As the final drivers crossed the finish line one after another, the checkered flag settled over the circuit. Amid the fading roar of engines and the thunderous cheers of the crowd, the F2 2021 Baku round feature race gradually came to an end.
In the livestream, Jolyon Palmer's voice remained as passionate as ever, his excitement undiminished. Speaking quickly yet clearly, he declared:
"The race is over! The F2 Centennial round has concluded!"
"Prema Racing sweeps first and second place! Alex Sun takes the win, Piastri finishes second, and Vips claims third! Both Prema cars are on the podium—an incredible moment of glory for the team!"
The live chat instantly exploded. Waves of joy and emotion flooded the screen, every message brimming with the fans' excitement.
"One-two finish! Prema's most glorious moment this season, no question!"
"Alex is insane! Total domination from start to finish—well-deserved win!"
"Piastri was rock-solid too, holding second. A perfect team victory!"
"Deledda must be fuming. Blocked for half the race and got nothing, while Prema locks down first and second!"
"Centennial round and a one-two finish—Go Prema!"
On track, after entering the cooldown lap, Alex Sun deliberately slowed his pace, quietly waiting for his teammate Piastri to catch up.
Soon, Piastri's car pulled alongside. The two cars moved forward side by side, their speeds matching as they cruised slowly around the circuit.
As they passed the grandstands together, the crowd erupted. Fans waved Prema flags and shouted both drivers' names in unison.
"Alex Sun! Piastri!"
The chants rolled across the circuit like waves.
A smile tugged at Alex Sun's lips as he blipped the throttle, letting the engine answer the crowd's enthusiasm. Beside him, Piastri raised a hand and waved toward the grandstands.
A moment later, Piastri's sincere voice came through Alex Sun's TR radio.
"P1, congratulations, Alex Sun. Looks like I lost our pre-race bet."
Alex Sun chuckled, his tone relaxed and familiar.
"Losing the bet isn't a big deal. We'll settle it next race. But this time we brought home a one-two finish—that's something worth celebrating."
Moments later, the two completed the cooldown lap and parked their cars neatly in the designated spots beneath the podium. Even after the engines shut down, the cheers from the grandstands still echoed around the track.
After cutting the engines, both drivers removed their steering wheels and climbed out of their cockpits. Standing atop their respective cars, they began celebrating their victory.
Alex Sun struck a new pose. Standing firmly on the car, he leaned his head back slightly, spread his arms wide, and closed his eyes, quietly listening to the roar of the crowd. He fully savored the glory of being champion.
The two drivers then jumped down from their cars.
Piastri strode over to Alex Sun. They exchanged a smile, said nothing, and clasped hands tightly.
The moment was perfectly captured by a Sky Sports photographer. In the frozen frame, their eyes showed silent understanding and their posture radiated confidence. The photographer immediately named the photo "The Prema Duo."
No one expected the candid shot to go viral afterward. It spread rapidly throughout the motorsport community and quickly gained popularity. Soon it broke beyond racing circles entirely, circulating widely across the internet.
The moment not only elevated the Prema team's popularity but also significantly boosted Alex Sun's recognition. More and more people began paying attention to this young and immensely talented driver.
The two released their handshake and turned toward their respective teams waiting by the barriers, eager to share the victory with their crews.
Alex Sun ran toward the Prema Racing staff and was immediately surrounded by cheers and applause. Piastri hurried toward his side of the garage as well, embraced by teammates as they celebrated wildly.
After the celebrations ended, Alex Sun removed his helmet and handed his gear to the team mechanics. Guided by race officials, he headed to the weigh-in area for the mandatory post-race weighing.
Following race regulations, Alex Sun, Piastri, and Vips proceeded together to the weighing area and completed the procedure in an orderly manner.
Once finished, the three adjusted their suits and stepped onto the podium, waiting for their moment of glory.
The national anthem began as scheduled, its solemn melody echoing across the circuit.
Notably, across all three races at the Baku round, the anthem had played every time—a rare achievement. Standing on the podium and hearing the familiar melody, Alex Sun felt a surge of happiness, the pride in his eyes growing even stronger.
The award ceremony proceeded smoothly.
When the championship trophy was placed in Alex Sun's hands, the crowd erupted again. He raised the trophy high above his head, his gaze sweeping over the team and spectators below, his eyes filled with pride and relief.
Piastri lifted his runner-up trophy as well. Standing side by side, the two drivers froze this historic moment together.
Prema Racing had achieved a perfect one-two finish at the F2 Centennial round.
The most lively part of the ceremony—the champagne celebration—soon began.
Four people stood on the podium: Alex Sun, Piastri, Vips, and Prema Racing Team Principal René Rosin.
As the team principal overseeing both Alex Sun and Piastri, Rosin stood proudly beside his drivers, sharing in this hard-earned glory.
Alex Sun and Piastri exchanged a knowing look. In perfect sync, they lifted their champagne bottles and aimed them straight at René Rosin beside them.
Then they popped the corks.
Golden champagne burst out in a powerful spray, shooting directly at Rosin.
Standing right next to the two drivers, Rosin had been wearing a proud and satisfied smile. He had no idea the sudden "attack" was coming, and for a moment he was completely caught off guard.
Usually, as the team's leader, he maintained a composed and authoritative presence. He had never received such "treatment" before.
In an instant, he was soaked in champagne, his hair and clothes dripping with it.
He shook his head helplessly, grabbed a nearby bottle, and sprayed champagne back at the two drivers in retaliation—though the smile at the corner of his mouth was impossible to hide.
A one-two finish at the Centennial round.
A moment like that deserved a chaotic champagne battle.
Amid laughter and flying champagne, the podium ceremony finally came to an end.
Alex Sun straightened his champagne-soaked suit and walked toward the interview area.
Facing the reporters, he remained calm and composed, though the joy in his voice was unmistakable.
"Winning the Centennial round is a great honor. I'm grateful to everyone in the team—thank you to René Rosin for his trust, to Piastri for being there with me, and to everyone who has supported me."
Then a reporter shifted the topic and asked:
"If an F1 team offered you a reserve driver position, but you wouldn't immediately get the chance to race, would you accept it?"
Alex Sun's gaze turned firm as he replied without hesitation.
"My goal is very clear. I want to step onto the F1 stage as a full-time driver and compete on the track. A reserve driver position doesn't allow me to achieve that goal, so it isn't something I'm considering."
The reporter immediately pressed further, his tone provocative.
"Isn't that a bit arrogant? Without the backing behind you, you might not even have made it onto the F2 grid."
Alex Sun's expression darkened slightly.
He studied the man carefully and immediately recognized him as a BBC reporter. His voice hardened, filled with confidence.
"Whether I'm arrogant depends on my ability, not the support behind me."
"Standing on the F2 grid and winning this Centennial race came from giving everything in every training session and pushing to the limit on every lap—not from any so-called 'special attention.'"
"And as the current championship leader, if an F1 team sends an invitation, isn't that only natural?"
With that, Alex Sun turned away from the BBC reporter and prepared to leave the interview area.
As he took a step forward, he heard the reporter still muttering behind him.
He didn't stop walking. He simply tilted his head slightly and looked back, his voice even firmer, each word ringing clearly.
"As for you—rather than focusing on a driver's performance and dedication on the track, you dismiss their effort by reducing everything to who's backing them."
"I seriously question your professionalism as a sports journalist."
Intimidated by Alex Sun's presence, the reporter froze for a moment before trying to respond.
But Prema Racing's PR officer had already stepped forward, positioning themselves between Alex Sun and the reporter.
Their expression was stern, their tone even more forceful than before, leaving no room for argument.
"Stop this inappropriate line of questioning immediately!"
"We will not tolerate malicious defamation or baseless provocation toward our driver, and we will not respond further."
"If you continue this behavior, we will contact the race organizers and legal counsel on the spot to protect our driver's legal rights."
With that, the PR officer gently held Alex Sun's arm, signaling him to keep walking away, while they remained behind, staring coldly at the BBC reporter.
Only after the reporter reluctantly fell silent did they turn and follow Alex Sun, bringing the provocative exchange to a complete end.
The moment Alex Sun stepped out of the interview area, a cold mechanical system notification suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Host, please note. Malicious questioning and defamation targeting the Host's abilities and efforts have been detected. The rights protection mechanism has been activated.]
[The Host's strength and dedication shall not be trampled upon. Our legal team has been immediately mobilized and will file a lawsuit against the BBC reporter and the affiliated organization, pursuing legal responsibility for defamation and safeguarding the Host's lawful rights and reputation.]
Hearing this, Alex Sun felt deeply satisfied.
The system was really domineering… and he loved it.
...
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