Car Racing without Money-Chapter 451 - 179: The Standards of a Championship-Contending Team (3)

Chapter 451: Chapter 179: The Standards of a Championship-Contending Team (3)

But this was the first time under the name of the HRT Team, and there were no mistakes or oversights in front of Briatore, which was naturally something to be happy about.

Only Hua Bu, who was watching, showed no sign of joy on his face.

"Odetto, what’s the average time for your pit stops and tire changes in the past?"

"During the testing in Catalonia a few months ago, it was down to 3.5 seconds."

Upon hearing Odetto’s response, Briatore sneered, "This time it took 3.3 seconds for the pit stop, are you satisfied then?"

With these words, the technicians who were smiling moments ago immediately sensed something was off about the atmosphere.

"Odetto, you came from the Ferrari Team, you must know the average time for the big teams, right?"

"Their average times are all under 3 seconds, especially the Ferrari and Red Bull Racing Teams, now averaging at 2.8 seconds."

"A 0.5-second gap, do you know how long a driver has to chase on the track to make up for that?"

"If you exit the pit behind others, you might never catch up!"

Briatore’s words came like a machine gun, bombarding Odetto with anger.

He definitely doesn’t have the best character, full of baffling behaviors, but when it comes to managing a team, Briatore never slacks off.

Or rather, this is his source of profit: a team without achievements has no value!

Building a team to aim for the championship means not only demanding from the drivers but also requiring all team members to reach the standards of a champion team!

A 0.5-second gap, Briatore cannot accept.

"The Super Aguri Team disbanded at the beginning of last year, and the crew stopped practicing for over a year. It was not until recent months’ tests that they resumed pit stop practice. They need some time to improve."

Odetto explained, not as an excuse, but as a factual reason.

"Need time to improve?"

Facing Odetto’s explanation, Briatore showed no mercy.

"No matter how short your practice time is, can it be shorter than the Chinese newcomers in the technician team?"

"I thought they’d be the ones dragging us down, yet the old members are even worse!"

"If this is your standard, just quit early and don’t waste time!"

Briatore has realized this is not a technical problem, but an attitude problem.

His least trusted were Ayong and some other Chinese ’connections,’ assuming that Chen Xiangbei’s next pit stop would definitely be a hindrance.

If that happened, Briatore would find a way to kick Liang Chi and the others out, which was his promised authority as the team manager.

But that’s not how it turned out!

Liang Chi, Ayong, and Brother Lei formed a tire change team, with the task of handling the right rear wheel.

One person was responsible for the pneumatic wrench, tasks like loosening and tightening screws were handled by the pneumatic wrench.

The second person removed the old tire, and the third person put the new tire on.

Actually, there’s a fourth person, serving as a backup technician, stepping in if an unexpected situation arises.

Among the four tire change teams, the right rear wheel managed by the Chinese members was the first to finish the tire change, and though Briatore didn’t have a stopwatch to precisely measure, the estimated speed was at least 0.5 seconds faster.

The slowest was the left front tire, which was delayed by almost a whole second!

Having mixed in the F1 Paddock for so many years, Briatore knows the reason for this phenomenon all too well.

In Chinese terms, it’s described as being ’oily around the edges.’

The Super Aguri Team ranked at the bottom for consecutive years, and with hopeless cars and drivers slacking off, the whole team gradually loses its fighting spirit.

Saving fractions of a second meant nothing to the Super Aguri Team. Even if their pit stops were one or two seconds faster than other teams, they’d still end up at the bottom.

Since efforts don’t matter, why bother trying?

When this laziness becomes habitual, it leads to the current situation.

Experienced veterans aren’t as good as newcomers who practiced for a few months.

Tire changing during pit stops is not a high-tech operation; it mainly depends on familiarity and attitude.

If they can’t even achieve this, they might as well leave!

Watching the enraged Briatore in front of him, Odetto’s face turned ashen, and internally he felt an indescribable shame.

He didn’t ignore the phenomenon; otherwise, he wouldn’t have forced the technician crew to stay every day for tire change practice during Chen Xiangbei’s test sessions.

Odetto believed there was still time. Through eight days of winter testing, the team’s pit stop times undoubtedly would rise another level.

Yet Hua Bu’s words served to ’wake’ him.

Indeed, it’s not about familiarity; it’s an attitude problem caused by inertia.

Liang Chi and some other Chinese technicians compensated for their lack of experience and familiarity by practicing tire changes using a car model even at the Lifield Technology Center.

Odetto could say he’s seen them screwing on parts every day!

This effort and attitude are exactly how they achieved today’s fastest tire change speed.

"Manager Briatore, you’re right. If the crew members cannot improve, then they are no longer suitable to stay on this top stage of racing."

After speaking, Odetto turned to the technician team and seriously said, "Starting today, the goal for the team’s pit stop and tire change time is set under 3 seconds, and every member will face evaluation."

"Those with multiple mistakes or prolonged failure to meet the standards will have their team contracts terminated."

The saying goes ’benevolence does not govern soldiers.’ Now Odetto somewhat understands why Briatore would be ’cold-blooded and ruthless.’

A team aiming for the championship cannot hold onto ’personal feelings.’"

"Under 3 seconds?"

"Even the training target is set so low, Odetto, you truly have aged!"

Hua Bu remains the same Hua Bu, and Odetto’s concessions won’t earn his compromise. His mouth remains fiercely sharp.

"Fortunately, refueling during pit stops was canceled this year, otherwise, with your level, wouldn’t you need half a minute to stop in the pits?"

"Listen up, the standard for championship team pit stop times isn’t just about not being slow, but also being faster than other teams."

"Only this way can it help the driver gain a position or even multiple positions in the race."

"An average of 2.5 seconds is my requirement!"