Chapter 143: I'm Sorry, I Made Too Many Mistakes
Neither CCTV nor the local broadcaster Six Star Sports traditionally aired Formula One free practice sessions. In fact, during this era, even qualifying was sometimes omitted from live coverage.
But today was different.
For the first time, nearly every major broadcaster chose to go live.
CCTV's F1 Live program began on schedule. Sang Tong appeared on screen as usual and stated plainly:
"Welcome to F1 Live. Today, we bring you live coverage of the first free practice session of the 2014 FIA Formula One Singapore Grand Prix."
"In this session, the Mercedes team has nominated Wu Shi, a Chinese driver, to replace Nico Rosberg in the No. 6 Mercedes W05."
Compared to CCTV's measured tone, Six Star Sports was noticeably more animated.
As soon as the cameras went live, Bing Ge leaned forward eagerly.
"Welcome to Six Star Sports' live coverage of Free Practice One at the Singapore Grand Prix! You're probably wondering why we're broadcasting a practice session today?"
Fei Ge answered immediately, smiling.
"Because today, a sixteen-year-old Chinese driver, Wu Shi, is driving a Mercedes Formula One car in an official session."
"If I remember correctly," Bing Ge added, "this is only the second Chinese driver to appear during an F1 Grand Prix weekend."
"That's right," Fei Ge nodded. "Ma Qinghua took part in practice sessions at the Italian Grand Prix in 2012 with HRT."
They both remembered that episode vividly.
Ma Qinghua had come tantalizingly close to Formula One, but the HRT team collapsed financially in 2013. Before their bankruptcy, they even claimed Ma would race at the 2013 Chinese Grand Prix — only to deny it immediately after his management announced the news.
In hindsight, it was clear the team had been attempting to inflate its market value before selling off its assets.
"If Wu Shi doesn't perform poorly today," Bing Ge said, steering the discussion back, "he could very well become a full-time Formula One driver next season."
"And possibly China's first full-time F1 driver," Fei Ge added. "At such a young age."
"Even next year, he'll only be seventeen," Bing Ge said, shaking his head. "And under FIA age calculations, until December he'll still be listed as sixteen years old."
"That's unbelievable," he continued. "Has there ever been someone this young in Formula One history?"
"And he's Chinese," Fei Ge added quietly.
---
The green light illuminated at the end of the pit lane, signaling that cars were permitted to leave the garage.
Mercedes, however, did not release the car immediately. They waited for traffic to clear before issuing the signal.
Bang.
The front and rear jacks dropped away, and the W05 settled onto the asphalt.
Sid clenched his fists unconsciously. He was half-expecting the engine to stall before Wu Shi even exited the garage.
Boom.
The power unit fired cleanly.
The car rolled forward smoothly and joined the pit lane.
Every camera in the pit complex swung toward the silver Mercedes. The commentators across the world began introducing Wu Shi to viewers.
"This is the Chinese driver replacing Rosberg in Free Practice One."
Practice sessions rarely drew large audiences — but today's numbers were exceptional. According to broadcast data, viewership spikes were recorded across East Asia and Italy.
Wu Shi's hands tightened around the steering wheel. He took several deep breaths.
Don't rush. Don't rush.
Once clear of the pit lane and after disengaging the pit limiter, the engine surged.
The acceleration slammed him back into the seat.
The first lap was strictly an installation and tyre warm-up lap. No one was pushing — and Wu Shi followed suit.
"Oh! Wu Shi is out!" Bing Ge exclaimed.
"They're giving him so much screen time," Fei Ge said in surprise.
"I've heard he's very popular in Italy," Bing Ge added. "Some fans there even consider him half Italian."
"That's true," Fei Ge replied. "He's raced in Italian karting championships since childhood. His reputation grew naturally. I've even read that the woman he stayed with worked for Ferrari."
"It's incredible," Bing Ge said, "that a Chinese driver has this level of recognition in Europe."
---
After a single warm-up lap, Wu Shi's nerves settled. His entire focus shifted to the car.
Formula One was vastly more complex than F3. Without a full preseason and several race weekends, it would be impossible to fully understand the W05.
So he prioritized.
First: tyres — grip defined everything.
Second: gearbox behavior.
"Tyres aren't up to temperature yet," Tony said over the radio. "Let's do another warm-up lap."
"Copy."
Wu Shi didn't argue.
At Mercedes, his authority was minimal. Questioning instructions would only invite resistance. Even Sebastian Vettel had faced the same situation during his early BMW Sauber days.
On the next lap, he began probing grip levels along the racing line.
On street circuits, performance ultimately came down to who dared to run closest to the walls.
"Alonso is approaching," Tony warned. "Be careful and let him through."
Wu Shi glanced in his mirrors.
"I see him," he replied.
Then he accelerated.
They were approaching Turn 18, near the end of the lap.
"Avoiding doesn't mean accelerating," Tony said.
"I'm monitoring," Wu Shi replied calmly. "If I see him, I'll yield. I want to push on the next lap — tyres are in the operating window."
There was a brief silence.
"Ensure the car's safety," Tony finally said.
"Copy."
Wu Shi's eyes sharpened instantly.
Exiting the 18–21 complex, the car went full throttle.
Turns 22 and 23 flashed by — fast, flowing corners — and then the long straight opened ahead.
The flying lap had begun.
As if on cue, the broadcast cameras locked onto the No. 6 Mercedes.
The car sliced through Turns 22 and 23 with remarkable precision. For a supposed rookie, the composure was startling.
But Wu Shi knew the truth.
There had been several moments of micro-slippage. A fraction slower to react, and it would have ended badly. The lateral G-forces crushed into him; his jaw tightened as he fought to keep control.
At the DRS detection point, he pressed the green button.
The rear wing flattened.
The engine screamed.
Gears snapped up rapidly — sixth gear as he crossed the timing line at 259 km/h.
Less than four seconds later, the speed climbed to 306 km/h.
At peak velocity, he braked hard, turned in sharply, and felt the immense weight of the steering wheel fight back.
Even driving conservatively, the forces pinned his body as the car bit into the apex.
The moment grip returned, he was back on the throttle.
Left apex.
Immediate transition.
Right-hand corner.
The car straddled the edge of the track — only the left-rear tyre still touching the white line.
Screech.
Less than a second later, heavy braking again — Turn 3.
At corner exit, the guardrail loomed on the right. Wu Shi pushed closer, chasing every millimeter.
But the white line offered less grip.
The rear stepped out.
He lifted instinctively.
The car stabilized.
"That was close!"
"If he'd hit the wall there—"
In the Six Star studio, both commentators held their breath.
In the Mercedes garage, Sid barely dared to breathe.
Turn 4 was another acceleration zone, immediately followed by heavy braking for Turn 5.
Again, the guardrail waited at corner exit.
Again, Wu Shi edged closer.
Then came the DRS zone, leading into the flat-out Turn 6, one of the highest-speed sections of the circuit.
He glanced at the display.
314 km/h.
There was no time to think.
The 50-meter board flashed past.
Hard braking.
Turn 7.
Meanwhile, sector times appeared.
29.645.
"Good pace," Tony reported. "You're quickest in Sector One."
Wu Shi didn't respond.
Fastest only meant others weren't pushing.
The middle sector was the most complex part of the track. One mistake meant the wall. Hesitation cost seconds.
The car snapped side to side repeatedly.
He'd only driven the W05 twice. Power delivery, traction — none of it was second nature yet.
Tony guided him continuously: brake bias adjustments, engine modes, gear settings.
Wu Shi followed every instruction.
After Sector Two:
41.754.
Still fastest.
The final sector followed.
In 2014, Turns 16 to 19 still existed — four tight right-angle corners later removed after 2023. They were completely unfamiliar.
Wu Shi executed the plan he'd formed during the previous laps.
The car understeered heavily. Stability was poor.
But that wasn't the car's fault.
How could a machine like this be the problem?
It was him.
He memorized everything.
Then the line.
---
1:51.625
Fastest lap of the session.
Applause broke out in the Mercedes garage. It wasn't a limit lap — far from it — but for a rookie, it was impressive.
Even Toto Wolff, arms crossed, gave a small nod.
In the Williams garage, Sir Alex Ferguson watched quietly, his daughter assisting his wheelchair.
"Third lap," he said softly. "One-fifty-one-six. How much more does he have?"
Before anyone could answer, Wu Shi's voice came over the radio.
"I'm sorry. I made too many mistakes."
Almost simultaneously, Fernando Alonso's Ferrari crossed the line.
1:51.631.
The screens lit up across the paddock.
Everyone knew Alonso wasn't pushing.
But paired with Wu Shi's apology, the moment felt strangely surreal.