the race.
– Exactly. Considering that F1 is an exceptionally emotional and passionate motorsport, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that mental strength encompasses everything in a race. From that perspective, KING can be seen as outstanding in both skill and mental aspects.
In the home of Myung-jin Lee in Seoul, he and Mattia Binotto sat on the living room sofa, watching the race between KING and Maniel live.
“I still can’t believe that he’s a girl.”
“I feel the same. And to think that she’s Korean makes it even harder to believe.”
Each time they watched the race, there were numerous points to admire, but they didn’t exchange much dialogue.
That was partly due to the overwhelming skill of KING, which was something that could be felt without words, and also because of the endless praise from the commentators.
When a moment of astonishment broke out, just as they were about to speak, the commentator and guest commentator Hamilton had already snatched the commentary.
Thus,
“Wow….”
“Whoa.”
“Is that it?”
Only short phrases of admiration floated in the air.
“This race is so boring that I’m actually getting into it.”
Today’s race was at the Spa Circuit under rainy conditions, which couldn’t exactly be called a typical racing environment.
Even on a normal track condition, anything could happen in F1; when it rains, the chances of the race becoming chaotic increase dramatically.
Yet Minotto’s expression of boredom for this race was likely due to the memories of the races KING had gone through until now.
“It’s surprisingly smooth, or is it that KING being a hexagon driver is really palpable?”
Considering her history of going through all sorts of hardships along with the hacker, today’s race was relatively straightforward.
There hadn’t been any insane rain control, creative use of DRS, or extreme physicality surpassing that of a hacker in this race at least.
Purely fundamental.
Yooihyun’s driving, maintaining a perfect pace against the current F1 driver Maniel, steadily designed the race lap after lap, becoming more solid with each lap.
Surprisingly, the smoothly progressing race was making Yooihyun’s value shine even more.
“Is that innate, or learned?”
“It’s too far beyond to say it’s either innate or learned.”
“Unless she’s lived life twice….”
KING, who always manages to pick the right answer despite numerous options.
No, perhaps her driving is so perfect that it’s more like whichever road she chooses seems right.
– In the beginning, Maniel kept trying to overtake, but now the gap has widened, making it difficult to seize an opportunity!
– Just as I mention it, the gap increases at O Rouge – Radillon.
– This means Maniel won’t have the power on Kemmel Straight. This is the moment when KING completely shakes off Maniel!
In the repeated laps, the tower she has built finally surpasses Maniel’s castle.
From the peak of the tower, clearly overlooking how Maniel’s castle operates.
KING dominates the race, placing Maniel right on her palm.
Like a regal king sitting on a throne, looking down at his subjects.
She was truly putting on a display worthy of the name KING.
“Director, do you really think such a driver will join our team?”
Myung-jin Lee, chilled by her perfect driving, unknowingly revealed his inner thoughts.
And justly so, as there was no rational reason or logic behind his expectation that Yooihyun would come to Ferrari.
He was simply waiting for Yooihyun to join Ferrari based on the historical team, name value, and emotional realm.
“There’s almost no possibility. Like all drivers, especially KING, her name is likely far more important than the team’s name.”
For Binotto, it seemed KING didn’t need a great team.
She already possessed all the qualities to become a great driver; wherever she went, it felt like any team would become a great team.
So, if she were to join F1, it would be more advantageous and quicker for her to choose the team that could provide her with the best circumstance to accomplish her championship.
Ferrari was an utterly incompetent team, finishing 8th in last year’s season, so expecting her to join was a luxury in itself.
That fact was something Binotto as Ferrari’s director knew best.
Still, he had to try everything he could as the director to save the team.
“In any case, whether Yooihyun joins or not, we need to fix our chronic problems, the engine.”
Lee Myung-jin casually tossed in the topic of the engine to alleviate the somber atmosphere.
“Right, we need to repair the engine. If this situation continues, there won’t be a place for engineers to stand anymore. The higher-ups might even decide to completely overhaul the team members.”
Whether Yooihyun comes or not, the engine issue that has kept Ferrari stuck in the lower ranks for long must be resolved.
If this season’s engine problems are not resolved, it would be the same for Binotto keeping his position.
The atmosphere seemed to have grown even heavier.
Feeling like they had entered a tiger’s den to avoid wolves, Myung-jin placed his hand on Binotto’s shoulder and spoke.
“Still, wouldn’t our great director, the master of the world, have a chance to persuade her to join Ferrari?”
“…Is it McLaren now?”
“McLaren? I’m serious.”
As they watched the race nearing KING’s victory, Binotto muttered.
“I wish a genius engineer would just drop down from the sky…”.
*
*
*
Name / Time
① KING 1:33:103 🏁
② Maniel Ricciardo 1:33:960 +0.857
The checker flag waved, ending the Round of 16 race.
I stood on the podium with Maniel, sharing the joy of victory with the audience.
When standing on the podium with Maniel, there is one essential thing.
“Maniel.”
Shwoo.
I took off my shoes, poured champagne into them, and downed it in one go.
I filled another glass and handed it to Maniel.
Maniel smiled, revealing his white teeth, took the glass, and did the same in one go.
“It was a good race, Maniel.”
“I feel the same. We’ll see each other in F1 soon; I hope you choose a good team, KING.”
To think that we’ll see each other in F1 soon.
I had anticipated this since Ferrari approached; indeed, it seems other teams in F1 were also looking to sign her.
Thinking of Ferrari makes my head ache, but now is not the time to be worried about those things.
One Man Show: Lando from McLaren is my next four opponents. Let’s head to the waiting room and prepare for the next match.
KING: So, it’s Lando, huh.
My next target is the adorable Lando Norris from McLaren.