These words struck a blind spot in everyone's knowledge.
"Exactly! Lateral G-force!" Kevin exclaimed, as if struck by lightning, his tone turning serious. He turned to Ron Dennis. "The primary purpose of the racing seat is to counteract the G-forces during acceleration, deceleration, and cornering. But it offers virtually no lateral support for the head! In a side impact, the head is completely unrestrained!"
His gaze toward Takuya Nakayama had shifted from that of a man looking at a video game executive to that of someone gazing at a hidden technological prophet.
After all, he had heard many stories within the company about the origins of the Picatinny rail.
"Mr. Nakayama, you must have some ideas, right? Is there a way to improve this situation?"
Ron Dennis also turned, his sharp eyes fixed intently on Takuya Nakayama. Any trace of his earlier skepticism had vanished without a trace.
This young man had pointed out a fatal blind spot in his pride and joy—the carbon fiber cockpit—a flaw he had never seriously considered before.
He was dying to know what kind of groundbreaking suggestion this video game tycoon, whose mind was usually occupied by chips and code, could possibly offer regarding the mechanical structure of Formula One racing cars.
Takuya Nakayama didn't beat around the bush. He glanced around the room, his gaze finally settling on Ron Dennis's serious face. He spoke calmly.
"We can give the driver an extra reins."
The metaphor left everyone in the room momentarily stunned.
"Attach an anchor point to the back of the driver's helmet." Takuya gestured behind his own head. "Then, using a high-strength, flexible tether, connect this anchor point to a collar-like device secured to the driver's shoulders or directly to the seat. This way, in the event of a frontal impact, when the driver's body is firmly restrained by the seat belt, their head won't lurch forward uncontrollably due to inertia. This 'reins' will hold it back, channeling the impact force on the cervical spine to the stronger torso."
Ron Dennis remained silent, but his expression changed instantly.
As a former racing technician, he immediately visualized the mechanical model of this device in his mind.
Feasibility, effectiveness, potential materials, and corresponding testing protocols—countless thoughts raced through his mind.
This system was simple in structure yet directly addressed the core issue!
"Good heavens!" Kevin exclaimed, his voice cracking with excitement. "This... this is like adding an external seatbelt for the neck! It could drastically limit excessive head movement!"
Ron Dennis glanced at Kevin but didn't stop him. Though simple, the analogy was remarkably accurate.
He began pondering deeper questions: Would the emergency release mechanism in an accident affect the driver's escape time? The connection method definitely needed optimization.
But before he could ask, Takuya Nakayama tossed out an even more revolutionary idea.
"This is only the first layer of protection, addressing front-to-back whiplash. But for threats from the sides and above—like a detached tire or... another out-of-control race car—we need a more robust barrier."
He traced an outline in the air with his finger.
"Install a titanium or high-strength composite ring structure around the cockpit opening. In front of the driver, add a vertical pillar connecting this ring to the car's body, forming a three-point protective frame."
The proposal hung in the air, leaving the room utterly silent.
Everyone was stunned speechless by this bold, even bizarre, design.
In Formula One, where every aerodynamic advantage counts and the cockpit is open, adding such a "frame"?
"This is impossible," Ron Dennis finally spoke, his objection almost instinctive. "A pillar right in front of the driver? It would severely obstruct his vision, especially in the turns, where he needs to clearly see every braking point and apex!"
"Humans have two eyes," Takuya Nakayama replied, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable conviction. "Our brains are remarkably adept at integrating information from both eyes and ignoring narrow, fixed obstacles in the center of our vision. Compared to that minor potential obstruction, we gain an indestructible roll cage above the driver's head. Which do you think is more important? Moreover, we can simplify the design to test its effectiveness. I believe reaching an initial conclusion won't be difficult."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"The reason I'm considering this is because I've been thinking about Gilles Villeneuve, who lost his life at the Belgian Grand Prix ten years ago."
The name struck like a pebble thrown into a still lake, sending heavy ripples through the hearts of everyone present.
It was one of the darkest moments in Formula One history.
"We all know what happened that day," Takuya Nakayama said, his gaze sweeping across the assembled crowd. "His car disintegrated after a violent crash, but the real killer was the immense force of the impact, which snapped his neck completely. We built the toughest eggshell out of carbon fiber, but we forgot to add the final layer of protection for the most precious egg yolk."
The atmosphere in the room turned solemn. Kevin and his colleagues' earlier excitement had faded, replaced by a thoughtful unease.
"Gilles's son, Jacques Villeneuve, isn't he currently racing in Formula Three in Europe?" Takuya Nakayama turned to Ron Dennis. "It would be difficult for a single team to push through these safety measures alone. But if the FIA were to mandate them... I believe if we could get Jacques to speak out—as both a son and a driver who carries his father's legacy—urging improved protection for drivers' heads and necks, no one would dare refuse."
Ron Dennis fell completely silent.
He stared at Takuya Nakayama, the young man from the video game industry, who had just pointed out two fatal flaws in his prized racing car—flaws that everyone else had overlooked—in just a few minutes.
These two proposals, one elegant, the other radical, both held the potential to revolutionize the future of motorsports.
His vaunted carbon fiber cockpit now seemed far from flawless in the face of these ideas.
After a long pause, Ron Dennis took a deep breath. His sharp eyes locked onto Takuya Nakayama, the last traces of commercial politeness and superiority vanished, replaced by an urgent curiosity.
"Mr. Nakayama," he said solemnly, "the two proposals you've outlined, I'll need to find a way to investigate them after this season ends. But if they truly improve driver safety, every driver will thank you for your suggestion."
Takuya Nakayama waved his hand. "I hope they're useful. I'm just offering suggestions. The real heroes will be you and your team, who will have to invest time and resources to research them properly."
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