The roar of the engines built into a rolling wave, the acoustic pressure stacking layer upon heavy layer—
It was a cloudy day in Shanghai. Although slivers of sunlight occasionally pierced through the overcast sky, the world wasn't particularly bright. Consequently, the track temperature was relatively low. For the start of the race, bringing the tires up to their optimal operating temperature was going to be a severe, agonizing trial. However, this didn't dampen the fanatical passion of the live audience in the slightest. Their deafening cheers and screams ignited the entire circuit.
Following the massive hype generated by the Fan Festival roadshow, and the thrilling, breakthrough performances witnessed during Saturday's Qualifying session, the Sunday Race at the Shanghai International Circuit welcomed an absolutely unprecedented, historic peak in crowd attendance.
Hamilton's aggressive brake-testing maneuver during the formation lap had not escaped the sharp eyes of the broadcast booth. The commentators immediately sensed the thick, suffocating smell of gunpowder lingering between Hamilton and Kai. The heavyweight, titanic clash between Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari was continuing to rapidly escalate. Today, they were highly likely to witness yet another spectacularly brilliant, brutal battle on the Shanghai asphalt.
"We are live in Shanghai! This is the 1000th Grand Prix in Formula 1 history! Here we go—"
"It's lights out, and away we go!"
Launch. Sprint. Dive to the outside—
Executed in a single, fluid breath. Kai didn't hesitate for a microsecond. He immediately launched an aggressive attempt to seize track position around the outside line.
Turn 1 at the Shanghai circuit is a right-hander. Pole position is located on the left side of the track, granting an inherent tactical advantage. As long as the driver adheres to the classic "Out-In-Out" racing line, they can comfortably dictate the corner entry.
However, a massive, imposing question mark loomed directly in front of the two Ferraris:
Was Mercedes-Benz planning to execute a coordinated team strategy? Starting 1-2, they possessed the perfect opportunity to work together, forming an impenetrable blockade to successfully stifle the Ferraris starting directly behind them.
But... Bottas was arriving at this race with terrifying momentum, looking utterly unstoppable. He was currently the dominant leader of the Drivers' World Championship standings. Was he actually willing to play the good soldier and coordinate with Hamilton? Conversely, was Hamilton willing to swallow his towering pride and prioritize the team's overarching objectives, especially after the humiliating start he suffered in Melbourne?
In Kai's assessment, Mercedes-Benz should absolutely choose to cooperate.
Having endured relentless provocation and aggressive assaults from Ferrari for three consecutive Grands Prix, Mercedes-Benz desperately needed a flawless, dominant weekend to revitalize team morale and re-establish their absolute tyrannical authority over the paddock. Given Wolff's calculating personality, he would undoubtedly force his drivers to unite, ensuring that Ferrari was securely, hermetically sealed behind them.
—After Qualifying concluded, Wolff had uncharacteristically taken to the team radio to explicitly praise Bottas, loudly commending his phenomenal performance throughout the weekend.
The usually stoic Finn had replied with a hint of bashful humility, "Just doing my job."
That exchange was a highly significant signal.
If Mercedes-Benz actually executed a coordinated team blockade, Ferrari and Red Bull would stand absolutely zero chance. This season, the W10's advantage in generating mechanical grip on cold tires during the launch phase was simply too massive. Furthermore, during Sunday's Race, the low ambient temperatures in Shanghai created an environment that inherently favored the Mercedes-Benz chassis even more. The scenario confronting Ferrari was exceptionally, brutally difficult.
However, playing chess requires looking far beyond the immediate move. The start of the race was merely step one. They needed to utilize the launch as the foundational layout, executing their overarching, grand strategy throughout the grueling marathon of the Race.
Regardless of whether Mercedes-Benz chose to cooperate internally, the tactical synergy between the two young Ferrari drivers was an absolute, unquestionable certainty.
Of course, this didn't mean one driver was blindly sacrificing themselves for the other. After all, starting from third and fourth, they had to be incredibly mindful of the cars ahead and behind. The slightest miscalculation could easily completely destroy both of their races. Their objective was to dynamically coordinate their movements, actively creating opportunities to shatter the established order, completely scrambling the board. Following that initial strike, they would rely on their raw, improvisational brilliance to adapt to the rapidly evolving situation, making critical decisions based on how the race unfolded.
And then, this exact scene played out. In everyone's field of vision, it was glaringly obvious—
The absolute instant the lights went out, the Number 22 car veered sharply to the left, and the Number 16 car veered sharply to the right. Both Ferraris simultaneously dove toward the outside lines, attempting to execute aggressive overtakes around the flanks. Two razor-sharp red blades simultaneously striking at the edges, desperately trying to force an opening.
Instantly, Bottas sliced toward the center of the track. He aggressively choked off the middle line, deliberately abandoning the outside trajectory, actively squeezing Kai out into the 'dirty' side of the track.
As expected, Mercedes-Benz had arrived fully prepared.
Even though Maranello had kept its gates tightly locked and continuously deployed massive smokescreens, the SF90's catastrophic tire operating window issues had already been thoroughly exposed. The disaster in Bahrain had further validated those suspicions. Therefore, Mercedes-Benz deliberately chose to run side-by-side down the center, aggressively cutting off the optimal racing lines.
By executing this maneuver, the two Ferrari cars were presented with an agonizing dilemma: either remain trapped helplessly behind the blockade, or attempt a desperate, high-risk overtake by forcing their way around the dirty, un-rubbered edges of the track. Operating on cold tires, Ferrari's inherently inferior mechanical grip would be subjected to an even more brutal, punishing test. Mercedes-Benz would effortlessly maintain the absolute upper hand.
HOWEVER!
An entirely unexpected, chaotic variable violently erupted—
The Number 44 car remained completely unmoved. He didn't cut to the inside!
Look! After launching off the line, Hamilton sprinted dead straight ahead at absolute maximum velocity. He completely ignored Leclerc hovering behind him. With an unparalleled, blistering launch and an aura of absolute, unyielding resolve, he rocketed forward. In the fleeting fraction of a second it took Bottas to cut toward the center, Hamilton's car had already successfully surged alongside him, pulling dead level.
GASP! A Mercedes-Benz civil war!
So, was this Wolff's brilliant, Machiavellian master plan? Coax Bottas into believing they were executing a coordinated team blockade, while secretly granting Hamilton the green light to launch an all-out assault? Or had Hamilton blatantly defied explicit team orders, acting entirely on his own initiative to exact brutal revenge for the humiliating start he suffered in Melbourne?
Much like the aggressive brake-test during the formation lap, throughout this entire weekend, Hamilton's fighting spirit and razor-sharp edge had been fully, aggressively unleashed. He was displaying a fundamentally different, far more ruthless persona.
What exactly did this signify?
It meant Hamilton's attention was absolutely not focused on Leclerc. This meant Leclerc might actually have an opportunity!
But right now, Kai didn't have the luxury of time to worry about Leclerc. He merely utilized his peripheral vision for a split-second scan, instantly evaluating the overarching tactical situation on the track. Immediately, he snapped his focus entirely back to Bottas, who was positioned diagonally ahead of him.
Clearly, Bottas instantly felt the crushing, suffocating pressure radiating from Hamilton. It struck him like a physical blade. At this exact moment, he simply didn't possess the bandwidth to actively block Kai; he was desperately fighting just to defend his own Pole Position.
For Kai, this was a massive opportunity!
Outside line, dirty track surface, cold tires. Every single variable was highly unfavorable, perhaps even catastrophic. But Kai remained absolutely, hyper-focused. Out of the corner of his right eye, he could see Verstappen rapidly closing in, desperately attempting to exploit the chaos and fish in troubled waters. Five cars were hurtling toward Turn 1, completely crammed together, aggressively squeezing into the braking zone.
In this specific, highly congested scenario, the spatial advantage of being pushed out onto the dirty side of the track suddenly became glaringly apparent.
Out of the top five drivers, Kai was highly likely the very first to hit the brakes. The other four drivers were all attempting extreme, do-or-die late-braking maneuvers, desperately trying to seize the absolute initiative entering Turn 1.
Only Kai adhered to a methodical, measured approach. His braking point was actually slightly earlier than standard. The car smoothly traced the outer arc of the corner, lightly and elegantly carving a beautifully fluid trajectory.
During the corner entry phase, Kai was visibly out of sync with the rhythm of the other cars—
Hamilton executed a terrifying, extreme late-braking maneuver. Capitalizing entirely on his inside-line advantage, he completely abandoned the traditional "Out-In-Out" racing line. He viciously hugged the apex. Relying on an absolutely brilliant, limit-pushing display of car control, he successfully shoved all his competitors securely behind his rear wing.
On the inside, Leclerc's position was even closer to the apex. He also executed an extreme late-braking maneuver. However, the SF90's disastrously poor mechanical grip on cold tires during the launch phase ultimately prevented him from securely locking onto Hamilton's gearbox. Even though he possessed the superior racing line, failing to maneuver into a viable attacking position rendered the advantage entirely useless. He was securely trapped behind Hamilton.
And then, Leclerc and Bottas went wheel-to-wheel!
Trailing closely behind them, Verstappen looked absolutely miserable. The Number 16 car and the Number 77 car had completely, solidly jammed the entry to the corner. There wasn't even a microscopic sliver of space available. Even though his brilliant launch had allowed him to close the gap, he was now hopelessly, hermetically sealed behind them—
Traffic! A traffic jam at the apex! FUCK!
Bottas felt a heavy, suffocating knot of frustration lodge firmly in his chest. Ultimately, he had fallen one step short. Hamilton had been so incredibly cunning, so utterly ruthless in stealing the position. In Melbourne, Bottas's overtake was purely the result of Hamilton's own unforced error off the line. If Bottas hadn't aggressively seized the space then, Kai and Verstappen would have swarmed him. But right now, Hamilton had blatantly defied team orders and completely ignored the concept of teamwork. It was simply... infuriating!
He simply couldn't swallow this insult!
As a result, he was currently locked in a brutal wheel-to-wheel duel with Leclerc through Turn 1. Gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, he desperately wrestled to maintain the car's dynamic balance amidst the violent, turbulent aerodynamic wake. Relying entirely on superior mechanical grip and flawless mid-corner rhythm, he brutally overpowered Leclerc on the outside.
It was plainly visible: Leclerc's extreme late-braking maneuver into Turn 1 had caused the car to become significantly unstable mid-corner. The SF90's front wing and overall aerodynamic efficiency clearly possessed severe underlying flaws. Consequently, Bottas was able to suppress Leclerc with relative ease.
A fleeting glance in his peripheral mirror. A sudden, violent shock!
When the hell did that guy catch up?! Fuck!
Kai!
That damn Kai! The ghost that simply refused to die! Exactly like a silent, predatory submarine, he had materialized completely undetected in Bottas's left rearview mirror!
Bottas's heart violently contracted. Thoughts of Hamilton and Leclerc were instantly shoved to the deepest, darkest recesses of his mind. He acutely, immediately felt the lethal threat emanating from the Number 22 car.
The streak of red in his rearview mirror displayed absolutely zero signs of instability or twitching. Navigating perfectly through the violent, turbulent wake of the corners, he precisely traced the airflow, carving a flawless arc around the apex. Even though it appeared he had been dropped during the initial entry phase, he had miraculously, inexplicably utilized his mid-corner rhythm to close the gap—
A little closer. Then a little bit more.
Was this actually, physically logical?
Looking at Leclerc struggling in his right mirror, and then looking at Kai flowing smoothly in his left mirror, Bottas felt a brief moment of profound cognitive dissonance. His brain short-circuited.
However, in the hyper-accelerated, split-second reality of a Formula 1 race, there is absolutely zero time for hesitation. A thousandth of a second of indecision could easily result in surrendering your position.
Caught in a vicious pincer movement between the two Ferraris, Bottas used his actions to definitively prove his elite, top-tier competitive form for the 2019 season. He wasn't just here to prove a point; he was here specifically to win. Whether it was Kai or Hamilton, he was determined to conquer every single opponent on the grid and claim the World Championship.
Despite the crushing congestion, despite the absolute chaos, the Number 77 car remained as immovable as a mountain. He resolutely defended his racing line. The slightest wobble could easily escalate into catastrophic contact and a DNF, yet it never happened. He cleanly exited Turn 1, diving aggressively into the spiraling combination corners.
First, he relied on superior mid-corner rhythm to aggressively suppress and drop Leclerc. Subsequently, he utilized his track position and racing line to actively block Kai. Mercedes-Benz's terrifying advantage in cold-tire mechanical grip during the launch phase remained a towering, absolute benchmark that simply couldn't be matched by anyone else on the grid. Bottas was intimately familiar with the layout of the entire circuit. Entering Turn 2, Kai was still trapped on the outside. But exiting Turn 2 and transitioning into Turn 3, the spiraling nature of the track meant Kai would naturally, inevitably transition to the inside line.
Or rather, Kai would actively initiate a mid-corner change of direction, violently attempting to seize the offensive initiative.
Although the probability of Kai attempting something that insanely risky on Lap 1 was relatively low, Bottas had suffered brutally at Kai's hands more than once last season. He absolutely refused to repeat the same catastrophic mistakes—
The old Bottas was dead. The 2019 version of Valtteri Bottas was entirely reborn.
Right now, it was glaringly obvious. Bottas was adamantly defending his racing line, but simultaneously, he was deliberately pushing his cornering angle slightly further out. While he ensured he wouldn't make direct physical contact with Kai, he successfully, aggressively compressed Kai's available racing space. Furthermore, he absolutely refused to yield his track position, denying Kai the necessary room to execute a successful switchback maneuver.
Turn 3. Turn 4.
Gone in a flash. Bottas's ironclad, suffocating defense offered Kai absolutely zero openings. The two cars rapidly accelerated out of the corner complex.
By this point, Leclerc had been completely, decisively dropped. Verstappen didn't hesitate for a microsecond. He surged forward aggressively, preparing to exploit Leclerc's momentary instability and execute an overtake.
And it wasn't just Verstappen. During his defense, Bottas also displayed a rare, ferocious level of aggression.
He knew Ferrari possessed a massive engine advantage on the straights. He also knew Kai was desperately trying to optimize his corner-exit speed. Therefore, exiting Turn 4, Bottas deliberately widened his exit trajectory. Perhaps it was only a five-degree deviation, but as they accelerated dead straight out of the corner, he actively, aggressively squeezed the space on the left side of the track. This forced Kai to make a sudden, corrective steering input. By forcing that correction, Kai's corner-exit speed was violently interrupted.
Aggressive! Overbearing! Hardline!
Bottas was truly, fundamentally different this year!
However, when Bottas glanced into his left rearview mirror, he failed to locate that familiar, menacing streak of Ferrari red.
Shit!
For a brief, terrifying second, Bottas's heart seized. Where is he? Where the hell is Kai?!
The Switchback! He hadn't executed it inside the corner; he executed it at the exact moment of the corner exit! Bottas's aggressive attempt to secure the optimal line for the straight had inadvertently exposed a massive, fatal opening!
Sure enough, when Bottas whipped his gaze to the right rearview mirror, that brilliant flash of Ferrari red was already rapidly, aggressively closing in.
VROOM-VROOM-VROOM— VROOM-VROOM-VROOM—
The deafening, earth-shattering roar of the engines completely exploded. In the broadcast booth, Croft's impassioned, hyper-energetic commentary hadn't stopped for a single breath since the moment the lights went out.
"KAI! Kai is launching a massive pursuit! Even without DRS, Ferrari's overwhelming straight-line performance advantage is rapidly devouring Mercedes-Benz's lead!"
In this absolutely critical, split-second crisis, Bottas displayed the true pedigree of an elite, top-tier driver. He didn't panic. He didn't waver. He resolutely held his racing line, sprinting flat-out down the straight. Even though the upcoming Turn 5 high-speed sweeper and the Turn 6 hairpin were both right-handers—meaning his aggressive squeeze maneuver had inadvertently gifted the optimal racing line entirely to Kai—Bottas possessed absolute, unwavering faith in the W10's cold-tire mechanical grip. He firmly believed that even on the outside line, he could maintain the upper hand.
The only thing he needed to do was trust himself and maintain absolute composure.
Turn 5, blasted past in a blur.
Turn 6 was rapidly approaching. Kai delayed his braking point. He didn't push it to the absolute, do-or-die limit, but he still managed to dive in ahead of Bottas, aggressively claiming the apex of the hairpin.
"KAI! He overtakes!"
The entire venue erupted in cheers. Hearts instantly detonated. The crowd could barely contain their overwhelming joy, leaping to their feet collectively.
However, the euphoria lasted for only a fleeting fraction of a second—
Immediately following that, the silver Number 77 car utilized a beautiful, flawless mid-corner rhythm to lock dead onto the red Number 22 car. Exiting Turn 6, Kai still maintained a slight lead. But this time, Bottas achieved significantly superior corner-exit speed. Visibly devouring the deficit, he executed a flawless re-overtake on the short straight. Proceeding into the ensuing sequence of high-speed corners, he completely, totally dropped Kai, leaving him choking on his exhaust.
"BOTTAS! He reclaims the position!"
"An absolutely unbelievable performance! A spectacular, breathtaking duel!"
Everyone constantly praised the phenomenal performance of the Ferrari power unit, but they completely forgot that the Mercedes-Benz power unit was absolutely not inferior in the slightest.
Within the span of a single, chaotic corner complex, Bottas had successfully absorbed Kai's vicious assault, reclaimed his track position, and was now rocketing away, hunting down Hamilton.
The SF90's performance in low and medium-speed corners remained a catastrophic problem. Kai had claimed the inside line at the Turn 6 hairpin. Even though he hadn't executed an extreme late-braking maneuver—he had deliberately controlled his entry speed—the mid-corner rhythm on cold tires was an absolute, unmitigated disaster. The moment he applied throttle on the exit, the rear wing twitched slightly. Before he could even blink, the position was gone.
Admiring the terrifying capabilities of the Mercedes-Benz chassis was one thing. Acknowledging the brutal reality of Ferrari's own deeply flawed chassis was entirely another.
"WOW—"
"Hamilton! Bottas! Kai! Leclerc! Verstappen! Albon!"
"The opening lap of the 1,000th F1 Grand Prix has been absolutely spectacular! Vicious internal competition within Mercedes-Benz! Brilliant tactical coordination from Ferrari! Verstappen lurking dangerously, waiting to strike! It's blindingly fast! Absolutely dizzying!"
"Amidst the total chaos, Hamilton successfully overtook his teammate Bottas to climb into first place, currently leading the Shanghai Grand Prix! Kai came incredibly close to overtaking Bottas, but Bottas showcased a completely rejuvenated, fierce persona in that heavyweight duel, delivering an unbelievable defensive performance to secure his position."
Flowing, impassioned, and completely unstoppable. It wasn't until this exact moment that the broadcast booth finally had a brief opportunity to review the replays.
In the main grandstands, the spectators' hearts had instantly skyrocketed into the clouds, only to immediately plummet violently back to earth. The figures who had just leaped from their seats collapsed heavily back down.
They were still hyped. They were still incredibly excited. But the bitter, agonizing regret of last year's Shanghai Grand Prix remained vividly, painfully etched in their memories. A faint, lingering taste of bitterness washed over their tongues.
However, the disappointment lasted for only a brief moment.
Standing amidst the crowd, Li Lingyu was brimming with joy, practically unable to contain her excitement. "Brilliant! That was absolutely brilliant!"
"During Free Practice, our car wasn't even operating on the same dimensional plane as Mercedes-Benz. But right now? We're actually going toe-to-toe with them, launching attacks and defending aggressively! Tell me honestly, do you think Mercedes-Benz just broke out in a massive cold sweat?!"
"Hahaha!"
Blood boiling, passion soaring. Li Lingyu abruptly jumped back to her feet, clenching her fists and cheering wildly. This race was proving to be exactly as spectacularly thrilling as she had hoped.
Like driver, like fan. The reality of the situation perfectly confirmed the old adage—
If Li Lingyu had been able to hear Kai's radio transmission in that exact moment, she would have burst out laughing.
"Oh. I have absolutely no idea if Bottas broke out in a cold sweat or not, but the palms of my hands are definitely starting to sweat right now." A casual, effortless joke, delivered flawlessly.
A smile touched the depths of Borreipaire's eyes. "Excellent work. Absolutely, incredibly excellent work. I'm highly confident the Mercedes-Benz pit wall just had a massive scare."
After delivering the praise, Borreipaire turned and shot a glance at Binotto—
He knew perfectly well that the entire technical team was watching closely. Every single engineer was paying absolute, undivided attention.
Logically speaking, as a race engineer, he was supposed to stand firmly in the same camp as the technical team. And in reality, he did. He had always believed in the technical team's capabilities. But the brutal facts were staring them all right in the face. From Melbourne to Bahrain, and now here in Shanghai. Time and time again, the objective reality on the asphalt completely validated Kai's assessments. They absolutely had to institute massive changes.
Borreipaire didn't hesitate for a second to openly declare his allegiance, firmly standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Kai.
The scene that had just played out was the ultimate proof. Kai had already utilized his sheer, individual brilliance to violently carve open a tiny sliver of opportunity. But ultimately, the SF90 had betrayed that trust.
Why was the car named the SF90, completely abandoning the naming convention established by last year's SF71H?
It was because this year marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Scuderia Ferrari. It was a profoundly significant, highly commemorative year. A massive array of celebrations was planned throughout the season. The SF90 designation was explicitly chosen to honor that glorious 90-year legacy.
Yet, looking at the agonizing performance currently unfolding before their eyes... were they absolutely certain they weren't actively insulting and humiliating that 90-year legacy?
However, Borreipaire wasn't entirely certain what Binotto's current stance was.
Binotto seemed to sense Borreipaire's gaze. He wasn't surprised in the slightest. He adjusted his radio channel. "Kai, it's Mattia."
"An unparalleled, phenomenal start. Obviously, this car failed to keep pace with your abilities. You continue to challenge the absolute limits out on the track. Everything else is our responsibility. We will not let your relentless fighting spirit go to waste."
Calm. Detached. Almost painfully ordinary.
But that was Binotto. The absolute, unshakeable certainty hidden beneath his understated delivery was beyond question.
This was the very first time Binotto had publicly, unequivocally declared his firm alignment with Kai. Not just during a closed-door team meeting. Not just during a private briefing with Elkann.
They knew perfectly well that the live broadcast cameras were omnipresent. The Netflix documentary crew was circling hungrily above them like vultures hunting for a corpse. Every single word spoken, every single action taken on the pit wall was under constant, intense surveillance. Historically, Ferrari's standard operating procedure was to lock the doors tight, keep internal conflicts strictly hidden, and actively refuse to expose any vulnerabilities to outsiders. They wouldn't allow even a microscopic crack to show. In the paddock, they were notoriously cautious and highly guarded.
Until right now.
Forget about Borreipaire; even Kai couldn't hide his surprise over the radio. Because he knew exactly what those words signified coming from Binotto.
Since that massive, explosive confrontation in Melbourne, Binotto had taken yet another massive step forward.
The corners of Kai's mouth lifted slightly. "Sorry, Mattia, I think some sweat just got in my eyes."
Pfft.
Borreipaire instantly caught the teasing joke hidden within Kai's words. He quickly ducked his head, desperately trying to hide his smile, but his shoulders couldn't stop trembling slightly.
In the back of the garage, Clear didn't bother trying to save face for anyone. He laughed loudly and unapologetically. Furthermore, he deliberately left his radio channel open, ensuring absolutely everyone could hear him.
Binotto stood with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his expression perfectly stoic. But if you looked closely, you could clearly see the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a faint smile.
And then, Kai was the first to yank their attention back to reality. "Pierre, what's the situation with Charles?"
"He's facing a bit of a crisis, but he's managing to hold his ground for now." Borreipaire instantly suppressed his smile, regaining his professional, hyper-focused posture. "So, are we proceeding with Plan A?"
"Yes. Plan A."
The radio fell silent again. The atmosphere on the pit wall instantly became heavy and intensely focused. Because they knew perfectly well: the true challenge was only just beginning.
As previously discussed, Mercedes-Benz's advantage at the Shanghai circuit was glaringly obvious. Even though Kai had successfully terrified them into a cold sweat during Qualifying, Hamilton's post-session interview had been accurate: Qualifying was absolutely not the W10's strongest attribute. Their terrifying advantage over long-run race distances was the true, apocalyptic threat.
In other words, if Kai had thrown all caution to the wind and desperately pushed to the absolute limit during Qualifying yet still failed to break through Mercedes-Benz's blockade... then achieving it during the Race was going to be infinitely more difficult. It would be harder than ascending to heaven.
However, viewing the situation from an alternative perspective: from Free Practice through Qualifying, Ferrari had been relentlessly searching for a viable breach point. And they had actually achieved some tangible results. There was absolutely zero reason for them not to continue experimenting and launching aggressive assaults during the Race.
Meekly accepting their fate, maintaining the status quo, and settling for a conservative third and fourth-place finish? Setting aside the fact that Red Bull was lurking hungrily right behind them... the truly fatal consequence of that strategy was that it would allow Mercedes-Benz to settle comfortably into their operational rhythm. Everything would fall perfectly into Wolff's meticulously calculated grasp. The overarching momentum of the World Championship battle would completely, irreversibly swing in favor of the Silver Arrows.
Charging forward bravely. Daring to take massive risks. Even if they faced the very real probability of failure, they absolutely had to maintain the aggressive momentum established in Melbourne and Bahrain. They had to continuously apply suffocating pressure to Mercedes-Benz. They had to constantly manufacture chaos and difficulties for them. They needed to not only definitively drop Red Bull, but also sustain the aggressive, championship-challenging momentum. They had to hold the line until Maranello's upgrade packages finally arrived, to see if they could successfully close the gap or even completely overturn the dynamic.
The challenge was sitting right there. Ferrari had absolutely zero justification for playing it conservative.
During their internal strategy meeting, this was exactly how Kai had persuaded Binotto and Mekies. Furthermore, it wasn't just about the Shanghai Grand Prix; they absolutely had to collect significantly more data to inform the impending upgrade packages—
Exactly like a game of chess. The localized tactical battles are incredibly important, but the overarching, grand strategy is infinitely more critical.
Therefore, Ferrari had formulated two entirely distinct strategies, custom-tailored to the specific driving styles of Kai and Leclerc. Simultaneously, the two strategies were designed to collect vastly different sets of telemetry data.
The core focus was car setup, but equally important was how the drivers approached the opening phase of the race.
Leclerc excelled at pure, aggressive offense. He possessed phenomenal, elite control over corner entry. Consequently, his front wing was adjusted to be significantly more sensitive. Without a doubt, this aggressively compressed his margin for error. He had to constantly, flawlessly pinpoint the absolute perfect corner entry timing. Simultaneously, his front tires were guaranteed to suffer accelerated degradation. Discovering the perfect equilibrium between raw speed and sustainable control was going to be a massive, grueling challenge.
The slightest lapse in concentration, and the LiCo nightmare could easily become the defining theme of Leclerc's race in Shanghai. But if he managed to locate that delicate balance point, Leclerc absolutely possessed the capability to sustain a relentless, forward-charging offensive—
His strategic objective was absolutely not to defend against Verstappen behind him. His objective was to relentlessly attack forward, launching a ferocious assault on the podium, and perhaps even higher positions.
Even if the driver directly in front of him happened to be Kai.
When Kai formally proposed this specific strategic plan, everyone else in the room had looked mildly shocked. But Leclerc instantly understood: This was Kai's true courage and immense charisma.
Open, honest, and utterly transparent. Calmly and confidently welcoming any and all challenges.
Precisely because of this, Leclerc's belief in Kai remained absolute. His respect for Kai deepened even further. While he fiercely desired to defeat Kai on the asphalt, he equally desired to elevate himself into a driver capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him. His fighting spirit was blazing.
Of course, this strategy also served the critical function of gathering massive amounts of vital telemetry data for the technical team. Maranello desperately needed to re-evaluate their aerodynamics and discover a viable, sustainable tire operating window. Because if they failed to solve that puzzle, regardless of how brilliant their strategies were, and regardless of how phenomenally their drivers performed, the car's disastrous long-run performance would continue to completely vaporize the entire team's hard work.
Therefore, during the launch phase just moments ago, Leclerc had been incredibly aggressive. He executed consecutive, extreme late-braking maneuvers, coming terrifyingly close to carving a bloody path straight through the absolute chaos.
Unfortunately, Hamilton had proven to be just slightly superior.
But the aforementioned points were not the entirety of the plan.
Leclerc's aggressive strategy was merely one half of the team's collaborative effort. Simultaneously, this didn't mean Kai was simply surrendering and waiting to be slaughtered. He was equally eager and fully prepared to embrace the challenge.
Slightly divergent from the Number 16 car, the Number 22 car wasn't running a hyper-aggressive front wing. Instead, its overall front-to-rear aerodynamic balance was shifted slightly forward, prioritizing the front axle. The total downforce hadn't increased, but the responsiveness was significantly accelerated.
It wasn't faster; it was infinitely more precise. While the margin for error was aggressively compressed, the car's overall stability was noticeably enhanced.
A setup like this placed brutal, exacting demands on the driver's individual car control capabilities. The front tires were highly prone to locking up, and tire degradation would be amplified. Therefore, to effectively counter the negative side effects of the setup, Kai absolutely had to avoid extreme late-braking maneuvers. He had to initiate his corner entries earlier, actively elevate his mid-corner stability, and prioritize maximizing his corner-exit speed. Building upon the foundational lessons learned during Qualifying, he was pushing even further to optimize long-run stability.
Because of this specific setup, when Hamilton aggressively brake-tested him during the formation lap, it genuinely enraged Kai. The front tires locked up, which could easily trigger a cascading series of catastrophic consequences for tire temperatures and degradation.
But conversely, Kai's fighting spirit was entirely ignited. He firmly believed that Hamilton's blatant loss of composure proved one thing definitively: Mercedes-Benz had genuinely, truly felt the threat.
This was excellent news—
On the surface, the opening of the 2019 season felt eerily similar to last year. It just seemed like Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz had swapped positions.
But true industry insiders understood the fundamental difference—
At the start of last season, Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz were essentially dead even in terms of raw performance. They both possessed distinct strengths and weaknesses. Ferrari merely managed to catch Mercedes-Benz completely off guard by utilizing Kai as a massive, unpredictable variable. Later, once Mercedes-Benz stabilized their footing, they successfully managed to reverse the momentum even before their major upgrade packages arrived.
But this season, Mercedes-Benz's performance advantage was glaringly obvious and undeniably massive. The W10 was practically an untouchable, top-tier entity, sitting on a dimension entirely its own.
The superficial situations appeared similar, but the underlying, fundamental reality was entirely different.
Yet, after merely three Grands Prix, the arrogant, high-and-mighty Mercedes-Benz had already been violently dragged from Mars straight back down to Earth. They deeply, viscerally felt the terrifying threat Kai posed.
This was good news. 100%, absolutely fantastic news. Entirely logical and expected good news.
Therefore, Kai had absolutely no intention of squandering Mercedes-Benz's gracious hospitality. He was determined to further threaten their position during the Race.
During the launch phase, he had caught a fleeting glimpse of the brutal dogfight between Hamilton and Bottas. It was glaringly obvious that Hamilton had violently shattered the internal equilibrium. Kai firmly believed a massive opportunity had presented itself.
If Leclerc had managed to seize that chaotic opportunity and execute a single, breathtaking maneuver—not only overtaking Kai, but successfully overtaking Bottas as well—he could have locked dead onto Hamilton's gearbox. If that had happened, Ferrari's chances of winning this race would have skyrocketed massively. They could have completely upended the entire narrative in a single stroke.
Because Leclerc possessed vastly superior short-burst, explosive pace. He was significantly more aggressive and impactful in the short term. He was far better suited than Kai to stalk Hamilton, generate massive shockwaves during the opening stint, and completely shatter Mercedes-Benz's strategic layout. For the opening phase of the race, Leclerc was infinitely better suited for that specific role. Their setups and strategies were fundamentally different.
Unfortunately, Hamilton was simply too good. His ability to assert total control amidst absolute chaos was masterful.
This meant they had to revert to their original plan—
Which was Plan A. Kai and Leclerc would each run their own distinct races, dictating their own rhythms. They would meticulously observe how the first variable phase played out and see if they could manufacture a new opportunity.
Therefore, Kai had just asked about Leclerc's status.
The unexpected chaos and sudden opportunities at the start of today's race had scrambled their carefully laid plans. Kai and Leclerc's tire degradation was exceeding their initial projections to varying degrees. The parameters for the first variable phase likely required immediate adjustments. From here on out, it would all come down to their ability to improvise and adapt on the fly out on the asphalt.
Focus. Calm. Immersion.
Kai was listening intently to the engine, perceiving the track—
The feedback radiating from the throttle pedal. The microscopic vibrations transmitting through the steering column. That tiny, almost imperceptible hesitation and wandering of the rear axle the exact instant he exited a corner. The seamless, fluid transition of the racing line across the track's undulations. The subtle, microscopic shifts in dynamic balance while operating on cold tires.
And on, and on.
Following the brief, violent chaos of the launch, the race absolutely did not settle into a peaceful, stable rhythm.
Both McLarens appeared to have suffered catastrophic mechanical failures, diving into the pits on Lap 1. Having finally shown a tiny glimmer of hope and improvement last time out in Bahrain, they had once again been violently sucked into a vortex of agonizing unpredictability here in Shanghai.
Kvyat and Giovinazzi also appeared to be experiencing mechanical issues. Although they hadn't pitted yet, their pace had dropped significantly, causing the entire pack to string out massively.
Chaos, chaos, and more chaos. The broadcast booth was completely overwhelmed. The deafening, boiling noise of the crowd surged relentlessly.
However, absolutely none of that mattered to Kai. Aside from maintaining hyper-vigilance regarding Bottas ahead of him and Leclerc behind him, he was entirely, 100% focused on himself.
Control the car. Control the rhythm.
Turn 1. He didn't execute an extreme late-braking maneuver. He actually initiated braking half a car length earlier than the other drivers. His steering input was dialed to an absolutely perfect, precise angle. The Number 22 car exhibited practically zero unnecessary lateral sliding. The front tires cleanly, decisively bit into the apex, flowing silkenly along the arc of the curve.
Exactly like water flowing seamlessly over smooth stones.
Light, agile, and seemingly effortless.
Exiting Turn 1, he didn't immediately smash the throttle to 100%. Instead, the throttle application felt exactly as though it were being pulled by an invisible, delicate silk thread—slowly, evenly, and progressively depressed.
That propulsive force, inch by inch, meticulously pushed the rear tires down, forcing them to violently grip the asphalt. Through the continuous sequence of curved arcs, the car remained perfectly, flawlessly planted on the ground. The traction was so incredibly clean it felt almost luxurious, especially for the notoriously erratic SF90. The mid-corner rhythm was completely devoid of any twitching or chaotic instability. It flowed with unbroken continuity, diving smoothly into the spiraling combination corners.
Turn 2. He approached it unhurriedly, gentle as a spring breeze and nurturing rain. Great skill appears clumsy, a heavy sword has no edge. That streak of Ferrari red navigated Turns 2, 3, and 4 with meticulous, continuous stability. You could almost hear the crisp, bright sound of water babbling gently past your ears. The steering wheel required virtually zero mid-corner corrections. The rear end was so unbelievably obedient it was entirely unrecognizable from the notoriously ill-tempered Ferrari they had witnessed all season. It looked exactly like a Mercedes-Benz wearing a red paint job. It was utterly intoxicating to watch.
Immediately, Brundle noticed it—
Qualifying. The Kai currently on screen violently resurrected memories of Qualifying! Or, to be more precise: he had taken his unique, unorthodox deconstruction of the circuit from Qualifying, applied subtle micro-adjustments, and seamlessly transitioned it into Race mode. Unlike Q3, this looked significantly closer to his Q2 performance—methodically, continuously churning out lap times that weren't the absolute fastest on track, but were consistently resting comfortably near the very top of the timing sheets.
Look at Kai, and then look at Leclerc. Constantly challenging the absolute limit, constantly teetering violently on the very edge of the cliff. Continuously, relentlessly gambling and taking massive risks. That was the erratic, terrifying SF90 they were all intimately familiar with. It wasn't just Leclerc; Kai had driven exactly like that in Melbourne and Bahrain. The traumatic, brain-melting echoes of "LiCo, LiCo, LiCo" were still actively ringing in their ears.
And then, look back at Kai.
Right now, at the Shanghai circuit. An entirely different operational mode. Showcasing an entirely different face of Ferrari.
It wasn't until exiting Turn 4 and rocketing onto the straight that his rhythm suddenly, violently accelerated. The inherent, terrifying instability of the rear wing finally became faintly visible. Only then could anyone confirm—
Ah, yes. THIS is the Ferrari we all know and love!
However, flawlessly modulated throttle application allowed the car to locate a crucial center of stability during the brutal transition between the corner and the straight. The deafening, explosive roar of acceleration that erupted down the short straight finally reminded everyone of the blinding, terrifying edge Ferrari possessed when battling Mercedes-Benz this season. It charged with unstoppable, devastating momentum toward the Turn 6 hairpin.
Perfectly judged braking. Perfectly judged steering. The usually wild, uninhibited, aggressively flamboyant Kai had suddenly transformed into someone remarkably gentle and precise. In a daze, it felt as though they were watching a complete stranger.
Look! He lingered at the apex for exactly half a beat longer than necessary. He allowed the front axle to completely, perfectly stabilize. Only then did he pin the throttle, instantly snapping the rear wing back into alignment. The revs skyrocketed to the absolute maximum. Flawless steering manipulation perfectly traced the optimal trajectory of the track. The Number 22 car mutated into a streak of red light, blasting magnificently through the high-speed Turns 7 and 8. Before anyone could even blink, he had vanished entirely into Turn 9.
Elegant, uninhibited. Sweeping and aggressive, yet perfectly measured and controlled. Sometimes gentle as a spring rain, sometimes devastating as a thunderbolt. The effortless, seamless transition between rhythms was utterly intoxicating.
Only now did everyone suddenly realize: This is Kai. He is exactly the same Kai we've always known.
1:38.977.
Rocketing past the main grandstand, crossing the finish line, he set a brand new benchmark.
Brundle narrowed his eyes, meticulously studying that string of numbers as if he were examining a newly discovered dinosaur fossil. In his earpiece, he heard Croft's utterly bewildered voice.
"KAI! He sets the fastest lap of the race!"
Croft genuinely couldn't believe his own eyes.
It was Lap 7 of the race. Kvyat and Giovinazzi had ultimately been forced to pit. Their cars had undeniably suffered mechanical issues. However, since their radio communications hadn't been broadcast publicly, the booth had no way of knowing the exact details. Consequently, the broadcast team was currently hyper-focused on the pit lane, desperately trying to untangle the chaotic narrative and figure out exactly what was happening.
As a result, the live timing screens suddenly began flashing purple, instantly violently yanking everyone's attention away from the chaotic midfield drama.
What... what exactly was happening here?
Croft felt his temples throbbing violently. "Martin, what is going on? Has the Defending Champion already shifted into maximum push mode? Exactly like he did at Albert Park?"
At Albert Park, while every other driver on the grid committed to a one-stop strategy, Kai had executed a ground-breaking, utterly unprecedented two-stop strategy, ultimately violently crushing Hamilton's ambition for a Total Slam.
Here at the Shanghai circuit, Pirelli officially recommended a two-stop strategy. So, was Kai preparing to pull the exact same trick and attempt an insane three-stop strategy? Was he launching his all-out offensive now?
Brundle's brow furrowed tightly. He concentrated with absolute intensity. After a moment of deep thought, he let out a soft sigh. "I don't know. I honestly can't be sure."
He admitted it openly and honestly—there was absolutely no shame in it—he genuinely couldn't decipher what was happening.
"Kai might be preparing to perform another magic trick. He might pull a rabbit out of his hat. He might pull out a dove. Who knows, he might pull out a damn Tyrannosaurus Rex."
"Honestly, I have absolutely no idea what he's doing. But I am incredibly excited to find out."