How Did I Become an F1 Driver?

At this stage, Qin Miao naturally can’t see Brother Tou, as Brother Tou is probably already off work by now.

He probably doesn’t have the mood to attend post-race team meetings or anything.

After dealing with quite a few drivers, Zhou Guanyu, who felt a bit stifled from today’s race, also came up to Qin Miao.

Looking at Qin Miao in front of him, Zhou Guanyu took off his helmet while complaining, "I’ve always hated this DRS train thing, but I didn’t expect that having a car in front with a straight-line tail speed faster than you using DRS would make the DRS train even more disgusting."

"I’d rather be blocked to death by you on the simulator than be stuck in Albon’s DRS train again; it’s painful, so damn painful." Zhou Guanyu put on a mask of pain as he said this.

This feeling is indeed very stifling.

Originally, you might be faster than the driver in front on a single lap, but your speed advantage is in the corners, not on the straights. The outcome is that in many corners, where you could seamlessly overtake, you have to hit the brakes and ease off the throttle because there’s a car blocking you in front.

You have to know that F1 drivers have a rhythm to their driving. After practicing some track corners for a long time, you develop muscle memory for them. Once you’ve formed muscle memory for these corners, you can even relax a bit while taking them, like going into a state of Man and Car Unity like Qin Miao.

Driving in this state is very comfortable.

But if there’s a car in front of you, you can’t enter this state. You have to be constantly careful not to crash into it, and you have to watch out for the DRS train behind you. If you get too close, you might even overheat the tires due to absorbing too much hot tail exhaust from the car in front, leading to a series of annoying problems like engine overheating.

This is nothing short of torture for Zhou Guanyu.

Qin Miao, looking sorrowful, patted Zhou Guanyu’s shoulder: "I feel you, man. I’ve been stuck in the DRS train a lot this season too. That feeling is indeed stifling, so stifling and helpless."

"Sigh~"

Just as the two were feeling all sorts of emotions, Leclerc walked over: "Congratulations Qin Miao, finishing fourth."

"But honestly, I thought you’d definitely get on the podium this race; I really didn’t expect to see you here."

Qin Miao made a bear paw gesture meme: "I’m afraid if I take Perez’s third, I won’t make it out of Mexico."

Upon hearing Qin Miao’s joke, Zhou Guanyu and Leclerc didn’t immediately laugh or think Qin Miao was humorous. They first looked around nervously to ensure there were no photographers nearby before breathing a sigh of relief.

Thanks to this being Perez’s home race, after getting on the podium, Perez received particularly high acclaim, so most of the photographers’ lenses were on Verstappen and Perez, while the defending champion was sidelined.

"Relax." Seeing their tense expressions, Qin Miao said, "Look at you two being all tense. Don’t you think I know it’s not appropriate to joke like this in this setting? I only cracked this joke because I saw there were no cameras around."

Leclerc pointed at Qin Miao with a serious face: "It’s one thing to crack jokes like this among friends we’re close to, but this is a public occasion. Making such jokes will definitely damage your reputation with the local people in Mexico, and possibly beyond."

Qin Miao raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, I won’t do it anymore, I promise."

Zhou Guanyu also complained: "You’re about to be a dad, how can you still be so immature? You should know the walls have ears, be more careful."

"Alright, enough criticism, let’s go weigh in." Seeing Qin Miao’s good attitude in admitting fault, Leclerc didn’t continue dwelling on the matter.

As Qin Miao packed his sweat-absorbing hood into his helmet, he said: "Isn’t there a possibility though... I’m just saying, possibility... that I’m the youngest among the three of us."

Qin Miao: (*❦ω❦) (20 years old, 2021 F1 World Champion, now 21, very likely to defend the 2022 F1 World Championship)

Zhou Guanyu: ... (23 years old)

Leclerc: ... (25 years old)

With one sentence, Qin Miao completely disarmed Leclerc and Zhou Guanyu.

Yes, Qin Miao is only 21 now, a world champion, with a wife and expecting a child.

What about Leclerc?

What about Zhou Guanyu?

Comparing oneself to others brings ruin, comparing goods discards them...

This makes me want to jump from a flea market!

...

"I find it fascinating how you always like to bring up the very thing we don’t want to hear," Zhou Guanyu quipped.

Leclerc was even more direct. After pulling Qin Miao into a headlock, he started throwing playful punches at Qin Miao’s ribs.

The three of them playfully bickered as they headed off to weigh in, taking the opportunity to congratulate Perez on the way.

Although it’s not the first time for Perez to get on the podium at his home race, any driver who’s competed at their home race knows that being able to get on the podium at your home race is a huge encouragement for yourself and for the fans who come to support you.

After the weigh-in, the podium finishers began their post-race interviews, while Qin Miao and the others went to their designated area for interviews.

The interview process doesn’t need much elaboration; Qin Miao successfully completed the team’s tasks in today’s race without any mistakes, making it a rather uneventful race.