No matter how motorsports develop in the future, Hamilton's name will always be present.

Let's not discuss whether Chen Xiangbei can catch up with Hamilton in just a few laps; even if he does, so what?

With his tires worn out, can Chen Xiangbei even overtake?

Whitmarsh did not respond immediately but instead turned to look at the data on the monitoring screen.

"At this pushing intensity, Chen Xiangbei's tires will be exhausted in at most three laps, unable to even draft behind the car in front at high speed."

"Either he gets overtaken, or he risks a blowout by forcefully accelerating. I'm curious to see what choice the HRT strategy group will make."

Saying this, Whitmarsh turned his gaze towards the outdoor command platform of the HRT Team room.

The essence of F1 strategy is a math problem. Sawano Hiroyuki, using tire lifespan theory, predicted the risks involved in the pursuit.

However, in this lap of full-speed push, the tire's actual wear exceeded expectations, and Chen Xiangbei could only push for at most three more laps!

If he can't draft behind Hamilton and enter the train cruising state within three laps, Chen Xiangbei will find himself in a no-man's land, awaiting Jenson Button with stronger tire management to catch up and overtake.

From Whitmarsh's perspective, the HRT strategy group made a foolish decision. Italians are truly clowns!

Of course, there's always the gamble of a crash-induced turnover.

But for just a fifth-place position, would Briatore risk being expelled from the paddock again to issue such an order?

The premise of "profit first" requires sufficient profit, and clearly, the current stakes are insufficient.

The McLaren Team, through calculations, can deduce results; the HRT Team, with original data, knows better that Chen Xiangbei's tire wear is rapidly declining.

Seeing this, Sawano Hiroyuki spoke up, "The tires have three laps of pushing lifespan left; we can't risk it any further."

Sawano Hiroyuki didn't make his words too explicit, but he believed Odetto would understand.

3.2 seconds to chase over three laps means gaining a second per lap against Hamilton.

The previous lap's push showed Chen Xiangbei could only gain 0.5 seconds per lap; the remaining 1.7 seconds distance on an F1 track can mean over a hundred meters, nowhere near drafting range.

Timely damage control is still an option; if the chase continues, Chen Xiangbei's predicament won't just be awkward but risky with a possible blowout!

"Bei, can you pick up the pace? I need you to gain a second per lap on Hamilton."

Odetto pressed the communication button and asked Chen Xiangbei.

"Team leader, we can't be this aggressive; the risk is too high!"

Hearing Odetto's refusal to heed the warning, the usually calm and low-profile Sawano Hiroyuki spoke with urgency.

"Racing itself is a risk; if you're scared, don't race F1."

"I think you're being stubborn!"

"Wrong, I consulted the driver's opinion."

As Odetto finished speaking, Chen Xiangbei's response came through the earphones.

"Understood, I'll continue to close the gap."

This conversation left the entire team dumbfounded.

On one hand, the normally calm and low-profile Japanese race engineer showed an emotional side, publicly opposing the team leader's aggressive strategy.

On the other hand, there was Chen Xiangbei's assertiveness.

Does Driver Bei not know the risks, or does he simply not care? Is catching up with Hamilton in three laps even possible?

As for Briatore, sitting next to them, he wore a completely spectator-like expression, as if this matter had nothing to do with him as the team manager.

Remaining so composed while watching his own team's drama unfold, perhaps only someone like him could achieve this.

"Manager, don't you have anything to say?"

Data analyst Mizutani Sho couldn't stand it anymore and asked Briatore, feeling that his indifference had gone too far.

"Say what?"

"Say..."

Mizutani Sho was momentarily speechless, not even knowing what to say, but instinctively felt that as team manager, Briatore should intervene in some way.

"Odetto's decision is perfectly normal; there's nothing I need to say."

"You support Team Leader Odetto?"

Mizutani Sho was somewhat surprised; it was known in the team that manager Briatore and team leader Odetto did not get along, and maintaining silence without opposition was rare, let alone outright support.

"Of course, whether it's possible to catch up or take risks is the driver's business."

"I just need a good result."

"If not, then it's Odetto's problem."

After hearing this, Mizutani Sho was stunned, realizing he had underestimated Briatore's shamelessness.

He wasn't supporting Odetto; he was just refusing to take any responsibility!

The race continued, and the competition reached the ninth lap.

As Chen Xiangbei passed the starting line once more, the track's fastest lap on the big screen was updated.

1 minute 34 seconds 329!

Given the heavy fuel load and medium yellow tires, this speed was astonishingly fast, and Chen Xiangbei's gap to Hamilton shrank to 2.16 seconds, fulfilling his promise of catching a second per lap!

"No way, Chen Xiangbei is pushing this hard, gaining a second per lap on Hamilton?"

"OH MY GOD, Bei's speed on his home track is outrageous, like a rampaging beast!"

"Even McLaren's two world champion drivers can't hold off Driver Bei?"

The lap time directly shocked the live audience, even though it wasn't an all-out push like in qualifying, and Hamilton was only maintaining a cruising speed.

But achieving 1 minute 34 seconds 329 lap time was still astonishingly fast!