ATPnovel Chapter 12 Safety Car! Safety Car!
Chapter 12 Safety Car! Safety Car!
"Power suddenly dropped! Power suddenly dropped!" Tanger watched helplessly as Leclerc and Verstappen overtook his AT03, which had suddenly slowed down. "I think I just heard an explosion. Did the engine blow out?"
"The engine blew up." Mattia said dejectedly. "We have to withdraw from the race, Tom."
Tang Che: "Damn it!"
"Your car is smoking...it's on fire!" Mattia exclaimed urgently. "You need to get off the race car right away!"
Tang Che laughed and turned the steering wheel to steer the car into the buffer zone.
As soon as the car stopped, the flames immediately spread to the cabin.
The entire paddock fell silent—no one wanted the driver to be injured in the accident, or even…everyone was praying that Tannh would get off the car safely.
Mattia panicked: "Get off the race car! Tom! Get off the race car!"
Tang Che calmly turned off everything that needed to be turned off, removed the steering wheel, and leaped out of the cockpit and out of the flames.
The entire hunting ground erupted in cheers.
Matthew responded very quickly on this track; he arrived with a fire extinguisher almost at the same moment Tanger jumped out of the flames.
The flames were extinguished in moments. Beneath the billowing smoke, the blackened carbon fiber outer shell was cracked, a testament to the sheer force of the explosion.
Tang Che fell into deep thought: Had I pushed too hard?
"How's Tang? I just saw in the rearview mirror that his race car looks like it's on fire," Leclerc asked in the TR.
Almost simultaneously, Verstappen also asked in TR, "Is Tom okay?"
Don't assume that drivers don't care about each other just because they're fiercely competing for a position on the track.
No driver wants a safety incident on the track. Even star-crossed lovers like Hamilton and Rosberg would pray for the other to escape unscathed if they were involved in an accident.
"Tom has safely exited the car and appears to be in perfect health." The track engineers for Verstappen and Leclerc gave essentially the same answer: "The FIA has deployed the safety car; please monitor your speed and position."
Safety car: All vehicles present! Reduce speed! Overtaking prohibited!
The crane arrived, and the on-site medical team also arrived.
A crane lifted AT03, and the on-site medical team confirmed that Tang Che's physical condition was completely normal.
The crane lifted AT03, and Matthew drove Townche back to the Alfa Romeo team's pit garage on his scooter.
During this period, apart from Verstappen and Leclerc who had just come out of the pits, most drivers chose to pit for tire changes, including Sainz, who was leading the race.
When Tangche arrived at the pit lane, the safety car, which had been on five laps, was leaving the track, and the race entered the dynamic start phase.
Tang Che: Now that things have come to this, let's watch the game first.
Leclerc, who was in the lead, didn't hesitate and stepped on the gas to start. Verstappen reacted quickly and wasn't pulled too far ahead by Leclerc's sudden start.
The difference between the two sides is 1.2 seconds, and there will definitely be an offensive and defensive battle soon.
Two laps later, Verstappen had an attacking opportunity.
After passing the DRRS activation point, Verstappen activated DRRS and quickly approached Leclerc.
Verstappen pulls back! He's alongside Leclerc...and even surpasses Leclerc!
Leclerc wasn't in a hurry and let Verstappen go into Turn 1 first.
Did Leclerc give up on defense? Absolutely not! Leclerc was luring him into a trap! He easily bypassed Verstappen by making a crossover pass!
But Verstappen is still in Leclerc's DR section!
On the long straight before Turn 4, Verstappen activated DRES, followed the car in the car in the car in the car in the car in the car in the car in the car in the car, and ran alongside Leclerc before the turn!
Verstappen forcefully contested the paint! He even forced Leclerc off the track!
Verstappen has taken the lead! Even two car lengths ahead of the Leclerc!
But that was not in compliance with regulations, and the FIA ruled that Verstappen should return the lead.
Verstappen wasn't willing to give way, and he held onto the line tightly for several consecutive corners.
Verstappen's track engineer had to remind him in the TR: "Max, we have to give back the lead, or we'll get a time penalty, which will take away all your flexibility for the rest of the race."
Verstappen remained silent and gave way before Turn 8, allowing Leclerc to regain the lead.
This choice is a bit cunning. Two corners later, it's the DrS zone again. Verstappen can regain his position and then immediately use DrS to attack. Moreover, the 11th corner at the end of this DrS zone is one of the three clear overtaking points on this track.
The situation is very favorable for Verstappen; how will Leclerc respond?
Leclerc chose to test his braking skills against Verstappen at Turn 11!
Did you think someone was going to lock down the car again? Nobody did! Verstappen's braking point was even later! Almost the latest braking point!
Exiting the corner... Verstappen's exit speed was ridiculously fast! He completely outpaced Leclerc!
After two turns, on the straight, Leclerc was already 1.5 seconds behind Verstappen.
We'll have to chase them for a while before we have another chance to attack.
The live stream focused on the second group, with Sainz, Perez, and Russell racing like a high-speed train on the straight before Turn 4.
Turn 4, Russell attacks Perez! Perez blocks the line, giving Russell no chance whatsoever!
Turns 5, 6, and 7 were a series of consecutive corners where Russell kept putting pressure on Perez, forcing him to widen his lane in order to have a chance to overtake... Perez remained as steady as a rock!
Thanks to the close battle between Perez and Russell, Sainz easily extended his lead over both Perez and Russell.
The camera then shifts again, showing Hamilton (P7) attacking Magnussen (P6).
Haas, who gave up on the 21 season and went all in on the 22 season, has indeed achieved remarkable success, now sitting at the same table as the Mercedes dynasty – there are two Mercedes on the track, one in front of Haas and one behind Haas.
W13! What do you have to say now?!
W13: There are still more than ten laps left, I might be able to turn things around!
You'll have to get past Haas first!
Magnussen, who was temporarily called in by the Haas team to put out a fire (what kind of fire, those who know, know), is quite skilled! He defended! He defended against all of Cupping King's attacks!
Hamilton was absolutely furious, his anger blazing, and on the spot, he unleashed his golden left-wing attack, scoring a world-class goal... (crossed out).
Hamilton closely followed Magnussen, waiting for the next opportunity to overtake.
Before we could even lament Hamilton's failed overtaking maneuver, Verstappen and Leclerc were about to embark on their third major offensive and defensive showdown!
Leclerc launches an attack at Turn 8!
Verstappen squeezed Leclerc's lines! Leclerc had to abandon the attack!
There's still a chance! After the next two corners, Leclerc still has Dr. Rex!
After passing the DRS checkpoint, the Leclerc activated DRS, followed the car in front, and prepared to overtake...
"Safety car! Safety car!" Leclerc's engineer, Javier Marcos Paderros, shouted in the radio, "Watch your position and speed!"
Leclerc was incredibly, immensely, and utterly enraged, his fury reaching its peak: "F**k!!!!!!!!!"