Chapter 768: Chapter 312: I Must Win This Race (Part 2)
Realizing the situation had suddenly worsened, Weber pressed the radio button without hesitation and actively requested the team for a pit stop to change tires.
The original plan was to pit with eight laps to go, just enough to utilize the peak lifespan of the soft red tires. Now, with Chen Xiangbei chasing at full speed, Weber was forced to change his strategy and pit two laps earlier.
Although it’s two laps short of the original plan, considering the race is nearing its end, the car’s fuel had almost been consumed, reducing the overall car weight by tens of kilograms. Pushing for two more laps is still within a safe and reasonable range.
Just as Weber was requesting the team, Vettel also pressed the voice communication button on the steering wheel.
He and Weber had maintained a train-like cruising state, with the two cars mostly within one second of each other. This means if Weber is at risk of a tactical overtake, Vettel would be in no better shape.
Thus, the pit stop must be done early.
Listening to the requests of the two drivers through the headset, Red Bull Racing Team leader Horner was caught in hesitation.
Typically, in situations like this, to avoid favoring one over the other, you can only pit both cars on the same lap. Whoever runs ahead pits first, the one lagging behind pits second, relying on their own skills with nothing much to say about it.
But the problem is, Red Bull is a championship-contending team, and the risk of error is high if both cars pit on the same lap. No management would dare take that risk.
"Leader, what should we do?"
Red Bull’s chief race engineer Monahan looked to Horner and asked him a question.
Whoever pits first has a greater chance of becoming the champion.
Conversely, whoever pits later is likely to be fodder.
Actually, not only Monahan, but the entire Red Bull strategy team members looked to Horner.
This decision not only determines the championship but also the future core of the team.
One must know that at this time, the Red Bull Racing Team is far from being a powerhouse team in the Verstappen era. It’s just a rookie team that has been in the paddock for a few years, and has not tasted the flavor of being a champion team.
Without the accumulation and precipitation of champions, naturally, there’s no absolute control over the drivers. Vettel and Weber are still in a fair competition phase, with no clear distinction in the hierarchy between first and second drivers.
Of course, in the minds of the team owner and management, the German Vettel’s weight is higher than the Australian veteran Weber.
"Vettel pits first."
Without much time to think and hesitate, Horner made the decision.
Vettel is running ahead, he deserves the priority to pit.
Moreover, from an absolutely rational standpoint, Vettel’s chances of competing for the championship as the leading car exceed Weber’s, leaving no reason for the trailing car to pit first.
Even if Weber was the one who first requested.
"Leader, Vettel can still persist, pitting a lap later won’t significantly impact the situation, Weber is in a very dangerous position now!"
At this point, Weber’s race engineer Pirbim stood up to express opposition.
Vettel leads Chen Xiangbei by two to three seconds, the Chinese Kid’s lap speed can’t catch up so much in one lap. There is no issue with pitting a lap later; contrarily, Weber can’t hold much longer.
"Pirbim, have you forgotten there’s a need to warm the tires?"
Almost simultaneously, Vettel’s race engineer Laquila expressed his opposing view.
It’s true that Vettel is leading by two to three seconds, but the problem is now Chen Xiangbei can make up a second in a lap. Adding the cold tires’ need for sufficient time to warm up when exiting the pit, it’s equivalent to deducting another lap from the race.
Who can guarantee the Chinese Kid won’t be faster during this time?
One lap has safety redundancy, but two laps have unknown risks.
Vettel is secure to win, why take unnecessary risks?
"Considering the warm-up lap, Weber’s situation is more dangerous, shouldn’t he be allowed to pit first?"
"Moreover, if Weber runs ahead of Bei, he can still serve as a barrier for Vettel."
Pirbim, being Weber’s race engineer, naturally wants to fight for his driver’s interests.
The veteran inherently means exhausted potential, if unable to outperform the team’s rookie, the difficulty of signing and even staying in the paddock is very high.
One must know that in the historical 2010 season, Vettel took three pole positions in the first four races but had terribly bad luck; in two of those races he suffered from spark plug and tire failures and dramatically fell off the podium, until the third pole to claim a victory.
Weber couldn’t accept being overwhelmed by his teammate’s situation; he must prove himself.
"Humph, if Weber pits first, there’s no guarantee he’ll block Driver Bei, maybe he overtakes Vettel instead."
Laquila coldly responded, who doesn’t know that the teammate is the biggest competitor, would Weber willingly act as a wingman to block cars?
Dream on!
Seeing the two about to escalate into a shouting match, Red Bull sporting director Marco stepped forward to make the final decision.
"Vettel will pit first; the team’s results must be prioritized!"
Marco is Red Bull’s sporting director; in terms of position, he’s technically below team leader Horner.
But this old man has a great personal friendship with Red Bull owner Mateschitz, essentially acting as a sort of "overseer" in the Red Bull Racing Team, capable of guiding and even deciding the entire team’s operations.
With Horner and Marco making the same decision, it meant there was no room for negotiation. The chief race engineer Monahan sent the pit-stop command to Vettel through the team’s radio.
