Car Racing without Money
Chapter 664 - 264: McLaren’s Plan B
Looking at the HRT Racing Car suddenly appearing in front of him, Hamilton was completely stunned.
The McLaren Team had indeed considered the pit stop undercut scenario, but they were very confident in their technician team.
The once "Three Royal Families" and the current four major teams are not just for show!
In fact, during this pit stop, the McLaren Team made no mistakes, completing the tire change faster than usual, taking only 2.4 seconds, far surpassing the regular average time of around 3 seconds.
But they never expected the HRT Team to explode.
The whole tire change took only 2 seconds!
If Ferrari, Red Bull, or even the former Renault Team had done this, Hamilton would not have been surprised. The tradition of big teams is evident; they have the money to offer full-time salaries to technicians and can use countless practices to enhance teamwork.
Does a small team rely on "love" for countless practices with a group of part-time technicians?
Originally, the McLaren Team's prediction was correct, the HRT Team's technician group was not outstanding, and they couldn't work overtime for voluntary labor.
Three factors truly triggered the qualitative change. The first was Briatore's team integration, firing some unqualified members within the team's technicians, making everyone understand that the HRT is not a team one can loaf around in.
The second was the addition of Liang Chi and Chen Xiangbei along with other Chinese members.
Liang Chi, Ah Yong, Brother Lei, and others demonstrated what hard work and persistence meant; joining the F1 technician team from scratch, later becoming the fastest and most efficient tire group in the tire changing process.
At the same time, their countless day and night practices also had a mobilizing effect, indirectly boosting other team's technicians.
Team atmosphere is often like this; when one person slacks off, the whole team easily slacks off. When the chief technician leads by example, naturally, there's nothing more to say below; at least one must show professional spirit.
Moreover, Chen Xiangbei's performance improvement also served as a morale booster for team members!
Effort needs to yield rewards to gain enough emotional value.
If the technician group's tire changing speed is the first around, yet the driver runs dead last on the track, after a few times, anyone would be discouraged, losing the spirit of striving upwards.
Chen Xiangbei proved repeatedly with his speed that the HRT becoming a championship-contending team is no longer empty talk.
Hence, everyone in the team would move forward together towards this goal!
Additionally, the last and most important point is that Briatore brought sufficient material benefits and rewards to the team's members through various commercial partnerships.
No matter how many ads on Chen Xiangbei and the HRT Racing Car were received by Hua Bu to make money indiscriminately, in any case, these funds ultimately brought meat to the team, and the team members at least drank the soup.
Though there might be a gap with the full-time salary of large teams, at least the overtime pay resulting from extra practice won't be less given.
No one likes to be a free workforce, nor should one exhaust the team's enthusiasm; otherwise, the state won't last long.
Money in place, emotions in place, this is the long-term way!
As the team leader and chief race engineer, Odetto saw the change in the HRT Team's atmosphere, daring to make the plan to undercut the McLaren Team at the pit station.
The proof shows Odetto succeeded, the team led by the Chinese chief technician not inferior to the four major teams around.
Perhaps starting from this stop, HRT has officially qualified to join the strong teams!
"Beautiful, we did it!"
"Undercut successful, Bei's position rose another spot!"
"Go Mr. Xiang Bei, go HRT!"
"For HRT, for the championship!"
Looking at Chen Xiangbei driving in front of the McLaren car, the entire HRT team's pit garage could be described with the word boiling.
If the team's past victories weren't evident, this time purely relied on progress speed to defeat the McLaren Team, highlighting the role of the technician group vividly.
A great team will inevitably have a strong team, with the premise of enough cohesion and team spirit.
Undoubtedly, HRT has increasingly coalesced into a whole!
Team members' cheers not only affected the entire pit lane but also awakened the onsite audience from their astonishment, echoing with thunderous applause.
"Wow, can overtake like this, HRT Team seems not weak, huh."
"Of course, don't underestimate the HRT Team; it is the final dance of the Toyota Group!"
"Indeed, last year's Honda Group took the championship in their final dance, let's witness a new team winning the championship again!"
"Go, HRT!"
These cheers for Chen Xiangbei were pleasant, but for Hamilton, they were hard to accept.
Especially Chen Xiangbei's strong "cut-in" was extremely tough, considered a replica of the past cut-in on Sutil, how could a proud Hamilton endure this?
"BOSS, I must surpass Bei." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Hamilton said this coldly through the team radio.
At this moment, Hamilton still hadn't developed the kingly aura of Seven-time Champions, more filled with a youthful mindset.
Even with regular training, Dennis, the McLaren boss, had to press him, or else Hamilton would try every trick to slack off, complaining about the difficulty of the race.
However, Chen Xiangbei's presence, along with his tough moves, fully awoke Hamilton's competitive desire.
He will use every means to surpass Chen Xiangbei!
"Don't act on impulse, wait for the team's command."