Hubert looked up at Kai, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Barcelona? Of course he remembered, but so much happened there. Which specific event was Kai referring to?
Kai met Hubert's gaze directly, his eyes bright. "We discussed the corners, we discussed the lines, we discussed that annoying crosswind..."
Little by little, the memories awakened. A smile returned to Hubert's lips.
"But ultimately, it's all about yourself."
The corners of Kai's mouth curled up. It was clear his mood hadn't been affected by social media in the slightest.
"Undoubtedly, racing is about competing with your opponents. If there were only one car on the track, we probably wouldn't be able to push the speed to its absolute limit."
"But looking at it from another angle, racing is also a competition with oneself. It's just me in the cockpit. Alone. When the car starts flying, that's our world. We control the speed and rhythm, we control the power and the pulse. We are the sole beings deciding our fate."
It wasn't just Hubert; Zhou also quieted down.
Even Leclerc was no exception. Hockenheim naturally surfaced in his mind—the responsibilities, the drive, the excitement. It felt so similar to Monaco. When the team was in trouble, when an opportunity presented itself, the more eager he was to prove himself, the more frantic he became, ruining his own race with his own hands.
Although Leclerc had been blaming himself, he had never truly, deeply thought about what was actually happening.
But now, Leclerc suddenly understood.
"Pressure or motivation. The opponents on the track, the expectations from the pit wall, paddock politics, the games driven by self-interest—all of these are external factors. They should remain outside the cockpit. The only one driving the car is you."
"The only one who can defeat us is ourselves."
"Similarly, the only one who can make us succeed is ourselves."
He exhaled softly.
"Anthoine, Dorian and Giuliano don't matter, and Renault doesn't matter. You are the only key."
Hubert was stunned. He watched Kai quietly, his heart involuntarily surging with emotion. A complex feeling, difficult to describe accurately, blossomed on his tongue. "When the car starts running wild, I know there are some things the darkness can never take away."
He just wanted to chase the limits of speed.
"Right?"
Hubert murmured to himself. Then, the corners of his mouth turned up, and his smile bloomed.
Leclerc blinked. He wasn't sure he had understood. "Anthoine?"
Hubert's smile grew wider. "Kai said that. When I asked him how he managed to win that sprint race, that's how he answered. When we sit in the cockpit, the complexities of the paddock and the weight of reality can't trap our pursuit of speed and our challenge to the limits."
The attention shifted back to Kai.
Kai shrugged lightly. "I know I have a tall, majestic image right now. You can worship me as much as you like."
Leclerc, giving him no face, rolled his eyes. Zhou simply started dry-heaving beside them, acting as if he were vomiting uncontrollably.
Yet, the kind-hearted Hubert nodded earnestly. "Yes, exactly. Everything Kai said is right."
This actually made Kai embarrassed, nearly choking on his saliva. "Anthoine, have you forgotten what we were just discussing? It's all about yourself. Even though I'm incredibly awesome, you should focus on yourself, otherwise, we might have some unnecessary misunderstandings."
Hubert looked completely serious. "Don't worry, Julie won't misunderstand. She knows everything."
Haha—hahaha—
Leclerc nearly tipped backward out of his chair. Zhou sank into the sofa, laughing silently.
Julie Lajoux, Hubert's girlfriend. They were childhood sweethearts, having dated for years. Their relationship was stable; they had long since met each other's parents. When Hubert was traveling for races, Julie often kept his parents company, and both families frequently gathered to watch the races.
Clearly, only Hubert was oblivious, not understanding what was wrong with what he had just said. He looked confusedly at Leclerc and Zhou, who were laughing uproariously, and cast an inquiring glance at Kai.
Kai waved his hand, pulling Hubert's attention back. "Anthoine, stay focused. Promise me, okay? Please remain innocent and pure. Don't let these guys corrupt you."
Hahaha—Leclerc finally lost control and rolled onto the floor, completely shedding the handsome, princely image he held in the eyes of the fans.
Hubert was still in a fog, completely unaware of what was going on. Out of habit, he rubbed his head, showing a bit of shyness and awkwardness.
"Sorry, Kai. I originally came over because I was worried about you, but somehow we ended up talking about me again."
Kai looked entirely unbothered. "There's absolutely no need to worry about me. Actually, I'm very happy to help. If I can see both of you in the paddock next year, that would be fantastic. Then I'll just keep pushing hard at the front so you guys can't even keep up."
Zhou executed a perfect kip-up, sitting up instantly. "Me! Me, me, me! I want to join Ferrari!"
Leclerc lay on the floor, striking a comical mermaid pose. "I didn't know you were a Tifosi too?"
Zhou looked utterly serious. "Is there anyone who loves racing and doesn't love Ferrari?"
Another victim of the 'childhood Ferrari dream.' Add one more to the list.
After saying that, Zhou caught a glimpse of Kai out of the corner of his eye and quickly waved his hand. "He's an anomaly! Anthoine, what about you?"
Hubert pondered for a moment. "Sorry, I'm French..."
Leclerc immediately interjected, "Jules was French too!"
Seeing an unofficial "Renault vs. Ferrari" showdown about to unfold, Kai interjected at just the right moment. "That's perfect. Ferrari is crowded enough."
"Guanyu, if you joined Ferrari, who would you replace? You wouldn't willingly be a reserve driver, would you?"
Zhou paused, blinked, and slowly turned his head.
Nearby, Leclerc grabbed a slipper defensively. "Don't look at me! Guanyu Zhou! You're not looking at me, right?"
Zhou finally turned his head to look. Hehe.
Leclerc grabbed the slipper and charged recklessly. Zhou leaped away just in time, and the two began chasing each other around the apartment.
Amidst the noisy chaos, Kai remained perfectly calm. "Anthoine, so who do you think might leave the paddock next year?"
In other words, whose seat did Hubert believe he could take?
Hubert tilted his head and thought about it, but couldn't bring himself to say it—
Ricciardo? Hülkenberg? Or maybe a seat at Renault's customer team, McLaren? Norris? Sainz?
Kai noticed the bright glint in Hubert's eyes. "You have an answer, don't you? I didn't know you had it in you, Anthoine. Tell me, whose name is in your head?"
Hubert finally realized it was a trap question and quickly waved his hands. "No, no, no, I don't. I don't have any ideas. I really don't have any ideas. Me, you, this... weren't we just saying I have to wait and see what Renault decides? The second half of the season—"
Kai slightly raised his chin. "Regardless of who it is, as long as you focus on yourself, Renault will have no reason to refuse. As for who stays and who goes, that's Renault's headache, not yours."
Hubert said, "Wow!"
He took a deep breath, unable to hold back his awe. He had completely failed to anticipate that this question could be answered in such a way.
As expected, Kai was Kai. No wonder he was completely unaffected by the Mercedes fans calling a deer a horse and slinging mud.
Hubert believed now that he didn't need to worry about Kai. More importantly, he was full of anticipation for the summer break, eager to kick off the second half of the season, step back onto the track, carve out his own path, and fight for a seat of his own.
Challenges shouldn't be feared; they should be anticipated, because they are opportunities for change.
...
The smoke of gunpowder lingered, growing thicker and more intense, sweeping majestically across the entire paddock. Even the fans could feel the metaphorical swords drawn in the air, because—
The summer break was approaching.
The final race of the first half of the 2019 season, the Hungarian Grand Prix, had officially arrived. Once this race concluded, F1 would enter a two-week summer break. All work, all scheming, all competition would hit the pause button, forcefully halting the high-speed paddock.
Because of this, the paddock was always a hub of noisy activity right before the summer break. Contract renewals, transfer rumors, team upgrade developments, middle management changes—the undercurrents were surging, laying the groundwork for the second half of the season and preparing for the brand-new season next year.
No one wanted to wait until the end of the season to start planning; that would mean scrambling and losing the initiative.
It was like this every year, but this year was especially intense.
The political maneuvering within the paddock was dizzying, and the fierce battles on the track were tightly contested. It had been a long time since they'd seen such excitement.
On one hand, the competition among the midfield teams had never been this fierce. Setting aside Williams, who hadn't scored a point until Hockenheim and had long been left far behind, six teams were tangled together. The outcome of a single Grand Prix could alter positions in the Constructors' Championship.
McLaren: 70 points. Toro Rosso: 42 points. Renault: 39 points. Racing Point: 31 points. Haas: 26 points. Alfa Romeo: 26 points.
It was clear at a glance. Toro Rosso led Alfa Romeo by a mere 16 points. Even McLaren's lead wasn't as unassailable as it seemed. Including Haas and Alfa Romeo, as long as they performed well in the second half of the season, they could still upend McLaren and Toro Rosso's positions.
In other words, the battle for fourth place in the Constructors' Championship remained completely open. Aside from Williams, everyone had a chance.
Of course, to be objective and professional, from a purely theoretical standpoint, if they were only discussing mathematics, Williams technically still had a chance.
On the other hand, the close-quarters, cat-and-mouse competition among the top three teams was pushed to a new height. The real focus wasn't the numbers game in the standings, but the fact that the three teams traded wins and losses on the track, locked in a tight battle. It felt like they were taking turns taking the stage. Every Grand Prix held different possibilities. The season's landscape had fallen into complete chaos. It had never been this intense. The possibilities for the second half of the season were exploding.
The weight and value of each race continued to climb.
Because of this, as the summer break approached step by step, the teams needed to start planning, maneuvering, and arm-wrestling for the future. At the same time, they had to pour 120% of their energy and focus into the track. They had to grasp both firmly. There was no time for rest or relaxation; the intensity continued to rise.
As the Hungarian Grand Prix kicked off, the air in the paddock felt stagnant. The tense, hostile atmosphere filled every corner of sight. Meanwhile, in the shadows outside the field of vision, undercurrents surged. Unseen but real battles were continuously spreading.
The Hungaroring is a classic technical circuit, dubbed 'Monaco without the walls.'
The track is narrow, with many continuous corners and almost no long straights. The full-throttle sections account for less than 50% of the lap. Dominated by low-to-medium speed corners, it places extreme demands on mechanical grip, low-to-medium speed downforce, chassis balance, traction, and tire management. Engine power and aerodynamic efficiency are slightly less crucial here.
More importantly, the track is like a roller coaster. The sequence of continuous corners limits the effectiveness of DRS. Add to that the narrow track, which leaves little room to maneuver, and overtaking becomes incredibly difficult. Although it isn't lined with barriers everywhere like Monaco, a slight lapse in concentration can still send you off the track limits.
Undoubtedly, this was a classic technical circuit. A quick reflection made it obvious—
Red Bull liked it.
Ferrari... didn't like it quite as much.
In low-to-medium speed corners, Ferrari's weaknesses—lack of traction and downforce—were amplified. The chassis and suspension's performance in continuous corners was also concerning. If you added the narrow operating window for tire temperature management, it was a recipe for disaster. Red Bull was the exact opposite. Their engine deficit on straights and high-speed corners was completely neutralized. Conversely, the Honda engine's response in low-speed sections was excellent. Combined with their consistently strong performance in low-to-medium speed corners, they could fully utilize their strengths and mask their weaknesses here, further enhancing their competitiveness.
As for Mercedes, the W10's balance and compatibility allowed them to remain competitive on all tracks, but a slight deficit in mechanical grip in low-speed corners might pose some challenges, especially against Red Bull's strong assault.
Of course, everything is relative.
This season, Ferrari had turned the tide in adversity to win Monaco. Arriving at the 'Monaco without walls'—the Hungaroring—clearly no one could ignore the Prancing Horse. Furthermore, the SF90 had shown significant progress in rhythm continuity through Silverstone's continuous corners and tire temperature management in Hockenheim's ever-changing weather. It was a completely different car from the one that debuted in Melbourne; it couldn't be judged by past perspectives.
The same applied to Mercedes. Suffering three consecutive defeats in Austria, Britain, and Germany was a scenario the invincible defending champions absolutely hadn't anticipated. Especially in Silverstone and Hockenheim, despite being united and going all out, they still suffered heavy blows, which was a severe hit to their belief. But the most critical moments often test a champion's mettle the most. Wolff and Hamilton would definitely not surrender.
As for Red Bull—
Brimming with confidence and momentum. Having carved a bloody path through adversity twice, stepping on the shoulders of their competitors to take the crown, the confidence and fighting spirit throughout the team had reached a new height. Arriving at their most favored circuit, the Hungaroring, even more anticipated than the Red Bull Ring, they were ready to formally join the group chat for the Constructors' World Championship and completely take over the conversation.
One signal was the most direct.
After the Hockenheim race, Horner spoke with Kvyat privately 'for a heart-to-heart.' But Marko hadn't furiously defended his driver as usual. On the contrary, rumors suggested Marko had also harshly reprimanded Kvyat. Even though Kvyat had stood on the podium, he became the punching bag.
When Red Bull arrived at the Hungaroring, Horner and Marko were at peace, working together. Red Bull Austria and Red Bull Thailand must have reached a consensus—
For the championship, they needed to unite and face the external threat as one.
This version of Red Bull emanated a dangerous aura from the inside out. Everything made the final race before the summer break, the Hungarian Grand Prix, full of talking points. Expectations climbed steadily. Even casual viewers could clearly feel the thick tension, smelling the blood and gunpowder in the air.
Facts proved people's perception correct. Starting from qualifying, the teams bared their bayonets, fighting with bloodshot eyes.
Amidst the hail of bullets and rivers of blood, Red Bull took the lead, unstoppably carving a bloody path. Verstappen once again used concrete actions to defend his genius title, overpowering Mercedes and Ferrari—
Claiming Pole Position!
Topping the times at the Red Bull Ring! Topping the times at Hockenheim! Verstappen's momentum was unstoppable. After feeling the pressure of Leclerc's sweeping pursuit, the Red Bull genius finally ignited his inner fire, accumulating strength and realizing a career breakthrough step by step.
This time, he achieved another feat, filling a blank space. Entering his fifth year in F1, in his ninety-third Grand Prix, he captured his first pole position.
Verstappen used this performance to extend Red Bull's strong form from the past two months, declaring their hunger for the World Championship to the entire paddock.
Perhaps, not just one World Championship, but aiming for both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles.
Surprise, surprise—
Red Bull announced their ambition and peak form with a pole position, and it was Verstappen's first career pole, achieved in record-breaking fashion.
Last year, controversy surrounded Kai. Although Kai could win Grands Prix, he couldn't seem to secure a pole position. For the immensely talented and radiant Kai, this seemed to be his Achilles' heel, the only flaw nitpickers could find.
Ultimately, Kai took pole at Monza, converting it into a victory, silencing all those controversies.
In truth, Verstappen faced a similar predicament. Despite outstanding talent and the ability to win Grands Prix, pole position had always remained out of reach.
Five years, ninety-three races. Verstappen finally unlocked another career milestone. It was a long time coming, but he finally had it in his grasp.
Looking back, perhaps this was the perfect time. Going a step further after Austria and Germany not only highlighted Red Bull's ambition to upend the championship landscape but also highlighted Verstappen's unwillingness to be outdone. He was ready to replace Bottas, form the iron triangle in the Drivers' World Championship battle, and compete fairly with Hamilton and Kai, rewriting the expectations for the 2019 season.
Just like Kai last season.
Now, it was Verstappen's time to shine.
The entire paddock was buzzing. Everyone knew of Verstappen's talent, but knowing it and actually seeing him fulfill that potential were two different things, especially at such an interesting point in time. The fervent praise and anticipation could no longer be suppressed.
A full-scale eruption!
And it went far beyond that.
Red Bull was moving full speed ahead, transforming into the current frontrunners among the top three; meanwhile, Mercedes was trying to re-establish their advantage.
Bottas, scarred and trapped, seemed abandoned. But drivers like him, unlike geniuses like Hamilton and Verstappen, or the favored sons nurtured in academy systems, had climbed step by step relying entirely on their own fight and hard work. They possessed a grassroots resilience. They refused to surrender, refused to compromise. Even covered in wounds, they still held onto that one breath of defiance.
Since Monaco, Bottas had failed to beat Hamilton in both qualifying and the race. But after enduring the heavy blow at Hockenheim, Bottas surprisingly found a new lease on life at the Hungaroring. He rediscovered his inspiration in qualifying, delivering an unbelievable lap to take second place.
Beating his teammate Hamilton for the first time in two months.
Moreover, this wasn't an ordinary "victory." In fact, Bottas and Verstappen were on the same level. The gap between pole and second place was a mere 0.018 seconds!
Such a microscopic margin was astonishing.
However, this didn't mean the gap between Red Bull and Mercedes was that small, because Hamilton's time was 0.179 seconds behind Bottas and 0.197 seconds behind Verstappen. Although still in the same ballpark, the Hungaroring ultimately suited Red Bull better. That was a fact.
Furthermore, Ferrari's "struggles" proved this point.
Verstappen, Bottas, and Hamilton were the only three drivers to break into the 1 minute 14-second bracket. Ferrari was shut out, lagging a full 0.471 seconds behind Verstappen's pole time and 0.274 seconds behind Hamilton. The gap was plainly evident.
Not only did Verstappen achieve a major career breakthrough at the Hungaroring by securing his first pole, but a stimulated and encouraged Leclerc also achieved a minor breakthrough, beating Kai in qualifying for the first time this season—excluding the power unit failure at Hockenheim.
Leclerc edged his Ferrari teammate by 0.008 seconds to take fourth place; Kai regrettably fell to fifth.
Some saw the glass as half empty, noting Kai's qualifying results had been unsatisfactory for two consecutive races.
Others saw the glass as half full. Kai, unaffected by Hockenheim, returned to the front. The competition between the two young Ferraris was heating up. After qualifying, Kai was the first driver in the paddock to congratulate Leclerc and Verstappen.
Of course, some saw the bigger picture. The competition among the top three was further intensifying. Ferrari indeed lacked an advantage at the Hungaroring, and Red Bull had clearly taken the initiative. The gap between the three teams hovered around 0.2 seconds. It wasn't massive, but it wasn't insignificant either. On a relatively slower track like the Hungaroring, it was fatal. The strategic battle among the top three in the race would undoubtedly be the main focus.
The entire paddock was buzzing—
"We all know Red Bull is daring, Mercedes excels at strategic planning. And Ferrari?"
"Ferrari has Kai!"
"So, I think we should really look forward to the Hungarian Grand Prix!"
As expected, the Hungarian Grand Prix delivered yet another spectacular showdown for the season.
The start was a chaotic brawl.
Hamilton astutely grabbed Verstappen's slipstream, attempting to use Verstappen to build his own advantage.
This move immediately provoked Verstappen, who unhesitatingly broke the slipstream. He didn't expect that doing so would lead him into a Mercedes trap, caught in a pincer movement between Hamilton and Bottas. Three cars went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1, completely filling the narrow track.
Leclerc and Kai had excellent starts, but the coordinated Mercedes duo fully utilized the narrowness of the Hungaroring to form a blockade.
The real focus was the battle for the lead.
Hamilton cleverly used Bottas and Verstappen's entanglement to try and break through. In the chaos, Verstappen acted decisively, timely blocking the line, not only hindering Bottas but also withstanding Hamilton's charge, forcefully pushing Hamilton back and forcing the Silver Arrow duo into a scrap with each other.
In a flash, Hamilton seized the opportunity. After light contact with Bottas, he completed the overtake and quickly latched onto Verstappen.
Poor Bottas, stabbed in the back for the 101st time this season. Not only did he lose the position, but his front wing also suffered minor contact. Although it didn't break, the angle shifted, causing a loss of front downforce and making corner entry a struggle.
Bottas tried to stabilize, temporarily halting his pursuit of Hamilton and Verstappen, but also deciding not to pit, avoiding losing track position—
Like Monaco, track position at the Hungaroring was more important than tires. Once lost, it might be gone forever.
However, the aggressive, highly-motivated Leclerc refused to compromise. After patiently hunting for an opening, he struck decisively.
A fully alert Bottas attempted to block the line, but Leclerc's attack was clean and firm, leaving no room for maneuvering. In the intense wheel-to-wheel battle, the two cars made light contact.
Following an investigation, the FIA deemed it a racing incident, with no foul play.
Yet, Bottas suffered heavy losses. His front wing, which had just sustained light contact with Hamilton, suffered a second brush with Leclerc. While the front wing wasn't shattered, its angle was completely twisted, rendering it non-functional. His aerodynamic package was compromised, and he had no choice but to return to the pits.
On lap 2, Bottas returned to the pits for a new front wing, rejoining the race down in twelfth place.
For Bottas, it was another disastrous start. After delivering an unparalleled qualifying performance, he had once again become a sacrificial lamb.
But Bottas was only slightly hurt. For Mercedes, this had the potential to completely ruin the team's entire race strategy. Without Bottas's cover, Hamilton was immediately exposed to the two Ferraris. Worse still, Bottas faced an uphill battle to fight back into the points, meaning Mercedes' lead in the Constructors' Championship would continue to be threatened.
Things were looking very, very bad.
The Hungaroring had once again proven with concrete actions that the moniker "Monaco without the walls" was no empty talk.