The others on the radio looked at each other in confusion. Mekies looked at Jock Clear, and Arrivabene looked at Pierre Borreipaire with a face full of disbelief.
This was Borreipaire's first race with the team. They were used to Greenwood's style, so this sudden 180-degree turn was hard to adjust to.
Then, they heard Kai's voice: "Oops, busted. When I take off my helmet later, remember to pretend you didn't see anything. Everyone, please play along."
"Also, remember to prepare a few extra bottles of water for me."
Was he implying "crying a river leads to severe dehydration"?
Pfft.
Jock Clear couldn't hold it back and burst out laughing. Although they all knew Kai's humor, no one seemed to have fully unlocked it until now.
Actually, Mekies and the others had been worried about Kai's lack of pole positions!
This season, Kai had already won three Grands Prix, equaling Hamilton, making him undoubtedly the hottest driver in the paddock. But Kai always lacked a bit of luck when it came to pole.
Just like today. If not for that sudden understeer, the Hockenheim pole should have been Kai's. Almost everyone thought Kai was finally about to get his first pole.
Unfortunately, there are no "ifs."
Objectively speaking, pole is just pole. Its importance lies in being the starting point for victory. The value of pole comes entirely from the Grand Prix win. The race win is what truly matters.
If given a choice between "1,000 poles and no wins" or "no poles and one win," undoubtedly, every team principal and driver in the paddock would choose the latter. A pole position that doesn't convert to a win has no glory, just an empty title.
But logic is one thing.
This season, Kai performed so well that pole seemed within reach yet always slipped away, which was frustrating. Especially with external expectations rising, and doubts and mockery about Kai's lack of pole positions increasing, the paddock could feel the pressure.
Mekies and the others believed pole was only a matter of time; Kai just needed to stay focused. But they couldn't help worrying.
Privately, they had been discussing how to comfort Kai and help him resist the pressure, but they hadn't found a good solution.
Unexpectedly—Pierre Borreipaire!
Everyone was guessing the reason behind Borreipaire's sudden arrival. Nicolas Todt was undoubtedly the most obvious scapegoat, but no one could confirm it.
Now it seemed Borreipaire replacing Greenwood wasn't accidental.
"Relax, Pierre. I'm not in a hurry, not at all. Because this means I haven't found the perfect lap yet; there's still room for improvement."
"How interesting!"
On the radio, Kai had entered work mode. "Sector 3, besides that understeer, where else did we lose time? And Sectors 1 and 2, where can we improve?"
Obviously, Borreipaire was familiar with Kai's abilities and habits, providing answers immediately. "Turns 3 and 4, the 8-9-10 complex, Turns 13 and 14."
The 3D image of the track unfolded in Kai's mind instantly. He grasped the key point. "All medium-speed corners?"
"Yes." Borreipaire was in feedback mode. "Straights and high-speed sections are excellent, low-speed is manageable, but we lose some time entering medium-speed corners."
"Copy." Kai pondered for a moment. "Pierre, check the data from FP2 yesterday. Confirm the numbers for me. For the race long runs, I think the suspension needs adjustment. Widen the front-rear balance gap a bit more."
Borreipaire was startled. "Widen the balance further?"
"Yes. Although we lose some grip, the ground feedback will be more direct, steering clearer. I'll handle the medium-speed corners." Kai's brain was running at high speed.
There were regrets about today's qualifying, sure, but they were limited. In Kai's view, Vettel and Bottas performed better.
Bottas had a clear advantage in Sector 3, proving again that Mercedes had better rhythm in low-to-medium speed corners. Despite trailing Kai in the first two sectors, Bottas finished 0.123 seconds ahead, highlighting the Sector 3 gap.
Currently, at Hockenheim, Mercedes and Red Bull led Ferrari in low-to-medium speed performance. This meant Kai needed to understand the car better to defend and attack in the race.
Setting Bottas aside, Vettel truly pushed speed to the limit today.
Actually, Vettel's Sector 3 on his pole lap was poor, slower than Bottas and Kai, even slower than his own personal best. But Vettel still took pole and broke the track record by relying on amazing performances in the first two sectors.
Vettel maximized Ferrari's straight-line advantage.
In other words, Kai performed worse than Vettel in the first two sectors and worse than Bottas in the third. Losing pole wasn't unjust.
So, no need for regrets. Learn from qualifying, focus on the race. Tomorrow is another battle.
At Hockenheim, the straights and chicanes require very different downforce and suspension setups.
For high speeds, suspension is usually stiff to ensure aero performance; but for grip, it needs to be softer. Balancing speed and stability is an art, varying by driver style.
In qualifying, they chose a stiffer setup for high-speed stability, leading to a lack of grip and understeer in medium-speed corners—the problem Kai faced in Sector 3.
Theoretically, softening the suspension could compensate.
But Kai didn't think so.
Ferrari was indeed at a disadvantage in low-to-medium speed rhythm, which couldn't be fixed quickly. Mercedes and Red Bull had the edge.
In that case, better to maximize strengths and avoid weaknesses. Sacrifice some mechanical grip to keep high-speed sharpness and direct feedback. He planned to solve the medium/low-speed issues with his driving.
Of course, the race is different from qualifying. A single flying lap strategy might work for qualifying (likely Vettel's setup), but over a 90-minute race, compensating for Sector 3 weaknesses would be a severe test.
Kai wasn't being reckless; this was the topic he and the technical team had to discuss deeply next.
Mekies was stunned. He hadn't expected the discussion between Kai and Borreipaire to start before Kai even climbed out of the cockpit!
But turning around, Mekies found Jock Clear joining the meeting without hesitation, face full of focus. Not only him—the rest of Kai's crew in the garage stood up, focused, centering on Car 22, starting the analysis right there.
Mekies couldn't describe it accurately, but Greenwood's departure and Borreipaire's arrival hadn't caused the expected turmoil. Instead, the team gathered with greater unity and focus. The regret of missing pole seemed to ignite everyone's fighting spirit.
He... kind of liked it.
Straightening his back slightly, Mekies took a half-step forward and joined the team meeting.
When press officer Francesca Venturi rushed over, this was the scene she saw. She wanted to say—
The post-qualifying press conference is waiting! The top three must attend! What are these guys doing!
But involuntarily, the fervent atmosphere stopped her. Francesca stood there, swallowing the words on her lips.
Maybe it doesn't matter if those reporters wait five or ten minutes, she thought.
Sunday morning. The Ferrari hospitality unit. Immersed in work, unaware of time passing. Race day had arrived.
—
Kai was warming up, eyes focused, meticulous.
The Batak reaction wall was in front of him. Lights flashed randomly in different colors, and he had to hit them quickly.
This is a classic driver training tool. Not just for warm-up, but daily training to sharpen reflexes and improve cognitive and physical response peaks. On race day, it wakes up the brain, helping the driver enter the zone. Thirty minutes was enough.
A seemingly simple game, but Kai was sweating, eyes intense, fully in the state—light and agile.
Missing pole yesterday, Bottas and Vettel performing better... no need for regret. It only made Kai's fighting spirit soar higher.
He was ready.
Knock, knock.
"Wait, thirty seconds," Kai called out without opening the door.
Talking didn't distract him. If anything, he became sharper, finishing the 30-second set at 200% capacity until the timer beeped.
Exhaling deeply, grabbing a towel to wipe his sweat, he opened the door. Nicolas Todt stood there patiently.
"You're here too? Chasing Pierre?" Kai joked.
Nicolas didn't respond. He looked inside. "Can I come in?"
Kai looked behind him. "Worried I'm hiding someone?" He joked while stepping aside to let Nicolas in.
Nicolas actually started scanning the room seriously. Kai paused. "Wait, are you really looking for someone? Who? Tell me, maybe I can help."
Nicolas waved his hand. "No, just seeing how you prepare. Every driver has their own pre-race ritual."
Kai smiled. "No, I don't have one yet. I haven't been in F1 long enough to form habits. You know, street racing happens on the fly; no time for warm-ups."
At the casual joke, Nicolas forced a smile, but it faded quickly. "Kai, sit down first."
Something was wrong.
Kai looked at Nicolas, smile fading. "Nick, just say it. This hesitation isn't like you."
Nicolas exhaled lightly. "Sergio passed away."
The air went silent. Like diving underwater, the noise of the outside world was instantly blocked out.
It just happened. No sense of reality.
Kai paused mid-wipe. He didn't react immediately. "When?"
Nicolas's mind was a mess, heart pounding, unable to calm down. "Just this morning."
"Jean... my father is in Milan. The news can't be hidden for long. At the latest, the family will release an official statement after the race this afternoon."
He had known for a while, but he was still rattled. Just panicked.
A panic words couldn't describe.
Nicolas swallowed hard, throat dry.
Actually, Nicolas didn't want to tell Kai early. It could wait until after the race. F1 cars doing 300 km/h allow no errors. Growing up in the paddock with Jean Todt, Nicolas knew the danger.
But Jean Todt sighed on the phone and told Nicolas to tell Kai ASAP. If reporters got to him first, it would be worse.
Reporters are sharks; a drop of blood drives them crazy. They have no scruples.
If someone in the garage heard rumors online and accidentally told Kai... disaster.
However, actually speaking the words was hard.
"I know Sergio always looked after you. He... really, really, really valued you. Even back in the Academy."
"Reporters will know soon. They won't miss the chance. I just... didn't want you to hear it from them."
"Sorry. I shouldn't say this before the race..."
Kai's lips twitched, then smoothed out. "No, don't worry, Nick. I'd rather hear it from you. Thank you for coming personally to tell me."
A pause. The anxiety hanging in the air seemed to land gently, but still felt unreal.
Then, a soft exhale. Thoughts started moving again. "Maybe... this is a good thing."
Nicolas froze, looking at Kai in shock.
Kai sensed the burning gaze. He lowered his eyes to hide his emotions, seemingly talking to Nicolas, but also to himself.
"Mr. Marchionne's character was so crisp and decisive. Rather than lingering in pain, indecisive and suffering, better to take a final gamble. If it works, great. If not, turn and leave gracefully. Come as you please, go as you please. That's a life worth living. Why suffer there?"
Brain damage, ventilator, barely maintaining life signs.
Actually, the signs were there early. They just held onto wishful thinking. But reality is cruel. In the face of life and death, miracles are rare.
No one wants to face it, but no one can escape it.
Finally, Kai raised his eyes to meet Nicolas's. "I think Sir turned away without regrets. The ones reluctant to let go are us mortals."
Nicolas thought about it. With Marchionne's personality, he might truly be raising a glass right now—Heaven or Hell, laughing at life and death. Nicolas couldn't help but chuckle. "...Kai, are you okay?"
"Ha. I'm good. Great condition. I'm ready to race." Kai's eyes were still bright and firm, filled with stars and the sea.
However, Nicolas couldn't rest easy. He watched Kai closely.
After all, he was only eighteen. Mature and steady, but still a kid.
Kai was so calm, so steady, showing no abnormality. He completed his pre-race prep methodically, focused solely on the race. Following the team pushing the car to the grid, his unhurried back revealed unwavering focus and determination.
Borreipaire noticed the shadowing gaze. He turned and found Nicolas, confused.
Nicolas smiled, waving his hand, mouthing, "Focus on the race. Focus."
Borreipaire looked back at Kai. He seemed no different, yet vaguely... different.
Unsure if it was an illusion caused by Nicolas or the excitement of his first official F1 race as Kai's engineer.
Thinking about it, Borreipaire asked over the radio, "Kai, everything okay?"
Kai didn't pause. "Radio check. Radio check. All clear."
Borreipaire choked. This guy... he didn't mean that.
Next second, Kai's voice came through. "Pierre, long time no partner. Don't get too excited. Step by step. Mercedes and Red Bull won't let us win easily. And of course, You-Know-Who. We need to go all out."
"I am ready."
This race, holding nothing back.
Borreipaire was amused. Classic Kai. "You-Know-Who"—clearly pointing at Vettel.
Borreipaire glanced at Arrivabene, who sat like a meditating monk, and his mood lifted inexplicably. "Kai, let's go racing."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 2018 German Grand Prix. Drivers are starting the formation lap. This year's Hockenheim is full of surprises, starting from Qualifying."
"Vettel on pole, Bottas P2."
"Row 2: Ferrari's Kai and Red Bull's Verstappen."
"Row 3: Two Haas cars; Row 4: Two Renaults."
"Notably, Hamilton starts P14 due to car issues in Q1—his worst start of the year."
"Gasly and Ricciardo start from the back due to power unit penalties. Key points to watch."
Formation lap underway. Hockenheim was already boiling over. Vettel and Mercedes fans unleashed incredible energy, distorting the air.
Looking up at the sky—
Overcast. Cloudy.
The gray sky showed no sun. Forecasts predicted a high chance of rain. The forest-lined Hockenheimring could generate unpredictable factors. Teams watched the weather radar closely.
Yet, there was no wind.
The air was stagnant, heavy, hot. Tension spread. Muscles tensed reflexively. A heavy pressure landed on shoulders. The silver wave from the stands crashed down, almost drowning out the engines.
Formation lap over. Kai slowly entered his grid slot, preparing to stop—
"Ruuuuuuu!"
A massive booing, like a summer storm. Dull, oppressive, suffocating. Finally, the sky tore open.
"Such an honor." Kai's relaxed, teasing voice came over the radio.
Borreipaire wasn't surprised. "They expect a great show. A podium won't satisfy them. No pressure."
"Haha." Kai laughed, then stopped joking. His thoughts settled completely.
The more noise, the more focus.
The more oppression, the tougher he became.
Fully immersed in the car, sensing every nuance. Then, five red lights on... and out—
Start.
Instantly, Kai broke away, showing his launch sensitivity again.
Immediately, he realized his rivals were no slouches.
Vettel, Bottas, Verstappen—all sharpening their knives, waiting to prove themselves. Suppressed anger and passion turned into fuel. In the close-quarters combat, everyone performed to the limit. Not an inch given. Four cars broke away instantly.
On the broadcast, the front four launched like rockets. Grosjean and Magnussen in the Haas cars reacted fast but were left behind. The pack split instantly. The midfield fell out of view as all eyes locked on the front four's bayonet fight.
Vettel: Fast reaction, quick launch, crisp cut to the inside to cover the line.
Bottas: No slouch. Launched and moved diagonally to squeeze Vettel while blocking Kai.
Row 2: Kai and Verstappen both cut to the middle, trying to seize the racing line. But the line was cut by Bottas. Seeing a potential collision, but with launch speeds equal, Kai used the P3 advantage to box Verstappen in. Max realized he didn't have the initiative—
Kai went right, Verstappen went left.
Both drivers dodged to their respective outsides, staggering positions, finding rhythm in their own ways.
It all happened in a flash. Similar reaction times allowed them to hold positions. Turn 1 (Nordkurve) approached. Four cars filed in, cutting into the corner with different lines.
Vettel, Bottas, Kai, Verstappen.
Nose to tail. Relentless pursuit.
At the start, no one gained an advantage. Going all out only meant holding position in the suffocating melee.
Originally, Kai wanted to attack at the start. But the opponents' unparalleled performance left no gaps. He soon realized he was in trouble. Not only could he not attack, but he might have to defend immediately.
Behind him, Verstappen noticed the opportunity—Kai was struggling!
Although Max didn't know Ferrari's strategy or Kai's setup, it was obvious Kai had zero grip. Even for lap 1, the grip was bad. The rear of Car 22 was oscillating wildly.
Especially in Turn 2, Ferrari's instability in low/medium speed corners was exposed.
Opportunity!
Decisive. Without hesitation, exiting Turn 2, Max followed Kai. Through the Parabolika (Turn 4? No, turn numbers might vary, usually T4 is the start of the straight/curve), he ignored dirty air and bit onto Kai's tail. Leaving Turn 4, he drew his sword.
Turn 5 (Parabolika) is a classic high-speed curve, like Blanchimont at Spa. A test of delicate throttle control.
"Verstappen!"
"Attack!"
"Kai has no grip, rhythm clearly off! Max attacks without hesitation in the Parabolika!"
"Outside!"
"Max tries to force a pass!"
"Kai is tough! Holding his line inch by inch, maintaining high-speed rhythm with no grip! Unbelievable!"
"Turn 6 Hairpin is close!"
Turbulent air, roaring engines. Kai could feel the undulations of the ground clearly. The terrible bouncing felt like a jeep on the African savanna—okay, maybe an exaggeration, but the suspension setup effects were clear.
Zero grip!
Flying low, riding the clouds. It felt like standing on ice, but the ice splits between your legs. Relying on core strength to stop the split, only to find the ice cracking front and back too.
Terrible!
Especially on lap 1, cold tires felt like off-road tires. A pebble could launch him.
On the radio, Borreipaire sweated. This was the risk of the extreme setup.
However, Borreipaire could only trust Kai now.
Clearly, Kai knew what he was doing and the difficulties he faced. Although the rivals' starts were surprising, Kai entered the zone instantly. He wasn't surprised by Max's attack—
In fact, he expected it. Max would never miss a chance.
Good!
Cold, focused, tough—Kai felt Max's threat. Having no grip was a fact, but he knew Max's grip wasn't much better.
From another angle, his advantage in straights and high-speed corners remained. Without DRS on lap 1, Max forcing a pass was nearly impossible.
So, tense but unmoved, Kai held his line firmly, taking the Parabolika at the fastest possible speed given the conditions.
Ahead: Turn 6 Hairpin.
Actually, if Max had been patient and attacked at Turn 6, Kai would have been in more trouble. Without grip, the hairpin was a problem.
But Max attacking early gave Kai preparation time. The situation changed slightly.
Vroom, vroom. The engine roar surged like a tide. The Parabolika passes through the forest; ground temperature changes bring uncertainty. Grip varies. Every steering twitch signaled disaster. Details were magnified.
Yet, Max boldly chose to attack here, betting on the volatility of the opening lap.
Kai was steady as Mount Tai.
Grip wasn't just weak; it was intermittent. "Driving on ice" was a compliment; this was driving on the edge of a cliff.
Hands gripping the wheel tight but staying relaxed, controlling with gentle finesse in the storm. Holding the line. The green heatwave clawed at his face. Testing the limit of speed in the instability. Full speed.
Amidst the violent chaos, breathing was steady. Nerve endings extended through the car to the ground, feeling every inch of texture. Mind and car as one. Every shake, every impact landed clearly on his heart.
Thump, thump.
Under control!
The wind was left behind, but the crisis wasn't over. The real turning point was here.
From Turn 5 (left?) to Turn 6 (right). Logically, Kai should switch lines to take the inside.
But he didn't.
Look!
Kai stuck to one line. Leaving the Parabolika, the Hairpin loomed. Position shifted from inside (relative to T5) to outside (relative to T6). He didn't brake. Kept rushing. On the right, Max, biting hard, didn't brake either.
Red and Blue. Front and back. The two geniuses engaged in hand-to-hand combat on lap 1. Both braking late into Turn 6.
Dancing on the edge!
Finally, brakes—
Kai first, then Max.
In the late-braking contest, Max won. But in the commentary booth, Croft noticed Kai's different approach.
Max: Hard brake, stomp, angular turn.
Kai: Sustained braking, trail braking. Turning the lack of grip into an advantage, sliding the car along the top of the banking in a fan-shaped curve.
One rigid, one resilient. One sharp, one long.
Different styles, both pushing skill to the limit. Showing off their absolute car feel.
Then—
Kai entered Turn 6 first. Looked slow, actually fast. Maintained the lead through the corner. Exited first.
And kept exit speed. Throttle on exit, shooting out.
Max could see the violent shaking of Car 22's rear wing, but Kai's delicate control was precise. Miraculously cutting onto the straight and picking up speed. Although Max used the corner to the limit, the expected overtaking gap didn't open.
Not only that, the gap widened.
Max wondered: Did that guy just use the Hairpin to warm up his tires? Gaining grip for the next straight?
Soon, Max had his answer.
In Sector 3, Kai's rhythm came back. Max planned to use Red Bull's low-speed advantage to attack again, but found no chance. Kai's strict defense locked the window shut.
"Brilliant! Beautiful!"
"Just one lap, and we've seen two rounds of offense and defense!"
"Red Bull tried to exploit Ferrari's cold tire grip issues, but Ferrari's calm handling repelled the attack and regained control. If Max wants to attack again, he needs more patience."
"Kai's performance is masterclass. Talented, mature, calm. Proving why he has 7 podiums and 3 wins this season."
In the pits, fire and ice—
Ferrari cheered. Red Bull sighed. Mercedes was silent, hearts curled into balls.
No one expected this opening. The top four entered the zone instantly, exploding with 200% energy. The back-and-forth was thrilling, but positions remained unchanged. The tension ratcheted up a level.
None of the top four were pushovers.
Everyone had a reason to win. No one wanted to let go.
Not just refusing to let go, but going all out for victory. Focused. Airtight.
Although there were no bayonet charges, it was obvious: the rhythm game between the top four was heating up.
Evidence?
Ten laps in, the second group was 17 seconds behind. Terrifying.
The four leaders were pushing each other. Even without "Push Mode," the pace was high. From Grosjean in P5 downwards, no one could keep up.
Lap by lap, pressure built. A seemingly calm race was brewing a storm.
Pit walls watched the weather—
If it rained, they needed to pit for inters/wets. So teams hesitated to pit for slicks. Imagine pitting for slicks, then rain starts next lap—game over.
So, the top three teams stared each other down. No one moved.
A single hair moves the whole body.
The key: Who pulls the trigger first? And how to lay out the subsequent strategy? Strike first, or react? Or is standing still the best move?
Not just on track. The tension spread to the pit wall and garage.
This caught Borreipaire's eye—he had a bold idea.
~~----------------------
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