At this moment, Ferrari was discussing the start strategy.
The first corner of the Interlagos circuit is a classic overtaking spot. It's a counter-clockwise track, and the first corner of the Senna S is a left-hander. Pole position is located on the right, holding the advantageous position for the standard "out-in-out" racing line. If you can firmly grasp the opportunity at the start, you can command the advantage.
However, if the car starting second—Hamilton—brakes to the absolute limit and forcefully claims the inside line, he can easily create chaos.
Because of this, Ferrari needed a smart starting strategy.
Currently, Ferrari was fighting for both the Constructors' and Drivers' World Championships, locked in a brutal, head-to-head battle with Mercedes. A single point or a single position could completely alter the season's outcome.
Especially in the Constructors' Championship, where the two teams were separated by only two points. Every position was critical.
At Interlagos, qualifying ended with Ferrari first and third, and Mercedes second and fourth. You didn't need to be a genius to know Mercedes wouldn't miss this opportunity; Hamilton and Bottas would undoubtedly coordinate their tactics. Naturally, Ferrari also needed the power of the team.
So, the Ferrari strategy group devised a plan:
Use Kai's pole position to give Vettel a slipstream, helping him drop Bottas at the start and breaking Mercedes' teamwork.
Furthermore, help Vettel overtake Hamilton into Turn 1, allowing Vettel to shut the door and block Hamilton behind him.
In this way, the Ferraris would work together to occupy first and second, seizing the initiative in the Constructors' Championship battle.
The key to this entire strategy was Kai. Ferrari needed Kai to be a team player.
However—
Honestly, as a team, Ferrari didn't exactly have many fond memories this season. No one in the meeting room was sure how Kai would react.
Even Arrivabene was nervous, knowing Kai wasn't an obedient baby who just did what he was told.
All eyes converged on Kai.
Kai, who had been focused and serious, looked up. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile. "Well, this is a fresh experience."
The team strategy meeting is actually asking for my opinion?
Rare!
Actually, Kai didn't mean to be sarcastic; he was just stating a fact. But the eyes clustered on him hurriedly looked away. Beside him, Jock Clear tried his hardest to control his mouth, using all his strength to prevent himself from bursting into laughter and ruining the atmosphere.
Kai didn't press the issue. He brought the conversation back on track. "And then? The plan doesn't end there, does it? That can't be the whole plan."
"Mercedes won't just sit back and take it. Hamilton isn't a sitting duck. He won't behave himself at the start. What if he attacks?"
Racing is dynamic and ever-changing. They couldn't only consider their own moves; they had to account for their opponents' strategies, reactions, and potential accidents.
Kai didn't nod or shake his head; he analyzed the situation objectively.
He had said he was willing to cooperate with the team, provided it didn't come at the cost of sacrificing his own interests. So, he needed to know the whole plan and understand the different possibilities.
It wasn't that simple.
Arrivabene shook his head. His expression remained unchanged, serious and focused. This time, he meant business.
If Ferrari could bring home both World Championships, he, as Team Principal, would achieve immortal glory, forever written into the annals of Maranello.
Constructors' Champion and Drivers' Champion—he wasn't choosing one or the other. He wanted both.
Past grievances and personal feelings were set aside for now. They were professionals, and this was the time to show their professionalism.
Even though Kai had just thrown a bit of sarcasm his way, Arrivabene didn't waver. He looked straight at Kai. "Of course not. That's just the first step."
"If everything goes smoothly, Seb can use your slipstream to suppress Lewis. Then, Seb is responsible for blocking Lewis to buy you space."
"However, Lewis is indeed a variable. We can't predict his plan. If our plan is disrupted by Lewis..."
Arrivabene paused here. The meeting room fell dead silent. A resolute, murderous intent appeared on his stern face.
"Seb must block him. If necessary, Seb should crash him out directly. As long as Seb stops Lewis, Valtteri behind him will also be affected."
"Kai, you will be ahead. Stay alert. If you sense danger, just put your head down and run. Don't look back."
The air briefly stagnated.
Desolate. Bone-chilling. Terrifying.
Then, all eyes fell on Vettel. It seemed the focus was on Kai, but the true key was Vettel. He was the linchpin.
No one knew if Vettel had experienced this kind of situation at Red Bull, but this was definitely a first at Ferrari.
The Number 1 driver acting as a shield for the Number 2 driver. If necessary, even sacrificing himself in a mutual destruction to pave the way for the Number 2 driver's championship victory.
So, what about his pride? His dignity? His fighting spirit? His glory?
The world fell quiet.
No one dared to look Vettel in the eye. They only sneaked glances out of the corners of their eyes, curious about how the four-time World Champion would react. The 2018 season was definitely not unfolding the way Vettel had prayed it would.
The center of gravity quietly shifted.
Vettel noticed it. "Okay," he said.
Without hesitation or delay, he simply agreed.
Vettel himself realized the weirdness of the situation. He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, a faint smile appearing on his still slightly boyish face.
"Come on, I'm a team player. You guys know that. I'll adapt to the situation. I've always wanted to lead Ferrari to the top of the world. If this is the price, I have no problem. I'm ready. Let's overturn Mercedes together."
Boom!
Everyone started pounding the table. The applause rolled through the meeting room like a heatwave. Ferrari's morale, from top to bottom, had never been higher. For the championship! For glory!
After discussing the start strategy, the meeting didn't end. Next was the race tactics. The two Ferrari cars had to coordinate. Mutual destruction between Vettel and Hamilton was the final emergency measure; the perfect result would be a 1-2 finish for Kai and Vettel.
Tomorrow, there was a 71% chance of rain at Interlagos.
But the team wasn't surprised. That's the characteristic of Interlagos—full of accidents and variables. Even if the team considered every aspect, unexpected situations could still arise during the race, bringing thrilling variables to qualifying and the race itself.
No wonder there are constant calls every year to make Interlagos the season finale.
Therefore, no one could let their guard down. Ferrari had to seize every opportunity. Kai had snatched pole position from the tiger's mouth; they couldn't waste such an excellent opportunity.
The night was deep.
After the meeting ended, Kai stood at the door. The entire pit lane was still brightly lit. It wasn't just Ferrari; other teams were also working intensely on their strategies. The most tense and exciting part of the season had arrived.
The fierce wind howled. Standing there, his body swayed slightly, feeling like he might be blown away in the next second. He deeply felt the unpredictable variables of Interlagos.
Then, a figure appeared, stopping on Kai's right, standing aside and looking out, searching for the end of the world in the endless night.
It was Vettel.
Like Verstappen, Kai's relationship with Vettel was very complex.
Were they friends? Absolutely not.
But were they enemies? That didn't seem... quite right either.
True, the two were at each other's throats on the track, yielding no ground, tension constantly spilling over. However, in private, Vettel didn't hide his knowledge. In team meetings and garage conversations, he openly shared his understanding of the car and the track. Whether intentional or not, his help in allowing Kai to adapt quickly in his rookie season and make up for his lack of experience was an objective fact.
So, how should it be accurately defined?
...Colleagues?
Vettel stood there, the space between them more than enough to fit three people, clearly demonstrating that they were not close at all. Neither spoke. The atmosphere wasn't tense, but slightly awkward. Neither seemed ready to break the silence.
Then, Vettel spoke up. "Nervous?"
The raging wind surged from all directions, almost knocking them off their feet, like the omen of a coming storm. Kai thought for a moment. "A little."
"That's a good thing," Vettel said. "Being nervous means you care, and it means you have motivation. People always say 'don't be nervous, don't be nervous,' but actually, a little bit of nervousness is a good thing. Just like in qualifying. God, you really should have seen the reaction in the Mercedes garage."
A smile appeared in Kai's eyes. "I'll watch the replay."
That deadpan response stunned Vettel for a moment before he realized Kai's dark humor. He was practically rubbing salt in Wolff's wounds. He couldn't hold it back anymore and burst out laughing.
Without lingering, Vettel turned and left, leaving Kai alone.
The boundless night sparkled colorfully. The fierce wind blew non-stop all night, all signs pointing to a wild weekend ahead.
In the morning, Kai woke up naturally. He woke before the alarm went off, not because of nerves. He had fallen asleep early and slept soundly through the night. At the critical juncture of fighting for the championship, he seemed to sleep even better. Fully focused, free of distractions, he was enjoying the competition and the challenge.
Wrapped up warmly, wearing his Ferrari windbreaker, he arrived at the paddock early on his skateboard. Surprisingly, the morning sky wasn't filled with cumulonimbus clouds. Thin sunlight could be seen; there was no sign of yesterday's oppressive overcast sky.
The first thing Kai did upon arriving at the garage was check the weather. "Jock, what's the latest weather update?"
Clear scrambled, accidentally knocking a pile of documents off the desk onto the floor.
Kai laughed without sparing his feelings. "Were you a thief last night? Relax, relax. I'm not a police officer; I don't have a warrant for your arrest."
Clear watched Kai bend down to help pick up the papers. He frantically gestured to the side, mouthing something soundlessly. Mekies, who was walking by brushing his teeth, almost swallowed his toothpaste. He slammed on the brakes, turned around hastily, and started waving and running away to gather people.
Clear's heart leaped into his throat. He quickly looked at Kai, who was straightening up, trying to capture his attention and provide cover. "You should be talking about yourself. Why are you here so early?"
Kai sorted the documents and put them back on the desk. "I'm only 20 minutes early. I slept really well last night, woke up naturally feeling refreshed. I have a feeling we're going to have a great race today. But the weather is the issue. What are the chances of rain?"
Only then did Clear react. "58%!" The number blurted out. "The chance of rain is dropping. Currently, the possibility of rain in the second half of the race still exists, but the weather changes too fast at Interlagos. Just like Silverstone, it rains when it wants to, and it's sunny when it wants to. We still need to prepare for all possibilities."
Kai leaned out of the garage. "You can barely see any rain clouds right now, but the chance of rain is still near 60%? That's really hard to understand."
Kai's action sent Clear into a panic.
Clear quickly pulled Kai back in. "No, we don't need to rush. About this... I mean, we've already made all the plans."
Kai stared at Clear in confusion, saying nothing.
Clear scratched his head, rubbing his bald spot. "I mean, you're ready. There's no need to worry. We all believe in you."
Kai didn't believe a word. "Jock, what are you brewing? Confess. You've already blown your cover. You are literally the worst actor in the world."
Clear: ...
Seeing his dumbfounded, jaw-dropped expression, Kai couldn't help but laugh. "I just guessed blindly based on intuition, and I was right? Tell me, what are you guys preparing?"
Clear sighed deeply, looking utterly defeated. "I told them I couldn't do it, that you'd see right through me instantly, but they just didn't believe me. Fine, I'll tell you, but you absolutely cannot say I let it slip."
"Actually..." Clear paused, seemingly making up his mind. "It's Laurent. He said we should prepare a surprise party..."
Kai didn't understand. "A surprise? A party? What for? Halloween? The season isn't even over..." Kai paused, noticing the change in Clear's expression. "Wait, you mean..."
Now?
He turned around and immediately saw Mekies holding a birthday cake, surrounded by Lorenzo, Pierre, Silvia, and the rest of the team, all smiling brightly and shouting together.
"SURPRISE!"
Party poppers went off, giving Kai no time to react.
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Kai, Happy Birthday to you!"
A chorus!
Clear also sneaked around behind Kai, squeezing in next to Binotto and Nappi, joining the singing with exuberant joy.
A surprise! 100% a surprise!
Honestly, Kai had completely forgotten about it. The day of the Brazilian Grand Prix race was his birthday, November 11th.
Recently, the entire paddock had been discussing the brutal championship fight. The battle between Ferrari and Mercedes had reached a fever pitch. Kai's mind was full of the Interlagos circuit; he didn't even remember his birthday. Even when Clear mentioned a party just now, he hadn't made the connection.
This time last year, in Maranello, they had thrown a surprise party that gave Kai a good scare.
A year had flown by, and now in São Paulo, another surprise party. But this time was slightly different. The garage team were no longer strangers, but comrades who had fought side-by-side for a whole year. Day by day, sharing joys and sorrows, they had built bonds and connections, becoming even more familiar than family and friends.
The significance of this party was entirely different.
His heart skipped a beat. Kai was completely stunned, caught completely off guard. That dumbfounded expression made everyone laugh happily.
Click!
Lorenzo pressed the shutter, shouting excitedly, "It's rare to see Kai lose his composure like this. We must commemorate it properly. Whoever wants a photo, sign up now, and I'll print them out."
As soon as he spoke, one by one, hands shot up in the crowd, people jumping while raising their hands. The atmosphere was incredibly lively.
Mekies stepped forward with the cake. "Kai, happy birthday! Come on, make a wish!"
Before Kai could speak, Clear was already muttering in a low voice beside him, like Gollum from Lord of the Rings, "Champion! Champion! Champion!"
Then, everyone else joined in, making wishes on behalf of the birthday boy. The entire garage was in an uproar.
Muttering, rustling, their eager expressions were truly amusing.
Kai couldn't hold back his smile. "I was going to wish for world peace. What are you guys doing?"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Then, Kai looked at the candles in front of him and shouted, "We are the Champions!"
The next second, giving Kai no time to react, Pierre lunged forward and shoved the cake in Mekies's hands right into Kai's face.
Click!
Lorenzo had been ready and waiting for this exact opportunity. He pressed the shutter, instantly capturing the moment for eternity.
This was the second time.
Kai had actually fallen for it a second time. He hadn't expected to be fooled by such a simple prank twice. But just like the first time, he stood there calmly, sticking out his tongue to lick his lips. "Oh, lemon flavor. Refreshing!"
Boom!
The crowd roared with laughter, all raising their arms and jumping in place, shouting in unison, "Kai! Kai!"
In the paddock, people walking by couldn't help but sneak glances. At the most tense and critical moment of the championship fight, Ferrari didn't look suffocated by tension at all. They actually had the mood for a party?
This mindset alone was an absolute breakthrough in the Arrivabene era.
So, was this party genuine, or a show put on for Mercedes?
Heated discussions spread through the air, adding another layer of tension to the weekend's race.
It wasn't until all the cars were pushed onto the track and the race entered the countdown phase that the pervasive smell of gunpowder in the air continued to heat up. It was palpable on the track. When Kai stepped onto the track to prepare for the race, various gazes swirled around him. Leclerc, Sainz, Hulkenberg, and others made a point to come over and wish Kai a happy birthday before heading to their own cars.
Ricciardo was no exception, shaking his head with a look of deep frustration. "Didn't even invite me for a piece of cake. Even though I'm a Red Bull driver, I still like lemon buttercream cake too!"
Kai watched Ricciardo's retreating back with question marks popping up over his head. He looked down and sniffed his fingers and sleeves. Only then did he realize his racing suit smelled of lemon. The scent of lemon buttercream lingered in his hair too. He was stunned.
"Pierre, whose idea was it to put it on the racing suit?" Kai demanded answers over the radio.
Pierre struggled hard to hold back his laughter, but he wasn't going to sell out his teammates. "I heard it's the best local fragrance in Brazil."
Kai turned and looked through the pit wall. He could see the garage whistling and cheering. He couldn't help but laugh too.
He took a deep breath. "Literal interpretation of 'I am not fighting alone,' right?" Kai joked. "Then let's begin. Battle!"
The formation lap began.
The weather was better than expected. The sky still didn't have many clouds, and the sun was visible. However, the temperature wasn't high, below 30 degrees. The sunlight falling on the track felt weak, and the track temperature hadn't risen.
Under equal tire conditions, Mercedes' grip at the start would likely be better. Even though Kai had snatched pole position, Mercedes and Red Bull's long-run pace was still stronger than Ferrari's. This was an objective difficulty right in front of them, which meant they had to focus.
Ferrari's start strategy required both Kai and Vettel, and it required them to coordinate flawlessly.
If Ferrari wanted to challenge for the Constructors' World Championship, Interlagos was an absolute must-win fortress in the final sprint of the season.
Right now, it seemed highly likely that Marchionne's blueprint would become reality.
However, an accident occurred.
"Kai, Stroll went off the track. The race is suspended," Pierre's voice came over the radio.
Kai was stunned, a question mark slowly appearing above his head. "...This is the formation lap, right?"
Pierre also facepalmed. "Yes. We'll probably have to restart the formation lap soon. Because he got himself stuck in the gravel trap, the crane will need some time to get him out."
Kai blinked. "Truly a legend."
Pierre almost laughed out loud.
This season, Stroll had been complaining endlessly about the Williams car, and his father had repeatedly threatened Williams that they must solve the car's problems, or he would withdraw his investment.
Of course, in reality, Lawrence Stroll had indeed withdrawn his investment, seizing the opportunity to acquire Force India, preparing to play the role of team owner himself next season.
But look at Stroll, driving his car off the track and getting stuck in the gravel during the formation lap?
And it wasn't even raining; it was a clear, sunny day!
So, how on earth did he manage to single-handedly turn a suffocatingly tense championship battle into a farce, stealing the entire spotlight all by himself?
He truly lived up to his reputation as the Young Master who brings his own drama.
The tense atmosphere filled with invisible daggers at Interlagos was instantly pierced by this farce, and the Brazilian fans began to get noisy.
Besides passion, Brazilian fans are characterized by being noisy, hyperactive, and crazy. They possess a special ability to turn any competitive sports event into a football stadium. In arenas like tennis, golf, or snooker, it's a disaster. But in the racing paddock, it's a rolling heatwave that covers the sky and fills every corner, forcefully turning the open Interlagos into something resembling Singapore.
With the continuous emotion interrupted, focus inevitably slips, and attention can easily scatter.
Such a small accident is a variable.
Kai quickly realized he was getting distracted. Looking at the other cars in his rearview mirrors, Hamilton, Vettel, and the others weren't looking around; they were sitting in their cockpits, maintaining their focus.
This is experience.
Kai also gathered all his scattered thoughts, closed his eyes, began to adjust his breathing, and used his heart to feel the roar of the engine.
When Race Control announced the restart for the second formation lap, Kai slightly suppressed the pace within the limits of the rules, immersing his mind, feeling the track, adjusting his state in this way, putting Stroll's accident behind him, re-entering the rhythm of the race, and preparing to meet the challenge.
Then, the race was ready. The red lights were on—
The problem was, the main grandstand audience was still distracted and couldn't settle down. The restlessness faintly visible amidst the engine roars lacked any sense of tension.
In the gunsmoke-filled chaos, Kai had entered a state of complete immersion, his heartbeat finding the rhythm of the red lights.
Five red lights all illuminated.
Exhale.
Red lights out.
Inhale.
Launch. Kai shot out like an arrow from a bow. Amidst the engine roar, he sprinted at full speed down the straight, dragging a long slipstream.
The airwave rolled.
It was clear to see that Vettel, starting third, reacted swiftly. He immediately caught Kai's slipstream and flew straight ahead.
The two red Ferraris were nose-to-tail, one behind the other. The fast-flowing slipstream surged forward like a galloping wave. A bright red afterimage stretched out grandly, so much so that Verstappen, starting fifth, noticed the anomaly and immediately grabbed the slipstream, trying to keep up.
Everything happened in a flash. The two Ferrari drivers teamed up for the first time this season. From launch to sprint, perfect coordination. Kai towed Vettel, flying at full speed.
All the noise, clamor, and chaos instantly froze into ice. People stared dumbfounded at the scene. The Number 5 Ferrari was visibly catching up, running parallel, and overtaking the Number 44 Mercedes on the inside of the track.
God, what were they witnessing! Did the sun rise in the west today?
Fully focused, completely dedicated. Hamilton brought 120% concentration, completely immersed in the race, without the slightest distraction.
Because Hamilton knew this was the critical moment in the fight for the World Championship. He had to be ruthless to his enemies and even more ruthless to himself, fighting with all his might to win.
The start at the Interlagos circuit is indeed crucial. Hamilton hoped to fully utilize the slight grip advantage to complete an overtake at the Senna S.
Throttle, clutch, launch. Hamilton executed his best start of the season, instantly flying out like an arrow.
But immediately, Hamilton realized that the two cars on his right had also produced top-tier launch reactions, faintly suppressing him. Moreover, Vettel firmly gripped the slipstream, gaining an unbelievable advantage in the starting phase, looking very likely to claim the position before entering the corner.
The two Ferrari cars were actually working together! The peaceful coexistence of Vettel and Kai over the past two months wasn't just PR! At the critical moment of challenging for the championship, they were actually seeing Ferrari's teamwork!
Crap!
Hamilton instantly recognized the crisis. But if Ferrari could coordinate, Mercedes could too; the strategy just needed adjusting now.
In the rapidly changing race, there wasn't even time to think, let alone communicate and coordinate with teammates. Now was the time to test their tacit understanding. The two sides, who had been fighting tooth and nail on the track, had to cooperate fully. This was the only way to create space to survive.
Without hesitation! Decisive action!
Hamilton swerved outward—
He didn't cut inside to grab the inner line and claim the apex first. Instead, he squeezed the racing space outward. On one hand, this disrupted the slipstream coordination between Kai and Vettel; on the other hand, it forced the two Ferrari cars to widen their racing line. Most importantly, Hamilton stuck tightly to Kai's rear wheel in relentless pursuit.
He was trying to introduce variables through intense, wheel-to-wheel combat.
In F1 racing, where outcomes are decided in a thousandth of a second, more variables and a greater volume of information mean increased difficulty in judgment and decision-making. Calming down and reviewing the race afterward, drivers easily spot problems and make the right choices. But while flying at 300 km/h, mistakes happen.
At this moment, Hamilton knew that neither Kai nor Vettel had made a mistake at the start. Even if he forced his way to the inside and took the apex, he wouldn't overtake Kai. Therefore, he needed to pile on pressure and introduce variables, forcing Kai to make a mistake.
In the penultimate race of the championship fight, amidst layers of pressure, the likelihood of a rookie making a mistake multiplied exponentially.
Hamilton himself in the 2007 season was the perfect example. Actions he repeated a hundred or a thousand times perfectly in practice or other races suddenly went wrong at the critical moment. Even long after the race ended, he didn't know how it happened. The mistake just miraculously occurred.
But this is F1, the art of the thousandth of a second.
Right now, Hamilton was trying to force Kai into making a mistake similar to his own back then, to pay the price for his youth.
And that wasn't all.
If Ferrari could provide a slipstream, couldn't Mercedes do the same?
At this moment, Bottas, closely following in Hamilton's slipstream, was fully focused. He was fighting for his seat on the team, fighting for his life. Only by assisting Hamilton to the Drivers' Championship and working with him to secure the Constructors' Championship could he win a contract for next season.
Otherwise, Russell was waiting in the wings.
Bottas placed himself very correctly and very low, perfectly acting as a tool. His attention remained on observing the launch state of the top three, not making any rash moves.
Until—
Hamilton swerved outward, cutting into the middle to squeeze the racing line. Bottas quickly found the corresponding strategy from the pre-race tactical playbook: a cut inside.
Attempting to claim the apex.
Bottas's task was to secure the racing line, using Hamilton's slipstream to grab an advantageous position. While Hamilton sacrificed himself to entangle the two Ferraris, Bottas would wait for an opportunity to surge forward and see if he could climb to the first position.
If he could, that would be ideal. He would first hold the position and lead the Grand Prix for Hamilton, later looking for a chance to hand the lead back to him.
If not, that was fine too. His primary task was to secure the racing line through the Senna S, making it harder for Kai to break free from Hamilton's entanglement.
Hamilton proactively entangling the two Ferraris was a signal. Bottas didn't hesitate to cut to the inside, preparing to brake at the limit and claim the apex.
Rapidly changing, bayonets drawn—
Ferrari and Mercedes both bared their fangs, joined by a Verstappen who took the opportunity to strike. Five cars crowded frantically toward Turn 1.
Five cars, three lines, filling the end of the start straight at Interlagos.
At this moment, Kai, leading the pack as the arrowhead, immediately noticed the crowding and chaos in his rearview mirrors, filled with different colors.
Being in the thick of it, he couldn't see the whole picture, but Kai reacted instantly, providing a head-on response.
Hold the racing line, secure the position, yield not an inch.
In the intense, wheel-to-wheel confrontation, amidst the stormy chaos, Kai remained unmoved, standing tall like a lighthouse.
Refusing to retreat! Refusing to yield!
That tough stance forcefully withstood Hamilton's pressure. Clearly, Hamilton wasn't prepared to crash into Kai and trigger a mutual destruction. That bravery and impulsiveness were merely a posture. Upon colliding head-on with Kai's ferocity, the paper tiger revealed its true form, its momentum faltering.
Hamilton didn't continue to press closer.
Car 22 and Car 44, one in front, one behind, left rear tire almost touching right front tire. Wheel-to-wheel! Shoulder-to-shoulder! Nose-to-tail, they charged toward Turn 1.
In the meat grinder of the intense showdown, Vettel's path to cut inside on the left was solidly blocked by Car 44, while the relentlessly pursuing Car 33 was right behind him. Seeing Turn 1 directly ahead, in a flash, Vettel seized a fleeting lifeline.
Turn right, pull out, swerve outward.
Throttle pinned.
The Number 5 Ferrari burst with speed instantly, seizing the stalemate in the power struggle between Car 22 and Car 44 to forcefully overtake on the outside.
A collective gasp swept through the stadium.
On the live broadcast, it was clearly visible: four cars were actually crowded side-by-side on the not-so-wide track. Verstappen was left behind. The two cars in the middle, silver and red, were entangled. A flash of red on the outside and a flash of silver on the inside gained a little breathing room, trying to exit the corner first in their own ways and secure their own space.
Then!
That flash of red on the far outside instantly burst forth with unbelievable resolve. Accelerating steadily bit by bit, the smooth, flowing cornering arc actually generated a faster rhythm on the outside. Taking the lead, it was the first to drill out of Turn 1, and without hesitation, braked early, claiming Turn 2 first.
Seizing the position!
The Number 5 Ferrari had actually taken the lead!
But there was still no time to breathe, because neither the gap nor the advantage was distinct. The four cars were still tangled together in a chaotic mess. The slightest deviation could result in rubbing or even a collision. Incredibly, all four cars held their racing lines within the narrow space, without any contact occurring!
Car 22 firmly held its position, withstanding wave after wave of squeezing and impact from Car 44, entering Turn 1 first to occupy the spot.
Despite being clamped in the middle like the filling of a sandwich cookie, Car 22's control within the limited space was nothing short of art. Delicate and precise, accurate and clean. It incredibly maintained its rhythm through the corner, brushing aside the turbulent, bumpy airflow to slip into Turn 2 a step ahead of Car 44.
Gasp!
The main grandstand was stunned, eyes wide open, watching the scene before them in rapt fascination. They completely forgot to make a sound, just staring blankly, rooted to the spot.