How did I become an F1 driver?

Qin Miao's battery pack is the most amazing component of Mercedes-Benz this season, because this battery pack has been used in Qin Miao's car for 19 races and has not had any failures so far.

The reason for replacing the battery now is not because there is any problem with the battery pack, but mainly because the team is considering that if they don’t replace it, the other battery pack will be wasted?
So I made a preventive replacement for Qin Miao. Although I know there won't be any problems with this thing, but giving you a new one will definitely be better than the old one in terms of power output and energy storage, and it can also prevent problems during the competition.

In short, Qin Miao replaced the entire engine electrical components of his car during the Mexican Grand Prix.

However, this news may affect the tactical choices of other teams in the race and qualifying stages. If it is exposed too early, Qin Miao is likely to be targeted by other teams on the track.

After all, as we all know, Red Bull has two teams and four cars, so nothing they do will be surprising.

So this news was not reported during Thursday's press conference.

Qin Miao had a relatively pleasant Thursday, and most of the work processes went smoothly.

Instead, after work on Thursday was finished, when Qin Miao was reviewing the track data he had obtained today while walking on the track, as well as the in-car video and data from last season in the lounge of the team's home, Hamilton knocked on the door and walked into Qin Miao's lounge.

Looking at the old man who appeared at the door of his lounge, Qin Miao stood up to greet him with some surprise.

After arriving in front of Hamilton, Qin Miao asked curiously: "Good afternoon, Lewis, what can I do for you?"

Qin Miao originally thought that Hamilton came to see him at this time for some serious matter, but Qin Miao did not expect that Hamilton came to him and asked directly: "Qiu Meng is pregnant, such a big thing, why didn't you tell me?"

"Ah?" Now it was Qin Miao's turn to be surprised.

Although this matter can be said to be a big deal for Qin Miao and even for Qin Miao's family, it is not a particularly important matter for Hamilton and other colleagues and friends at work, right?
Qin Miao thought so, but still explained: "It's not a big deal. Having a baby is something that you will experience sooner or later in life."

"Besides, we have been together for such a long time, and pregnancy is a matter of time. After Qiu Meng got pregnant, she probably wouldn't come to the enclosure again in a short period of time, and she might even go abroad less often, so I didn't think about telling you."

"No matter what you think, I don't care about your country's customs and habits in dealing with such things, but as your teammate, I can't turn a blind eye to this matter." The old man took out a document and handed it to Qin Miao.

Looking at the paper document wrapped in a transparent plastic file bag in Hamilton's hand, Qin Miao had more questions in his mind.

But Qin Miao knew that Hamilton would definitely explain it to him, so he didn't think too much about it. After taking the document from Hamilton, he asked curiously, "What is this?"

Hamilton explained: "This is a fund I'm giving to your future child, it's pocket money from Uncle Lewis for your future child.

This fund will start counting from the day your child is born, and every month 200 euros of pocket money will be transferred to his account for eighty years. "

To be honest, after hearing Hamilton's explanation, the first thing that came to Qin Miao's mind was not gratitude, but: Damn, I want this thing too!
However, after getting rid of some weird thoughts in his mind, Qin Miao had to admit that these rich people were really good and even their gifts were so creative.

It does sound like there is something to it to directly provide a child with pocket money for the rest of his life.

If I put myself in their shoes, it would be so cool to have pocket money every month since I was a child.

After being stunned for a while, Qin Miao smiled and shook his head and said, "To be honest, the gift you gave me is indeed a little...unexpectedly "unique?" I hope this adjective is more appropriate, but in any case, thank you Lewis, I will deliver this gift, but I believe that he will not be able to appreciate your good intentions in the first few years."

Hamilton smiled, crossed his arms and leaned against the door of Qin Miao's lounge and said, "I don't care about this, but you should be able to understand how I feel. When I was a child, I hoped to have someone like this who could give me pocket money unconditionally every month, so that I could buy a PS game console and get that helmet at the same time, and I wouldn't have to choose between my two favorite things because of economic reasons."

"But if I had really obtained these two things at that time, I might not have achieved what I have now. Who can say for sure..."

Qin Miao naturally knew what Hamilton was talking about.

The old man is different from most of the drivers in the paddock. He and Qin Miao are both children from the working class. When they were young, their families were not as rich as those of regular F1 drivers, so even if they liked something, they would not buy it casually.

"Of course, I understand how you feel." Qin Miao nodded. When he was a child, Qin Miao did want something very much, but he was helpless because his parents didn't buy it for him.

Hamilton spread his hands and said, "This way, I can make up for the regrets of my childhood."

Qin Miao shook his head helplessly: "I don't understand why you older people have so many regrets in your words."

Hamilton smiled and said, "You'll understand. Now that the gift has been delivered, I won't bother you anymore. See you tomorrow."

"Thank you very much for your gift, but I won't let you win in tomorrow's game." Qin Miao thanked Hamilton, but he still said something naughty at the end.

"Haha, I'm not old enough to need you to let me go so that I can beat you." Hamilton waved his hand and left.

After Hamilton left, Qin Miao looked at the fund contract in his hand, feeling a little amused.

The things Hamilton gave are not really expensive for the two Mercedes drivers with their current net worth.

200 euros a month is 2400 euros a year, and 80 euros in 192000 years.

Because the entire fund is less than 20 euros, the handling fees for 80 years may even be more expensive than the fund itself.

And these 20 euros are not money for Qin Miao. Qin Miao does not even need to do it himself. He can just call his agency and ask them to design a new helmet. He can then run in a race and sign his name on the helmet. Then he can take the helmet to an auction house and the price will be more than 20 euros.

But this gift has almost lasted throughout Qin Miao's life. Now thinking about it, it is also a precious gift that is full of imagination and very meaningful.

"Sometimes I really admire the creativity of you guys." After complaining, Qin Miao stuffed the contract into his computer bag.

After the Mexican Grand Prix, there will be a two-week break. Qin Miao will definitely return to China at that time and bring back this special gift from Hamilton.

In the past, Qin Miao would not necessarily think about going home even if he had two weeks of rest during the Grand Prix. The most he would think about was what he should do during the Grand Prix weekend.

But things are different now. With a new child, Qin Miao is always worried and concerned.

During his break, Qin Miao couldn't help but wonder whether this child of his was a boy or a girl, what his name was, and where he would go to school when he grew up.

These questions linger in Qin Miao's mind, and invisibly bring Qin Miao a heavy sense of responsibility, while also a warm feeling in his heart.

But Qin Miao was also a person who understood things clearly, so he quickly calmed down his inner feelings and shifted his attention back to tomorrow's competition. Nothing happened overnight, and the next day was the day for the first and second training sessions of the Mexico Station.

There was nothing noteworthy in the first practice session, as everyone was carefully testing the tuning and tyre compound on the track.

Qin Miao is no exception.

The final practice ended in such a busy and dull way.
I won’t go into too much detail about the second practice session here, mainly because the second practice session did not obtain any track data related to the Rodriguez Brothers Circuit.

Everyone switched to the 2023 Pirelli tire compound for testing on the track.

Finally, Friday ended like this.

Time flies and it is Saturday.

Just when Qin Miao happily came to the paddock and was about to finish the third practice session and then take a break in the qualifying round, Qin Miao returned to the team home and received good news that made all the Mercedes team staff smile.

The investigation by the FIA's Audit Committee into Red Bull Racing's budget cap overspending has yielded results.

It is also a fact that the Red Bull Racing team has exceeded its budget cap.

According to the investigation, Red Bull's original budget expenditure in March was lower than the budget cap, but after an investigation by the FIA's Audit Committee, the data was corrected and Red Bull overspent by 3 million pounds, a total of about 186.4 million US dollars.

Now that the FIA ​​has obtained accurate results, in the first year of the implementation of the budget cap, the FIA ​​will definitely do everything according to the regulations. After all, there is no order without rules.

Red Bull was fined $700 million and was penalised 12% of its CFD simulator and wind tunnel usage time for the next 10 months.

But for big teams like Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes, a fine of $700 million is almost the same as no fine and is not a big deal.

Moreover, 10% of the CFD simulator and wind tunnel usage time is not an unacceptable penalty for the Red Bull team, which has aerodynamics master Newey.

This penalty has more of an impact on the Red Bull team on a psychological level.

This will definitely increase the pressure on the Red Bull team, which is already somewhat nervous about the rise of the Mercedes team in the later stages of the season. The atmosphere within the team will definitely be affected by this punishment.

But there is some good news, that is, the $700 million fine imposed on the Red Bull team will not be counted in the budget cap for this season and the next season, and it is considered an additional expense for the Red Bull team.

From Qin Miao’s point of view, no matter what, it’s a good thing that Red Bull was fined!
The staff of the Mercedes-Benz team naturally brought a small stool and sat at the door of the P room of the car to happily eat melons.

Next, do three exercises.

Hamilton's speed was very good during the third practice session. Qin Miao only ran a flying lap on the track using soft tires at the beginning of the third practice session. In the following time, Qin Miao was testing neutral tires and soft tires.

During the third practice session, apart from Mick's accidental swerve, no major accidents occurred and the entire practice session went smoothly.

In the following time, Qin Miao naturally returned to his most familiar time period, playing games openly in the team's home and waiting for the qualifying race to begin.

Qualifying.

Qin Miao had just sat in his racing car when he could hear the audience calling Perez's name in unison through his helmet.

It's the home court, and Qin Miao estimated that Perez did not get into his car immediately, but was greeting the Mexican fans at the scene, otherwise there would not be such a loud cheer.

After being envious for a while, Qin Miao calmed down and went to the track to line up in advance.

Qualifying Q1 will begin soon.

Qin Miao did not make any mistakes in Q1 of the qualifying round and even performed very well.

The flying laps that Qin Miao used to advance to Q2 were the basic results he achieved using a set of old soft tires.

After seeing that this result allowed him to advance directly to Q2, Qin Miao would definitely call it a day and return to the team's P room given his character.

Qin Miao's operations have basically become Qin Miao's habitual operations, and Qin Miao's fans have long been accustomed to it.

As for Qin Miao's teammate Hamilton, he did not hide at all and directly got the fastest lap in Q1, easily advancing to Q2.

Although Zhou Guanyu was blocked by Mick and Alonso in the first timing section of the flying circle, he broke his personal best in the next two timing sections. He finally ranked 10th, 0.009 seconds faster than his compatriot Qin Miao and advanced to Q2.

This is also the first time in history that Zhou Guanyu defeated his compatriot Qin Miao in the qualifying stage.

The Five Star Sports commentators who stayed up late today to commentate on the Mexican Grand Prix were amused for quite a while about this.

In the Q2 stage, Qin Miao was still bold and steady, and advanced to Q3 in seventh place.

Zhou Guanyu seemed to have used up all his competitive state today when he surpassed Qin Miao in Q1, and his performance in Q2 was not particularly good.

The first flying circle also encountered a slow train, but this time the slow train obviously disturbed Zhou Guanyu's mentality, and Zhou Guanyu gave up the next flying circle.

In the second flying lap, although there was no slow car, Zhou Guanyu did not run well and his tires locked.

In the end, Zhou Guanyu was stuck in 2th place in Q11 and was eliminated.

This is also the first time that Zhou Guanyu has lost to his teammate Bottas in the qualifying stage since entering the second half of the season.

His teammate Bottas easily advanced to Q3.

The drivers eliminated in Q2 were: Zhou Guanyu, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Gasly, Magnussen. (End of this chapter)