“So?”
“So, make sure you get a good feel for the track during free practice. Trust your instincts when the official race starts and don’t hesitate.”
“Okay.” Hunter nodded.
“Go on.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll watch you leave.”
“I don’t need you to see me off with your eyes!”
“Who’s the one always staring at my back on the track?”
“Damn it! This time I’m really going to overtake you! Otherwise, I won’t be satisfied!” Hunter flipped him the middle finger.
“Go on.” Winston tilted his chin up.
Hunter turned and walked away step by step, but his heart was full.
As soon as Hunter reported back to the team, Marcus gave him a big hug, “I was worried you’d sleep on the plane, and the airline would send you back to Dubai!”
The other team members laughed heartily. Hunter quickly distributed the gifts he had bought to everyone. Marcus was moved to tears after receiving the tie. “Honestly, I never thought there’d come a day when you’d give me a gift. This tie even looks pretty high-end…”
“Winston picked it out.”
“I knew it, it doesn’t match your style at all!” Marcus leaned in and whispered to Hunter, “Be honest, Winston’s trying to recruit you to Ferrari, isn’t he?”
“No way! Can’t there be camaraderie among racers aside from competition?” Hunter declared righteously. He handed snacks to Shen Xi, who generously gave him a bear hug.
“The Circuit of the Americas is on a different level.” Shen Chuan smiled, approaching Hunter and holding out his fist.
Hunter understood the meaning behind Shen Chuan’s words. The Circuit of the Americas required a car with proper downforce1Downforce helps race cars stick to the track. More downforce is better for corners, while less downforce is better for straight parts.. Shen Chuan must be confident in the car’s capabilities to say that to Hunter.
“Okay. Let’s see if in this race… I can knock Owen, Ciel, or Winston off their horses!” Hunter fist-bumped Shen Chuan.
There were two days until the free practice session began. During these days, Hunter continued his basic physical training and adjusted to the time difference.
After dinner, Hunter took a walk around the Circuit of the Americas, wanting to feel the temperature and airflow around the track and imagine the roar of the crowd.
“Eh, Hunter? I didn’t expect to see you here.”
A voice with a hint of amusement rang out. Hunter turned to see Lawrence Owen. In the darkness of the night, his handsome face had a somewhat mysterious aura.
“I’m taking a walk!” Hunter shrugged.
“After all, I’m your mentor. Can’t you show me a little respect?” Owen walked over and draped an arm around Hunter’s shoulders.
“Are you kidding? All your lessons were useless and just made me look like a fool!” Hunter shrugged off Owen’s arm.
“How were they useless? I think they were quite useful. You just don’t have enough experience to see the benefits yet.”
Hunter couldn’t understand where Owen got his confidence.
Owen lowered his head and lifted Hunter’s arm, “Got a new watch?”
“No, Winston… swapped it with me.” Mentioning this, Hunter still felt embarrassed about his mistake.
“Swapped with you? Why?”
“Back at Dubai Mall, I intended to give him a watch as a gift. But after I bought it and gave it to him, I realized it was exactly the same as the one he was already wearing!”
“You say you like Vann Winston, yet you don’t even know what watch he wears?” Owen looked at Hunter with an expression that said “You’re hopeless.”
“I’m not really interested in watches…” Hunter pouted.
“What happened next?”
“Then I suggested changing it for another style, but Winston said there was no need. Instead, he gave me his own watch, saying he would wear the one I bought.”
At this point, Hunter noticed Owen’s expression had changed to one of admiration and respect.
“Hunter, oh Hunter! That move of yours was brilliant! For men, a watch worn for a long time is more precious than a wedding ring. Didn’t it feel like exchanging wedding rings when Winston exchanged his watch with yours?” Owen squeezed Hunter’s shoulder.
In fact, even without Owen saying it, Hunter had felt a similar sentiment at the time.
“Are you still not confident? Winston definitely has a thing for you; otherwise, he wouldn’t have accepted your watch.”
Hunter’s heart leaped with joy. “So what do I do next?”
“Keep going! After this race, make an even stronger move.” Owen hugged his shoulder. “I’m starting to think even a clueless student like you isn’t entirely without talent.”
“Right, I’ll continue after the race. For now, the competition is the most important thing.”
“You brat, what are you thinking?”
“Nothing. Just be careful. If Winston pushes you out, I might be the one to take your place.” Hunter laughed, shoving his hands into his pockets as he headed towards the hotel.
“This brat is really… getting more annoying.”
As Hunter approached the hotel entrance, he suddenly heard someone calling him.
“Hunter!”
Hunter turned around and saw a figure silhouetted against the street lamp’s glow.
“Who is it?”
Maybe it was a reporter but he couldn’t recognize many of them.
“You… you don’t remember me?”
As the person stepped into the light, Hunter recognized him. “You’re Merlin, who was on the desert safari with us! What are you doing here?” Hunter was surprised.
“Of course I’m here to watch the race.” Merlin seemed excited, “Are you staying at this hotel?”
“Uh… yeah… I heard that Marcus’s team stays every year without fail.” Hunter flashed a bright smile.
“I’m thrilled you remember my name. With so many fans… I didn’t expect you to remember me…” Merlin was clearly excited.
No… rather than excitement, it was more like exhilaration?
“Um… Actually, I don’t have many fans… hahaha…” Suddenly remembering Winston’s assessment of Merlin, Hunter felt uneasy standing there alone. He tried his best to keep a smile and said, “It’s getting late, I should head to bed.”
“Oh… of course.”
“Enjoy the race.”
Hunter turned and walked into the hotel. Once in the elevator, he breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt it was ridiculous. He wasn’t scared by Merlin, but Winston had scared him.
In the blink of an eye, the free practice session began.
Every minute and second on the track was crucial to Hunter. He needed to thoroughly understand the track, remember every corner, every slope, and master every overtaking spot.
Shen Chuan, leading the engineering team, was equally tense, relying on data from Hunter and the car to make necessary adjustments.
After each practice session, Hunter would find a secluded corner to smoke. It seemed as if Winston knew everything and could always find him.
“I’m starting to think this hide-and-seek game is getting old. You always find me…” With a cigarette between his lips, Hunter looked up and sighed regretfully.
“Maybe you should pick a more obvious spot next time.” Winston sat down next to him.
Hunter seemed to have thought of something. With a smirk, he turned to Winston and said, “Actually, I like the Circuit of the Americas. Especially its ups and downs with the elevation changes.”
“Kid.” Winston reached out to take the cigarette from Hunter’s mouth.
But Hunter turned his head away in dissatisfaction, “Don’t smoke this kid’s cigarette!”
Winston used one hand to hold Hunter’s cheek, his fingers prying open his lower lip. Hunter intended to call out a foul, but as soon as he opened his teeth, Winston had taken the cigarette.
“You enjoy the ups and downs of the Circuit of the Americas?” Winston asked, taking a gentle drag of the cigarette marked by Hunter’s teeth and exhaling the smoke.
“It’s just like having sex!” Hunter said, glaring at him.
“Oh—” Winston’s voice drawled, “Like when you’re sitting on top of me?”
“Exactly! When I’m sitting…”
What the hell!
Winston’s mouth was already curling into a smirk.
Hunter was fuming! He had intended to seduce Winston, but this guy somehow changed the script? Not playing anymore!
Hunter stood up to leave, but Winston raised his hand to grab his calf. “Don’t want the cigarette anymore?”
“No, you can take your time smoking it!”
Winston let go and really continued to smoke leisurely.
Hunter walked away. This was not right! Next time he wanted to trick this guy, he had to think carefully, seize the right moment, and not let him get the upper hand!
After three practice sessions, the qualifying race would start the next morning.
Hunter sat in the car with his eyes closed tightly, continually recalling the key points on the Circuit of the Americas. When he opened his eyes again, Shen Chuan had come up beside him.
“Hunter, we will always be by your side. You know, every one of your races is a foundation for our improvement.”
“I know,” Hunter nodded.
The audience of the Circuit of the Americas was already on the verge of erupting. The noise, which once distracted and annoyed him, was now something he could habitually block out. He knew his self-control had grown stronger.
The qualifying race was always full of tension. Owen dominated the Q1 round, demonstrating masterful cornering skills. Even on a track like this, his smooth driving remained unaffected. In the helicopter footage, he looked like he was gliding through the ocean.
The lap speeds of Ciel and Winston were neck and neck, posing a significant threat to Owen. Before Q1 ended, Hunter’s lap times steadily improved, securing him a position just behind the two of them.
When Q2 started, the competition intensified. Even though the track was devoid of actual warfare, it still gave viewers the sense of a fierce battle. Midway through the second qualifying session, Ciel overtook Owen, but Winston unexpectedly surpassed Ciel, temporarily claiming the first position.
During Q3, the top three positions constantly changed, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Hunter narrowed his eyes, pushing his car to its limits, and surprisingly overtook Owen, who was in third place! Although this position only lasted for two laps before Owen regained it, it still gave the Marcus team a moment of excitement.
The qualifying session ended with Winston in the pole position, Ciel in second, Owen in third, and Hunter maintaining fourth place. This ranking attracted significant media attention, silencing those who had dismissed Hunter’s success as mere luck.
Riding this wave of success, the Marcus team received news that the Nicky Group would increase their sponsorship.
However, Hunter didn’t feel relaxed about his qualifying results. He sat quietly, drinking water, and listened to the technical expert’s analysis. Judging by everyone’s lap speeds, he knew Owen and the others, who were familiar with the track and the elevation changes, were indeed ahead of him. This lead seemed small, just within reach, but Hunter knew that sheer effort wouldn’t bridge the gap.
Perhaps he should heed Winston’s advice before the race: trust his instincts.
To defeat a stronger enemy, you must have more killing instinct than them.
“Hunter… if you can hold onto fourth place this time…”
Marcus’s words were cut off as Hunter stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth.
“Hold my position? Behind me are Enzo from Lotus, Duchovny from McLaren, Penny from Renault, Donald from Sauber… Any one of them… will overtake me if I relax for a moment… Marcus, we’re past the stage of just holding the position.”
Hunter’s eyes, looking at Marcus, weren’t simply filled with passion but rather a cold calm.
He knew his position and circumstances and was acutely aware that the rivals behind him were always ready to overtake him at any moment.
“Right… we aren’t only the pursuers but also the target of those following us.” Marcus placed a hand on his shoulder, his gaze filled with determination, “Use every skill you have to the fullest. If you go crazy, we’ll go crazy with you.”
“Thanks, that’s exactly what I want.” Hunter laughed.
Marcus was taken aback. When exactly did his own growth start to fall behind this little rascal? No, no, no, someone with such skill and determination couldn’t be called a little rascal. Evan Hunter had become a man who clearly understood his goals.
At the same time, Owen from the Red Bull team was stretching in his seat, “Ah… I hate this!”
“What’s wrong? Because Vann Winston took the pole position, or because Ciel is ahead of you again?” The Red Bull team’s technical expert laughed as he approached Owen.
“No, I hate having Evan Hunter right behind me.” Owen frowned, his beautiful green eyes narrowing. He rested his chin on his hands and tapped his right foot on the ground.
“Are you nervous? No way… Owen…”
“That kid wants to run over me,” Owen said.
“F1 results aren’t a given, but your experience and skills are better than his…”
“You don’t know. When it comes to racing skills, right now, no driver ahead of him can confidently say they’re better than him. Once the kid sets his sights on a target, he’ll suffocate his opponent until the very last moment.”
“So?”
“So, I have to thank him for existing. Because of him, I have to push forward, throwing the pressure back on others.” Owen smirked.
Amidst great anticipation, the main race at the Circuit of the Americas began. The 9 AM sun wasn’t too glaring, even a bit gentle. In this tranquility, a battle on the track was about to start.
The drivers took their positions, and the audience awaited the beginning of this high-speed carnival.
When the five signal lights went out, Winston, starting from pole position, surged forward and passed the first uphill bend with unparalleled momentum.
Ciel navigated the corner smoothly, and so did Owen. Hunter followed closely behind, maintaining his position. A major scuffle seemed to break out behind him, with Penny and Duchovny right on his tail, both targeting him.
Don’t think about the pack of wolves behind you; focus on the lion in front!
From the first slow corner, Owen could feel Hunter closing in on him. This kid had gotten bolder, but his boldness stemmed from increased confidence in his skills!
Lap after lap, the track undulating elevation changes demanded precise braking control when cornering. Yet, Hunter’s maneuvers were so accurate that Owen felt like he was an unshakeable shadow. To break free from this shadow, Owen initiated a fierce battle with Ciel in the first ten laps.
On the twelfth lap, Owen finally overtook Ciel. Their intense duel seemed to ignite sparks on the track. Owen exited the corner first, and though his advantage was slight, he used his superior line to completely block Ciel from counterattacking.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Owen sped down the long straight.
“Dear Ciel, I’m leaving Evan Hunter for you to enjoy!” Owen now focused all his efforts on taking down the red F1 car ahead.
Hunter pitted for new tires. After his team quickly completed the change, Hunter temporarily fell behind Penny of Renault. A few laps later, Hunter began a relentless push to catch up. He broke through Penny’s defenses, nearly forcing him into the run-off area, then overtook him like a meteor streaking across the sky and charged toward Ciel.
“Damn it—this brat again!” Ciel cursed inwardly.
Soon, the two cars started to compete at the corner. Ciel turned his wheel, appearing as though he wanted to force Hunter off the track. Hunter endured the pressure, not only avoiding a collision but also executing a beautiful maneuver, staying close behind Ciel.
At that moment, Ciel realized that this kid was no longer the same one from Abu Dhabi. After each race, the kid seemed to absorb something new, and they were all nutrients for his growth.
In the continuous corners of S12Every F1 circuit is divided into three timed sectors, labeled S1, S2, and S3., Hunter continued to challenge Ciel. This time, Ciel didn’t even dare to breathe, knowing he couldn’t make any mistakes. The two cars battled fiercely, with Hunter nearly overtaking Ciel at the apex of the first corner, only for Ciel to regain the lead as they exited.
Ciel laughed. It had been a long time since he had faced such a spirited opponent. Honestly, he had grown weary of always competing against Owen and Winston. Hunter’s pursuit excited Ciel, reminding him of when he had first joined F1.
Meanwhile, Owen, ahead of them, successfully overtook Winston at the first corner, only to be overtaken by Winston at the same corner two laps later. The intense battle between the two had the audience sweating and not daring to breathe.
For some reason, despite repeatedly failing to overtake Ciel, Hunter didn’t feel discouraged. On the contrary, he grew more confident with each attempt.
“He’s in great form…” Marcus sighed.
Hunter and Ciel both pitted, unleashing their power upon returning. Ciel aimed for Owen, while Hunter continued to stick close to Ciel.
As the two cars once again battled at the first corner, the audience watched with bated breath, fearing a collision. However, both Hunter and Ciel knew that wouldn’t happen. They maintained parallel lines, exiting the corner together, as if about to take flight, eliciting wild cheers from the entire crowd.
With only a few laps left, Hunter narrowed his eyes.
Alright, Ciel, I’ve studied you for many laps now. Let’s step it up a notch!
In a slow corner, Hunter engaged in a braking duel with Ciel. Both were fearless risk-takers, seemingly braking at the same time. Their battle continued through three corners. By the third-to-last lap, as they exited the corner, Hunter was so close to the curb that he nearly ran into it, but he managed to make a strong turn.
Meanwhile, Ciel almost lost control but skillfully corrected his car’s path. Hardly anyone could see exactly what happened, not even Hunter himself. Everything was based on his instincts. He maneuvered around Ciel, who was busy adjusting his direction and charged ahead.
The audience stood up, cheering wildly. Marcus clenched his fists and opened his mouth wide in astonishment! Hunter, seemingly unfazed, continued to surge forward.
With two laps remaining, Ciel began trying to overtake Hunter. Their competition continued, but Hunter flawlessly blocked every attempt, staying right behind Owen as they neared the finish line!
“Oh… did he finish third? Did he behead the Great White Shark?” Marcus turned to the technical expert in disbelief.
“…Seems like it…”
Two seconds later, the entire team exploded with joy.
The author has something to say:
Hunter: I’m going to bite you off next time!
Winston: Mm.
Hunter: Don’t treat me like a kid! Why are you patting my head! Hey… where are you patting? You’re not allowed to touch there!
Winston: Just don’t apply too much pressure when you’re biting me.
Hunter: Huh?
Winston: Let me teach you, you have to bite like this.
Hunter: Get lost! I just bought these pants!
![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
