Chapter 1549 - 566: Just Enough (6K, Extra Update 3/5)_3

Chapter 1549: Chapter 566: Just Enough (6K, Extra Update 3/5)_3

The position changes among the top four at the start phase are now settled.

During this phase, Qin Miao showed a bit more cunning, but fortunately, all got off to a smooth start without any accidents.

Next, they all headed downhill to T4.

Leclerc relied on the straight-line acceleration and top speed of his car, attempting to overtake Verstappen from the outside.

However, Verstappen’s cornering skills were clearly superior, preventing Leclerc from succeeding.

But Qin Miao seized this opportunity.

As Leclerc’s front wing extended to the outside, Qin Miao braked tightly behind Verstappen’s car’s rear diffuser.

The closest distance between the W14 and RB19 was about one meter.

With Qin Miao’s exceptional late braking, he managed to stay tight behind Verstappen entering and exiting the corner.

Though he was pulled apart by Verstappen after the corner, Qin Miao completed a side-by-side maneuver with Leclerc in T4!

T4 is a long right turn, and Qin Miao was on the inside line.

After exiting the corner, Qin Miao was half a car length ahead of Leclerc.

At T5, a slight bend, Leclerc closed the gap again as they approached T6.

The two continued wheel-to-wheel to T7.

It’s notable that despite the fierce competition, neither attempted the tactics used against Verstappen.

Both never tried to push each other off the track.

At T7, Qin Miao left Leclerc some exit space, but not much, only about a car’s width plus a meter.

It sounds ample, but controlling an F1 car at over 100 km/h with limited visibility makes it challenging to manage that distance.

Thus, although Leclerc was on the inside at T7, he had some advantage but dared not push the throttle hard due to the high-speed nature of T7 and limited exit space left by Qin Miao.

Meanwhile, Qin Miao was amazed that Leclerc managed to make good use of the little space he allowed, exiting the corner at a considerable speed.

The duo came side by side exiting T7 and continued parallel to T8, a slight bend.

Since T4, Qin Miao and Leclerc remained wheel-to-wheel until exiting T8.

"Qin Miao and Leclerc are still side by side! They’re truly ruthless!"

"It’s hard to believe these two, who get along well off the track, are fighting so fiercely on it."

"Yet, while being decisive, they haven’t made more aggressive moves on the track."

The commentators at Five-Star Sports were thrilled.

No one expected the race to be so intensely fought.

...

Soon the two arrived side by side at T9.

Qin Miao was on the inside, and he had a high-downforce setup this weekend.

Therefore, Qin Miao had some advantage over Leclerc in T9.

After T9, Leclerc remained on the outside, but Qin Miao pulled ahead by half a car’s length.

With both cars reaching T10, Qin Miao was still on the inside. Here, Leclerc struggled to keep up with Qin Miao’s pace.

Though Qin Miao gave Leclerc ample exit space after T10, part of it was over the curbs on the track.

Therefore, Qin Miao naturally completed the overtake on Leclerc here.

Even then, Leclerc didn’t give up.

After all, the start straight at Red Bull Ring is long enough, and I was on the outside exiting the corner, having acceleration advantage over Qin Miao.

Moreover, Verstappen gained a 1.3-second lead over Qin Miao due to our battle, leaving Qin Miao without slipstream to utilize.

I possessed the slipstream from Qin Miao, so I still had a chance!

Leclerc wasn’t ready to abandon the tussle with his friend.

Qin Miao, aware of the threat posed by Leclerc, focused on the movements of Leclerc’s car rather than the already slightly escaped Verstappen.

You can attack me, but you can’t attack from my inside line.

Noticing Leclerc closing the gap using his slipstream, Qin Miao immediately moved to the inside line.

Leclerc closely followed Qin Miao’s line change.

Whether or not he went to the inside, I would maximize Qin Miao’s slipstream before pulling out.

While both were fully concentrated in preparation for the next maneuvers.

A yellow flag suddenly appeared on the track, followed by a safety car.

Seeing the safety car deployed, Qin Miao breathed a sigh of relief, while Leclerc swore inside his car.

"Thanks FIA! I’ve never felt so harmonious with the event staff," Qin Miao said over the team radio.

"Feeling pressured?" Frankie jokingly asked.