Actually, as early as when Chen Xiangbei was testing as a rookie at the Catalonia Circuit, Dennis had already noticed this Chinese kid.
At the time, the McLaren Team was also conducting test runs, and Chen Xiangbei was practically driving a Honda’s tractor and beat the arrogant McLaren "Silver Arrows."
Such an impressive display caught the attention of the Renault Team.
Being one of the "Top Three," could McLaren just turn a blind eye?
The answer is certainly no; McLaren’s engineers had assessed Chen Xiangbei’s level and deemed he had reached the F1 driver standard.
However, reaching the F1 driver standard yet failing to meet McLaren’s standards!
The "Top Three" still have distinctions. Ferrari holds the leading position unyieldingly, followed closely by McLaren with solid foundations, whereas Renault crumbles under the "Crashgate" scandal.
McLaren’s goal is to seize both the driver and team championship and become the strongest team within the F1 paddock.
With that objective, Dennis recruited the new world champion Button to partner with their own driver Hamilton, creating the strongest driver pairing in the paddock currently.
No matter how well Chen Xiangbei performs in testing, can he compete with these two?
From start to finish, McLaren’s team never aimed at the newcomers. Even when encountering potential talents, they chose to ignore them. However, the upcoming performance in the ROC National Cup and the F1 new season winter testing challenges Dennis’s perception bit by bit.
"The lines are very precise and beautiful, coupled with Brown’s approval, indeed there is a possibility of becoming the next new star in the paddock."
The current team principal Whitmarsh nodded in agreement with this statement.
He’s not too familiar with Chen Xiangbei but has a very good relationship with the current Mercedes team principal Ross Brown.
One could even say that Brown GP’s double champion achievement last year had at least 30% of Whitmarsh’s contribution.
The Mercedes engine was facilitated by Whitmarsh to be provided to the Brown GP Team.
Many people recognize F1 teams, often focusing only on the name of the chassis manufacturers, rarely paying attention to their full names.
For instance, the McLaren Team is usually called this, while its full name should be McLaren Mercedes Team.
There are also others like Red Bull Renault Team, Williams Honda Team, and so on.
Before Mercedes officially acquired the Brown GP Team, McLaren could actually be considered a joint team with Mercedes, to the extent that other teams in the paddock wanted to use the Mercedes engine and needed McLaren’s permission to supply it.
However, the relationship between the two companies turned competitive with Mercedes’ factory team entry, eventually parting ways in 2014. McLaren turned into a customer team for Honda.
"How fast do you think he’s on this lap?"
Dennis followed up with a question.
"About 1 minute 34 seconds."
The Paris Circuit record is 1 minute 30 seconds 252, even running at 1 minute 34 seconds remains 4 seconds slower, appearing drastically different.
In fact, F1 circuit records aren’t like those of lower-tier formulas, meant for breaking, let alone it’s a record set by the King of Cars Schumacher, driving a Ferrari Mars Rover.
Under normal circumstances, drivers have a hard time breaking track records, and rookies like Chen Xiangbei have no chance.
Coupled with testing phase reserves, 1 minute 34 seconds is a reasonable range.
"Not bad, basically confirming the rookie as genuinely first."
Dennis nodded in approval; it seems Chen Xiangbei is displaying his "leapfrog" talent, with winter testing results not being a coincidence.
At least this year’s rookies can’t outperform Chen Xiangbei.
"BOSS, it’s still too early to draw conclusions."
Whitmarsh didn’t completely agree; Chen Xiangbei only ran half a timed lap and secured as rookie first?
"Then let us wait and see."
Dennis smiled and responded, then looked towards the direction of HRT Team’s pit garages.
Briatore tilted his stance, looking proud and relaxed.
Old rogues understand each other best; only when finding a treasure would Hua Bu be this happy.
In comparison to the team manager acting as the "hands-off boss," Odetto remained diligent and fulfilled his duties as chief race engineer.
"Xiangbei, both the brakes and tire temperature are too high, don’t brake heavily anymore for deceleration. Try to brake earlier and use energy recovery mechanisms more."
Odetto noticed the abnormal data from the car sensors and spoke to remind Chen Xiangbei.
Originally, the Bahrain Circuit is already hot and high-temperature. Chen Xiangbei, in pursuit of lap timing speed, took delayed and heavy braking actions in most turns, which puts tremendous pressure on the cooling system of the brakes.
Currently, sensor data shows that the brake disc has exceeded a thousand degrees, soon it could ignite.
Relying solely on the air-cooling system can no longer cool the brakes; other methods must be used to reduce temperature. Otherwise, Chen Xiangbei will soon face brake failure. Google seaʀᴄh novel※fire.net
Veteran drivers who have driven long-distance downhill mountain roads in Yunnan, Guizhou, or Sichuan should know that for downhill sections over ten kilometers, relying on brakes alone to decelerate is inadvisable. The engine’s downshift braking can assist brakes in deceleration.
In necessary cases, one must stop to pour water over the brake disc to cool it.
Because as the brake disc temperature rises rapidly, even carbon ceramic will encounter heat attenuation, drastically reducing braking effectiveness.
Although theoretically, F1 cars also have the potential for engine downshift braking, it’s not practical in operation.
After all, in just under six kilometers of track distance per lap, drivers perform around a hundred upshifts and downshifts. Forcing deceleration in fixed gear would mean the lap time is akin to driving a tractor.