Chapter 135: Can't Be Pushed Out It's CCTV
The race unfolded almost exactly as Wu Shi had anticipated.
After the formation laps, the lights went out. Almost immediately, a collision occurred on the starting straight. Fortunately, it happened behind him and had no direct impact on his run.
Wu Shi pressed on, deliberately steering toward the outside line. Once past the grid markings, the outer lane was visibly drier and wider, allowing for later braking.
As he approached Turn 2, he caught sight of a white car on the inside—Jack Dennis. Dennis had started seventh, but now the two were nearly side by side.
That was normal. Wu Shi's later braking on the outside had given him a speed advantage, and for an instant he surged up to fourth or fifth.
But just as he prepared to complete the pass, the white car on the inside suddenly lost stability. Whether it was trapped on the slippery line or forced wide by another driver, it snapped sharply across the corner.
Entering far too fast, the car rode the kerb and slammed directly into the second-placed Blomqvist.
Wu Shi instantly understood what was about to happen. With that speed, the two cars would almost certainly slide outward and clog the outside lane. He tried to cut toward the inside to avoid the aftermath.
But the inside was already packed. Drivers braked hard in reaction to the crash, and there was simply no gap.
Unable to squeeze in, Wu Shi was trapped on the very outside. As the congestion tightened, he had no choice but to stop completely.
"Damn it!" Wu Shi shouted over the radio. "Can these guys clear out already?"
On a circuit this short, every second lost here was devastating.
Alan TR: "Stay calm. There's a good chance the Safety Car will come out. The gaps won't be too bad."
Wu Shi tapped the steering wheel twice in frustration. There was no horn—only the slow crawl of cars ahead. Drivers on the outside waited until traffic behind them cleared before reversing and escaping the jam.
Alan TR: "Safety Car deployed."
Wu Shi didn't respond. The Safety Car had already emerged from the side road and stopped at the junction.
This was bad.
He couldn't even see the Safety Car from where he was stuck. By the time he finally got moving, he would be among the last few cars in the train.
He had expected chaos—but not this kind.
If he'd known the accident would unfold this way, he would've forced the inside line no matter what. But he wasn't a prophet.
The Safety Car stayed out for five laps. In that short span, three cars retired from the race.
On lap six, the race restarted. Wu Shi overtook a car immediately—he didn't even see who it was.
Now came the hard part: climbing back through the field.
———
At Mercedes headquarters, Toto Wolff convened a rare meeting unrelated to the race itself.
His expression was grim, like a lion restraining its anger.
"Some rumors have been circulating," Toto said calmly, "and they've created an unhealthy atmosphere within the team."
His sharp gaze swept the room. Some people lowered their heads. Others sat rigidly still.
Niki Lauda, seated beside him, looked equally displeased.
"I'll be direct," Toto continued. "Yes, we've signed an agreement with Wu Shi. He has joined the Mercedes Driver Development Programme. He is one of us."
No one gasped. Instead, the room straightened, tension thickening.
"The agreement does include a future Formula One seat."
That landed.
Instinctively, many eyes turned toward Hamilton and Rosberg.
"This year, we have an exceptional car," Toto went on. "Good enough that two drivers can fight for wins without concern."
Hamilton watched him intently. Rosberg quietly fidgeted with his fingers.
"But I don't want to see this situation continue unchecked. We are one team—not two teams sharing a garage."
Rosberg touched his nose. Hamilton said nothing.
The message was clear. This wasn't an order—it was a warning.
Too much aggression would cost them the championship.
Rosberg glanced sideways at Hamilton. He didn't believe Wu Shi would replace him—he was leading the standings, and both Toto and Lauda valued him highly.
Still…
Toto wrapped up with a brief note on Silverstone preparations.
"Even Vettel," he added dryly, "can't reach pole-pace in practice this year."
The meeting was dismissed.
As Hamilton and Rosberg left together, Rosberg spoke first.
"Our relationship isn't that bad, is it?"
Hamilton paused, then smiled. "No. We're fine."
They shook hands.
———
Wu Shi crossed the finish line.
It had been a chaotic race. He ultimately couldn't catch Verstappen and Ocon ahead, but his charge through the field had delivered some of the race's most dramatic moments.
Post-race headlines exploded.
"Verstappen Snatches Two Wins from Wu Shi!"
"Norisring Ends Wu Shi's Streak!"
"Rain Exposes Wu Shi's Weakness?"
Having won fifteen races, Wu Shi now found himself the favorite target of controversy.
Amid the noise, he returned home to Italy.
His next race was July 11, followed by another on August 1—effectively a brief summer break.
Before he even sat down, his phone rang.
"There's an exclusive interview," his father said.
"I'm on vacation," Wu Shi replied. "Let's postpone it."
"No choice," his father said. "It's CCTV."
Wu Shi fell silent.
"Well… I really can't refuse that," he sighed. "But why me?"
"You'll have to ask them. It's scheduled for the day after tomorrow. I'll be there too."
"…Alright."