Chapter 201: Catching Up & Overtaking
At the end of Lap 15, Hamilton dived into the pit lane.
Jonathan clenched his fists. Wu Shi's tyre management hadn't disappointed — at least for now, staying out hadn't cost them too much time.
He stared at the Mercedes pit box on the monitor. As the car was lifted, the front-left wheel hesitated for a split second.
Bang!
The car dropped.
3.7 seconds.
A little slow.
Rosberg and Vettel were both on fresh soft tyres and pushing hard. This was exactly the kind of chance they would seize.
At the pit exit, a Ferrari shot past and a Mercedes followed close behind.
Closer.
Closer.
On the main straight, Vettel saw Rosberg moving and immediately drifted toward the middle of the track. But Rosberg kept his foot in, steering right to the limit and committing fully to the move.
Flames burst from the rear of the silver car.
With DRS open and full slipstream, Rosberg drew alongside at nearly five kilometers per hour faster.
And ahead of them was Hamilton, just out of the pits heavy fuel, cold tyres, and nowhere to hide.
"Beautiful!" Brother Bing clapped.
The pressure of the moment was suffocating. Everyone felt their hearts in their throats.
"Hamilton's tyres aren't up to temperature yet. He can't defend," Brother Fei said.
"Those softs have already done two laps perfect operating window," Brother Bing replied, then added,
"Wu Shi is back in the lead now. Hamilton is more than fifteen seconds behind."
"I don't get Williams' strategy. Are they going to fight Leclerc for fourth and give up the podium?" Brother Fei frowned.
"Wu Shi is second in the championship right now — fourteen points behind Hamilton, two ahead of Vettel, six ahead of Rosberg. It's still very tight."
"Still, beating Mercedes for the title is almost impossible. Best case is runner-up."
"Runner-up in his rookie year? That already puts him on Hamilton's level."
"No that's beyond Hamilton. How old is Wu Shi again?"
"…Right. He doesn't even have a full Chinese driver's license yet, does he? And he's racing in F1. That's insane."
"I heard Mercedes pushed hard for his super license after that Singapore practice session."
Both commentators suddenly went quiet, realizing the sensitivity of the topic.
Brother Bing quickly changed the subject.
"Rosberg is flying. Gap is down to seven-tenths."
"Hamilton is closing on Leclerc already he hasn't even finished a lap and he's gained nearly two seconds!" Brother Fei exclaimed.
"He has to pit next lap. If he doesn't, he's just hurting Wu Shi."
After replaying Rosberg's overtake, the broadcast switched to the leader.
Empty track ahead.
Leclerc behind.
The two cars maintained a tacit, identical rhythm.
"Hamilton closing rapidly. Be ready," Jonathan's voice came through.
Wu Shi knew what that meant.
Push.
Lap 16 was ending. Lap 17 had begun.
He knew exactly how much life was left in these tyres four, maybe five laps, but the grip was already fading fast.
One more push lap would be dangerous.
But if he wanted safe driving, he shouldn't be in Formula One.
The engine note rose sharply.
Wu Shi went flat out.
"With worn tyres? Only he would dare to do that," Brother Bing muttered.
"The gap to Leclerc is opening already one and a half seconds!"
"Is he going to pit?"
"Why isn't Leclerc responding?"
"Is Williams suddenly good at tyre management? Massa's race doesn't suggest that at all!"
The cameras locked onto car No. 59.
At Turn 4, the rear stepped out violently.
Gasps filled the broadcast booth.
The shot cut to the Williams pit wall several mechanics half-stood in panic.
But Wu Shi caught it, straightened the car, and blasted onto the straight.
"That was terrifying," Brother Bing said.
"Look at the Williams crew they can barely breathe."
"Aren't you nervous too?" Brother Fei shot back.
"Of course I am," Brother Bing laughed nervously.
The director stayed with Wu Shi.
The car looked wild, constantly on the edge of control.
"The gap is one point eight seconds now."
Out of Turns 14 and 15, the Williams dove into the pit lane.
Two seconds later, Leclerc followed.
The pit boxes were adjacent.
Every hand froze in the air.
No mistakes.
No mistakes.
No mistakes.
The two seconds Wu Shi had earned could not be wasted here.
Williams stopped first.
Click!
Four wheel guns hit.
Old tyres off.
New mediums on.
Down.
2.7 seconds.
The Williams launched.
Next door, Ferrari were still tightening the last wheel.
"Yes!"
"Beautiful!"
The Williams mechanics hugged, fists pumping.
"Leclerc's stop was two point five — slightly faster but you gained more on pit entry," Jonathan said.
"You'll rejoin behind Vettel. Gap nine point eight. Leclerc one point nine behind you."
The white and red cars streamed out of the pit lane.
Ricciardo was approaching on the straight, but still nearly five seconds back.
At Turn 1, both cars twitched cold medium tyres offering little grip.
But after the first complex, the surface layer scrubbed in and stability improved.
Wu Shi checked his mirrors.
If Leclerc attacked now, the extra laps he had run earlier would mean nothing.
Both on mediums, any fight would only slow them down.
Ferrari were debating the same problem.
Against an ordinary rookie, Leclerc would already be attacking.
Against Wu Shi, they knew it would be a drawn-out battle damaging both of them.
And Ferrari had no reason to sacrifice Leclerc just to protect Vettel.
With no team orders, both cars settled into rhythm.
Two laps later:
"Mediums are struggling. Ricciardo is closing. Good news Massa is in the points," Jonathan reported.
"What's my lap time?"
"One thirty-eight point three."
Wu Shi remembered Rosberg's soft-tyre laps were in the 1:37s.
But with fuel burning off, the softs would only get faster.
Then why didn't the leaders choose mediums?
Because track position mattered more than theoretical pace.
If any of the top three gambled, Wu Shi and Leclerc would be all over them.
Different situations. Different strategies.
By Lap 20, the top five were stable:
Hamilton leading.
Rosberg +1.7.
Vettel +3.0.
Wu Shi +11.9.
Leclerc +13.0.
Then Mercedes radio came through.
"Nico, brakes overheating. You need to manage. Also fuel saving."
On Lap 21, Rosberg still pushed and gained two-tenths.
Lap 22, he finally backed off and Vettel closed up slightly.
But Vettel's tyres were already past halfway through their life.
Lap times dropped into the 1:39s, even 1:40s.
Now Wu Shi and Leclerc began closing rapidly.
On Lap 23, Wu Shi was within 7.6 seconds of Vettel.
Then he backed off to protect his tyres.
"The fight ahead isn't over. Keep managing," Jonathan said.
"Copy."
Brother Fei nodded.
"He's still aiming for the podium."
"Of course he is," Brother Bing said, though he didn't sound confident.
Once a slower car loses track position, getting it back is almost impossible.
Lap 25 Nasr overtook Massa.
Both pitted together.
This time, Williams lost position until
Massa launched first.
Sauber's rear jack hesitated.
Massa was already past.
The Williams garage erupted again.
Even a pit-lane overtake could feel better than one on track.
Up front, gaps collapsed.
Hamilton to Rosberg: three seconds.
Rosberg to Vettel: three seconds.
Vettel to Wu Shi: three seconds.
Lap 31 yellow flag in Sector 2.
"Sainz stopped after Turn 6. Yellow in sector two," Jonathan warned.
Lap 32 green flag.
Lap 33 Vettel suddenly peeled into the pit lane.
"He's switching to mediums. Stop is two point four."
"Those tyres will last to the finish," Wu Shi said quietly.
"Yes."
Moments later:
"Box, box," came Hamilton's radio.
Lap 34 Rosberg pitted.
3.2 seconds.
As he exited, Vettel swept past.
Again.
Exactly the same scenario.
Rosberg had to attack again, but cold tyres delayed his chance.
Lap 35.
Rosberg grew aggressive.
Constant pressure. No breathing room.
Turn 13 first attempt, not enough overlap.
Main straight full slipstream, closing fast.
Vettel defended the middle line and braked late.
Too late.
He ran wide into the run-off, kicking up sand, sliding helplessly.
By the time he rejoined, Rosberg was already alongside with DRS open.
Overtake complete.
Vettel tried to counter at Turn 1, but Rosberg held the inside.
Third time today.
Then Vettel's radio:
"Front wing feels damaged. I need to pit."
Jonathan's eyes widened.
"Vettel pitting for front wing."
Wu Shi exhaled sharply.
No contact… but damage from the run-off.
"Vettel rejoining thirty-four seconds behind Rosberg. Thirty-nine behind you."
But Wu Shi's own tyres were fading badly now.
"How long can I hold him?"
Jonathan answered honestly.
"Hamilton will reach you in three laps."
Lap 37.
Lap 38.
Lap 39.
Lap 40 Hamilton passed Leclerc and entered Wu Shi's DRS range.
"Box, box."
Everything depended on the final stop.
Williams stopped.
3.1 seconds.
Ferrari stopped faster 2.3.
The gap almost vanished.
But Wu Shi launched cleanly, squeezing ahead past the Ferrari pit wall.
Leclerc would attack immediately.
As the pit-lane exit line flashed under the car, Wu Shi disengaged the pit limiter instantly.
Perfect timing.
The gap stretched by two-tenths.
"Did he release early?" Leclerc demanded.
"Negative. All legal."
That half-second was enough.
Leclerc couldn't dive at Turn 1.
Wu Shi braked impossibly late through the chicane and pulled another two-tenths.
Brother Bing reacted instantly.
"He passed Hamilton here earlier this corner suits him."
"Calling that 'not surprising' is insane," Brother Fei laughed.
And ahead of him now…
Only three cars remained.