The Master of Stirring Up Trouble

Chapter 143 The Master of Stirring Up Trouble
The Australian Grand Prix, which joined the racing family in 1985, was held in Adelaide for the first decade as the season finale. Since 1996, it has been held in Melbourne at the Albert Park circuit and often serves as the season opener.

The opening and closing of a season are often the most symbolic events, which is why they are the goals that city event organizers strive to achieve.

Over the years, the Bahrain and Malaysian Grand Prix have both tried their best to secure the coveted position of season opener, and even briefly served as the season opener; however, Australia, with its seasonal advantage, passionate fans, and the enduring Albert Park circuit, has firmly maintained its position as the season opener, which has become a tradition in F1 and a deeply ingrained feature.

Thanks to this, many legendary racing drivers made their professional debut at Albert Park Circuit.

Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Raikkonen, Mark Webber.

This year is no exception; Lu Zhizhou and Leclerc will make their F1 career debuts here, and the Albert Park Circuit will once again become a witness to history, drawing all eyes to the circuit.

Early in the morning, the thin, rose-gold dawn pierced through the cloudless, azure sky and poured down. The racing fans who arrived at the paddock first were already ready, and the sweltering heat was stirring, preparing to welcome the grand opening of the annual F1 race. The racing enthusiasts were about to burst into action.

After a long four-month wait, and the preparation and baptism of the winter tests, the anticipation for the new season is almost overwhelming.

This is especially true for Australian car enthusiasts.

Despite F1 having been on this land for over thirty years, no homegrown driver has yet managed to reach the podium on their home track.

Not to mention winning the championship.

However, the opportunity has finally arrived this year.

Daniel Ricciardo, from Perth, Australia, is Red Bull's number one driver and the team's hope for the home race. Both the driver and the team are ready to make a splash at Albert Park, aiming for a victory to kick off the 2018 season and challenge for the championship.

The crowd was restless and uneasy.

"Daniel?"

Is that him?

The rustling sounds continued, and one or two people stood on tiptoe and craned their necks to look at the distant horizon. Amid the commotion, the sound of their hearts pounding wildly in their chests could be clearly heard. Just imagining seeing their home heroes was enough to make them lose control of their frantic emotions.

Then, a figure appeared—

A white T-shirt, a red windbreaker, denim shorts, a backwards baseball cap, and a pair of red and black AJ high-top sneakers, with a dark black skateboard tossed to the ground, came into view.

Unrestrained, spontaneous, carefree, and free, soaring with the wind, one can almost see the vibrant youthful energy rushing wildly in the golden dawn.

In the bustling crowd, it was easy to catch someone's eye and involuntarily hold their breath, staring intently at that streak of light.

In the paddock, riders often move around on scooters, but very, very rarely, almost no one rides directly on a skateboard.

After all, with crowds surging around, skateboards are difficult to control and collisions are likely to occur.

However, before their eyes, that figure moved freely through the crowd, while everyone else seemed to have stopped, and only that streak of light was flying by.

In an instant, it was breathtaking.

A sense of unease and clamor was building, and the fans who couldn't see clearly ahead could no longer contain themselves and screamed, instantly igniting a wave of excitement.

"Daniel, ahhhhhh!"

Clearly, they thought the skateboarder was Ricardo, and shouts instantly spread, sweeping across the entire arena.

However, the figure did not stop, but continued forward, chasing the raging wind. Finally, someone in the surging crowd regained their senses and shouted out.

"Lu Zhizhou!"

The sound was earth-shattering, like a thunderclap. A small group in the crowd instantly erupted into a frenzy, waving their five-star red flags and red Ferrari hats with fervor. The energy released in that brief moment completely suppressed the momentum of the home crowd, and the energy surged towards that corner like a tidal wave.

The skateboarding boy instinctively turned around, and the sunlight that filled the sky and the earth froze in that instant, becoming eternal and recording that amazing moment.

Qian Jun reflexively pressed the shutter, but his brain couldn't keep up with the speed, and in the blink of an eye, he was swallowed up by the rolling heat waves from all directions.

Clearly, this wasn't Lu Zhizhou's first appearance, but witnessing it firsthand was a completely different experience. The two-dimensional image in the photos came to life, and his flamboyant and bright temperament easily caught the eye, including those Ricardo supporters from the home crowd.

"Aaaaaaaaaaa!"

Lu Zhizhou was taken aback, slammed on the brakes and stopped, looking in the direction of the sound with a hint of surprise.

Previously at Silverstone Circuit, Lu Zhizhou had experienced a little bit of special treatment, and later at Monza, he became a favorite of the Iron Buddha Temple because of Ferrari.

But to be honest, he was still a complete newcomer and didn't think he would be recognized in Melbourne.

result--

Surprise!

As the footsteps drew closer, Lu Zhizhou could see a series of familiar Eastern faces, and a smile spread across his face. "Did you come all the way to Melbourne specifically to watch the opening match?"

"I live in Melbourne," "I flew here specifically from Perth," "Welcome to Australia"—familiar Chinese phrases instantly bridged the gap between us.

How could Lu Zhizhou forget that there are definitely many Chinese compatriots living in Australia? They actually came all the way to Melbourne to support Lu Zhizhou.

This support can bring warmth even when you are in a foreign land.

Lu Zhizhou's smile blossomed without reservation. "Thank you, thank you so much. I was prepared to fight this battle alone."

"Lu Zhizhou, you will never walk alone. No matter where you are, we, the Chinese compatriots all over the world, will stand with you and fight side by side."

A voice rang out from the crowd, shouting a declaration with great vigor. However, before Lu Zhizhou could be moved, his emotions were interrupted.

"Lu Zhizhou! Ahh ...

A girl covered her mouth in disbelief, letting out a screeching scream like a groundhog. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed, yet she couldn't stop pacing back and forth, using all her strength to express her joy and happiness. She stared intently at Lu Zhizhou, her whole body trembling.

Lu Zhizhou was slightly taken aback. Although he didn't know the girl's story, he could feel the turbulence and complexity within her, which was not just simple happiness.

Living in a foreign land, whether it's studying or working, they all have their own hardships and struggles, and only those who have truly experienced it can understand.

Lu Zhizhou opened his arms and politely gave the girl a hug, gently patting her shoulder. "Good luck!"

The girl burst into tears instantly.

At that moment, the crowd erupted into an even more turbulent surge, instantly losing control. Everyone, including Lu Zhizhou, reflexively turned to look.

You can spot Daniel Ricardo grinning broadly, revealing his teeth.

Daniel Ricciardo, a Red Bull driver, wears the number three jersey and is nicknamed "Big Tooth" by fans in the Chinese-speaking world.

The reason is that Ricardo has a cheerful and carefree personality, likes to joke and play pranks, and always grins, showing three hundred teeth.

Without a doubt, Ricciardo is one of the drivers with the most smiles and the loudest voices in the paddock; his shouts and groans can be heard in every corner.

The situation is the same right now.

Ricciardo noticed the enthusiasm of the Chinese fans, so he stood in the paddock tunnel and, like a conductor, called on the local fans to unleash their energy.

Louder! Louder! Melbourne, let me hear you!

That radiant smile, those pearly white teeth—no wonder he's Ricardo.

Seeing Lu Zhizhou turn his head to look at him, Ricardo took two steps forward, trying to greet him, but then suddenly stopped and clutched his chest.

"Wait, Lu, I can't get close to you, right?"

Lu Zhizhou: ?

"Because of them, Netflix, you're not allowed to be on camera, right?"

At this moment, Ricardo was accompanied by a photography team, at least five people, who surrounded him and recorded every move in the paddock.

It's obvious at a glance that the Netflix team has made the biggest change in the paddock this year.

Obviously, Ricciardo was joking. Netflix only prohibits access to the pit areas of Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz, but it doesn't mean that all drivers are banned from the camera.

Lu Zhizhou's smile also brightened. "It's alright, you can guess."

As he spoke, he turned his back to Ricardo, leaving behind a silhouette, and after saying goodbye to the fans, he rode away on his skateboard.

Ricardo: ...

Ricardo looked at the Netflix team, "Was he ignoring me just now?" Before they could respond, he turned to Lu Zhizhou's back and shouted, "Are you ignoring me?"

After saying that, Ricardo clenched his fist and showed off his biceps, then imitated the Hulk's transformation in a low, gruff voice, "Foolish humans, you will pay for this."

Ricciardo's seriousness lasts no more than three seconds; that's just how he is. The fans in front are already used to it and burst into laughter, creating a lively atmosphere.

Although Lu Zhizhou did not expect that his fellow Chinese compatriots would gather in the hunting grounds to show their support, he had anticipated that the media would already be sharpening their knives.

The media has been waiting and building up their emotions, especially after the winter tests. The surging emotions and explosive questions are almost uncontrollable. Everyone is waiting for the new season to kick off, and they're all ready to unleash their pent-up feelings. The scene will definitely not be easy, and he's prepared for it.

However, upon actually seeing the scene ahead, Lu Zhizhou couldn't help but pause.

More than two hundred reporters were gathered in the mixed zone, their cameras and microphones almost crushing the air. At that moment, Bottas, Gasly, and Hulkenberg were being interviewed, but as soon as they saw Lu Zhizhou, they all swarmed forward, their figures jostling and crowding together like demons trying to escape from hell.

In an instant, the area in front of Gasly and Hulkenberg was almost completely cleared.

Bottas wasn't much better off; he only had a few kittens left.

Although the reporters knew that not everyone could be in the front row to ask questions, and there was no need to rush in immediately, they still couldn't help themselves.

No one wants to miss out.

Not only reporters, but even the Netflix team couldn't contain themselves—

All or nothing.

After Netflix's talks with Ferrari and Mercedes broke down, they showed their decisive side by completely excluding the two teams from the project and not even planning to involve any content related to them, not even the paddock backdrop.

Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz are tough, and Netflix is ​​just as tough.

however!
The scene before them was so spectacular that the photographer couldn't help but subconsciously focus his lens on Lu Zhizhou and the sea of ​​people in front of him.

Wow, unbelievable! Even someone as experienced as Martin Brundl couldn't recall ever seeing anything like this in the paddock.

But then, Lu Zhizhou's smile twitched slightly. After a brief pause, he lightly stepped on the ground, and his skateboard flew up. He grabbed the skateboard with one hand and strode confidently toward the storm. A rustling sound followed as cell phones and recorders stretched out and surrounded him.

"Lu Zhizhou, do you think you can get points in the first game?"

humiliation.

It's pure humiliation. For Ferrari, who are aiming for the championship, to focus on points is an absolute disgrace.

Perhaps, thankfully, they maintained some boundaries and did not humiliate Lu Zhizhou by saying "finish the game".
"Haha." Lu Zhizhou laughed.

There was no anger, no panic, only an exceptionally bright smile, which made the reporter in front of him panic.

"Have you seen 'Inception'? If you're going to dream, then dream big. A year ago, even I didn't imagine I'd be standing here now, setting foot on Australian soil for the first time in my life; so, why not go wild?"

Reporter: ... "The podium?"

Lu Zhizhou exclaimed, "Oh, you're so cute!" He was practically clutching his chest in delight.

Huh!
So, what Lu Zhizhou means is...?
It was still early morning, far from noon, but the reporters on site were already feeling dizzy and short of breath.

Before the buzzing in my mind could completely overwhelm my reason, another reporter pressed on, saying, "You're very young, and you could set a series of records in your rookie season."

"In terms of age, Verstappen currently holds a series of records; in terms of rookie season, Hamilton has the most successful rookie record in F1 history."

So, what are your expectations for the new season?

Lu Zhizhou's lips curled up completely. "No, no, I'm just enjoying the game and learning from it. My mother just wants me to come home safe and sound."

A soft laugh rang out from the crowd, but they couldn't help but look at each other in surprise. Why was Lu Zhizhou suddenly being so humble? This was quite different from his previous demeanor.

“Oh, right,” Lu Zhizhou seemed to have just woken up his memory, “Charles told me that so far, no driver has started his racing career at Ferrari and won the world championship. I think everything needs a first time.”

In Ferrari's history, a total of nine different drivers have won the world championship in Ferrari cars, but none of them were trained by Ferrari itself.

Ferrari has always been adept at bringing in top drivers from other teams and then joining forces to win the world championship.

So, Lu Zhizhou is now saying that he is prepared to end this kind of history?

The reporters were dumbfounded. They had seen arrogant and unruly young people before, but they had never seen such an arrogant idiot. Who gave him the courage?
Was he a GP3 champion, or just a menial job during winter testing?
In fact, journalists are all hoping for such a response. They spare no effort to fan the flames and take things out of context in the hope of creating sensationalism and generating traffic.

They were just stirring up trouble and inciting hatred; they were trying to put Lu Zhizhou on the hot seat. However, now that Lu Zhizhou has actually handed over all the attention, it's the media that's backed down, standing there dumbfounded like a bunch of frogs with their mouths agape.

Finally, someone managed to maintain their composure and stammered out a question: "Are there any drivers you admire in the paddock right now?"

All eyes turned toward the source of the sound, their gazes conveying strong condemnation: Is that all?
The reporter, looking aggrieved and with his neck held high, retorted: "If you're so capable, then you do it!"

Encirclement, concentrated fire, hatred at its peak.

The reporters were all sharpening their knives, ready to make a big splash, but they never expected that Lu Zhizhou would turn the tables and firmly seize the initiative in this battle.

a shame!

And yet, at such a crucial juncture, they actually asked such an idiotic question, "Which drivers in the paddock do you currently admire?" Why not just sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk about dreams?

Amidst the clamor, a calm and unhurried sound drew attention back.

"Sorry, I don't watch F1 races. My understanding of F1 is still stuck in the Schumacher era."

Amidst the bustling crowd, reporters shifted their stiff, wooden necks, staring blankly at Lu Zhizhou. Seeing the sunny smile on his handsome face, they collectively lost their ability to react.

So, what does Lu Zhizhou mean by this? Does he mean that Red Bull and Mercedes-Benz's golden decade is not worth paying attention to? Does he mean that everyone here is trash?
The air seemed to freeze slightly.

Reporter: "...People always compare you to Verstappen, what do you think?"

Lu Zhizhou: "I don't know him."

Ah! Ahhh!
A burst of cheers and screams erupted from the front of the paddock, tearing through the air and sending a wave of heat through the air. Only then did I realize how quiet the mixed zone for the media had been.

Forget about background noise; even holding one's breath, one or two people had blank expressions and lost the ability to react, like a quiet watermelon field.

Lu Zhizhou smiled and said, "If there are no problems, I'll be leaving now. Thank you everyone."

The heatwave continued to rage, but the mixed zone for media interviews was like an icebox, with the huge temperature difference seemingly separating heaven and hell by a thin line.

Pierre Gasly, who had been quietly watching the whole thing from the sidelines, finally couldn't resist and took a few steps over to bump Lu Zhizhou's shoulder.

"Wow!"

One exclamation wasn't enough, so he exclaimed again, his eyes shining and his whole body jumping, "You really don't know Max."

Lu Zhizhou shrugged slightly. "We've never formally introduced ourselves."

Therefore, strictly speaking, Lu Zhizhou was not lying; he did not know Verstappen.

Gasly was taken aback, finally realizing that Lu Zhizhou's words were deliberately stirring up trouble. Like a frog, his cheeks rose and fell, and in the end, he couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Antoine was right, you're an interesting guy."

Gasly, Leclerc, and Hubert are all friends who grew up and competed together since childhood. Their friendship extends beyond the track.

Clearly, Gasly had heard Lu Zhizhou's name quite often, especially from his roommate Yu Beier, with whom he had long admired each other.

Ahead, Gasly was introducing himself to Lu Zhizhou, quickly becoming familiar with him; behind, watching Lu Zhizhou's departing figure, the curse was finally broken, and the reporters belatedly regained their senses, unleashing a barrage of tricky and vicious questions. In an attempt to save face, their words became even more frantic and brutal, each one roaring with heart-wrenching fury.

"Do you truly believe you're ready to step into F1, or is this all just a PR stunt by Ferrari? Are you merely a tool?"

"How do you view your mediocre performance in winter testing? Not even as good as Hulkenberg. What makes you think you're qualified for Ferrari's position, instead of gaining experience at a smaller team like Verstappen or Leclerc?"

“You are a whole generation younger than Vettel. Do you feel scared or inferior to have such an experienced four-time world champion as your teammate?”

"Ferrari never takes risks by signing inexperienced young drivers. What do you think is special about you that earned you this position? Rumors say your signing was related to pressure from sponsors. Can you clarify why you were selected?"

"F1 is a high-pressure sport, and young drivers often break down under pressure. Do you think you can withstand the huge expectations that come with a powerhouse team like Ferrari?"

"If the team asks you to give way to Vettel during a race, what would you do? Vettel has clashed with his teammates more than once in the past. How do you ensure that you won't become the ticking time bomb that disrupts the atmosphere within the Ferrari team?"

“Verstappen entered F1 at a very young age and has not yet fully established himself. Do you think you can adapt to the pace of F1 faster than him?”

"Historically, many young drivers have fallen from grace quickly after starting with top teams. How can you guarantee that you won't become the next fleeting meteor?"

"If you perform poorly in Australia, or even fail to earn any points, do you think you can withstand the pressure and continue competing in the later stages of the season?"

Vast and mighty, overwhelming and surging.

See, once their brains are working, countless questions arise, but they've just gotten stuck on a rut and haven't asked any of them, only some trivial ones. No wonder these reporters are so frustrated and want to hurl all the questions they've prepared beforehand at them.

Amidst the clamor, a hoarse voice shouted with all its might, "Rumor has it that you brought your own funding to join the crew and bought your own racing team seat."

"is this real?"

Finally, Lu Zhizhou stopped in his tracks—

Sure enough, the rumors got more and more outrageous, even claiming he was royalty. Honestly, if it were true, that would be great.

Lu Zhizhou turned to the reporter and called out, "See you on the track."

This time, there was no stopping; they strode away with their heads held high.

In fact, Lu Zhizhou understood all those principles, and all these attacks and pressures were within his expectations; but imagination is one thing, seeing such a grand scene with his own eyes, a bustling and surging crowd all baring their fangs and claws, trying to attack and surround him, wishing they could tear a piece of flesh off him.

"You take a bite, I take a bite"—it's not just an attack; it reveals naked hatred.

Suddenly, a flame was ignited, and the internal organs began to burn.

Overnight, standing at the center of the storm, only by truly facing the media and social networks can one truly feel the darkness deep within human nature.

Even though Lu Zhizhou had prepared himself mentally and remained calm and focused, he still needed some breathing space to let the air cool down.

It's inevitable to feel stuffy.

Not to mention Lu Zhizhou, even Gasly, as an observer, couldn't bear it.

Everyone says that Red Bull's youth training system is ruthless and cannibalistic. Gasly has already endured the hellish test, but looking at these media reports, one can't help but sigh.

Gasly tried to offer some words of comfort, but found himself at a loss for words. He stammered for a long time, not knowing what to say, and finally managed to squeeze out a dry "Don't take it to heart." Feeling powerless, he turned around and left in a sorry state.

Lu Zhizhou let out a long breath, clearing his mind and organizing his thoughts. There was no need to bring those messy things into the repair area.

Ahead, a figure seemed to have been waiting near the repair area. Upon seeing Lu Zhizhou, the figure walked over in the still-warm morning sunlight, a wide smile on his face.

"Actually, they're just jealous."

Looking in the direction of the sound, Lu Zhizhou chuckled to himself, his heavy heart relaxing slightly.

Lorenzo Moretti stood in the sunlight, looking dashing in a Hawaiian shirt. He took off his sunglasses, revealing a set of perfectly aligned teeth.

Lu Zhizhou was completely unprepared for Lorenzo's appearance in Melbourne. Meeting a friend in an unfamiliar paddock made him doubly happy.

"Why are you here?" Lorenzo opened his arms, ready to give him a warm hug, but Lu Zhizhou punched him in the shoulder instead.

Lorenzo deliberately grimaced and cried out in pain, then broke into a smile. "How could I miss my baby stroller's professional debut?"

"God, I'm just waiting for you to make a stunning debut and shine. Seeing those jaw-dropping expressions will prove my discerning eye, haha."

Lu Zhizhou patted him on the shoulder deliberately, "Pressure, buddy, watch out for the pressure. Stop bragging."

Lorenzo, however, was not worried at all. He looked at Lu Zhizhou seriously and raised his chin to indicate the still noisy and bustling mixed media interview area in the distance.

"You should know that they're just jealous, right?"

Throughout history, countless geniuses have emerged, yet one by one they have been stuck at the threshold, unable to enter the arena, let alone climb to the top.

"F1 is not a sport that you can get into just by being talented or by working hard. That is the biggest difference between motorsports and other competitive sports. Hamilton had to humbly sell himself to McLaren, and Verstappen, despite his meteoric rise, had to spend a year honing his skills at Toro Rosso."

Even legendary figures like Lauda, ​​Senna, and Schumacher, who have gone down in history, encountered numerous setbacks and had to pay out of their own pockets to buy seats.

"You don't know, do you? Back then, Schumacher also paid 150,000 euros out of his own pocket to enter the paddock and represent the Jordan team in the Spa race; and he even lied that he had raced at Spa, when in fact he was just a spectator."

"Of course, gold will always shine. He was poached by Benetton after just one race, which started his legendary career."

Haha, a hearty laugh burst forth from my chest.

"Countless geniuses bow down to reality, but you, Lu Zhizhou, create miracles. You even sprang from the cracks in the rock, stepping on the shoulders of Ferrari's heir, Leclerc, to break into the paddock and join Ferrari out of nowhere. Half the paddock is incredibly jealous. They're just venting their frustrations."

"A bunch of scoundrels."

Then, Lorenzo patted Lu Zhizhou on the shoulder, a smile playing on his lips.

"But you know, right? Envy means you lose. They're just hiding their frustration. They have no dignity in front of you."

"So, what you need to do next is to use your genius to make them feel ashamed, bow down and worship you, and conquer the entire hunting ground."

Little by little, Lu Zhizhou's somewhat gloomy mood gradually brightened, and even the smile on his lips returned.

"And then, ascend to the top, right?" Lu Zhizhou joked as well.

Lorenzo's eyes widened. "Yes, becoming a god in the flesh. So, everything starts today. They're not ready yet, but you are, right?"

Lu Zhizhou was slightly taken aback, and a surge of pride welled up within him. No matter how intense the pressure from those reporters and the traffic, his goal had never been related to others, only to himself, right?
As his anxiety and irritability gradually subsided, Lu Zhizhou looked at Lorenzo again, his voice becoming cheerful, "Let's see the speed of F1."

"Haha." Lorenzo gave a thumbs up. What was most admirable about Lu Zhizhou was this courage, the courage to destroy enemy ships and fortresses with a laugh.

Melbourne mornings have a special smell: eucalyptus leaves rustling in the breeze, mixed with the aroma of gasoline and hot asphalt, like a letter opened ahead of time, announcing that Albert Park is about to awaken, welcoming a commotion and witnessing a carnival.

After saying goodbye to Lorenzo, Lu Zhizhou entered the pit area. The sunlight spread out on the other side of the track, dazzling like a layer of gold leaf, reflecting the noise and excitement of the entire paddock. New season, new atmosphere, everything is brand new, that feeling of the unknown makes the heart pound.

The F1 pit lanes are arranged in a specific order, based on the previous year's rankings. The champion's pit lane is closest to the paddock entrance, while the vice-captain's pit lane requires navigating a long passageway to the end.

Therefore, it is known as the "Walk of Shame" to remind the teams of their terrible performance in the previous season.

This year, the Mercedes-Benz pit house ranked first, and the Ferrari pit house ranked second, both just a few steps away.

Before Lu Zhizhou could enter the P room, a teasing voice came from behind him, "Oh, Zhizhou, you're so lucky, it's only a short walk away."

Turning around, you can see Wasser, the former team principal of ART team and the current team principal of Sauber team, munching on a pancake.

Sauber had a terrible season last year, managing only five points and finishing at the bottom of the table. As a result, Leclerc and Raikkonen will have to endure the harsh test of the "Walk of Shame" all year round.

Lu Zhizhou turned his head, held out his skateboard, and asked, "Need transportation?"

Vasseur rolled his eyes. "You just want to see me fall."

"Haha, we've been found out." Lu Zhizhou burst out laughing, stopped his banter, and turned to walk into the P room.

Everything was in perfect order.

Having experienced a similar scene once before at Spa, Lu Zhizhou was not unfamiliar with it. The technicians, dressed in red work clothes, were like a group of precisely operating machines, adjusting the blade angle and checking the brake temperature, with the crisp thumping of air guns mixed in.

Vettel sat on a high stool with his legs crossed. He noticed Lu Zhizhou's figure, merely raised his eyes to give a barely perceptible greeting, and then continued to focus on the matter at hand without making any further movements.

Lu Zhizhou was already used to this. Ever since they met in Maranello during the winter break, Vettel had always maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far. Although he wasn't particularly enthusiastic, he didn't deliberately make things difficult either. They were more like two parallel lines, and so far they had maintained a peaceful coexistence.

However... whether the current situation can be maintained after the season starts is unknown. Only after we actually step onto the track will we know if they will show their true colors.

Lu Zhizhou smiled slightly, nodded politely, and walked straight toward his team without lingering. The team included competition engineer David Greenwood, technical engineer Jock Clear, and others.

Cleary rubbed his bald head. "Zhizhou, you're here. Do you need us to help you sort out your thoughts, or should we go straight to the track for a lap?"

Through their partnership at Spa-Francorchamps and the subsequent adjustment period during the winter break, Cleary is building trust in Lu Zhizhou, though it won't be easy.

There's no way around it; the sheer volume of information in F1 is overwhelming, making it a continuous learning process for all rookies. Even a strong player like Verstappen is no exception. He spent a year honing his skills at Toro Rosso and has been promoted to Red Bull for two seasons, yet he still hasn't fully matured.

The time left for Lu Zhizhou was far too little. This was true from the street to GP3, and it was also true from GP3 to F1.

Lu Zhizhou has always maintained a down-to-earth attitude towards this: if it works, it works; if it doesn't, it doesn't. There's no need to lie, because once you're on the track, everything will be revealed, and there's nowhere to hide. "What's the weather forecast for this weekend?"

The intense meeting continued until it was interrupted by a call from outside the pit lane: "Zhizhou, we're getting ready to go to the track, do you want to come?"

Looking out, I saw Leclerc and Gasly, both riding bicycles, like high school classmates calling out to their friends to play together.

Lu Zhizhou responded, "Coming!" He quickly said goodbye to the team, grabbed his skateboard, and rushed out.

Cleary glanced to the side, grinned, and teased, like a father looking at his child, "You've already made friends so soon after entering the paddock."

(End of this chapter)