Chapter 231: Thirty Percent
Wu Shi hadn't expected to casually meet someone so determined to discover a prodigy.
He logged into Louise's account and told him that he was just running for fun, had a legitimate main job, and wouldn't consider such things.
His refusal was so decisive that the other party didn't even reply.
The small interlude in his life passed just like that.
For an F1 driver, even if they aren't as overworked as an engineer, they are still far more overworked than someone in an ordinary profession; it's just that the content of their work is relatively less grueling.
Day after day of physical training and monotonous simulator sessions, the daily routine seemed similar, yet vastly different. If one didn't take it seriously, the results would immediately reflect in the race.
The victory at the Red Bull Ring made the team lean more towards a low-drag, low-downforce setup. This configuration maximized the car's acceleration performance and top speed advantage, allowing any time lost in corners to be recovered on the straights. It was precisely this setup that made it difficult for Ferrari to overtake Williams on high-speed tracks.
Silverstone Circuit is also a high-speed track, so there was no disagreement on the setup direction. However, there were still many debates over detailed tuning. How could they ensure cornering speeds weren't too slow with low drag and downforce? Aerodynamics couldn't be relied upon, so mechanical grip was the only option – making suspension setup crucial.
After continuous research and development runs, the team finally found a workable balance. When Wu Shi tested the new setup in the simulator, he noted the downforce was too low and the steering feel was unusual, with a critical threshold that was difficult to master. However, after multiple flying laps, both he and Massa adapted well to the characteristics, so the team signed off on the configuration.
As teams prepared for the British Grand Prix, the FIA was advancing key regulatory discussions. On July 1st, the FIA Strategy Group met in Biggin Hill to continue talks on technical regulations and F1's long-term development. Wu Shi was accustomed to these frequent meetings – even if he didn't attend, he needed to understand the content, as much of it directly impacted drivers.
Key discussion points from the meeting:
1. Team radio restrictions: The FIA reiterated that track engineers should not provide excessive driving instructions, such as gear shift points or brake balance adjustments. Overly prescriptive communication risked turning drivers into robots, with races appearing to be contests between engineers rather than drivers. The issue had been raised mid-last season, strictly enforced at the start of this year, then relaxed – and now it was back on the agenda, with no clear final implementation plan.
2. Assistance devices: The group agreed current cars were too technologically advanced and recommended restricting driver aids. Precedent existed – F1 gearboxes are highly refined, and while automatic transmission could boost acceleration, the FIA banned it years ago to preserve human skill in racing. Despite technology exceeding human capabilities in many areas, manual control is retained to ensure drivers remain the focus of competition.
3. Tire regulations: Two dry tire compounds per race were deemed to lack strategic depth, with expansion of tire choice under consideration. Wu Shi knew future seasons would see more compounds, eventually evolving into the 2018 "rainbow tires" with seven dry options.
4. Power unit rules: Stricter, more balanced allocation mechanisms were being reviewed, following suggestions from engine suppliers Renault and Honda. The FIA and FOM also planned to re-evaluate power unit cost caps and introduce formal fuel flow limits.
5. Engine sound: Since 2014, fans had widely criticized hybrid-era engines for lacking the characteristic roar of previous generations. The FIA was exploring exhaust system modifications to "improve engine noise" – though it was unclear if this meant enhancing sound quality or reducing noise pollution. Wu Shi suspected the latter, given growing environmental movements in Europe and America that had already driven changes to fuel specifications. He felt it ironic: as the pinnacle of internal combustion racing, F1 without a powerful engine note might as well be Formula E.
6. Sprint races: The FIA was considering introducing sprint qualifying races the following year to boost on-track spectacle and aggression. A GPDA survey found fans felt tire strategies made drivers overly cautious, with battles often decided by pit timing or tire age rather than wheel-to-wheel racing. Sprint races, with shorter distances and continuous intensity, were seen as a way to address this. Teams were divided, as new formats introduced variables that larger teams typically sought to avoid.
7. Fan feedback: A GPDA survey of 200,000 respondents found widespread sentiment that F1 was "boring".
These topics sparked debate among drivers. Verstappen openly mocked the GPDA's efforts: "This back-and-forth is pointless – we've been talking for years. If F1 changes, it won't be because of the GPDA."
Wu Shi remained silent on the discussions; he knew F1 would evolve for the better, but reforms were never simple matters of right or wrong – they depended on balancing competing interests to deliver progress.
As the race approached, Wu Shi's championship lead had made him hugely popular. Alongside Chinese students in the UK, many fans had been drawn to him by his on-track results. On media day at Silverstone, a large crowd gathered to seek autographs with clothing, hats, and other items. The attention was occasionally overwhelming – at one point, someone handed him a bra, leaving him flustered. He calmly shifted his focus to signing a hat for another fan, then waved to the crowd and promised to return later before heading to media interviews.
Reporters focused on whether he could maintain his standings lead. Wu Shi avoided disclosing car performance, typically describing it as "average". Massa, however, stated development was progressing well – their conflicting comments left the media confused. Still, given Wu Shi's tendency to downplay prospects after strong results, most outlets predicted Williams would be competitive.
"When you do interviews, you need to mix truth with discretion," Claire sighed after seeing the reports. "Your Austria win was dominant, so saying the car isn't good is obvious misdirection. Mercedes is already wary of us." She turned to Gianfranco: "Please prepare interview talking points in advance and coordinate with both drivers."
"I understand," Gianfranco nodded.
Claire was at Silverstone primarily to address Williams' financial needs – as the home race, many tech firms were in attendance, and the team's improved performance made them an attractive partner for vehicle R&D collaboration. However, securing major sponsorships remained challenging without established connections.
"From now on, we'll have a script for you to follow as much as possible," Gianfranco told Wu Shi, clearly concerned about media management.
"No problem," Wu Shi agreed.
Massa joined them after his own interviews: "If you don't want to talk much, just follow Kimi's example."
Wu Shi laughed, imagining the exchange:
- Reporter: "How do you feel about the win?"
- Wu Shi: "Happy."
- Reporter: "You overcame difficult conditions to finish strongly – how did you manage it?"
- Wu Shi: "Kept driving, crossed the line."
- Reporter: "How competitive will you be this weekend?"
- Wu Shi: "Fine."
The mental image made him grin – he didn't want to become quite that laconic, but understood the appeal of keeping things simple.
Later that day, the race organizer held a mandatory driver briefing focused on track limits. At the time, FIA rules on track limits were relatively vague, with boundary markings varying by circuit, and organizers often adjusted corner boundaries based on driver feedback. For this race, officials emphasized strict enforcement at several high-speed corners where drivers had been using wide run-off areas to gain time. The white line would be the definitive boundary – any car with right-side tires over the line would have their lap time deleted.
The next day brought two free practice sessions, and the paddock echoed with engine roar – a sound that made Wu Shi feel grounded and focused.
In Free Practice 1, Mercedes led as expected, while Toro Rosso showed strong pace with Verstappen setting the second-fastest time. McLaren continued to struggle: Button stopped after ten laps with a hydraulic leak, and his teammate encountered suspension failure twelve laps in.
Free Practice 2 saw Rosberg top the timesheets, with Ferraris third and fourth – Williams cars were well off the pace. When reporters asked about the performance, Wu Shi shrugged and said, "I told you before – the car isn't where we want it to be." Massa echoed this, noting ongoing setup issues, which led media to revise their optimistic forecasts for the team.
The following morning's Free Practice 3 was focused on qualifying preparation, so Williams ran at full pace and moved up the order. Even so, Toro Rosso remained quick – finishing second only to Ferrari, ahead of Williams. After the session, Wu Shi spoke with Verstappen: "You guys are really flying this weekend."
Verstappen rolled his eyes: "We're not coordinating well – each of us is running our own qualifying simulations."
"Sainz not keen to share data?" Wu Shi asked.
"No, I'm just one point ahead in the standings, and the team wants us to focus on our own programs," Verstappen explained.
"Two second-generation drivers," Wu Shi chuckled.
"You're the first in your family to do this – that's something," Verstappen said, with clear admiration.
"It comes with a lot of pressure," Wu Shi admitted.
"You don't look stressed," Verstappen said, looking him over.
"Pressure isn't something you show to the outside world – you carry it alone," Wu Shi replied.
Verstappen nodded in agreement: "Tune out the noise. Focus on what you need to do, what you're capable of doing – that's all that matters."
Wu Shi nodded, but couldn't shake the weight of expectation. The more he cared about the championship, the harder it was to stay calm – at the start of the season, he'd been relaxed because the World Drivers' Championship (WDC) seemed out of reach, but now that it was tangible, he often had trouble sleeping, waking from dreams of past accidents.
"Qualifying this afternoon – give it your all. You've got history here," Verstappen said.
"Same to you – good luck," Wu Shi replied, standing up and brushing himself off.
Pirelli had brought their two hardest compounds – Medium and Hard – for Silverstone. The first two qualifying segments passed without incident, with Wu Shi and Massa advancing comfortably to Q3. McLaren faced a scare when one driver weighed in then fitted the wrong tires, but after the team explained the error to race control, no penalty was issued – a moot point given the team's current position at the back of the field.
Joining Williams in Q3 were both Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, plus Sainz (Toro Rosso) and Hülkenberg (Sauber). Lotus was eliminated in Q2 – a surprise given their strong power unit, with Grosjean citing understeer and Bottas reporting balance issues.
Q3 began under sunny skies with a light crosswind that required careful handling in fast corners to avoid spinning.
"How are you feeling?" Jonathan asked over team radio.
"Not ideal," Wu Shi replied honestly.
"What's the issue?"
"Too many high-speed corners – we're relying entirely on mechanical grip, which is pushing the limits."
Silverstone was far more complex than the Red Bull Ring and the second-longest track on the calendar. Grip has its limits, and so do lap times – trade-offs are unavoidable.
"Do you know Silverstone's pole position conversion rate?" Jonathan asked.
"Not exactly," Wu Shi said.
"Less than thirty percent – so pole is just the starting point," Jonathan explained. "You've already achieved incredible things this season – you don't need to work miracles every time out. Drive at your pace, deliver what you're capable of. Relax – this is only your ninth race in F1."
Jonathan patted his shoulder and gave a thumbs-up. Wu Shi smiled and nodded: "I know – I'll give it everything I've got."