Chapter 232: Out of the White Line
A smile could be on his face, and his words could sound relaxed – but when the simulator screens were replaced by the real track, the drive to perform at his best transformed into overwhelming pressure.
Roar!
The engine ignited with a thunderous sound, and mechanics removed the tire blankets. Once the car was lowered from its jacks, the pit exit marshal waved to signal the track was clear.
Whoosh!
The car surged into the fast lane, with other teams' garages flashing by.
"Hamilton is behind you," Jonathan said over team radio.
"He really can't sit still," Wu Shi replied instinctively.
The broadcast cut to this exchange immediately, drawing laughs from the commentary team – the driver who'd gone out first was teasing the one following him.
During the warm-up lap, Wu Shi kept sensing Hamilton close behind. In reality, Lewis was maintaining at least one sector's distance to time his flying lap properly – it was just a psychological effect.
With team radio instructions now restricted, Jonathan spoke far less often. While Wu Shi appreciated the focus, the quiet felt unsettling.
Whoosh!
As the warm-up lap ended, he accelerated into his flying lap. The broadcast cameras were ready for him, as always, given his habit of going out early.
But at Turn 9, a slight slide sent his right-rear tire across the white line. The distinct feel of the kerb and asphalt under the wheels told him immediately he'd crossed the boundary. He didn't know if it would be penalized, and panic fluttered in his chest – but he couldn't ask Jonathan for guidance, so he pushed on.
1 minute 33.233 seconds.
"Wu Shi, you need to be more controlled at Turn 9," Jonathan said as soon as the lap ended.
"Did I cross the line?"
"Yes – lap time is deleted."
Jonathan's tone was tight with concern, though Wu Shi couldn't tell if it was frustration or worry. He focused on cooling the car down.
Hamilton completed his flying lap next, clocking 1 minute 32.311 seconds – jumping straight to P1 before returning to the pits. The time was 0.4 seconds faster than Rosberg's Q2 benchmark, the only sub-1:32 lap in the earlier segment. Lewis clearly knew his pace well, saving tires while putting pressure on his teammate.
Soon after, the first flying lap times from other drivers came in:
- Räikkönen: 1 minute 33.379 seconds
- Ricciardo: 1 minute 33.943 seconds
- Hülkenberg: 1 minute 34.864 seconds
- Vettel: 1 minute 33.547 seconds
On paper, Wu Shi's time would have been strong – but it was invalid. With no safe lap in hand, Williams decided he needed to set a valid time quickly to avoid last-minute issues.
"Let's look at the replay to see what happened," the commentator said, as slow-motion footage rolled.
Car #59 – the all-white Williams FW37 – entered Turn 9 smoothly, but insufficient downforce saw lateral forces exceed tire grip limits. The rear wheels slid outward, though control was never lost. The car stabilized quickly and accelerated away.
"That was very committed driving – there was a slide near the edge, but whether the right-rear actually crossed the white line is debatable," the commentator noted. The angled camera made it hard to be certain, and he believed such a minor touch shouldn't count – but the stewards had already issued the deletion, so he could only call it into question.
The commentator paused to check his phone: "I've just been told Williams is in discussion with race control, arguing that if Wu Shi's time is deleted, Hamilton's lap should also be reviewed."
The stands erupted in chatter. Big screens broadcast the news, and some Hamilton fans began booing. A group of international students looked confused until one explained: "Williams reported Hamilton for track limits too – his fans aren't happy."
"Why be upset? Wu Shi's time was just canceled!" another retorted.
"It's the local fan base – they're protective," someone said. Tempers flared, and students stood to shout back at the protesters. Security rushed over, but their handling of the situation favored local fans, who began hurling insults like "go back to where you came from" and "dirty beggars." The students could only turn their focus back to the track.
Wu Shi was unaware of the chaos in the stands – he knew this was his last real chance. He had time for two more flying laps, but tire life wouldn't allow it. The low-downforce setup relied entirely on mechanical grip, and worn tires would make a competitive lap impossible.
With 6 minutes 36 seconds remaining in Q3, he lined up for another attempt.
"Wu Shi is on track again – this lap is critical after his time deletion. And look – Hamilton is leaving the pits too. Has Williams' protest had an effect?"
The stewards hadn't announced any action on Hamilton's time, but Mercedes was taking no chances and sending him out for a backup lap. Track traffic was heavy, with multiple drivers on flying laps.
Wu Shi focused intensely, reminding himself to stay within bounds. With only engine noise in his ears, his concentration was absolute. The car felt strained in corners due to the setup, but he kept it stable – there was no room for error.
Whoosh!
Through Turn 9 – this time, his right-rear tire stayed well inside the white line. But then, his left foot cramped up from tension. The next sequence was five consecutive "S" bends that demanded precise braking. He gritted his teeth, shrinking his body in the cockpit as the seatbelt dug into him, finally forcing his stiff leg to fully depress the brake pedal.
Sweat beaded on his forehead from the pain, but he pushed through – there was no alternative. Through the consecutive corners, he placed the car perfectly on the racing line, like clockwork – until he released the brakes a split-second late on exit, causing throttle and brake to overlap and losing precious time. His stiff ankle limited his flexibility, forcing him to adjust with large leg movements rather than fine footwork.
The team saw the issue in real-time data. An engineer suggested alerting him, but Jonathan shook his head: "Don't disturb him."
Sweat stung his eyes as he pushed on. After the DRS zone, he entered Turn 15 – the final stretch.
"Wu Shi is going faster this time – look at the sector times!" the commentator called out.
Meanwhile, the stand conflict had escalated to shoving. Security was now separating both groups, but local fans remained aggressive.
Whoosh!
He crossed the line in 1 minute 32.499 seconds – a strong time, but still 0.188 seconds behind Hamilton's initial lap.
"You did it – great lap! Head back to cool down the car," Jonathan said, relief clear in his voice.
"Hoo… hoo…" Wu Shi gasped into the radio. The cramp was fading, but he felt off.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt? I'll call medical staff," Jonathan responded sharply.
"My left foot was twitching… feels numb now."
When car #59 pulled into the pits, Hamilton was just starting his warm-up lap. The team sprang into action – mechanics lifted the car and pushed it into the garage, while staff moved to remove his head restraint and steering wheel.
"Hiss!"
Two mechanics helped him out, and he felt a wave of pain mixed with relief.
"Your left foot?" Jonathan asked, rushing over.
"Yeah – not sure what happened. It's numb now."
Medical staff whisked him away. The paddock's on-site facilities found no serious issues, and the numbness began to fade as he sat. The doctor recommended ice therapy, so he was settled into an ice bath.
"How is he?" Claire asked Jonathan.
"Doctor says it's nothing serious – he's young and fit, just over-tensed for this race."
"He didn't seem tense," Claire said.
"How many drivers show their nerves?" Jonathan chuckled. "Some can't sleep the night before, but you'd never know it on race day. Nerves are normal – the trick is turning them into focus."
"He's not even 17, carrying championship pressure. It's understandable," Jonathan added.
"Then he must learn to bear it. If he can't control his emotions, even the best skills won't win him a title," Sir Williams said from across the garage. Longtime team members knew he prioritized mental fortitude over sympathy.
"Hamilton's new lap time is 1 minute 32.248 seconds – his original time stands," a mechanic announced. Sir Williams turned back to monitor Massa, while Claire murmured "No pole position."
Jonathan smiled wryly – had everyone started expecting pole from Wu Shi? The rising expectations were another layer of pressure.
"We aren't strong enough to dominate every race," he said. "People think we're a top team because of Wu Shi."
Claire paused, realizing the team had been swept up by recent success – even she'd lost sight of their actual standing.
With one minute left, Massa began his second flying lap. Hamilton still led, with Rosberg second at 1 minute 32.361 seconds. Massa crossed the line in 1 minute 33.085 seconds, placing fourth – a result that drew applause from the team. Jonathan noted how differently they reacted to Massa's performance compared to Wu Shi's, all due to varying expectations.
On Ferrari's side, Räikkönen outqualified Vettel for the first time that season, taking fifth. Kvyat placed seventh for Red Bull, while Sainz was eighth – continuing the pattern of one car from each Red Bull-affiliated team in the top ten. Hülkenberg took ninth for Force India, and Ricciardo rounded out Q3 in tenth – 0.3 seconds behind his teammate, part of their inconsistent performance dynamic.
Wu Shi missed the post-qualifying press conference while in the ice bath – but even if he'd been available, he wouldn't have wanted to go after seeing footage of the stand incident. How could fans turn on their "home" team just because of his nationality?
He watched as reporters asked Hamilton about the track limits controversy.
"As a driver, I focus on racing – I don't get involved in other matters," Hamilton said, a seasoned response to avoid escalation.
The next question was more pointed: "There was a conflict between your fans and Wu Shi's in the stands. Online tensions have also been high – how do you view the opposing fans' behavior?"
Wu Shi tensed – the question was clearly designed to provoke. But Hamilton, despite their championship rivalry, maintained his composure:
"I'm frustrated by what happened. Both Wu Shi and I are focused on racing – we don't know what's happening off-track. I heard he's unwell, and I hope he's okay."
His answers were careful and non-confrontational. Reporters then turned to Rosberg, noting it was rare for both Mercedes drivers to outqualify Wu Shi.
Meanwhile, Verstappen finished his media duties and visited the Williams garage.
"Hey! You alright?" He'd never seen Wu Shi in visible discomfort before.
"Fine now – it's better," Wu Shi shook his head.
"The Brits are still as annoying as ever," Verstappen said, splashing the ice water lightly.
"I did cross the line," Wu Shi admitted. "Hamilton did too – but it doesn't matter now."
"True enough," Verstappen nodded. "His new lap was seriously quick – being local helps."
Qualifying ended with controversy over the inconsistent penalties. The British media was split – while some defended Hamilton, others noted Williams was technically a British team. Louise collected online posts and refuted false claims one by one. Wu Shi initially told him not to bother, then remembered Louise was also foreign – he laughed and told him to focus on his studies instead.
The fan conflict received one-sided coverage in British media, which even sparked debate in China. Through it all, one thing was clear: low-drag setups could be transformative, and with skilled drivers like Verstappen behind the wheel, even second-tier cars could challenge the best.