"Red flag, Bei, pit in."
Odetto issued a pit-in command to Chen Xiangbei the moment he saw the race committee's red flag.
At the same time, the track broadcast camera focused on the T10 corner where Mansell had his accident.
The live audience could clearly see on the big screen that the front wing of Mansell's No. 9 car was completely destroyed, the suspension had also collapsed with the two tires lying on the ground in a splayed position, and the fiberglass shell of the cockpit had a large hole.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mansell's car damage is quite severe. According to the data recorded by the car sensors, his speed side by side with Bei at the corner center was over 200 km/h!"
"However, from the current broadcast footage, it seems that Mansell is still conscious. It looks like the last emergency brake and the track buffer zone helped him reduce the insane speed, thus avoiding a more serious accident."
"Motor racing is always coupled with danger. As a commentator, I don't wish to see any casualties on the track. Here, I wish Mansell a safe recovery."
James was the first to introduce the track accident and expressed his opinion.
In his view, Mansell's actions were indeed somewhat impulsive and reckless, but everyone has had their moments of youthful indiscretion, and giving him a lesson is fine.
If a serious casualty accident were to occur, the impact wouldn't only be on Mansell alone, but on the entire Renault series.
"Such intense confrontation in the qualifying, who knows what will happen in the main race."
"The Chinese guy is a bit too aggressive; his provocation led Mansell to lose his mind."
"What the hell are you talking about, who provoked whom?"
"God bless, hope Mansell stays safe."
The audience in the stands started to chatter again, this time leaning more toward Mansell.
Actually, neutrality often represents the majority. They usually sway with the commentary and atmosphere.
When Mansell is arrogant and flamboyant, they support Mansell.
When Chen Xiangbei shows his strength, a group of admirers instantly emerges.
Now that there has been a track accident, driven by the empathy for the "weaker side," many people swayed again.
For the commotion of these public opinions, Chen Xiangbei naturally couldn't hear them, nor was he interested in paying attention.
During the returning lap to the pit, Chen Xiangbei saw the broadcast on the big screen about the rescue of Mansell, and his eyes were filled with indifference, with barely a ripple of emotion within his heart.
Chen Xiangbei does not possess a "cold-blooded and emotionless" personality. On the contrary, many times even when facing strangers or competitors, he does not hesitate to lend a helping hand.
For example, his former rival Hoshino Yoshi, and now Kobayashi Shuji.
But he is definitely not a saint!
The world of the paddock is just like this, benevolence is taken advantage of.
Chen Xiangbei has no doubt that if he and Mansell switched places in the track accident, not only would the opponent and audience not sympathize, but they would also mock relentlessly the weakness and incompetence of an Asian driver!
Mercy belongs to the strong who bestow it upon the weak.
When Chen Xiangbei hasn't reached the pinnacle of strength, and the opponent hasn't recognized their position as the weaker side, they have no claim to any mercy!
The car returned to the Super Dream Team's maintenance area, and before Chen Xiangbei could drive into the pit house, team members had already gathered around with concern.
"Xiangbei-kun, are you okay?"
"Bei, are you all right?"
"Xiangbei, well done, no disgrace!"
The different languages of inquiry made a warm feeling rise in Chen Xiangbei's heart.
"I'm fine, but the car's chassis might be heavily damaged."
Chen Xiangbei replied, then unfastened his seatbelt and supported himself on the cockpit to stand up.
At that moment, Lu Xiaoman keenly noticed that Chen Xiangbei's left hand was trembling slightly, and her expression immediately became solemn.
Does this look like someone who's okay?
"Maintenance team, inspect the car chassis immediately. We need to finish before the red flag is lifted!"
Sawano Hiroyuki's attention wasn't on Chen Xiangbei; he hurriedly directed the team to repair the car.
Although the qualifying time would pause during the red flag period, the entire qualifying session had already passed a third, with less than twenty minutes left.
If the red flag ends and the car isn't repaired, Chen Xiangbei might not clock a complete flying lap, only able to use the previous 1 minute 08.975 seconds as his final result.
The lap time, which would have been in the top three of last year's Renault European Cup, won't even make the top five this year.
Noted drivers like Magnussen, Vergne, and Costa all posted faster lap times while Chen Xiangbei was in the buffer lap and "fighting" with Mansell.
Even Kobayashi Shuji from the Super Dream Team surpassed Chen Xiangbei's first flying lap time.
From now on, drivers' lap times will only get faster, and if Chen Xiangbei's chassis isn't fixed, he might end up around the tenth position in the final qualifying results!
Odetto didn't focus on the car repair issue. He came to Chen Xiangbei's side, nodded, and said approvingly, "Bei, that was well done."
"Only one flying lap, what's so good about it."
"Overtaking and steering the opponent into the wall, that's excellent."
Compared to Chen Xiangbei, who was more restrained, Odetto had fewer concerns.
He admired this kind of swift revenge, retaliating right away on the track.
Unfortunately, with the FIA's increasingly strict regulations and the retirement of older drivers, the track is now occupied entirely by a "bunch of sissies."
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