On July 5th, this is the Friday practice competition time of Monaco Station. As the most important street event of Formula annually, this small town with a local population of less than 40,000 has flooded with more than 200,000 car fans and tourists in a short period of time. Almost every place can be described as a flood of people.

In addition to ordinary car fans and tourists, there are also a large number of princes, rich people and celebrities who choose to come to Monaco during the F1 event. Because for them, this is not only an event, but also a carnival for social gatherings.

Even various feasts will be held before the competition, including various teams, to entertain these wealthy people and celebrities in order to find ideal commercial sponsorship.

In a sense, this is also part of the reason why the Monaco Grand Prix is ​​called the "jewel in the crown of F1". After all, this influence and carnival are difficult to achieve in other tracks.

More importantly, in addition to the live audience, there are hundreds of millions of viewers in front of the screen at the Monaco Grand Prix every year. This is the track with the largest number of viewers among all the F1 Grand Prixes, so the Monaco Track is the well-deserved "first track" of F1.

Because the boss is not here and there is no shortage of sponsor investment, its drivers have not attended many public relations promotional activities.

This can also be regarded as allowing Zhang Yifei and Alonso to devote more energy to the track practice.

However, for the audience, this year's Prost team is extremely low-key. When other drivers are participating in various publicity activities, Zhang Yifei and Alonso are as if they are missing, extremely mysterious!

At the Prost team repair station, Zhang Yifei and Alonso, as well as the strategy team and the maintenance team members, they all gathered in the garage to conduct preliminary debugging discussions before the practice game.

In addition to the A05 racing car, there is also an air kit that is completely different from the past. This is the latest wing of the Prost team, specially designed for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Because everyone knows the importance of the Monaco Grand Prix championship, Prost not only wants to wear the supreme crown of F1 on his head, but also doesn't want to lose the brightest jewel on this crown!

"This is a new wing kit designed by the R&D center for the Monaco Grand Prix, which can reduce braking time and bring higher stability when accelerating. I passed the FIA ​​test on Thursday yesterday, and you should adapt to the changes in the new aero kit in the practice competition as soon as possible."

Cosel pointed to the wing kit on the ground and explained, because the curve speed of the Monaco track is too slow, which can almost fail the air downforce, and often relying solely on mechanical downforce cannot completely ensure that the car bites the ground.

Therefore, capable F1 teams will choose a special air kit on this track to increase the air downforce as much as possible. This is not for cornering speed, but for reducing braking time and ensuring the balance and stability of the racing car in cornering.

Last year, Prost was still a poor team, and he couldn't afford to buy spare cars and had no time to develop a special air kit for a single track.

This year, Prost R&D Center has taken a breath, and Zhang Yifei can also enjoy the treatment of the middle and upper-stream teams, with a specially created air kit to enhance the competitiveness of the competition.

However, using the new wing kit is not something that the team can use if they want to use, and it must also pass the pre-race inspection of the FIA. For example, this year's special kits of Jordan and Toyota are not in line with the F1 race standards and are banned.

Because Jordan team had no money, they did not conduct strict wind tunnel tests according to FIA standards. However, Toyota team was purely inexperienced and violated the parameters of the flanks, so they were banned.

This is why, until Thursday's inspection passed, Kossell announced the use of the new wing kit. If it fails, it would be useless to say it, so it would save you from having enough joy.

"In addition, the brake disc has also been replaced. The solution of the Chinese engineer at the headquarters was selected. Semi-circular thin grooves were carved on the disc to increase the friction during brakes, so that the brake temperature will also increase accordingly."

There is another big difference between Monaco's track and other high-speed tracks, that is, most other tracks have to worry about the heat dissipation and wear of the brake system. Because the speed of Monaco's track is very slow, there is no need to care about the wear of the brake pads. On the contrary, you must also consider how to maintain the normal working temperature of the brake at low speed.

You should know that for F1 racing cars, if the speed of more than 100 kilometers per hour, you basically don’t need to step on any brakes when going corners. If you step on a long period of time, you will not step on the brake disc and the brake disc, so the temperature will naturally not rise.

The brake system of the f1 racing car is a very "delicate" system. It is not good if the temperature is high, nor if the temperature is low. Because the surface of the carbon brake disc will become smooth at low temperatures, reducing the friction between the brake pads and the brake disc, resulting in the inability to brake.

When the Monaco track is most demanding, it must be accurate to the millimeter level. Inability to brake is definitely a major hidden danger.

This new brake pad is good news for drivers, and for Zhang Yifei, it is even more joyful.

The reason is very simple. The design solutions of Chinese engineers can be applied to racing cars, which means that they gradually got rid of the "tool-man" state of last year and began to involve the research and development and production of racing cars.

Zhang Yifei's goal is naturally to win the world championship, but his feelings for family and country make him hope to see the rise of China's automobile industry more.

The small slit groove on this brake disc was like a faint flame, allowing Zhang Yifei to see the scene where the sparks of the future can start to set off a prairie fire!

"In addition, the soft and hard racing suspension and chassis height have been initially adjusted according to the data of Monaco tracks over the years. It can be said that if you give you enough competitive racing cars, what kind of results you can achieve in the end depends on your strength."

Cosel said this lightly. This time, Prost Racing not only did not have any shortcomings, but instead achieved the ultimate in all aspects. It is the most competitive racing car on this track. Even Cosel believes that there is no one!

To use the old Chinese saying, "The Red Rabbit in Horse" is ready, it depends on whether Zhang Yifei and Alonso have the strength of "Lu Bu in People"!

After hearing this, Alonso didn't say anything because his confidence was not very strong.

After all, the practice results on the racing simulator are still a little different from Schumacher's track record. Moreover, if you really run on the Monaco track, it will be more difficult and more accidents. He is not absolutely sure to conquer this crown track.

Alonso, who has always liked BB, didn't say anything. At this time, the crew members all looked at Zhang Yifei.

"I have decided to take this crown jewel, and Schumacher can't stop it, as I said!"

Without so-called hope, trying your best, striving for uncertain adjectives, Zhang Yifei said in front of the crew members and said that he wanted to take down the Monaco track.

Others may not know, but Cosell knew very well that even after the training ended yesterday evening, Zhang Yifei was still 02 seconds away from Schumacher's track record, not to mention that there was a faster fastest lap, which was even half a second behind.

Today, Zhang Yifei said such crazy words without hesitation. Even Cosel was not sure whether he was really confident and capable, or was he arrogance aged, and he started running a train.

But in this case, Cosell naturally would not say much, but just took a deep look at Zhang Yifei.

After hearing Zhang Yifei's words, the morale of other members of the team rose suddenly.

A driver who has never won the Monaco track championship is not worthy of being called the racing king. This is also an honor that must prove his strength before winning the world championship.

The points that Zhang Yifei and Schumacher alternately led this year made the crew members truly feel that the world champion might be not far away. There is no doubt that Zhang Yifei's current confidence has taken another step towards the throne of the championship.

"Brother Fei NB, I knew there was no track that could stump you!"

"It is worthy of being Yifeijun, and you will never see fear or depression in him."

"Fei, that's right. Even Schumacher can't stop you from winning!"

Various cheering sounds came, and Zhang Yifei once again became the absolute protagonist and center of the team, which made Alonso suddenly feel humble and neglected.

If it were the previous tracks, Alonso would have accepted it. After all, Zhang Yifei's lap speed on the racing simulator is extremely strong. He either broke the track record or had a slight difference, and only a short shot was left.

But this time, this guy was obviously "rushing to work" with him last night, and the fastest lap was far behind Schumacher's record. Where did he get the confidence and confidence to say this in front of the crew members?

"Do you really feel that you can beat Schumacher on the Monaco track?"

It is not Alonso's style to suppress his doubts in his heart, even at this moment of high morale. But then again, if he didn't know how to speak according to the timing, Alonso wouldn't be so annoying in the end.

"Do you have any questions?"

Zhang Yifei replied in a very plain way, without the panic feeling after the lie was exposed.

"That last night, you..."

Alonso wanted to say that when the training ended last night, Zhang Yifei's lap speed was obviously far behind.

However, when he just said it, he was interrupted roughly by Zhang Yifei.

"Last night was already yesterday, and today is a new day."

"You dare to say that you can beat Schumacher in one day?"

"Of course I dare, do you dare?"

Another round of gunpowder-smelling conversations, a scene that has not appeared in recent games for a long time.

After all, Alonso has already opened a qualitative gap in his grades with Zhang Yifei. Whether he is convinced or not, he cannot change the objective fact that he lost. At least in the 2001 season, he did not have the qualification to challenge Zhang Yifei No. 1 driver.

However, this time, Alonso did not think that he was provoking the other party, but felt that the driver should be rigorous and objective. The fastest lap speed was far away from Schumacher. Could it be that he would say these crazy words for the sake of vanity and accept the praises of the crew members?

"I admit that I dare not, but can you really do it?"

"You'll know later."

Zhang Yifei did not explain too much, because it was about to start the practice game, and the lap time would prove everything.

And there is another point, that is, he doesn’t need to explain anything to Alonso, this is the status and privilege of the No. 1 driver!

This debate did not cause any storm in the team, because compared to the scenes of the two drivers' battles at the beginning of the season, this is now a peaceful situation.

Of course, there is another point, although Alonso has a lot of mouth, his strength has gradually been recognized by the members of the Prost crew, and at least he no longer thinks he is the track of Minardi team.

If you want to win, it is impossible for Prost to be alone. Alonso also fought for the convoy and everyone!

At 8:40 am local time in Monaco, Zhang Yifei had already put on his complete set of equipment and was about to get on the racing car. At this time, Cosel stood beside Zhang Yifei as a racing engineer.

"Do you want to say something?"

Zhang Yifei asked.

Because he knows Cosell's personality very well, he usually starts with a practice race like this. If there is no important thing, he will not stand beside himself and not speak, but should stand in front of the team console.

"The Monaco track may be harder than you think, and you don't have a second chance of any operation on the field."

Kossel did not say it explicitly, just reminding Zhang Yifei of the difficulty of the Monaco track, but Zhang Yifei knew in his heart that the old German man said this was a question of his previous remarks.

"Don't you believe me?"

"Do you think it would be a way to judge whether you believe it or not?"

Cosel was still rational and calm as always. For him, he never only looked at his grades and performance, rather than any personal relationship recognition.

"Alessi should go back to France after watching this practice game. I won't let him leave with regret."

Hearing Zhang Yifei's words, Cosell's expression finally changed a little, no longer the sharp momentum of the previous one.

"I see."

After saying this briefly, Cosell turned around and walked towards the maintenance station console, standing in front of various data displays as always.

At 8:45, the a05 oil preheating phase ended and the engine began to inject coolant and oil into the engine.

At 8:50, when the lubricating oil quantity, temperature, oil pressure and other data indicators met the standard, the rear hood was mechanically removed, and Ah Hu began to connect to the starting motor.

At the same time, Zhang Yifei got into the racing car, tied up his seat belt, and prepared to start the racing car.

All work is ready, and a yellow indicator light appears in the room, indicating that the start-up program can be unfolded. As the external motor starts to ignite, a dull roar soon sounds in the garage.

Although Zhang Yifei had heard this sound countless times, when he heard it again, it was still like a soul injected into the game, instantly allowing him to enter the competition state.

The new track was ignited successfully for the first time. Team engineers quickly unplugged the cables used for telemetry and communication between the racing car and the computer.

Zhang Yifei, who was in the cockpit on the other side, also put his helmet mask down, then placed his finger on the clutch position on the steering wheel, staring at the indicator lights in the repair station. When the moment it turned from yellow to green, the No. 13 Prost race car went into the first gear, whizzed out of the garage, and drove towards the track.
To be continued...