A Severe Challenge

Chapter 144 A Severe Challenge
Actually, this habit also exists in F2 and GP3.

Familiarize yourself with the track.

The drivers personally stepped onto the track, using their own feet to feel the undulations and changes of the track, not only the ground itself, but also the sunlight, wind direction, altitude, and so on.

Simply watching through a simulator lacks a sense of reality; looking at a 2D sketch a hundred times may not be as vivid as walking through it yourself.

The same applies to experienced drivers; the track may change every year, and the weather and track conditions are different, so they need to get a feel for it all over again.

This is especially true in F1.

Of course, this is not a strict requirement, nor does it apply to "everyone." Verstappen dislikes such trouble, finding it extremely boring. Rather than personally walking the track, he prefers to browse using Google Maps' panoramic mode.

But if such a plan is in place, on Thursday's media day, after all the official events have concluded, drivers will gather in groups and head to the track to experience it for themselves.

Occasionally, the technical team also joins in; compared to sitting in front of a computer reading data, they also need to have a practical understanding of the track.

Walking, jogging, cycling, etc., any means are acceptable, and choosing skateboarding like Lu Zhizhou is also perfectly fine.

Fortunately, since we can't train normally on media day, this can be used as aerobic exercise to maintain our daily basic training volume.

Albert Park Circuit is a street circuit with beautiful scenery and a smooth layout. Before the race weekend, it is still a street used by the public. Because of this, it cannot be maintained and updated year-round like a professional circuit, and there are bound to be potholes and hidden dangers on the track.

In order to limit the chassis design of teams from being overly designed and unable to cope with the rough and complex surface conditions of the track, thus causing accidents, a "tea tray" is specially installed at the lowest point of the chassis.

This tea tray is made of a mixture of resin and fiberglass, and it will wear down once the base touches the ground and protrudes.

So when watching F1 races, you often see sparks and flashes of light from the cars, which is actually the result of the tea tray rubbing against the ground.

If the team over-adjusts the chassis, the tea tray may wear out excessively; if the car inspection finds that the wear exceeds the warning value, the car's result for that race will be cancelled.

Thus, it evolved into a "cat and mouse game".

In pursuit of speed, the teams lowered the car chassis as much as possible, practically slamming it to the ground; however, to avoid severe wear and tear on the tea trays that could lead to disqualification, the drivers had to navigate around the bumps and dips on the track.

In other words, the entire burden rests on the driver's shoulders; a slight lapse in attention could mean the entire race was for nothing.

These details all come from experience. Simulators cannot perfectly simulate reality, especially for city street tracks like Albert Park, where the bumps and stumbles are different every year. Even Alonso and Hamilton need to re-examine and review their performance every year.

Especially the bumps along the driving line.

Lu Zhizhou, who skipped F1 and raced on professional tracks during the GP3 season, now needs to catch up on his experience on city tracks.

At this moment, the advantage of the skateboard became apparent. Lu Zhizhou was able to feel the full undulations of the track, not just the bumps and protrusions.

"Baby, how does it feel?"

A gentle breeze carried the sound of laughter and idle chatter, and without even turning around, Ricardo's undisguised white teeth immediately came to mind.

Sure enough, when I turned around, I saw that big smiling face jogging slowly.

Despite the teasing, Ricardo's affability was always warm and bright, and he didn't realize he was being offended. Lu Zhizhou's smile involuntarily rose. "I don't feel good. Someone needs to shut Pierre up, or my ears will bleed."

"Hey!" came Gasly's protesting voice from the side, "I never expected you to be like this..."

Leclerc burst out laughing. "Pierre, you don't even know how to pronounce the name of the continent, do you?"

Gasly, utterly dejected, said, "Ciel! Can't we just keep quiet about what's going on?"

Ricardo burst into laughter, bending over backwards, his breathing disrupted as he jogged, and he started coughing, his face turning completely red, looking more disheveled than Gasly.

As a result, Gasly and his group watched Ricardo laugh uncontrollably, and Ricardo, in turn, watched Gasly laugh heartily.

Lu Zhizhou silently sped up; he needed to get away from these lunatics and maintain social distancing, because who knew if he would get infected.

Ricardo jogged up again, "Hey bro, how's it going? Need any help?"

Lu Zhizhou raised an eyebrow. Since when did F1 become so friendly and supportive of each other? And it was an olive branch from their rival Red Bull?

“Of course, I couldn’t ask for more.” Lu Zhizhou flashed a big smile.

Ricardo ran ahead, turned to face Lu Zhizhou, and began running backwards. "Rhythm. Brake. This is the secret of Albert Park."

"Here, short straights are followed by complex medium-speed corners, which is a typical feature. Jones, Whitford, and Clark will face a test in terms of rhythm changes."

Albert Park Circuit has a total of sixteen corners, all of which are named after legendary F1 drivers: Jones's is Turn 1, Whitford's is Turn 3, and Clark's is Turn 9.

"At the same time, there are many emergency braking points, and the requirements for braking points and entry angles are extremely high. Precise control is required to avoid locking up. If you are not careful, you may go straight out."

"You don't want to have a picnic on the grass."

Those white teeth shone brightly in the sunlight.

Lu Zhizhou was able to determine that all of Ricardo's information was correct. Although there were no exclusive secrets, it was indeed important introductory information for beginners. These novices could figure it out through free practice matches, but it was ultimately not as simple as direct and efficient instruction.

In the paddock, teams often prefer experienced drivers to mentor newcomers for this very reason: seasoned drivers can pass on these simple skills to novices.

However, of the three rookies here, Vettel certainly doesn't intend to share his experiences with Lu Zhizhou, Raikkonen is a tight-lipped guy who won't utter a word, and Gasly is caught in the involution of the Red Bull system and has no one to turn to for help but has to rely entirely on himself.

So what is Ricardo doing, helping Gasly?

Lu Zhizhou looked over, not hiding his doubt, "Why should I help?"

Ricardo clutched his chest, looking hurt. "I was just trying to be friendly. Can't I just have a simple act of kindness? Are you questioning me?"

Stealthily, Ricardo opened one eye and glanced at the expressionless Lu Zhizhou, baring his teeth, "Is his acting bad? Not convincing enough?"

Lu Zhizhou nodded, looking serious. "It's too much like a soap opera."

Ricardo slapped his thigh hard, making a loud crack, his face full of annoyance. His comical appearance was truly hilarious. "Alright, actually I just wanted to help the newbie."

“When I first entered the paddock, no one helped me. I remember feeling that way. I was a little lost and confused, and I thought I had done something wrong.”

"I just want to tell you, no, you did nothing wrong."

Ricardo couldn't stay serious for more than three seconds before grinning at Lu Zhizhou, "How about it? Don't I look incredibly majestic and imposing?"

A smile flickered in Lu Zhizhou's eyes. "That's true. But, Daniel, why didn't you tell us that the tires here were wearing out very badly?"

Ricardo froze, then yelled, "Oh no, we've been found out!" He quickly pressed his ear like a secret agent, as if he were on a walkie-talkie, and muttered in a low voice, "Mission failed, retreat immediately! Retreat!"

For a moment, Ricardo was extremely busy. He pressed the "non-existent" earpiece, fled in a panic, and left amidst the astonished expressions of Leclerc and Gasly.

After running a short distance, Ricardo turned to look at Lu Zhizhou, cupped his hands to his mouth like a megaphone, and made a heartfelt confession, just like in the movie "Love Letter" where someone shouts "Are you alright?" to the mountains.

“Hey Lu! Don’t mind the attacks from the audience and the media. I apologize to them. Actually, the Australian people are very warm and hospitable. They just love me too much. They didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t be sad.”

"As for the tires, be careful of slipping!"

Without waiting for Lu Zhizhou's response, Ricardo dashed out, making strange noises that could be heard in the breeze.

Like a bomber, Ricardo's thought process was completely beyond the comprehension of others.

The three young people looked at each other, and finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Then, Leclerc couldn't help but ask, "Zhizhou, what's wrong with the tires?"

Lu Zhizhou stood on one foot on the ground. "Have you noticed that the asphalt here is different from that of a dedicated racetrack? It's different from Barcelona's."

"The asphalt on the road is smoother, but has less grip."

"Furthermore, there's a lot of dust and debris here, not only fallen leaves, but I think I just saw a groundhog, so there are many uncertainties."

"At that time, tire consumption will be even greater, and tire management will likely be a challenge."

A significant difference between F1 and GP3 is the mileage. If Lu Zhizhou were to continue at the pace of GP3, the tire wear would be extremely severe. While others might only need two pit stops per race, he might need five or eight, as all the time he would have to pull away from the track would be consumed by pit stops.

Clearly, F1 needs to make changes.

So far, Lu Zhizhou has not raced a full F1 race, but he has realized that the pace needs to be controlled. Knowing when to maintain stability, when to push forward, and when to launch an attack or defense is an art, and it requires tactical coordination with the team.

After a pause, Lu Zhizhou added.

"There's one more thing I'm not entirely sure about, but since this place is built right by the lake, the humidity and temperature of the air can vary, and Melbourne's weather in March is often unpredictable."

"It may not be as dramatic as Silverstone, but changes in specific sections of the track can create uncertainties, and I think tire wear will be more severe than expected."

Gasly couldn't help but glance at Lu Zhizhou again. The information above wasn't new to him; he had already participated in five races last season, unlike Lu Zhizhou and Leclerc, who were complete rookies. He had noticed those details as well. But the last point was different.

Rhythm. Braking. Road surface. Plus the weather.

No wonder people in the paddock always say that the Albert Park circuit looks simple, but it is actually a severe test for beginners. It is a very exciting circuit to watch.

Tire management is key.

Leclerc is alright; a year of experience in F2 has laid the groundwork for him, making his entry into the paddock a natural progression. But GP3 ​​only has eight races a year, and jumping up to F1 means facing the challenge of twenty-one races all year. It's hard to imagine the pressure Lu Zhizhou is under.

Lu Zhizhou seemed to notice Gasly's gaze and looked over gracefully. "It seems that not only the driving lines, but other parts of the track also need to be carefully examined. I may need to spend some more time. You don't mind, do you?"

Gasly was taken aback.

Leclerc had already caught up. "Pierre, hurry up, you're not planning to slack off, are you!"

Behind them came Gasly's wailing as he huffed and puffed as he caught up. Looking at Lu Zhizhou's back, which bore the number, he asked, "By the way, why did you choose number 22? Is it because it's the initials of your name, ZZ, so it's 22?"

Lu Zhizhou was taken aback, then burst out laughing. "I've never thought of it that way before. It's quite a strange angle. In this light, it seems like I just stumbled upon something by accident. From now on, I might as well just use two lightning bolts for my signature."

Leclerc imagined it for a moment, then looked disgusted.

That ferocious expression made Lu Zhizhou burst into laughter, before he explained, "I originally wanted to choose number seven, but I ended up with the same number as Xia Er..."

Leclerc shushed him. "That guy is my teammate now."

In F2 and GP3, drivers are not allowed to choose their numbers; they are all assigned numbers. However, in F1, since 2014, drivers have been allowed to choose their numbers.

There are only two exceptions. One is number one, which is the exclusive number for the world champion driver, but the defending champion Hamilton insisted on using his lucky number 44, so number one is never used. The other is number seventeen, which was permanently retired from F1 by the FIA ​​due to Bianchi's death.

Besides these, you can choose any of the numbers from two to ninety-nine, but of course, you cannot repeat any number.

Number seven, that's Raikkonen's number. Lu Zhizhou and Leclerc's first wishes both fell through.

“My second choice was 11, because my birthday is November 11th, but unfortunately, Cheko beat me to it.” Lu Zhizhou spread his hands, “Force India driver Sergio Cheko Perez has taken the number 11. So I thought, why not just stack them together, since it’s two 11s anyway.”

"Perfect timing, GP3's number is number two, let's upgrade it now."

As for why we don't use number two, it's definitely not because it's childish, but because in a racing world, everyone strives to be number one, and nobody wants to be number two.

Leclerc nodded. "It was because of the continent that I got the inspiration. My birthday is the 16th, and one plus six equals seven, so I chose 16."

Gasly blinked. "I remember you like the number ten, don't you?"

Leclerc remained silent, staring intently at Gasley, and fired a death ray.

"Hehe." Gasly's number was 10, one step ahead of Leclerc. He quickly pretended to be stupid and looked at Lu Zhizhou, "Then I'll call you ZZ from now on. It's both descriptive and vivid."

"The real reason is that your brain capacity is too small, like a goldfish, it can't remember that much information, right?" Lu Zhizhou muttered to himself.

Gasly was completely dumbfounded.

Leclerc burst into laughter. "Yes, a goldfish, so vivid."

The 5.303-kilometer track, with its sixteen corners, was thoroughly explored by Lu Zhizhou and his team. Only then did they finish their exploration with satisfaction. Back in the pit area, they compared the data with previous years to make the track details even more lifelike.

Friday morning, the sun shone brightly, and the whole world was bathed in a golden glow.

Lu Zhizhou thought he would be nervous, or perhaps excited, thrilled, or exhilarated, but in fact, he felt none of those things; instead, he became completely calm.

Focus and dedication.

Precisely because of a deep understanding of the complexities of F1, and precisely because of a full understanding of his own shortcomings, all those turbulent emotions vanished, and he truly poured 100% of his energy into the race itself, just like when he first secretly raced on the street without his family's knowledge.

Once seated in the race car, Lu Zhizhou remained steady and focused, patiently waiting for the green light to illuminate for the first free practice session. But he was already in work mode, his attention focused on the track.

The starting line, high-speed corners, deceleration corners, and then the continuous S-curves—the three-dimensional image of the track rehearsed in his mind. Although it was his first time setting foot on Australian soil, he had already run the course hundreds of times in the simulator. The next step was to connect the image in his mind with the real world. Until Greenwood's signal came through the radio.

The SF71H engine ignited, its exhaust pipes roaring like a beast awakening. Lu Zhizhou drove the race car out of the pit lane, golden sunlight shimmering on the classic Ferrari red, officially kicking off the first free practice session of the season opener.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Sky Sports. We are now bringing you the opening race of the 2018 F1 season from the front lines in Melbourne. With the green light flashing for the first free practice session, the long wait is finally over, and the new season officially begins..."

"...Ten teams and twenty drivers are about to take the stage. This is CCTV5 reporting live from Melbourne. Now we're handing the microphone back to the studio."

"...Welcome back to Five Star Sports. This year is undoubtedly special for domestic motorsport enthusiasts, as a historic first-ever Chinese driver will appear in the paddock, Lu Zhizhou driving car number 22..."

"...Without a doubt, the performance of this year's rookie drivers is noteworthy, and Lu Zhizhou is the focus of attention. This eighteen-year-old driver, who has emerged out of nowhere, has broken all probability and rules to don the Ferrari jersey and is about to make his debut!"

“At last year’s Spa circuit, Lu Zhizhou already demonstrated his speed once…”

Noisy, bustling, and chaotic—

A new season brings a new atmosphere, and the paddock is sweltering with heat. Compared to previous years, Melbourne is noticeably more crowded and lively this year.

One part of the reason is that domestic media outlets sent reporters to Australia to report from the front lines and witness this historic moment.

When the red Ferrari No. 22 left the pit lane and stepped onto the track, the stands erupted in cheers, only to be quickly drowned out by boos and whistles. But it didn't last long; when the No. 3 Red Bull left the pit lane, an overwhelming surge of energy erupted, and the entire stadium went wild.

Clearly, the fierce competition isn't limited to the racetrack; it has already begun off the track as well.

There's no intention to target Lu Zhizhou, but any opponent who stands in Ricardo's way to the top of the Albert Park circuit is an enemy of the home team.

However, all of this was irrelevant to Lu Zhizhou. The roar of the engine and the extreme speed blocked out all the noise, and his mind was already immersed in the music.

Full throttle and speeding into the first Jones Turn, the speed drops from 286 km/h in sixth gear to 123 km/h in third gear. After passing the right-angle turn, the steering wheel is slightly straightened, the throttle is kept steady, and the speed passes through the second Brabham Turn at high speed. The surging G-force presses the shoulders hard against the seat, and the feeling of being pushed back in the seat is released instantly.

The third and fourth corners, Whitford Turn and Albert Road, are consecutive medium-speed corners, testing tire temperature, throttle control, and continuous gear shifting.

The beautiful lake scenery on the right side of the track transformed into light and shadow flowing backward, while tree shadows swept past overhead at high speed. The noise of the air mixed with the engine sounds created a symphony, grandly and magnificently opening the new season.

Lu Zhizhou wasn't in a hurry to push things forward. Today was different from Spa; there was no need to rush and dance on the tightrope.

Last time at Spa, it was not only his first time trying F1, but also a mission to showcase himself. He tried to push the limits within the scope of the team's mission and strategy, squeezing out the potential of both the car and himself.

This time at Albert Park, things are completely different; it's not just a free practice session, but he needs to plan for the entire weekend.

slip!
The track can be summed up in one word: slippery.

In fact, Lu Zhizhou is more familiar with city tracks than professional tracks because he grew up on the streets and is more familiar with the environment, atmosphere and streets of Albert Park; however, driving a Formula One car on the street is a completely different feeling.

At extreme speeds, the tires' grip becomes almost nonexistent, like driving on ice without snow chains. Every turn, every throttle and brake requires finesse and precision; a slight lapse in attention could result in a complete 360-degree spin.

Once you're actually on the track, the roles of the three keywords—rhythm, braking, and tires—become increasingly clear.

Any slight negligence or relaxation could really lead to a picnic on the grass.

On the other end of the radio, Greenwood took a deep breath and composed himself slightly. "Kimmy, confirm the balance?"

"The radio is malfunctioning. I hope I didn't overhear Sauber's basic tuning secrets," Lu Zhizhou joked.

Greenwood closed his eyes and grimaced. Such a basic mistake shouldn't have happened, damn it!
Greenwood regained his composure. "I'm sorry, Lu. This mistake won't happen again."

Over the radio, Lu Zhizhou didn't dwell on the issue. "Front wing normal, brake temperature slightly high. Steering slightly sluggish, slight rear drift when exiting turn three." Calm and composed, he was already in working mode.

Greenwood did the same, quickly jotting it down. "Understood. Now let's see how the high-speed section reacts."

On the second lap, he began to adjust his pace—

Passing through the ninth Clarke Turn, I floored the accelerator and cruised along the lakeside track with a silky smooth ride. The eleventh and twelfth turns followed in a high-speed, seamless cut. When the suspension was compressed to its limit, the entire car was almost sliding along the ground, yet there was absolutely no friction spark. The weightlessness of high-speed driving was like mercury spilling onto the ground, graceful and elegant, leaving only a brilliant red afterimage burning brightly in the air.

"Wow!"

Brendel couldn't help but sigh, although it wasn't the first or second time, watching Lu Zhizhou drive was always an exhilarating experience.

"His first appearance in F1, going full throttle through Turn 12, that's really daring!"

Croft grinned and said, "Hey, look who we're talking about. The guy who dared to push the speed limits on the Kemmell straight and set the fastest lap in his first F1 free practice session on his first appearance at Spa. Not surprising at all."

However, such shining moments were far too few in the first free practice session.

The car lapped around and around the track, shuttling back and forth between the pit lane and the track, working busily. But Lu Zhizhou's name was nowhere to be seen in the top ten fastest lap times; he hovered around thirteenth or fifteenth place.

While Mercedes and Red Bull repeatedly demonstrated their speed, Lu Zhizhou was entangled with Williams, Force India, and Toro Rosso.

Currently, the lap times of the top five are consistently around 1 minute and 26 seconds, but Lu Zhizhou's lap times have been around 1 minute and 30 seconds, a difference that is not small at all.

...makes one drowsy.

Sitting in front of the TV watching the live broadcast, Wang Lin finally couldn't contain his impatience. "No, no, he's no good. He's not even good enough to be a filler."

In the community courtyard, not only Wang Lin, but all the neighbors gathered in the small square of the community kindergarten to watch the F1 Australian Grand Prix together.

At this moment, Wang Lin's words elicited nods from everyone, and some even began to yawn.

Then, Song Bo's loud and boisterous voice came from the side, "Just to make up the numbers. There are only twenty positions available globally. If you can make up the numbers and fill in, why don't you give it a try?"

Wang Lin swallowed his anger and glared at them.

Song Bo ignored him and rolled his eyes. "Free practice is for tuning the car's basic settings, not for setting lap times. Even if you want to see speed, you have to wait until the last twenty minutes. If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense, or you'll become a laughing stock."

The new F1 season officially kicked off just a week ago, with CCTV Sports and Five Star Sports simultaneously broadcasting a three-episode documentary.

"Lu Zhizhou, a young man who chases the wind."

The three episodes focus on the GP3 season finale, winter break training, and preparations for the new season, respectively, and are all packed with substantial content, fully presenting Lu Zhizhou's life.

They are meticulous, down-to-earth, and dedicated to training and competition.

The documentary features few interviews and dialogues; it emphasizes action over words, showcasing the hardships both on and off the field.

This was a completely new attempt. After all, as a documentary, it would have been quite boring and unlikely to attract the general public. But unexpectedly—

Successful.

Before this, people did have a stereotype of racing. They thought it was just driving, and anyone with a driver's license could talk about it. Whether the sport was even considered competitive was still a subject of much debate. To outsiders, racing was simply a game for the rich.

That doesn't count as exercise.

However, this time, the documentary remained calm and composed, realistically showcasing the hardships of daily training and the complexity of the competition. It truly delves into racing and the world of racing, opening a window for people to truly understand this competitive sport.

After all, that's a Ferrari, the king of traffic.

If Lu Zhizhou joined another team, even if the documentary was excellent, it would probably be difficult for him to gain widespread popularity. The key is Ferrari. It doesn't need much promotion. Its name alone is a natural source of traffic, easily breaking through constraints and attracting the attention of casual observers.

Of course, the most important person is the protagonist of the documentary, Lu Zhizhou.

Youthful, handsome, sunny, focused.

People often say that a person is most attractive when they are focused on the work they love, and this three-part documentary perfectly illustrates that.

It gained countless fans and went viral, attracting not only avid car enthusiasts but also generating a huge amount of buzz. The three-episode documentary topped the trending search list seven times, and its ratings and discussion exploded. As a result, Five Star Sports has rebroadcast the documentary for the third time in just one week.

Thanks to this, the opening of the new F1 season attracted a lot of attention in China. The free practice sessions, which are usually ignored, became popular. People who knew nothing about racing turned on their TVs to watch the live broadcast and excitedly followed Lu Zhizhou's performance.

There are quite a few communities like Wang Lin's and Song Bo's, which resemble large groups watching the Olympics together.

Unfortunately, the onlookers are destined to be disappointed—

The first free practice session was indeed boring. Watching the cars go in and out of the track and pit lane, you couldn't figure out what was going on. If the fastest lap time wasn't broken, novices had no idea what to watch, couldn't find anything exciting, and were drowsy.

It wasn't just Wang Lin; countless casual viewers watching F1 for the first time yawned repeatedly: Is that all?

In the live stream, the professional commentators seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the show.

"...Lu Zhizhou is indeed steady."

"It was the same at Spa last time. In the first free practice session, he didn't have the rashness and aggressiveness of a rookie. He stayed focused, cooperated with the team to complete the basic setup, and finally let loose and showed his speed in the last twenty minutes. He amazed everyone in the paddock."

"So, what about today?"

"Martin, what do you think?"

Croft threw the question to Brendel, who was already prepared.

"Based on the winter testing, Ferrari is competitive, especially in straight-line speed. They are undoubtedly the most watched team in the paddock right now."

"However, Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull have already taken the lead, with mature driver combinations and faster and more efficient basic setups."

"For young drivers who have just entered the paddock, a serious challenge is that in the first 90-minute free practice session, they must collect enough data, complete feedback and communication, and further refine their setup. If they can't keep up with the speed, it may affect the team's overall strategy."

Croft interjected, "The other driver will have to do more data collection to help the team with the setup."

Brendel nodded. "Yes, that's it."

"Last year at Spa, it was the second half of the season; now it's the beginning of the season, and all the adjustments have to start from scratch, so the task is probably particularly arduous and challenging."

"Next, we'll see if Lu Zhizhou can complete the data collection task in time, combine it with Vettel's data to complete the basic adjustments, and try out the flying lap in the last twenty minutes to test the speed limit under the current conditions."

Croft: "So, what's your answer?"

Brendel smiled and said, "I believe in him, and I'm also very much looking forward to seeing Lu Zhizhou's speed here."

Professionalism is evident; Croft and Brendel's analysis is remarkably accurate.

Of course, this was not Lu Zhizhou's first time participating in a free practice match, but it was actually only his second time, and the first time in the new season.

The task has become more tedious and complex.

The so-called tuning mainly consists of two parts: aerodynamics and mechanics.

Aerodynamics, which sounds mysterious, is actually about controlling air resistance. The angles of the tail wing, nose wing, and flaps are adjusted to make the air flow according to the driver's wishes, so that the car can be controlled without slowing down.

Mechanical aspects are more like internal skill training. The stiffness of the suspension, the angle of the tires, the heat dissipation of the brakes, and the power output of the engine all need to be fine-tuned repeatedly for the track, the weather, and the tires.

The problem is that this is not something that can be accomplished overnight.

Every time a setting is modified, the driver must return to the track for a short run, then pit to provide feedback to the engineering team, testing each corner and modifying each setting individually.

Furthermore, the so-called "optimal solution" is not unique.

Qualifying races aim to push the limits of speed, while the main races prioritize stability and endurance, meaning that the same process needs to be run twice.

One driver simply cannot handle the workload, so two drivers from the same team must divide the work, share data, and work together to complete the basic setup.

Of course, in the paddock, everything is competition—

Suppose that at Mercedes, Hamilton refuses to share data with Bottas. If Bottas cannot complete all the testing during free practice, the car will ultimately only be set up in one mode, either for qualifying or the race, resulting in a failed qualifying attempt and a need to recover in the race.

Such situations do exist, especially when top stars like Hamilton have such influence.

However, it is not common overall.

As mentioned before, teams must prioritize the team's interests. They prohibit drivers from affecting the team's ranking due to personal grudges. For big teams like Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Red Bull, team principals often require drivers to share data without any room for negotiation.

For Lu Zhizhou, it wasn't really a challenge. He has an excellent feel for cars, and his communication and tuning abilities are second to none. He could complete all the work by himself, which is why the Maranello technical team particularly enjoys working with Lu Zhizhou.

But Lu Zhizhou was exceptionally meticulous and focused; the biggest difference between Albert Park and Spa was—

At Spa, he was setting up the car for Raikkonen. With the season halfway through, the basic setup of the car had become relatively stable, and the changes made in the first free practice session were relatively limited.

At Albert Park, not only was it the first race of the season, but he was also tuning his car for himself, so he needed to collect detailed and comprehensive data.

Therefore, Lu Zhizhou didn't have time to practice lap times until the first free practice session was over.

Some people are likely to be disappointed.

(End of this chapter)