Chapter 841: Chapter 345: Victory Belongs to HRT
Chen Xiangbei has just overtaken Alonso, and the Monaco Grand Prix has seven laps to go before it officially ends.
Although absolute victories in the Monaco Grand Prix have seldom been witnessed throughout history, this does not mean the probability is zero.
Only at the moment the checkered flag waves will Chen Xiangbei truly wear the crown of the King of Monaco.
Moreover, even if the historical honor of the Monaco Grand Prix is immense, it ultimately pales in comparison to the F1 World Championship title, which fundamentally differs from the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in the WEC.
Simultaneously, tonight is the Monte Carlo night rally of the WRC. By then, the audience and celebrities from various fields, as well as numerous professional drivers from F1 teams, will stay to watch the race, marking an event that can be termed as the best of rallies.
The performance of Chen Xiangbei today has reignited the fighting spirit in Raikkonen that had been dormant for a while. He genuinely wants to know who the real genius youth is!
On the track, the two cars are still racing fiercely. After a brief shock, the veteran Alonso quickly adjusted his state and launched a full-throttle attack in the final phase.
If he could overtake the Chinese Kid once, then he could overtake him a second time!
Meanwhile, engineers from the Ferrari Team and the HRT Team are reporting various data of the cars and the conditions ahead with slower traffic, mentally preparing the drivers to avoid unexpected situations.
However, as the number of laps decreases lap by lap, the faces of everyone in the Ferrari Team grow increasingly grim, while those in the HRT Team have subconsciously tightened their fists, awaiting the final moment of celebration.
Laps seventy-five, seventy-six, seventy-seven...
When the race reaches the last lap, seeing Alonso still blocked firmly behind, many spectators have already stood up from their seats in tension.
The expressions on their faces show excitement, exhilaration, pain, and despair.
The entire Monaco Circuit seems to have transformed into Chen Xiangbei’s personal stage, with every spotlight shining on his number 13 racecar.
What Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren, etc., the top four in the paddock, medium-generation and new-generation rising stars—all have been cast aside at this moment.
The audience at the venue knows clearly in their hearts that the moment the checkered flag waves on the track signifies the birth of a new king of Monaco and the rise of a top contending F1 team.
The era has changed!
As the race enters the seventy-eighth lap, Alonso has still not given up tightly following behind Chen Xiangbei, but internally, he is already aware of the outcome: With their cars’ performances being similar, the precision of the Chinese rookie’s line choices is not inferior to his own and his pressure resistance is astonishingly high, thereby not committing any oppressive mistakes.
He is merely unwilling and is seeking to make one final probe.
Accompanied by the final roar of the engines, the black and orange number 13 HRT Racing Car crosses the finish line, and Chen Xiangbei sees the checkered flag by the side of the track, personally waved by the Prince of Monaco.
This flag, like a spark, ignited the long-suppressed passion in the hearts of the spectators.
"He won! Chen Xiangbei won! He is the new King of Monaco!"
"Car God Bei, the future undoubtedly belongs to your era!"
"Bei, you did not disappoint me, conquering the crown circuit of the racing world!"
"Pole position, fastest lap, championship, Driver Bei, you completed an unprecedented hat trick!"
"Champion~~! Champion~~! Champion~~!"
The applause and cheers eventually transformed into a uniform "Champion" chant.
When Chen Xiangbei pushed aside his helmet visor to wave, he didn’t realize what the chant meant at first until he completed half a lap of the circuit. Then, the realization dawned on him that it was an awkward pronunciation in Chinese being chanted as the celebration slogan.
This may be the first time in F1 history that an entire venue has congratulated a Grand Prix winner in Chinese!
In some ways, this reflects the allure of a championship in competitive sports: Winning and the standard of the championship purely conquered the fans, transcending language and national boundaries to offer respect and admiration to the victor.
In the broadcast studio, watching Chen Xiangbei drive the racecar towards the podium area, Red spoke with a tone full of emotion: "The main race of the Monaco Grand Prix concludes here, with Driver Bei from China seizing pole position in the qualifiers, breaking the track record, and winning the main race championship, becoming the conqueror of Monte Carlo."
"I don’t know how to describe the excitement of this race, yet at this moment, the audience’s collective champion slogan in Chinese is the best evaluation standard for this race."
"I already have a premonition that the next era of F1 is about to arrive."
Alonso naturally followed driving to the podium area, gazing at the red flags waved around the venue as if in a dream; in most cases, such a sight belonged to Ferrari’s galloping red, now it has become China Red.
Rather than failure’s depression and pain, Alonso’s heart harbors an inexplicable "bewilderment."
It wasn’t the first time Chen Xiangbei surpassed Alonso, nor did it mean defeats weren’t common for drivers; winning a Grand Prix championship is perfectly normal.
However, this time, Alonso felt "powerless."
Back then, his arrogance led to failure; had he taken Chen Xiangbei seriously as a strong opponent earlier, the Chinese Kid would’ve had no chance to overtake.
Today, though, was entirely different—Alonso’s state was at one hundred percent, to the point of viewing Chen Xiangbei as a formidable opponent like Schumacher. Both sides smoothly engaged in offense and defense exchanges, accomplishing a comprehensive duel.
Throughout the process, Alonso could not locate an obvious flaw in Chen Xiangbei!
The absence of flaws is an extremely frightening notion representing difficulty in defeat.
The confrontation between the two does not solely encompass this encounter, but also the remaining closing game, and next season and the season after.
Alonso has never considered his era over—he believes he is at peak state, his two world titles surely not the career endpoint, with future potential as three-time champion, four-time champion, or even challenging Schumacher.
The emergence of Chen Xiangbei, however, shook his confidence slightly.
The last time he felt such anxiety faced Hamilton.
One new-generation genius driver after another emerges. Is it possible he is truly growing old?
His momentary distraction did not last long; at this moment, Alonso had already followed Chen Xiangbei to the pit stop. He took a deep breath, trying his best to manage his facial expression, avoiding appearing "unable to accept defeat" when taken by journalists.
Though early in Alonso’s career he wasn’t regarded as the most broad-minded driver, often being petty and complaining, having raced for ten years he was now considered a veteran. Showing he cannot accept loss to a rookie would only invite external ridicule.
Now from Alonso’s perspective, the HRT Racing Car halted in position number one, countless cameras and spotlights focused on Chen Xiangbei alighting from the car—this is the first champion in Monaco Circuit history from China, Asia, or among people of yellow race, bearing incredibly significant commemorative value.
Many reporters even have a gut feeling, perhaps this photo of Chen Xiangbei will herald the onset of a new era in F1.
The enveloping spotlights accentuate Alonso’s bitterness within his heart. He takes another deep breath, before climbing out of the car’s cockpit, smiling, and waving to the audience and journalists on site.
At this precise moment, cheers for Alonso resound within and outside the track.
His supporters wouldn’t be discouraged over a loss in a Grand Prix, nor would they feel disappointed over finishing in second place.
Do not forget, Alonso overtook on points with this race, claiming top spot in the overall standings—he remains the victor throughout the yearly race schedule!
The fervent support from on-site spectators instills Alonso with a sense of strength. He turns his gaze towards Chen Xiangbei, synchronously meeting Deo’s gaze.
As the saying goes: a king recognizes a king. This time, both capture in each other’s eyes the surging kingly aura!
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