CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 114: THE BLOOD AND GRIT OF CHINESE RACERS (DOUBLE CHAPTER)

Before Chen Xiangbei proved himself, he might have been like this. But now, after Staler announced him as the test driver for Brawn GP today, the funding issue will soon be resolved.

No matter how underdeveloped the foundation of Chinese Formula Racing is, there will still be companies that understand what it means for a rookie driver to become a test driver for an F1 team. It represents a generational level of talent and potential for Asian drivers.

Xiangbei will soon highlight his commercial value!

"Team Leader Odetto, what I mean is..."

Sawano Hiroyuki wanted to argue a bit more, but Odetto shook his head and interrupted directly.

"Sawano, no need to say more. Let Xiangbei fully showcase his strong offensive capabilities."

"You need to understand one thing, Asian drivers wanting to achieve results on European tracks absolutely cannot become weak and conservative!"

Odetto has experienced the era when early Japanese drivers competed in European Formula Racing, and he understood well what Sawano Hiroyuki wanted to express.

Sawano Hiroyuki has a typical Japanese mindset, always liking to weigh the pros and cons and minimize risks within a controllable range, which over time leads to a lack of decisive boldness.

The problem is that Formula Racing has never been a controllable field.

You never know which will come first, the championship or an accident!

European drivers inherently look down on Asian drivers, which is why Mansell keeps provoking repeatedly.

He thinks he’s got Chen Xiangbei figured out.

To overturn this impression, you have to be tougher and more aggressive than your opponent, letting them know this Chinese Kid is not to be messed with!

In the past, European drivers on the track would discriminate against and humiliate older generation Japanese drivers like Nakajima Goro and Suzuki Aguri.

Now, in the European F1 paddock, there are still people who insult Ino Yuji, Sato Takuma, and others, but no one dares to take liberties with them on the track.

Why is that?

It’s based on the results that Ino Yuji, Sato Takuma, and others have crashed out.

Whether the crashes stemmed from subjective intentions or lack of skills, the effect is there.

What Chen Xiangbei has to do now is to give himself a similar fierce label.

If you dare provoke me, I’ll dare to crash into you!

Of course, on the track, Chen Xiangbei is unaware of these deep thoughts of Odetto, not even considering the cost of collision.

His thoughts are simple. If Mansell has the guts, don’t chicken out. Today one of us who’s the last to brake is the winner!

"OH, Xiangbei and Mansell are obviously fired up now, both of them accelerating full throttle on the straight, seemingly betting on who will back off at the last moment."

"Mr. Staler, do you think the Chinese driver Xiangbei will slow down and give way?"

James asked Staler, given that this British investor knows Chen Xiangbei better than he does.

Actually, James subconsciously believed that in the end, the Chinese kid would back off.

For no particular reason; it’s a stereotype formed over decades about Asian drivers.

They cannot afford the losses from crashes and cannot withstand the impact on their image either.

Or to put it more bluntly, with the withdrawal of Japanese factory teams, for a long time to come, Asian drivers will have to rely on European teams for opportunities.

Chen Xiangbei wouldn’t dare offend the "British Hero" Mansell family, nor the home crowd UK audience.

"I don’t know."

Staler gave a straightforward answer. He didn’t understand Chen Xiangbei as well as James thought he did.

His understanding of Chen Xiangbei was all from Zhang Zhicong’s recounts, which didn’t include track confrontations.

But then Staler added a sentence: "James, but I am confident that Xiangbei will not back down in a confrontation. Mansell will pay a hefty price for his provocations!"

Sometimes you can understand a person by sensing their personality.

The impression Chen Xiangbei left on Staler was one of maturity and confidence beyond his years; this Chinese kid, even when talking about F1 teams, did not show the typical newcomer awe.

As if he has already determined beforehand that he will become the next F1 driver.

A driver destined to enter F1, how could he retreat in confrontation?

If Chen Xiangbei were truly this weak, he would never make it to the highest echelons of the racing world in his lifetime!

Seemingly to confirm Staler’s words, Chen Xiangbei maintained a firm stance without slowing down through the corner braking zone.

And not only that, before entering the corner, Chen Xiangbei turned the steering wheel, directly pushing his car towards the inner side against Mansell. Putting on a posture that if you don’t give way, I’ll ram into you like a torpedo for a mutual destruction.

The aggressive stance of the Chinese Kid completely exceeded Mansell’s understanding.

It’s important to know that even in track confrontations, Chen Xiangbei has been more of a passive retaliator after being provoked.

But now, he was proactively attacking and pressuring Mansell!

Chen Xiangbei always remembered a line from the "Bright Sword" TV series during the cavalry regiment duel, which said, "When two paths cross, the brave one wins."

Now his actions were about drawing the sword before his opponent, whoever fears will lose!

Whether Mansell was afraid is unknown, but when facing Chen Xiangbei’s car crashing in, he didn’t have time to think deeply and instinctively turned the steering wheel.

A fiery and impulsive nature often makes it difficult to maintain calm judgment under the influence of anger.

And to become a truly top driver, you must first learn to control your emotions.

Mansell clearly had not achieved this, his mind completely occupied by anger, fixated on crushing and humiliating this Chinese guy, without any tactical planning, just straightforward aggression.