Chapter 743: Chapter 301: Rookie Isn’t Defined by Strength
Barrichello guessed correctly, Chen Xiangbei was indeed acting.
Throughout his journey, Chen Xiangbei has encountered many cold stares and ridicule, a situation that is certainly not favorable in most cases, but it can bring about some "benefits" to a certain extent.
That is camouflage.
When you dislike someone, you instinctively want to stay away, and have absolutely no interest in getting to know them.
Just like Chen Xiangbei.
Even though he has already appeared on the podium at the Australia Station and won the race at the China Station, within the paddock, there are only a handful of people like Mercedes team leader Ross Brown, Renault team leader Blair, and Sir Williams.
The majority of the management and drivers from other teams still believe that Chen Xiangbei has yet to prove his consistency, relying more on audacious gambles to win races.
Even Schumacher, who is relatively approving, feels that Chen Xiangbei needs to test his ability to endure on the track without any divine intervention.
It’s not surprising that the outside world has this perception. Let alone a newcomer like Chen Xiangbei, who has only raced a few matches. In later generations, McLaren Team’s championship contender Norris crumbled completely under Verstappen’s pressure in the 24th season.
As a result, he got the nickname "Arno," which is the same as a certain bodybuilding athlete from the town of Changshu.
It is worth knowing that Norris entered the F1 Paddock in ’19, having won the UK F4 championship, the Europe F3 championship, and the F2 runner-up.
The F2 champion of that year was named George Russell, and it’s no shame for Norris to lose to Mercedes’ "Racing Emperor."
This contender, who had been in the paddock for four or five years and was entrusted with leading the McLaren banner, was fully suppressed by Verstappen throughout the entire race, causing many pressurized mistakes that widened the point gap.
Until the 25th season came back strong, Norris’s mindset and pressure resistance significantly improved, resulting in fewer minor mistakes and pressurized mistakes.
Even a driver as perfectly accomplished as Norris faced these issues.
Isn’t it natural for Chen Xiangbei to be unable to withstand Barrichello’s pressure?
The more the outside world holds such views, the more Chen Xiangbei needs to utilize this psychology.
He didn’t speed up to escape Barrichello’s pursuit, because doing so would allow the opponent to apply stronger pressure, accelerating tire wear.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiangbei did not defend against Barrichello extremely, by making various zigzag moves on the track. He maintained a seemingly chaotic, on-the-brink-of-being-overtaken precarious situation, yet always just a fraction away from being surpassed.
There is a famous term in finance called "sunk cost."
Even though Barrichello seemed to have the advantage with his soft red tires, considering the warm-up laps for the start circle and a few laps led by the safety car, the lifespan of the soft red tires also dwindled quickly.
It’s essential to understand that the theoretical grip peak of the soft red tires can only sustain for seven laps!
If Barrichello doesn’t want to pit early for a tire change, he also needs to conserve his tires.
Since he’s already applied pressure for one or two laps, and the Chinese kid’s control noticeably showed "flaws," a mistake might provide an overtaking opportunity in the next lap. Why waste the tires and take the high risk when the opportunity might present itself soon anyway?
It was precisely this "sunk cost" mentality that led Barrichello to trail behind Chen Xiangbei for a full three laps.
Only to find that his opponent oscillated at the edge of "collapse" for three laps yet didn’t make any further evident errors!
"Barrichello, it can’t be dragged any longer, seize the moment for a strong overtake!"
Sir Williams’ voice crackled through the headphones; this legendary paddock boss keenly sensed something amiss, as well as Barrichello hesitating over his "sunk cost."
By the ninth lap of the race, data indicated that the soft red tires had passed the critical peak point, further delay meant choosing either pitting for a tire change or entering the advantageous zone of Chen Xiangbei’s neutral yellow tires.
"COPY."
Barrichello didn’t really need Sir Williams’ reminder; his many years of experience on the track enabled him to comprehend the situation entirely.
On one hand, he was reluctant about the "sunk cost," requiring some external nudge to resolve his decision.
On the other hand, he was astonished by Chen Xiangbei’s terrifying psychological quality!
This Chinese kid enduring pressure without error was one thing, but also putting on a good show at the critical moment. It meant that the start-up errors and incidents didn’t affect his form at all!
Barrichello couldn’t help recalling a familiar remark he once saw on the internet about Chen Xiangbei.
This kid is a racing machine without emotions!
As he pressed the throttle, Barrichello’s speed surged dramatically; he abandoned the previous "cat-and-mouse" style of oppressive racing, intending to assert a thoroughly aggressive stance to overtake Chen Xiangbei.
Perhaps sensing Barrichello’s change, at that moment, Chen Xiangbei also instantly adjusted his approach, defending with equal toughness, even using "side-sweep" tactics for a double move to block in the braking zone.
The radical alteration in both of their styles instantly filled the paddock with the smell of gunpowder!
"After several laps of pressurized chasing, we see Barrichello has exhausted his patience, aiming to overtake the HRT Driver Bei ahead with a more aggressive and assertive approach."
"However, we can also see that Driver Bei has shifted from his previous calm defense to a fiercely obstructive position, blocking Barrichello’s overtaking route with millimeter-measured distances."
