One Rider Leaves the World in the Dust

Chapter 131 A Mighty Horse Leaving the World in the Dust

Grass!
Alessi's heart tightened, and he burst into profanity.

Everything happened too fast. With a barely perceptible mistake, Russell immediately caught up and overtook him. Alesi was just about to floor the accelerator and launch a counterattack, trying to regain position at the Blanchemont corner; but Lu Zhizhou behind him had already clung to him like a leech in the blink of an eye.

So, what to do?
Alessi could choose to defend, hold the line, and thwart Lu Zhizhou's plan to exploit the loophole.

At the same time, he could also choose to attack, ignoring Lu Zhizhou and choosing to go on the offensive line to regain his position before Russell consolidates his lead.

In that brief moment, the desire to attack overcame the impulse to torment Lu Zhizhou, and Alessi still displayed his deeply ingrained offensive instincts.

Ignoring Lu Zhizhou, abandoning his defensive position, he floored the accelerator and plunged into the Blanchemont corner. As soon as he emerged from the corner, he quickly cut into the left inside line, getting ahead of Russell to stick to the inside of the first corner and trying to squeeze Russell's line of play. He launched an attack without hesitation.

Doors wide open—

The right outer line was completely open in front of Lu Zhizhou. Without hesitation, he stepped on the gas and followed the rapidly flowing airflow into the Blanchemont Bend. He quietly closed in before the bend, his speed gradually increasing as he was swept into the dirty air of the bend. A slight deviation could cause the front wheels to lose traction.

Alessi followed Russell closely, and Lu Zhizhou followed Alessi and Russell closely. The three cars were jostled together, and the Blanchemont Bend was instantly filled with cars.

Croft held his breath. The Spa circuit is not very wide. Although it can accommodate three cars side by side, it is a typical two-lane circuit. At this time, the three cars are running side by side with their front and rear staggered. At the speed of GP3, the slightest carelessness will result in friction and collision, and the next step will be to leave the track.

However, Lu Zhizhou remained focused and single-minded, relentlessly pursuing Russell.

At that moment, Russell, the leader, made the first move, using a left-handed maneuver to occupy the driving line, squeezing Alessi's space and cutting off Alessi's attempt to cut inside from the outside to overtake him, completing a solid defensive play.

Just as Lu Zhizhou had predicted, given Russell's personality, he would never leave the lanes open to allow Alessi to launch a full-scale attack.

When Russell sets up his defense, that's when Lu Zhizhou has his chance to attack.

boom--

Amidst the roar of engines, Lu Zhizhou caught up, then pulled away from the wake, swerved to the right, and sped off at full speed.

Ahead lies the S-curve of the bus stop, with right bend number 18 and left bend number 19. The left side is the dry driving lane, and the right side is the wet driving lane.

Logically speaking, since it's raining today, everyone should choose to drive on the right, but these three young people seem to have... switched places.

Alessi and Russell are vying for the dry track in the rain, while Lu Zhizhou is looking for an opportunity to break through from the popular wet track.

Isn't this too risky?
Borrepell glanced at the weather map on the display screen, then leaned back off the roof. Sure enough—

The rain stopped.

Not only the second time slot, but also the latter half of the third time slot and the first time slot were all stopped. The sun shyly peeked out from behind the clouds, and the damp air carrying green and earthy scents rushed in, sweeping away the gloom and dullness of the world. The track conditions also changed.

The original wet driving lanes are now relatively dry due to frequent racing, while the original dry driving lanes still retain water stains.

Precisely because of this, the three drivers made different choices based on their tire condition and the offensive and defensive situations.

Borrepell sat up straight again, staring intently at the display screen; a good show was unfolding at the bus stop.

On the left, Russell and Alessi are locked in a battle, both trying to brake late to seize the perfect entry point for the optimal "outer-inner-outer" driving line on the S-curve.

On the right, Lu Zhizhou was dancing wildly on the steel cable, trying to brake late, hugging the apex of Turn 18, and occupying the best exit position in the narrow space of the bus stop.

A strong wind howled, and water mist filled the air.

Russell, Lu Zhizhou, and Alessi all braked by the narrowest of margins, plummeting from the peak of their speed to the lowest point of the entire arena, as if in slow motion at ten times the speed. The scene remained frozen until the camera stopped, allowing viewers to identify the most exciting moments of the competition frame by frame.

But then I saw—

Lu Zhizhou displayed his extreme skills, steadily slowing down on the inside line and entering the corner half a second later, even later than Russell and Alesi!

The car quickly swerved, making slight adjustments to the direction. Instead of following the curve of the apex, it used the slightly wider entrance of the bus stop to execute a beautiful slide cut, relying on the light slide of the rear of the car to pull out of the curve and using traction to complete a smooth overtake.

Braking, steering, and accelerator—all done in one smooth motion!
Pierce through the first right bend and head straight for the second left bend.

At this moment, Lu Zhizhou had already overtaken Alesi and Russell, taking the lead into the latter half of the bus station.

The only thing to play is the heartbeat!

Russell was equally impressive, stabbing at the top of the first right bend from the left, perfectly positioning himself to completely cut off any offensive lines.

It is not only rigorous, but also forceful.

With nowhere to go, Alessi veered straight off the bend and into the buffer zone.

Huh!
A gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd!
Unexpectedly, Alesi, who had led for more than half the time, completely lost his position in this way.

However, Russell did not relax. He demonstrated extreme maneuvering under extreme conditions, and the car ran a smooth and rounded line, holding onto the inside line of the second left turn and biting the apex.

The two race cars were neck and neck in the corner, one using speed on the outside and the other trying to gain traction on the inside, neither giving an inch and their paths intertwined.

In the first half, Lu Zhizhou was already in the lead.

In the second half, Russell caught up again.

With fluid grace and perfect execution, Russell almost perfectly replicated Lu Zhizhou's last-minute overtake of Norris in the first F1 free practice session.

As they exited the corner, the two cars were neck and neck, but Russell, taking advantage of his racing line, gained a better exit speed.

With the accelerator floored, Russell overtook Lu Zhizhou by a narrow margin and surged ahead.

The roar of the engine rose steadily on the starting straight. After a series of ups and downs and unexpected turns in the close-quarters battle, Russell managed to overtake Lu Zhizhou and regain the lead. In the blink of an eye, his heart was pounding.

In an instant, adrenaline surged!

Croft's exclamation was already on the tip of his tongue, but he abruptly slammed on the brakes and kept his eyes glued to the trajectory of the live stream camera.

He had a premonition that the contest was not over yet; that last breath still lingered in his throat.

Lu Zhizhou did not lose his position!
From taking the lead to facing a counterattack, the game was intense and relentless, like rain hitting a beach. The back-and-forth competition continued to escalate, but Lu Zhizhou remained focused.

There was no celebration when they overtook each other, and no frustration when they fell behind, because Lu Zhizhou knew Russell's abilities.

Russell couldn't have been unaware of the other pursuer while defending Alessi. He didn't surrender so easily. Relying on his excellent driving lines and top-notch handling, he firmly maintained his lead and suppressed Lu Zhizhou's first wave of attacks.

Without frustration or regret, Lu Zhizhou remained focused and did not rush things. Instead, he closely followed Russell, taking advantage of the tail current and waiting for the opportune moment.

Lu Zhizhou knew that Russell must be in a lot of pain right now, trying to cut off the wake, otherwise the Red River Bend and Kemer Straight would give Lu Zhizhou too much of an advantage.

The problem is that it's no longer raining, the sun is out, and the track is gradually drying out. For the previous four laps, Russell had been chasing Alesi, and his tire wear in the second timeout was significantly worse than Lu Zhizhou's. He needs to control his tire temperature, otherwise, as the track gets drier, Russell's situation will become increasingly difficult.

dilemma!

At this moment, there was no time to hesitate or calculate. Russell could only risk wearing out his tires by accelerating, trying to get rid of Lu Zhizhou.

But Lu Zhizhou was very cunning, sticking close behind Russell and impossible to shake off, and launched another attack at the end of the Kemer Straight.

Russell was startled, his breath catching in his throat: So fast!
in fact--

While Russell was relentlessly pursuing Alessi, Lu Zhizhou remained hidden and discreet, doing everything in his power to eliminate his presence and disappear without a trace.

Everything was waiting for this moment.

After passing the Red River Bend and entering the Kemer Straight, Lu Zhizhou seemed to have once again entered a state of rest and recuperation, taking advantage of Russell's wake and following him like a shadow.

As always, when Lu Zhizhou attacked Russell, he knew Russell's meticulousness and precision, so Lu Zhizhou would always remain patient, follow along, and continuously apply pressure. Today was no exception. When Russell attacked Alessi, Lu Zhizhou was completely invisible.

Then, without warning, suddenly, they ripped off their mask, revealing their fangs—

Russell thought that Lu Zhizhou might wait until Blanchemont Bend or at least Pujon Bend before launching a surprise attack, but he didn't get any breathing time. At the end of the straight, at Lescombe Bend, Kemer launched an attack.

Everything happened so suddenly that Russell didn't even have time to catch his breath before he could feel the aggressive edge of the situation.

Russell always thought he had the initiative in his hands, but he never expected that the metronome was actually with Lu Zhizhou, and he was once again drawn into Lu Zhizhou's rhythm.

In the rearview mirror, Russell noticed that Lu Zhizhou's car front emerged from the wake and swerved to the left.

A crisis has sounded the alarm, making every hair on my body stand on end.

Instinctively, Russell also moved to the left, blocking the outer lane into Lescombe Bend, just like at the bus stop earlier.

However, Lu Zhizhou smoothly turned the steering wheel to the right, hooked it back, and gracefully and nimbly passed Russell's rear end. Before braking, he decisively cut inside and entered the inside lane.

Like a dragon diving into the sea, it plunges into the Les Compeux Bend!

Russell was completely focused and fired up. He felt like every hair on his head was burning. Facing the S-curve in front of him, he cut in with the most classic "outside-inside-outside" line. He could overtake Lu Zhizhou once at the bus stop, and he could replicate that a second time at the Lescombe Bend.

Wheel to wheel! Shoulder to shoulder!
"Russell vs. Lu Zhizhou" - a new round of competition begins. At this moment, no one pays any attention to what is happening behind them; all eyes are focused on this match.

Sparks fly at Les Compeux Bend! Blood splatters!

Then, Brendel was the first to notice that Russell's grip was poor and the rear wheel was slipping slightly!

what happened!

At this point, the track in the second timing segment was not completely dry and was still wet, especially at Lescombe Bend, which is located at the junction of the two timing segments.

The "outer-inner-outer" line is the dry racing line, which race cars have been avoiding so far, leaving water stains on the track. On the contrary, the wet racing line dries faster due to repeated passage by race cars, resulting in a strange texture on the track. Even after the sun comes out, the wet racing line still provides better grip.

And that's not all.

Russell was chasing Alessi, and his semi-wet tires were wearing more wear and were rapidly approaching slick tire condition. They could gain more grip on dry surfaces, but on semi-wet surfaces, the grip would be further reduced.

Back and forth, a slight difference can lead to a huge error. Russell's rear tires started to lose grip on the ground. The problem wasn't immediately apparent in the medium-speed corner of Lescombe, but Brendel noticed the car's wobbling and lack of stability in the corner, especially compared to Lu Zhizhou.

Wait, is all of this... part of Lu Zhizhou's plan?
Because the second time slot is getting drier, Russell's tires may be able to gain more grip. Lu Zhizhou doesn't want to get involved in a fierce battle in that section and wear down all the drainage treads too quickly. So Lescombe Bend is the best overtaking point. Otherwise, he would have to wait until the end of the third time slot.

Brendel held his breath.

In the Les Compe corner, the two race cars were neck and neck, their wheel-to-wheel battle making the air extremely tense.

Little by little, Lu Zhizhou eroded Russell's advantage at a visible speed!

Russell's driving line was practically perfect; not to mention his mistakes, his steering and throttle control were unparalleled. Yet, Lu Zhizhou still managed to overtake him by relying on his slightly better grip during the smooth, fluid flight of the S-curve.

The advantage is not obvious; it's just the width of a forewing.

However! But!

The moment he exited the corner, Lu Zhizhou precisely and delicately applied the throttle, and like a wild goose landing on the sand, he smoothly transitioned from the curve into the straight. The tires instantly gripped the ground, and the slight swaying sensation was instantly balanced, without causing any ripples or disturbances. He simply sped away, releasing his speed in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Zhizhou had already taken a half-car lead over Russell and firmly controlled the dry racing line, gaining an advantage in the second time slot and leaving everyone else in the dust on the straight.

Russell was struck hard by despair.

“Wonderful!”

Brendel slammed his fist on the table, his blood boiling and his heart pounding with excitement.

"Calmly and comprehensively observe the situation and take control of the overall picture. Consider the track conditions, the opponents' situation, and any changes that may occur. Make the right judgments and choices in the shortest possible time based on your own situation, and execute them perfectly. From the Blanchemont corner to the Lescombe corner, the series of offensive and defensive choices are smooth and seamless."

"Not only calm and wise, but also bold and decisive."

"Lu Zhizhou once again demonstrated the courage and strength of a top driver, reminiscent of Ayrton Senna. His understanding and perception in the pouring rain were unparalleled!"

"First! Lu Zhizhou has now risen to first place, leading the Spa sprint race!"

Buzzing, buzzing—

The entire paddock erupted in a bustling atmosphere. Although this was not the first time Lu Zhizhou had led the sprint race, nor was it the first time Lu Zhizhou and Russell had faced off in a battle of offense and defense, this was Spa, and Spa in the rain. Amidst the chaos and turmoil, Lu Zhizhou's display of courage once again impressed everyone.

then!

The commotion continued to escalate, reaching its peak, with all eyes in the paddock focused intently on the live broadcast screen.

Russell is back in action.

Russell did not surrender; he refused to surrender, especially in wet conditions where the car could not go at full speed and relied entirely on the driver's skill to control it.

Once a gap is created, that gap can be chasm, with a difference of more than five seconds after one lap; but if no distance is created and a grappling situation ensues, it will be difficult to break free.

Russell knew this all too well. At this point, he couldn't care less about tire wear. If he wanted to defeat Lu Zhizhou, he couldn't afford to fall behind here.

Moreover, despite Russell's severely worn tires, he actually had a grip advantage over Lu Zhizhou in the second time segment.

Leaving Lescombe Bend, Russell quickly regained his footing, and within just two corners, he had already found an attacking opportunity at Pujon Bend.

In this horseshoe-shaped double left turn, Russell saw Lu Zhizhou cut into the inside line to take the shortest route through the corner and minimize the risk of the front tires overheating. After all, in the second time slot, Lu Zhizhou's semi-wet tires did not have good grip because the drainage treads were not worn down.

Without hesitation, Russell cut into the outside, making full use of his ability to choose his driving line and relying on his grip advantage to forcefully overtake from the outside!

Russell gritted his teeth, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes!
He refused to surrender!

Boom boom boom, boom boom boom—

The heatwave rolled in, the sunlight mingled with the roar of engines, tearing through the damp earth and releasing a fragrant downpour, baring its fangs and claws as it tried to devour Lu Zhizhou.

Crisis struck Lu Zhizhou's back once again! The alarm sounded, his hair stood on end, and all his muscles tensed instantly. Lu Zhizhou could clearly feel the unstoppable and overwhelming killing intent.

So, what to do?
At this moment, Lu Zhizhou had already entered the bend, and readjusting his driving line would risk losing control; but if he did nothing, he would be surrendering.

In a split second, in a fleeting moment, Lu Zhizhou slammed on the brakes—

drift!

In street racing, drifting is commonplace, not only for its flashy and stylish appearance, but also for showing off. However, in Formula racing, almost no one attempts to drift because it causes too much wear and tear on the tires, resulting in loss of grip, deterioration of tire temperature, and even potentially affecting corner exit speed—a thankless and arduous task.

However, Lu Zhizhou had no choice but to stay in the corner and maintain his line of sight, and get out of the corner a step ahead of Russell.

In less than a year, the habit of street racing was still deeply ingrained in his bones, an instinct, a conditioned reflex, and that's how he did it.

But drifting is not just simple drifting. After all, Lu Zhizhou has been racing in GP3 for almost half a year, and the experience of a professional driver is being integrated into his body.

To be precise, this is a semi-drift car control!

Generally speaking, street racing drifting relies on locking the rear wheels instantly with the handbrake and using heavy braking to shift the center of gravity forward to complete difficult maneuvers.

At this moment, Lu Zhizhou relied on advanced drag braking technology to evenly and controllably shift the center of gravity forward. Combined with delicate and precise steering control, he smoothly sped through the top straight of the horseshoe bend, firmly holding his position without giving any openings, holding off Russell, and taking the lead into the second left bend.

Russell attempted to force his way past on the outside, but was firmly blocked in the outer lane, as if a dagger was pressed against his stomach, rendering him unable to move.

Thrilling! Exciting!

Borrepeller's voice, unusually slightly urgent, came through the radio: "Zhizhou! Rear tire overheating!"

Lu Zhizhou remained calm. "I know."

Borrepeller held his breath.

The intense offensive and defensive battles pushed the tense atmosphere to its limit. The Spa circuit was completely silent, and even the random thoughts in one's mind were all swept away and shattered by the roar of the engines.

However, Lu Zhizhou made a clean and simple maneuver, cutting across Turn 11 and then straight out onto the outer lane at the exit.

Of the two left turns in Puhong Bend, Turn 10 is a right-angle turn of 90 degrees, while Turn 11 is more open and less sharp. In other words, you can exit the second left turn at high speed.

Right now, Lu Zhizhou was doing just that. He was right next to the apex of Turn 11, not following the curve of the corner to exit, but instead cutting into the outside of the straight with an "inside-outside" line, blocking Russell's exit straight and cutting off Russell's chance to overtake him by relying on his exit speed.

Then, it galloped away, leaving everyone else in the dust.

Russell choked: ...

A lump formed in his throat, just like Lu Zhizhou forcefully blocking the traffic lane, forcing Russell to swallow it down.

It wasn't the accelerator, it was the brake. Russell had to take control of the car. "Jesus Christ, what is that guy doing? Damn it, is this his method?"

It was a rare sight to hear Russell's voice, which had lost control, over the radio; his frustration and depression were clearly palpable.

It was this brief moment of braking that widened the gap between Russell and Lu Zhizhou again, giving Lu Zhizhou a brief respite before he sped away from the second timeout.

Before he could even exhale completely, Borrepeller's warning came over the radio, "Zhizhou, Han Shilong just stepped into a puddle, his car spun out, and he's lost position. The puddle is at Stavetro Bend, please be careful, Stavetro Bend."

Lu Zhizhou remained calm. "Is he alright?"

Borrepeller: "He's fine, still playing."

Lu Zhizhou: "That's good."

Then, Stavetro Bend came into view. Lu Zhizhou carefully observed that he not only did not avoid the puddle, but deliberately drove over it.

It's not being naughty, but rather—

Looking for water.

Lu Zhizhou knew the rear tires were overheating, and he had to find water to cool them down and control the situation. The small puddle at Stavetro Bend was a disaster for Han Shilong, but for Lu Zhizhou it was an oasis in the desert.

Fortunately, there were still three laps left in the race, and the track was drying out completely. Lu Zhizhou even needed to deliberately grind off all the drainage treads so that his self-made slick tires could regain grip on the dry track.

That's why Lu Zhizhou dared to take the risk in Puhong Bend.

however!
Russell still hasn't completely shaken off Lu Zhizhou, refusing to surrender or lay down his arms, and relentlessly pursuing him.

On the gradually drying track, Russell's almost completely worn tires actually gave him better grip. Lu Zhizhou pulled away in the first timeout, while Russell followed in the second timeout. The two then engaged in a battle of offense and defense in the third timeout, neither giving an inch.

For two consecutive laps, Russell failed to find an opportunity. When he entered the final lap of the sprint, he simply adopted Lu Zhizhou's offensive strategy, taking advantage of Lu Zhizhou's slipstream and following closely, applying pressure like a ghost, but never risking an attack when there was no opportunity.

Remaining patient and waiting for the right opportunity, even after passing through the Puhong Bend and entering the final sprint stage, no rash actions were taken, and the accumulated pressure continued to push to the peak.

After Stavetro Bend, Russell still didn't attack, but finally bared his fangs at Blanchemont Bend—

Slipstream, pullback, cut inside, just like Alesi before, and take it a step further, making the most of the track's width, attempting to overtake from the inside.

A close call!
So, what about Lu Zhizhou?
Almost everyone believed that Lu Zhizhou, like Russell before him, would cut inside and squeeze the driving line to complete the defense, and this included Borrepeller and Brendel.

After all, at the end of Blanchemont Bend, before entering the bus station, lies the second DRS zone of the entire game, and Russell's previous defensive maneuvers against Alesi were textbook examples.

However! Lu Zhizhou didn't!
Remain as steady as Mount Tai, unmoved, and in control of your own destiny.

Lu Zhizhou steadily occupied the outside, never letting up on the accelerator, relying entirely on delicate steering adjustments to speed along the curve at full speed. The engine roared, surging through the light and heat, pushing the speed to its limit step by step against the air pressure, wasting no time on defense and not diverting his attention to others.

Completely focused, pushing to the limit.

In the storm, the young man chasing the wind broke free from his restraints and pursued the limits of speed with all his might.

In sight, the mountains submerged in water are lush and verdant. The red and black afterimage seems to be chasing the light, transforming into a mighty stream of light that cuts through the mountains and leaves everyone else in the dust.

Despite Russell's meticulous planning, perseverance, and strategic maneuvering, maintaining patience and fighting until the very end to deliver the final blow, he still couldn't catch up. Without an absolute advantage in speed, the visible gap remained, impossible to close.

So close, yet so far away.

Before it could even close the distance enough to activate DRS and attempt to overtake, that streak of light had already slipped into the bus stop, moving with the grace of a startled swan, threading a needle and rushing out.

The driving lines were smooth and flawless, leaving no room for error and refusing to give any chance.

then!

One after the other, heel to heel, the two race cars crossed the finish line, bringing the Belgian Grand Prix GP3 sprint to a close, and finally letting out a long sigh of relief.

"Lu Zhizhou! Champion!"

The screams, roars, and passion all reached their peak at this moment and vanished into nothingness, disappearing without a trace, transforming into a continuous surge of energy that flowed throughout the body.

A surge of fervor burned in his blood.

The entire Spa-Francorchamps circuit was glued to the screen, all eyes focused on the fierce, close-quarters battle for the championship that raged until the very last moment.

Even the spectators who were entering the paddock and arriving at the track could feel the tension surging through the mountains after the rain. They stopped and looked up at the live broadcast screen, holding their breath as they watched the two ART race cars chasing each other in close combat.

The engine roared, like a summer downpour pouring down.

Whoosh, whoosh—

Two streaks of light crossed the finish line one after the other, bringing this suspenseful sprint race to a close.

Lu Zhizhou, 27:50.961.

Russell, 27:51.794.

The two were separated by only 0.833 seconds, truly deciding the winner by a hair's breadth. The 2017 GP3 Belgian Grand Prix sprint race has ended, and Lu Zhizhou has emerged victorious!
"Lu Zhizhou!"

"Lu Zhizhou!"

Croft felt a chill run down his spine and his breathing quickened. He felt a dizzying sensation, his mind went blank, and he briefly lost the ability to speak. He could only keep calling out that name, like a spell to summon Aladdin's lamp, using all his passion and energy to call out it passionately and enthusiastically.

Then--

boom!
My entire brain exploded.

"Lu Zhizhou, champion."

My wildly beating heart vanished into nothingness in an instant, and a surge of adrenaline took over control of my brain, my blood pumping.

"Incredible!"

"This is not the first time Lu Zhizhou has started from eighth place in a sprint race, nor is it the first time Lu Zhizhou has staged a spectacular solo run to the top in a sprint race."

"but!"

"This was a rain-soaked race, and it was at the extremely challenging Spa. Lu Zhizhou demonstrated the superb unity between man and machine, truly combining the limits of racing and racing skills perfectly, giving full play to his abilities without reservation, and once again proving with his actions that he is the only superstar in this year's GP3."

"Skillful handling of crashes, overtaking Bocolacci and Falchero, battling with Alesi and Russell, and dealing with changes in the track conditions after the rain... In just thirteen laps of the sprint race, it has everything, encompassing almost all the most classic, exciting, and challenging elements of Formula One racing."

"Lu Zhizhou, on the other hand, displayed the charm of 'Senna in the rain,' calm and wise, perfectly controlling the rhythm, and completely turning the Spa-Francorchamps circuit into his stage!"

"Qualifying, main race, and sprint race – Lu Zhizhou once again had a perfect weekend, and this is the third time this season he has achieved a weekend sweep."

"Despite a collision during the Silverstone sprint, Lu Zhizhou still finished second. In the Budapest sprint, he was surrounded by the Trident team and unfortunately finished fourth, missing the podium. However, facing doubts and pressure, Lu Zhizhou defended his dominant position with a flawless weekend."

"Incredible!"

Exhilarating and exhilarating, Croft roared and howled with fervor, oblivious to his hoarse voice, his voice continuing to erupt. His flushed cheeks resembled ripe tomatoes that might burst at any moment, but the bright light in his eyes burned with unwavering fervor.

In the world of competitive sports, not everyone can step onto the field to challenge their limits, but witnessing miracles is also an honor.

Just like this moment—

Ah!
Borrepell clenched his fists, slammed them hard on the table, stood up, and raised his arms in a shout.

Ahhhhh!
It wasn't just because of a sprint victory, but also because of the pressure brought by the recent turmoil, and even more so because of this exhilarating and spectacular victory. Lu Zhizhou once again silenced all those gloating and gloating voices with his unparalleled performance.

"First, Zhizhou. First!" Borrepeller finally regained his composure and immediately relayed the good news to Lu Zhizhou via radio.

He tried his best to control himself, but his voice still trembled slightly. Taking a deep breath, Borrepell sighed again.

"Zhizhou, a wonderful match, a perfect performance, you deserve this victory!"

Lu Zhizhou's teasing voice came through the radio, "Pierre, you're not going to cry, are you?"

Borrepeller, “...Shut up.”

Lu Zhizhou: "Hahaha."

Not only Borrepeller, but back in the pit area, the entire technical team and staff of the ART team came out in full force to cheer and welcome Lu Zhizhou's triumphant return.

The race car slowly came to a stop. In the sweltering heat, Lu Zhizhou turned around and saw Russell standing next to him.

Lu Zhizhou noticed Russell's gaze; he seemed to have been standing there waiting on purpose.

With a long, deep breath, Russell finally mustered the courage to take a step towards Lu Zhizhou. He straightened his back with stubborn pride, raised his chin, looked at Lu Zhizhou with neither arrogance nor servility, and extended his right hand, "A real contest."

Today, Russell finally faced reality bravely. He gave it his all and held nothing back, but still lost the game.

Lu Zhizhou met Russell's gaze, looking directly into those eyes with an upright and honest expression. "This is just the beginning, isn't it?"

Russell was taken aback. He could hear the approval and expectation hidden in Lu Zhizhou's words. Clearly, Lu Zhizhou was also looking forward to more competition in the future.

Russell's chest instantly filled with passion, his fighting spirit burning brightly. "Of course. I'll catch up with you."

The words couldn't be continued; cheers erupted from afar, and even from a distance, the heatwave could be felt, like a fireball rushing towards them—

That was none other than Leclerc.

As F2 and F1 teams gradually arrived at Spa-Francorchamps, they witnessed the race winding down, and discussions surrounding GP3 began to unfold.

Besides Leclerc, Zach Brown personally came to congratulate him, and Toto Wolff and Cyril Abitebol also called to offer their congratulations.

Without a doubt, we are standing at the center of the storm.

After truly understanding the overall situation of the game, the admiration and surprise were even more overwhelming.

Lu Zhizhou, Russell, and Alesi finished in the top three of the sprint race; Hubert of the ART team also delivered a stunning performance, starting from the pit lane and making it all the way to the points zone to finish seventh.

Meanwhile, Bokolavic and Han Se-ryong each had their own misfortunes, with problems arising in their cars. Although they did not retire from the race, they ended up second to last and last place, respectively.

Spa in the rain lived up to its reputation. Amidst all sorts of unexpected events, it presented an extreme test for both the car and the driver. Any slight deviation could have ruined the entire race. It was precisely because of this that Lu Zhizhou's glorious victory of winning both the main race and the sprint race for the third time this season was further highlighted.

For other drivers, completing such a feat once would be a historic achievement, but now Lu Zhizhou has accomplished it three times in a single season. All the uproar and controversy has vanished in an instant, leaving only praise and amazement amidst the overwhelming wave of enthusiasm.

Amidst the commotion, Red Bull team principal Horner stood out unusually, behaving with unusual low profile.

After the sprint race, Horner did not go to the media to stir up trouble. Instead, he sat in front of his computer, rewatched the sprint race, and studied the data in depth, falling into deep thought.

Horner had always used Lu Zhizhou merely as a tool for his provocations, but now he couldn't help but think—

Was his judgment wrong?
(End of this chapter)