Chapter 210: Why Is Wu Shi So Fast?
Every F1 driver dreams of becoming world champion – whether as a fantasy or a genuine goal. But most eventually reconcile with reality, either racing for as long as they can or moving to other series early.
After a moment's thought, Wu Shi replied:
"Thanks to today's unexpected events, I'm leading the points standings. If the season ended now, winning the WDC would be straightforward."
The reporters chuckled in response, waiting for him to continue.
"But as you know, 14 races remain. Each brings new challenges, and keeping the points lead is incredibly tough.
"All I can say is I'll do my best to compete. In China, we have a saying: 'Man proposes, God disposes.'"
He nodded to signal he was done. The question was tricky – saying he wanted to win would put unnecessary pressure on Williams, while saying he hadn't considered it would draw criticism for lacking ambition. In F1, drivers can't always answer directly; they must navigate carefully.
After escaping the media, Wu Shi returned to the team garage where Massa was waiting.
"Sir Frank and Claire are still tied up – didn't expect you to get away first," Massa said with a smile that held a hint of envy.
"All they want is a big story – going back and forth is exhausting," Wu Shi shrugged.
"They don't need to grill them like you. Reporters just want them to share their feelings about the win," Massa said, pointing to the garage TV.
Wu Shi looked over to see Claire kneeling beside Sir Frank's wheelchair, with reporters crouched to conduct the interview. The questions were gentle – asking about the victory and the team's struggles. Wu Shi pouted; it seemed he was getting special attention as the driver.
The day after the race, CCTV ran a feature on Wu Shi. His success had drawn unprecedented attention to F1 in China – bloggers were digging into his past, and F1 introductory series were popping up across platforms. Beyond mainstream sports like basketball and football, niche disciplines often rely on star power to gain traction, and Wu Shi was doing just that for motorsport.
Official media published an article titled "Young Hero Emerges: Wu Shi's Powerful Rise in F1!" It explained F1's global status and detailed his journey – including rarely shared information about his early career, time boarding in Italy, and the costs of progressing from karting to F1.
Shortly after, a blogger named "Sunset Trio" uploaded a video titled "Why Is Wu Shi So Fast?" featuring footage from his domestic karting days.
"Look at this freeze frame – his rear wheel is almost parallel to the kerb. He uses every inch of track to maintain corner speed.
"Some might ask why he doesn't drive fully over the kerb. The reason is that hitting the raised section makes the car bounce, leaving insufficient time to complete the turn."
The video also explained technical concepts like trail braking, oversteer, and understeer – helping bring F1 closer to Chinese audiences.
In England, Wu Shi received a video from Ling Kang. After watching it, he messaged: "That's pretty cool! Heard you're done with F3?"
Ling Kang had dreamed of F1 but struggled to stand out, usually finishing outside the top 15.
"Race what?! Remember Antonio from last year's F3? After Silverstone, he said, 'I thought you were as good as Wu Shi – turns out you're slow!'"
"I got totally roasted!"
"Mock him back – ask why he's been in F3 for two years and hasn't moved to GP2," Wu Shi replied.
"Hahaha! Leclerc stood up for me later – he got a win and a runner-up at Silverstone! How come we're both in Van Amersfoort cars and he's so much faster?!"
"Also met Zhou Guanyu – his karting results are solid. He's racing F4 this year and joined Ferrari's Driver Academy. I think he has potential."
Wu Shi was surprised – he hadn't seen Guanyu in ages, as F1 left him with little free time. The FIA's summer break was a necessary reprieve for drivers.
"What are you planning to do instead of formulas?"
"Going back to China to race touring cars. Formula racing is too expensive – I wouldn't have made it to F3 without your connections."
"All motorsport burns money – just a matter of how much."
"Ugh! When my family looked for sponsors in China, they said all foreign-focused companies already invested in you!"
Wu Shi laughed – his popularity and global influence meant sponsors were lining up for him, leaving few opportunities for others. After a few more messages, he sighed.
It was incredibly hard for Chinese drivers to break into formula racing. In Europe, kids from racing families start at age 3; in China, most 3-year-olds still need help on a rocking horse. The cultural gap was significant.
He checked the latest F3 standings – two rounds (six races) at Silverstone and Hockenheim were complete. Antonio led with 1 win, 2 thirds, and 3 seconds. Leclerc was second with 2 wins, 2 thirds, and 1 second – a DNF in the first Silverstone race cost him the lead. Rosenqvist was third, but at 24, his F1 chances were slim. Behind them were familiar names: Stroll, Russell, Albon – none had stood out yet. The post-1995 generation was rising, and would soon reach F1.
Wu Shi scrolled through news articles – most mentioned him. He left a playful comment: "Wu Shi is nothing special" and grinned as he waited for replies.
After his mischief, he focused on work. The Monaco Grand Prix was just two weeks away, and Williams planned to bring long-delayed upgrades – any later would push them to Canada.
Aerodynamic development was challenging, relying heavily on trial and error. But with smart targeting, efficiency could improve dramatically – like narrowing down a three-digit password instead of testing every combination. Components like the front wing, rear wing, floor, and sidepods all offered room for adjustment.
Wu Shi had seen the Mercedes W06 up close – its complex floor flaps made airflow patterns nearly impossible to discern. Still, Williams' testing was reliable, and his feedback was precise. This direct input was a key reason the FW37 had improved steadily all season – competing with Ferrari no longer required the desperation seen early on.
Mercedes' progress was even more impressive, showcasing the depth of a top team. Ferrari, meanwhile, balanced competitiveness with internal tensions.
Amid development, Wu Shi attended sponsorship events – brand forums, watch launches, and more. A stronger Williams would have meant even more commitments, but he still made time for them.
On May 14th, the FIA held a strategic meeting in England to discuss F1's future, with Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone in attendance. The sport faced profitability issues and declining excitement – Mercedes' 2014 success had sparked curiosity, but their 2015 dominance was making races feel predictable again. That sentiment was muted now, thanks to Ferrari's resurgence and Wu Shi's emergence.
Jean Todt specifically noted: "Wu Shi has shown us the massive potential of the Chinese market. We need to target global markets strategically." It was no surprise – his popularity rivaled Hamilton's, though after Spain, the Mercedes duo were back in the headlines. Teammate crashes always drew attention.
"Since refueling was banned in 2010, strategies have become too flat. We need to give teams more flexibility," Todt said. Refueling had been scrapped for safety, but it had reduced strategic variety – Schumacher's four-stop win over Alonso's three-stop at the 2004 French Grand Prix was a perfect example of the creativity possible with fuel and tire strategy. Now, Monaco's reputation as a "one-stop championship" summed up the issue.
Plans for 2017 included proposals to boost engine horsepower from 750 to 1000 – rejected due to cost for smaller teams. A bid to bring back two tire suppliers also failed: Michelin declined, as they wanted to develop a single durable, high-grip tire, which would reduce strategic options. Pirelli, however, was on board, with six compounds in development for 2016.
A week before Monaco, the royal family held a christening for a new member – an event that drew extra attention. Wu Shi attended, though he hadn't yet bought property there. Even if he did, he'd be away half the year, so tax benefits wouldn't apply.
Back in England, development for Monaco began in earnest.
"For Monaco, we need an absolute qualifying setup," Wu Shi and Massa agreed – a universal goal for the street circuit.
But reality was harsh: the FW37 was strong on straights but poor in slow, medium, and high-speed corners. Setting up the car was a major dilemma.