Chapter 747: Chapter 303: Unconcealed Sharpness

"Kubica, pay attention, HRT Team’s Perez is PUSHING!"

When the track instruments detected Perez’s acceleration, Renault’s team leader Blair understood everything instantly and immediately issued a warning to their driver, Kubica.

To be honest, at that moment, Blair doubted whether the previous fierce battle between Chen Xiangbei and Perez was just an act, otherwise how could they have "made up" so quickly in just a few laps?

Moreover, Perez not only helped Chen Xiangbei increase his speed with slipstreaming but also sacrificed his own tire life to PUSH and chase the car in front, which was completely illogical!

The problem is if it was acting, then the act between Perez and Chen Xiangbei was too convincing, and the risks they took were too high.

With Chen Xiangbei’s full-throttle cornering speed, a slight mistake could lead to a catastrophic crash, and at the time, he didn’t intend to give Perez any chance!

[Perez PUSH?]

Faced with this sudden team order, Kubica was completely baffled as to what had happened.

After all, he wasn’t a spectator; his attention was entirely on the race and he couldn’t gather all the track information in real-time from broadcast footage.

From Kubica’s perspective, Perez’s driving style leaned more toward conservative, focusing more on his own long-distance pace, planning to rely on a one-stop strategy for an undercut rather than aggressive overtaking.

Now the race had reached lap twelve, entering a critical tire management phase, how could Perez be PUSHING at this time?

While Kubica was puzzled, Perez’s speed caught up faster than expected, and in the rearview mirror, an HRT Racing Car with black and orange livery had appeared.

Not one car! But two!

Seeing this scene, Kubica was shocked and vaguely realized something.

"Blair, is Perez helping Driver Bei with a slipstream?"

"Yes, HRT is using a dual-car strategy."

A definite answer came through his headset.

With his suspicion confirmed, Kubica’s emotions were complex, somewhat envious, with a touch of disdain.

The jealousy stemmed from Chen Xiangbei’s team status; he instinctively believed Perez slipstreaming was surely a team order, otherwise who would sacrifice their own tires to help others?

The disdain also came from Chen Xiangbei’s internal team status.

In the F1 Paddock, it’s an undisputed fact that the number one driver enjoys priority resources, and in top teams like Ferrari, where they are pushed by the eagerness to win the championship, the number two driver has increasingly become a wingman or toolman.

However, even for someone as strong as Schumacher, he would at least show some face while pushing teammates.

After taking a race win from Barrichello, he would find an opportunity to give one back.

Every race, Chen Xiangbei used team orders to treat his teammates as cannon fodder. In the last race, Trulli was still in the hospital, and would Perez face the same fate in this race? 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

This approach was exactly in line with Briatore’s style.

Absolute interest above all, using any means necessary for victory!

"Team leader, my tires might not hold against the dual-car strategy."

Facing the formidable HRT Racing Cars, Kubica didn’t dare to be brave this time.

No matter the envy or jealousy, or inner reluctance to admit Chen Xiangbei’s driving skills.

Being defeated repeatedly on the track has become an indisputable fact!

If he couldn’t handle a one-on-one, let alone facing the HRT’s two cars, also considering Kubica’s soft red tires had already passed their grip peak, it was in fact time to pit.

Without pursuit, he could stay on track with a tire management approach, but if it led to a tussle, Kubica had no capital for resistance.

"Elton, can the car’s tire data hold?"

Blair didn’t directly answer Kubica but rather asked his race engineer, Elton.

"Hardly."

Elton shook his head, then added, "Moreover, we can’t guarantee HRT Team won’t sacrifice their wingman again to threaten with a crash."

In the last Chinese Grand Prix, Trulli’s old rogue behavior on the paddock was vividly displayed, essentially a track torpedo threatening opponents left and right, leaving a profound impression on other teams in the Paddock.

Under the influence of inertia thinking, Renault’s strategy group had concluded that Perez’s assistance was due to orders from the HRT Team. Considering Briatore’s personality, repeating the crash threat from the China Station was entirely possible.

Sometimes a "big villain" image might not be a bad thing, at least it makes opponents cautious.

"Issue the team order, Kubica, pit for a tire change."

Without much thought or hesitation, Blair decided to let Kubica pit.

"NICE!"

Seeing Kubica drive into the pit lane, the outdoor pit crew of the HRT team shouted excitedly.

Without a doubt, Kubica and Renault Team were avoiding the battle, scared off by the dual-car strategy of Chen Xiangbei and Perez.

F1 racing is about momentum; once you choose to back off, it’s easy to lose the courage to fight again. Furthermore, Chen Xiangbei and Perez’s successful position gains would greatly boost both their confidence and momentum.

Perhaps Chen Xiangbei really has a chance to return to the pole position!

"Hmph, what’s left in the Renault team now are just a bunch of cowards."

Briatore mercilessly mocked, then leaned back and looked towards Renault’s outdoor pit wall.

He indeed left the team and paddock due to an FIA ban, but this also involved internal Renault team faction struggles. At least in Briatore’s view, Blair, the biggest beneficiary, seemed to have acted opportunistically.