Chapter 149: This Is the Gap Between Wu Shi and You
Wu Shi gained a great deal from his full day in the Mercedes simulator—especially after Peter joined the simulator engineers as a technical consultant. The depth of data feedback and setup iteration far exceeded anything he had experienced before.
At 6:00 p.m., Free Practice 3 officially began.
The lap times were almost identical to those of FP2, but by this point, several drivers began to sense that something was wrong.
Wu Shi's 1:45.879 was simply terrifying.
For many of the midfield and backmarker teams, it was painfully clear: even with a perfect qualifying lap, they would struggle to reach that number.
The media seized the moment.
Reporters swarmed the paddock, no longer interested in FP3 results—but in Wu Shi himself.
Kamui Kobayashi commented bluntly:
> "I think he just has a very fast car."
Jules Bianchi, who shared a close relationship with Wu Shi, was far more certain:
> "He was already extraordinary when he was young. The first time I met him, I knew he would achieve something special in this sport."
Maldonado, Pérez, and Hülkenberg offered polite but empty remarks.
Like Magnussen, Button, and Kobayashi, they believed Wu Shi was simply benefiting from superior machinery.
Grosjean, Vettel, and Ricciardo openly expressed admiration for his performance.
Felipe Massa couldn't help but joke:
> "No matter which team he drives for, his appearance at Monza—or anywhere—excites the fans. Especially the young girls. People around me are already asking for his contact details. Unfortunately, I don't know him well enough yet."
Louise, who saw the clip later, was furious—and promptly reported it.
Kimi Räikkönen deadpanned:
> "If he didn't start driving while still in his mother's womb, then my talent must be far inferior to his."
Fernando Alonso said calmly:
> "I'd like this Grand Prix to end as soon as possible—so I can talk to him."
If he hadn't yet begun building his own management agency, reporters might already have claimed that the two-time World Champion was attempting to poach talent.
Valtteri Bottas declined to comment. He had heard certain rumors, and his impression of Wu Shi was far from positive.
Hamilton and Rosberg both refused interviews.
At this stage, words were meaningless.
What was meant to be a routine FP3 media session had transformed into a referendum on Wu Shi's presence in the paddock.
---
The atmosphere only truly ignited at 9:00 p.m.
Qualifying Begins
Q1 was underway.
All 22 drivers were released onto the circuit.
With FP2 and FP3 lap times already dropping into the 1:46 range, the front-running teams showed no interest in conserving tires. They immediately pushed.
After just four to five flying laps, the picture was clear.
Six drivers were eliminated:
Sutil
Maldonado
Bianchi
Kobayashi
Chilton
Ericsson
One Sauber, one Lotus, two Marussias, and two Caterhams.
An unusual sight followed.
Ferrari locked out P1 and P2.
Kimi Räikkönen topped the session with 1:46.685, still unable to break the 1:45 barrier.
Alonso followed, 0.204 seconds behind.
Hamilton was third, 0.236 seconds adrift.
Only the top three dipped below 1:46.
No surprises—Q1 was about survival, not dominance.
---
Q2
Hamilton wasted no time.
After just two flying laps, he posted 1:46.287, immediately eclipsing Kimi's Q1 benchmark, then returned to the pits.
Ferrari pushed harder.
Alonso set 1:46.328, Kimi 1:46.359, then both backed off.
Red Bull appeared quiet.
The commentators suspected they were holding something back.
Rosberg, however, stayed out.
Six full laps.
He wasn't fighting elimination—he was fighting Hamilton.
For that purpose, he bolted on a fresh set of Supersofts.
Wu Shi did not.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have had a set left.
On his final run, Rosberg delivered two consecutive purple sectors and stopped the clock at:
1:45.825
Applause erupted in the Mercedes garage.
The broadcast cut immediately to Wu Shi.
Wearing his headphones, he clapped calmly alongside the engineers.
He had expected this.
If the two senior Mercedes drivers couldn't beat him, that would be the real problem.
---
Q3 – The Decisive Battle
At 9:50 p.m., Q3 began.
Under the 2014 regulations, teams received an extra set of Supersoft tires exclusively for Q3—returned after qualifying.
Twelve minutes.
One chance.
Ricciardo struck first:
1:45.987 — provisional P1.
Mercedes struggled on their first runs, sitting only sixth and seventh.
Then came Kimi.
He lit up the first two sectors—purple.
Ferrari fans held their breath.
Then—
The Ferrari slowed to a halt.
KIMI (TR): "No power."
A brief yellow flag.
One final flying lap window.
Wu Shi pursed his lips.
> "There's only one shot left."
Vettel crossed the line:
1:45.902
The commentator inhaled sharply.
> "Slower than Wu Shi's FP1 time… could it be—?!"
Alonso followed.
He improved—but not enough.
1:45.907
The realization hit.
> "Alonso and Vettel—Ferrari and Red Bull—both slower than Wu Shi!"
Only the two Mercedes cars remained.
Rosberg launched first.
Purple sector one.
Hamilton responded.
Rosberg went purple again in sector two.
Hamilton locked up at Turn 1—
—but still went faster.
Sector two: +0.001
Ricciardo began his final lap.
Three cars remained.
The timing tower flickered.
Rosberg crossed the line:
1:45.688
Hamilton was flying.
Corrections at the limit.
No margin.
Final sector—
1:45.661
Pole position.
Half the grandstands exploded.
The rest watched Ricciardo.
Second sector: 40.013
Faster than Wu Shi.
But not enough.
Final corners.
The Red Bull screamed through Turns 21 and 22.
He crossed the line.
1:45.854
Ricciardo erupted on the radio.
> "YES! YES! WOOHOO!"
Then—
> "Mate, that felt mega! Where am I?"
A pause.
The engineer replied softly:
> "Twenty-five milliseconds."
Ricciardo blinked.
> "What?"
> "Sorry. That's the gap between Wu Shi and you.
Congratulations—P3."