owlsbooks Chapter 5 This is F1
Chapter 5 This is F1
Podium! Launch!
First to step onto the podium is Lewis Hamilton, the third-place finisher at the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the runner-up in the 2021 F1 Drivers' Championship, and a seven-time world champion!
The podium: There's not enough room for all of us. (crossed out)
Hamilton was wearing a mask and a hat, his face completely covered. Clearly, this defeat was not something he could easily let go of.
紧接着登上领奖台的是，首位出战F1正赛的中国车手、2021赛季F1阿布达比大奖赛的亚军、2021赛季F1阿布达比大奖赛全场最佳车手、拔罐梦粉碎机——汤！彻！
On the podium: Weren't there already three people here? How come there are four more? (crossed out)
The entire Red Bull Racing team applauded for Tanger in the stands, and all the fans cheered for him.
In just a moment, the applause and cheers turned to another person.
He is... Max Verstappen, the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix champion, the 2021 F1 World Drivers' Champion, and the first Dutch driver to be crowned WDC!
On the podium: Family, I'm covered in sweat today. (crossed out)
All the glory belongs to Max Verstappen at this moment!
The Dutch national anthem, "William Athena," has been used as the end-credits song for Formula 1 for the first time!
Pop the champagne!
Tangcher and Verstappen engaged in a lively champagne exchange, while Horner, representing the team, watched from behind the podium with a wide grin.
Hamilton's champagne shot weakly towards Verstappen's back, while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stood below the podium watching it all, his face ashen.
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Legendary driver Ayrton Senna once said that F1 is politics and money.
In the era before the budget cap, more money meant higher R&D investment, better drivers, and further advancement meant more honors.
Even with today's budget cap, teams with more financial resources tend to achieve more accolades.
On this night when the 2021 season has already ended, money can be set aside for now, but the politics of the paddock are far from over.
Horner and Marco found Masashi Yamamoto, the head of Honda's F1 project, in the wildly celebrating crowd.
"That's enough of the celebration, Masashi," Horner whispered in Masashi Yamamoto's ear. "We have some very urgent and important matters to discuss."
Although he already guessed Horner and Marco's purpose for coming, Masashi Yamamoto couldn't help but ask, "What urgent matter?"
"Regarding the Alfa Romeo Toli team seats for next season," Marko whispered to Masashi Yamamoto, "we have to make some changes."
……
Toto Wolff, on behalf of Mercedes, lodged a formal protest with the FIA: "We believe the red flag on lap 54 of this race was inappropriate."
"Nicolas Latifi's collision was no more serious than Antonio Giovinas's, yet the race organizers deployed a safety car for the latter while showing a red flag to the former, which is clearly unreasonable."
"Given the serious inconsistency in the decisions made in handling the two incidents, we have reason to believe that race director Michael Massey manipulated the race."
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#Post-race press conference for the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix#
Hamilton did not attend the post-race press conference, and given that Mercedes had filed a protest with the FIA, journalists have reason to believe that Hamilton's absence was also part of the protest.
What? You're asking what reason you have to believe that? Do you even understand journalism? (Scratch that)
The reporters directed most of their questions at Verstappen:
When did you feel you had a chance to win the championship?
What do you think of the race organizers showing a red flag for Latifi's collision? Is it fair?
"If the rules are against you, will you protest?"
……
Verstappen's polite response greatly disappointed the reporter, who then began to expect that the rookie Tancher's interviewing style would not be as seasoned as his driving style.
A British journalist asked: "If the race organizers hadn't shown a red flag for Latifi's collision and had instead deployed the safety car, do you think Max would still have had a chance to win?"
Towne: "What if? What if Napoleon hadn't failed? You'd be French now. But you'd still be British. That proves there are no 'what ifs' in this world."
As is well known, England and France are a pair of star-crossed lovers who have been entangled for hundreds of years. Speaking of France to the English is most likely to stir up their hidden memories of the past.
The British journalist had nothing more to say.
A Spanish journalist asked: "We all know that Checo's signing with RB Leipzig at the end of last season cost you your place. Today, you came on as a substitute for Checo and performed better than Checo has in any game this season. How do you feel?"
Tanger: "I feel... you should kidnap me and Cheko, throw us into the octagon, point guns at us, and force us to fight to the death."
Reporter: "You mean, your relationship with Cheko isn't good?"
Tang Che: "What I mean is, our relationship isn't good... to be precise, we have no relationship at all. If it weren't for work, I wouldn't want to answer a single question from an unfriendly stranger."
His words were sharp, and Verstappen nodded in agreement; he had something to say.
The reporters also found it quite interesting and felt that there was even more to ask, so they all eagerly asked Tang Che questions.
Amidst the noise, Tang Che heard a sentence in Chinese: "Little Tang..."
What is there for Tang Che to hesitate about? Let's just ask this Chinese-speaking guy to ask the question.
"Hello Xiao Tang, I'm a reporter from CCTV Sports Channel. I'd like to ask, how did you feel when you crossed the finish line and won the silver medal?"
Tang Che: It still has to be the central station!
"This issue can't be explained in a few words," Tang Che said. "How about this, after the press conference, we can go to the mixed zone and talk about it in detail."
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After a busy day, Master Tang got into the car to return to the hotel.
The driver was Tang Che's aunt, Tang Jingqing, who was also Tang Che's agent.
"Ferrari and McLaren have both contacted me," Tang Jingqing said with a sigh. "During the season, we ran into walls everywhere, and none of these teams were willing to pay the release clause for us. Now they're scrambling to give you a seat."
"That's F1 for you," Towne said. "What do these two companies say?"
Tang Jingqing: "Ferrari said they originally planned to get you a seat in the Alfa Romeo team, but considering that you might not be willing to replace Guan Yu's seat, they finally decided to give you a seat in Haas and promised that at most two years, they would definitely get you into Ferrari."
Toncher: "What about McLaren?"
Tang Jingqing: "He'll be a reserve driver for a year first, and after that he'll definitely be given a permanent seat at McLaren; it'll be written directly into the contract. That shows sincerity..."
A call came to Tang Che's cell phone.
"Hello, Tang, I'm Toto."