Chapter 106: Three Seconds, Ten Laps Is There a Chance?
At the restart, Verstappen reacted instantly, gaining 0.4 meters on Ocon as they crossed the start/finish line. Rosenqvist was 0.5 meters ahead of Ocon, while Wu Shi had perfect distance control, remaining only 0.2 seconds behind Rosenqvist after the first corner.
Approaching the halfway point of the lap, Wu Shi slightly nudged his car outward. Rosenqvist instinctively moved toward the center line, leaving the outside clear. Wu Shi's move seemed deliberate, coaxing Rosenqvist into a small error. Predicting Rosenqvist's correction, Wu Shi smoothly guided his car back to the center, sneaking onto the inside line.
Rosenqvist had already changed lanes once; a second change risked drawing a penalty for erratic driving. He followed the rules carefully—but Wu Shi had already gained the advantage.
**Whoosh!**
Wu Shi cut the apex perfectly. Rosenqvist was forced into two sharp corrections, losing a fraction of speed. Shrewd as ever, Rosenqvist attempted to defend at the corner exit, pressing against Wu Shi's left side.
"Oh! Rosenqvist won't yield, Wu Shi can't accelerate! He's squeezing him!" the commentator shouted.
Then came the shock: **their tires touched.**
Rosenqvist felt the tremor instantly. He had worked hard for a front-row finish and didn't want to risk it, yet Wu Shi's car was glued to him, tires squealing from contact.
Is he trying to take me down with him? Rosenqvist thought.
He quickly eased outward, over the buffer zone and past the white line. Wu Shi, seizing the apex, shot past on the outside, taking third place.
In the pit lane, engineers were stunned. Wu Shi had pressured Rosenqvist perfectly, forcing him off-track without incident. Replay in slow motion revealed the wheels pressed tightly together, tires slightly deformed under the mutual compression. The precision was breathtaking.
Even with replay, the commentator marveled: "What a wheel-to-wheel battle! Wu Shi's aggression almost ended both cars, yet he emerged unscathed!"
Wu Shi's heart rate spiked to 200 bpm. He had not only pushed his perception and car control to the limit, but also tested Rosenqvist's composure. One misstep could have ended his race.
Now in P3, he focused on Ocon" The French driver's defensive skills were exceptional: a slight move to the inside by Wu Shi prompted only a slight adjustment from Ocon. Significant line changes were needed to provoke a real response.
For several bends, Wu Shi shadowed Ocon, waiting for a gap. His car lacked the outright performance of Ocon's, making close following and overtaking a delicate balance. Even Pan Zi, further back, struggled to overtake multiple Prema drivers with superior machinery. Wu Shi had to rely entirely on skill and precision.
By lap twelve, Wu Shi closed to Ocon's tail. Entering Turn 8, he moved inside, attempting a pass. Ocon defended the middle line aggressively. Wu Shi then sharply swung to the outside, stretching across the track. Ocon hesitated, unsure of Wu Shi's intentions.
Overtaking on the outside was rarely possible here; the Turn 8–Turn 11 sequence favored the inside line. Yet Wu Shi had prepared for this for three laps, practicing identical maneuvers at every position. He had made it clear: his intention was the inside line. Ocon anticipated an inside move—but Wu Shi struck from the outside, catching him slightly off-guard.
Entering the apex, Wu Shi controlled the car perfectly, denying Ocon space while avoiding contact. Ocon could only follow the left line, compromising his acceleration. Wu Shi's precise gear shifts and timing allowed him to regain momentum, exiting the corner almost side by side with Ocon.
Turn 9 was a subtle "fake" turn, not requiring a full apex hug. By Turn 10, Wu Shi had moved fully inside. Ocon, trapped in the paint, could not react—Wu Shi maintained his line.
**Buzz! Click!**
Wu Shi's right wheels brushed the track edge, maximizing space use. In a display of tactical mastery, he closed the gap and overtook Ocon, moving into P2. Cameras captured every moment: side-by-side wheel-to-wheel, daring yet controlled. The small audience in the stands erupted in applause.
"Unbelievable! Wu Shi made that overtake! Even leaving the track, he maintained the lead until rejoining!" the commentator exclaimed.
The team immediately contacted the FIA liaison to confirm that no penalties were pending.
Wu Shi now faced Verstappen, nearly three seconds ahead.
**Wu Shi TR:** "His lap times are consistent."
Alan glanced at the team leader. With Van Amersfoort occupying the front row, coordinating their strategies could benefit the team.
**Team leader:** "Remember Silverstone? You promised to help him win twenty-one championships."
Alan smiled. "Understood."
**Wu Shi TR:** "1:33.4 to 1:33.8 per lap. I can maintain pace and close the gap."
Three seconds, ten laps—was it possible? Tires were heavily worn, limiting aggressive attacks. Even with skill, closing a gap required careful management of lap times and tire preservation.
Wu Shi relied on his exceptional tire feel and precise driving. Each lap shaved 0.4 seconds. Seven to eight laps could bring him close enough; the final attack depended on timing, skill, and courage.
The team listened, shaking their heads. "With such a gap, it seems impossible," muttered one engineer.
The commentator added, "Wu Shi hasn't given up, but the deficit is huge. Technique alone won't bridge it."
Yet Wu Shi had already begun the calculated pursuit, pushing tire limits while balancing control—demonstrating why he was a rising star in the fiercely competitive F3 field.