Chapter 1547 - 566: Nothing Beyond the Mark (6K, Extra Update 3/5)

Chapter 1547: Chapter 566: Nothing Beyond the Mark (6K, Extra Update 3/5)

Sunday, the next day.

The weather today is significantly better than yesterday. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Friday’s weather, with a comfortable feel and no risk of rain.

Regarding today’s race, Qin Miao chose a pit stop strategy of one stop with yellow and white tires. He even brainstormed with the team staff for a while because of this strategy.

At 2 p.m. Austria local time, all the staff on the track are cleared.

Sitting in the car dressed in his racing suit, Qin Miao hears Frankie’s words through the team radio: "It’s unlikely to rain in today’s race, and there aren’t any areas on the track that require special attention."

"Cherish the good opportunity of starting inside, strive to gain a few positions in the starting phase, and give it your all in the race."

"Okay."

After responding, Qin Miao exhales deeply, then his gaze gradually becomes resolute.

As the warm-up lap begins, Qin Miao lowers the visor of his helmet, isolating himself from the engine noise of other racing cars on the track.

Also isolating himself from the camera lens capturing his eyes.

Having completed the warm-up lap, Qin Miao positions his car in the fourth starting grid, looking at Leclerc’s car rear and estimating his own attack lines after the start.

Regarding Hamilton to his left-front, Qin Miao remains confident.

Without rain, his starting reaction speed is likely to be faster than Hamilton’s.

And he has the advantage of the inside line. As long as Hamilton doesn’t burst alongside him, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to overtake Hamilton before T1.

Of course, all of this is contingent on Leclerc not messing up at the start.

If Leclerc makes a mistake at the start, no matter how good Qin Miao’s start is, he will have to use some of the car’s traction to change lanes to avoid running into Leclerc.

All in all, Qin Miao takes a deep breath, then slowly exhales, staring at the five red lights lighting up one by one.

"Okay, we see, the five red lights~ are on... The red lights go out, the race begins!" With Bing’s voice, the 2023 Austria Grand Prix officially starts.

At the moment the red lights go out, Qin Miao launches in the roar of the W14 engine.

With eyes on the Ferrari ahead, Qin Miao glimpses his teammate Hamilton, essentially capturing the dynamics of his two main rivals at the start of today’s race.

Leclerc’s starting speed is quite decent today, but compared to Verstappen, it’s slightly lacking.

And Verstappen’s start in the main race is similar to the sprint race.

After the start, he squeezes Leclerc toward the inside first, then pulls out to the outside line to enter the corner.

Leclerc, whose personality isn’t as aggressive as Perez’s, combined with Leclerc’s start not being as fast as Perez’s in the sprint race, and without the seat worries like Perez, lacks the fierceness compared to Perez.

Leclerc naturally couldn’t make a move to the inside before Verstappen closes the door, so after seeing Verstappen’s lane change, Leclerc went directly to the outside line, just blocking Hamilton.

Noticing Leclerc’s move, Qin Miao didn’t bother focusing on Hamilton.

Because the Old Man is on the outside, and not only does he have Leclerc in front of him, but Verstappen as well, blocking all Hamilton’s outside overtaking routes.

The Old Man is not a concern.

At this moment, Qin Miao has the advantage of the inside line.

Thus, under Hamilton’s helpless gaze, Qin Miao sticks tightly to the right side of Hamilton’s car, keeping Hamilton stuck on the outside of the track.

After momentarily trapping his teammate on the track, Verstappen and the three drivers behind him arrive at the braking point of T1.

Leclerc and Hamilton behind Verstappen, who are just behind Verlappen’s car, have no choice but to brake once Verstappen brakes, despite not being at the brake point yet.

Otherwise, they would surely crash into Verstappen.

But Qin Miao is different. Although the car silhouette ahead is overlapping with Qin Miao’s on the outside middle line where Verstappen’s car is, there’s Leclerc’s car body cushioning in between. Also, the acceleration from the start to the T1 braking point has minimal car speed and inertia, allowing the brake point choice at this position to be somewhat later.

Qin Miao directly presses a late brake.

Due to this late braking, Qin Miao overtakes Hamilton and positions himself on the inside line of Leclerc.

Seeing the red-bordered W14 car in his rear-view mirror, Leclerc clicks his tongue but holds his position steadfastly at the corner exit, trying to push Qin Miao off the track.

But after seeing Leclerc’s excellent start, Qin Miao harbors no unrealistic ideas about his position.

At this moment, Qin Miao only wants to take down Hamilton.

So facing Leclerc’s squeeze, Qin Miao decisively eases off the throttle at the corner exit, letting Leclerc take the apex position.

If you’re capable, go ahead.

After the corner exit, Hamilton naturally falls behind Qin Miao.