Chapter 277: Abu Dhabi, I Remember That Place
Mercedes reacted swiftly, bringing Hamilton in for a tire change on Lap 34. Unlike Vettel, who switched to used Soft tires, Hamilton was fitted with new Medium tyres.
Williams faced a difficult dilemma. If Wu Shi pitted, the gap to Räikkönen would stretch to 25 seconds – requiring him to close it before Räikkönen's next stop, with only around 15 laps of new tires to do so, a risky proposition. If he stayed out, two outcomes were possible: overall data suggested his lap times would be significantly faster than Räikkönen's, offering an overtaking chance in the final stint, but being blocked was the more likely scenario.
Previously, Williams would have gambled on a stop to fight for points, but with consistency now their priority, caution took hold. Pit stops carried risks beyond crew errors – a Safety Car could benefit others, and pitting would drop Wu Shi behind Massa, Hülkenberg, Kvyat, and Verstappen. However, staying out presented an opportunity: the freshly shod Mercedes drivers would be behind him, and blocking them slightly might reduce Hamilton's points tally. But Rodrigo quickly dismissed this – the Mercedes cars would dispatch Wu Shi within a lap, and the new engine needed protecting for the season finale. Ultimately, tire performance would be the limiting factor, regardless of engine power.
As Rodrigo deliberated with headquarters, Jonathan's voice came over the radio: "We know the risks now, but those for the final race are unknown. I suggest we pit."
"Understood – pit," Rodrigo confirmed.
"BOX BOX BOX," Jonathan called over Wu Shi's team radio.
On Lap 35, Wu Shi pitted for new Medium tyres, emerging behind Kvyat. Hülkenberg pitted the same lap, clearing one obstacle ahead.
"Overtake them as quickly as possible," Jonathan instructed.
"Copy," Wu Shi replied.
He took a conservative out-lap on Lap 36 to bring his tires up to temperature, while the two Mercedes drivers passed Räikkönen with ease – their pace on new rubber was overwhelming, and even Wu Shi would have struggled to defend against it.
Lap 37 saw Wu Shi demonstrate his speed, setting a fastest lap of 1:15.3. The switch from a two-stop to three-stop strategy simplified tire management; Mediums could last over 30 laps if conserved, but would only be used for 15-20 laps now, allowing full performance to be unlocked. He overtook Kvyat before the lap ended, with his pace continuing to build.
By Lap 39, he caught Massa, who let him pass – leaving Wu Shi 19 seconds behind Räikkönen.
"This call was right – without Räikkönen blocking, his pace is incredible," Bing noted.
"Absolutely. He's running 1:15.7 consistently now, while Räikkönen is down to 1:17.8. When he was behind the Ferrari, he was also stuck around 1:17 – clean air makes all the difference," Fei agreed.
The pair mused that a three-stop strategy could work for the finale, but wondered why Räikkönen hadn't pitted after Wu Shi did.
"What is Ferrari thinking? Their strategy is absurd!" Bing exclaimed, though he was smiling.
"Ferrari has always favored split strategies – this is par for the course this season," Fei added.
With nearly two seconds per lap being clawed back, Ferrari Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene remained unconcerned – the scenario had been anticipated. On Lap 40, Vettel passed Räikkönen to reclaim third, while Kvyat pitted for tires.
By Lap 41, the standings were: Hamilton leading Rosberg by 2.6s, Vettel by 13.5s, Wu Shi by 28.1s, Massa by 31.9s, Hülkenberg by 1:05, Bottas by 1:06, Verstappen by 1:07, and Räikkönen further back.
By Lap 45, Wu Shi was just over 7 seconds behind Räikkönen – but the Ferrari driver pitted the next lap.
"He didn't close the gap in time!" Bing's smile faded.
"Ten laps wasn't enough to make up a pit stop's worth of time – Ferrari adjusted their strategy accordingly," Fei sighed.
Jonathan, however, was prepared: "Push."
Wu Shi responded with a 1:15.3 on Lap 46, and Räikkönen's first clean lap after his stop was 1:15.4 – exactly the scenario Williams had planned for. Rodrigo and Jonathan were calm; their pre-race calculations showed another opportunity to attack after Wu Shi's third stop, and the focus now shifted to deciding when that stop should come.
Mercedes completed their own stops and re-emerged ahead of Wu Shi – their upgrades for the race had unlocked additional pace. Vettel fell behind Wu Shi after his third stop, but blocking the Ferrari driver for the remainder was not feasible.
On Lap 51, Hamilton set a new fastest lap of 1:14.832. Wu Shi finally pitted on Lap 53, fitting his final set of Medium tyres – he emerged nearly 6 seconds behind Räikkönen, but with tires 6 laps fresher, he immediately ran 1:15.1. Williams' pace in clean air proved they could compete with the top teams.
Lap 57 saw Wu Shi catch Räikkönen; his approach was more measured than when chasing Hamilton – with retirement a greater concern than losing position, respect for his opponent was paramount. On Lap 60, repeated DRS deployments left Räikkönen defenseless; when the Finn was drawn wide at Turn 1, Wu Shi swept past on the inside.
"P4," Jonathan announced calmly.
With 11 laps remaining and a 13-second gap to Vettel, catching third was impossible. Wu Shi adopted a more conservative style, protecting his engine – the standings remained stable until the checkered flag.
When Hamilton crossed the line, Mercedes' crew offered polite applause rather than celebration. Williams, however, erupted in cheers – more enthusiastic than for some podium finishes.
Wu Shi made a rare appearance in the media pen, wiping sweat from his brow as microphones were thrust forward.
"Wu Shi – you missed the podium, but starting 14th and finishing 4th is impressive. How did you pull it off?"
"We earned 12 points – a great result," he said, rubbing his temples. "It's down to the team first and foremost – they gave me a car that could perform. I did have some issues at the start, though."
Reporters leaned in intently.
"I haven't started from the back in so long that my overtaking approach wasn't as sharp as it should have been – I could have been better positioned early on."
The journalists paused – was this a subtle brag?
"Should we wish you more chances to practice back-row starts?" one joked.
"Hahaha! No need – once is enough for that experience," Wu Shi laughed, and the group joined in.
"With this result, you're 19 points ahead. Even if Lewis wins in Abu Dhabi, a sixth-place finish will make you world champion. What do you make of being so close?"
Wu Shi glanced into the distance before replying: "The race isn't over yet, and nothing is confirmed. I'll prepare for the finale with everything I have. No matter how close the title seems, complacency or hesitation will prevent me from winning it."
The reporters nodded in agreement.
"You're remarkably steady for a young driver."
"Steadiness is essential for a world champion – I'm working on it," he smiled.
Back in the paddock, Wu Shi shook hands with Massa. "Sorry."
"Sorry for what? This isn't my fight – it was just a hope, and I never achieved it myself, so I have no complaints," Massa said, squeezing his hand.
"Haha, then I worried for nothing," Wu Shi laughed, hugging him. He knew an aggressive three-stop strategy from the start might have let him challenge Räikkönen and Vettel, but "what ifs" were meaningless in racing – success relied on a fast, reliable car, consistent driving, and sound strategy, while failures stemmed from countless variables.
"Abu Dhabi – waiting for your good news. I'm already planning the celebration," Massa patted his back.
"Of course – Abu Dhabi, I remember that place."
"Have you raced there before?"
"Not properly, but season finales are always unforgettable," Wu Shi smiled.
Cheers erupted from the podium area – Ferrari was celebrating Vettel's third place.
"Everyone alright?" Dave approached, looking concerned.
"What's wrong? You don't look good," Massa asked.
"Bad news – the FIA has flagged your right rear tire for overheating at the start," Dave said grimly.
"How is that possible?" Massa said, then smiled and shook his head. "At least it's not Wu Shi's tires."
Wu Shi sighed – drivers could only wait for the ruling. Three hours after the race, the FIA disqualified Massa: data showed his tire temperature reached 137°C, exceeding the 110°C limit. Williams appealed, arguing the data was incorrect, but the decision stood.
As teams prepared for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the FIA proposed introducing "alternative engines" from independent manufacturers to balance competition among the four existing brands. Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren-Honda all opposed the plan, and the issue faded quickly – was it a genuine proposal or just a test of sentiment?
Meanwhile, Ferrari's technical collaboration with Haas sparked controversy. Mercedes claimed Ferrari was exploiting wind tunnel time allocated to both teams and demanded an investigation. No formal findings emerged, but Toto Wolff stated the request was to clarify collaboration rules – as a factory team with multiple customers, Mercedes was exploring similar possibilities. Under pressure from Mercedes' evidence, the FIA issued a statement noting Ferrari "might" gain insights through Haas, but no definitive proof existed; clearer guidelines would be established in the off-season.
The disputes had little impact on Williams, a private team focused solely on preparing for the finale. Even if Hamilton won in Abu Dhabi, he would only gain 6 points – meaning Wu Shi needed sixth place (8 points) to secure the title. A seventh-place finish would tie the points, but Hamilton's higher number of wins would give him the championship.
As Wu Shi had told Massa, Abu Dhabi held special meaning – last time it was a do-or-die battle, this time it was about steady consistency. The mindset was different, carrying a hint of satisfaction, but he knew only the final laugh would matter.
On Friday, November 27, 2015, practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix began.