The two sides met briefly on the racetrack, and the engineer from ART Team recognized Odetto and exchanged some pleasantries.

As for Chen Xiangbei, the other party merely nodded "coldly," not even bothering to exchange a word.

The reason lies in the open competition driver profiles. Chen Xiangbei's blank karting history is almost identical to Japan's early days' driver, Sato Takuma.

The only difference is that Sato Takuma entered single-seater formula racing at 20, while Chen Xiangbei is now 19.

For the Asia region to produce a Sato Takuma is practically a miracle. There's no way to have mass-produced "copies" like that.

In the eyes of ART Team's race engineer, Chen Xiangbei is just cannon fodder for the Super Aguri Team, trying to maintain their presence in the formula racing field. After this Renault European Cup, he will most likely fade into obscurity.

This level of driver appears thousands of times a year in the formula field, and there will be no intersection between both sides afterward, so why bother being friendly?

After chatting for a few moments, the two sides waved goodbye. ART Team continued on the track, while Chen Xiangbei and his team planned to return to Super Dream Base.

Back in the car, Odetto puffed out his beard, expressing his displeasure: "FUCK, what's ART Team so arrogant about? Haven't they just trained a few F1 Drivers? Wait till they enter the F1 Paddock before showing off."

Chen Xiangbei wasn't the only one who felt the "cold" demeanor; Odetto, a European, could more intuitively sense the contempt.

At this time, ART Team in the lower formula fields holds the position comparable to future Red Bull and Ferrari, boasting both achievements and fame.

Drivers like Grosjean, Hamilton, Ricardo, and Hockenheim have all joined ART Team in lower-level races. Their outstanding achievements have given them the audacity.

ART Team's race engineers obviously did not take Chen Xiangbei seriously, thinking maybe the Super Dream Team is trying the "hard work complements clumsiness" approach.

But in the field of formula racing, hard work cannot make up for a lack of talent!

After venting, Odetto asked, "Bei, have you memorized the driver profiles and styles of ART Team?"

Previously, Odetto had only questioned Chen Xiangbei about track data and hadn't asked about competing drivers.

"Yes."

Chen Xiangbei nodded; even without looking at the data Odetto provided, he knew Vergne.

"Tell me about it."

"Vergne is not yet eighteen, but he has been training in karting since age four, a wealth of race experience."

"His single-lap ability is weak, tending towards a long-distance steady type. His solid fundamentals have led to stellar performance in karting stage, currently he's a key driver cultivated by ART Team."

Upon hearing Chen Xiangbei's description, Odetto nodded in praise: "Very good, it seems you indeed remember it all."

Honestly, Chen Xiangbei remembering track data was already very surprising to Odetto.

Now it appears that even opponent profiles are imprinted in his mind.

"Do you think you can beat him?"

Odetto followed up with another question.

"Hehe."

Chen Xiangbei did not answer; his smile said it all.

He's living another lifetime to enter the F1 Paddock to defeat opponents, not fear them.

What if Vergne is a future F1 driver? As Chen Xiangbei's races elevate, he'll face more stronger future F1 Drivers on European tracks.

If you want to stand on the championship podium, you have to defeat every opponent in front of you!

Let alone meeting Vergne, a mid-lower player in F1, even if meeting opponents of the caliber like Vettel, Hamilton, or Schumacher today, Chen Xiangbei still has the courage and confidence to defeat them in competition.

Hesitation leads to defeat, fear equals to losing!

Seeing Chen Xiangbei's expression, Odetto realized his mistake in even asking that question.

Though he thought he hadn't underestimated Chen Xiangbei, subconsciously there was still some underrating of the Chinese driver.

If he were a European talent, Odetto wouldn't have asked such a question.

In a narrow confrontation, the brave wins, how could a team leader ask if one can beat the opponent?

The answer to this question has only one option.

Answering otherwise means abandoning racing entirely, better off washing cars.

"Bei, I apologize; that question was foolish."

Odetto, known for his straightforwardness, admitted his mistake, even though the other party is a young man.

"Leader, I'm not that petty."

Chen Xiangbei responded with a smile, understanding Odetto's lack of malice.

On the contrary, once in the car, his complaint about ART Team's engineer showed subconsciously he already sees himself as part of the TEAM.

...

In the few days waiting for the race, Chen Xiangbei spent most time in physical training and watching race footage.

The Super Aguri's move to sell the team simulator for money was quite audacious, making it now impossible to conduct simulation training.

Luckily, due to this era's technological limitations, apart from top F1 Teams' four-axis simulators being somewhat usable, other lower-tier formula teams' simulators are essentially comparable to toys.

Getting familiar with tracks is fine, but improving driving skills via them is rather challenging.

And so, February 27th, Friday arrived, when Silverstone Circuit opened for practice to participating teams.

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