Page 138 of Overtake
“Yeah, good. Plan B.” That means he’s going long on the medium compound tires before switching to hards.
Nico stretches the gap, opening it up to three point four seconds. But Mexico City’s thin air makes each braking zone an exercise in precision and every acceleration a careful balance of grip and power.
“Petra’s boxing this lap,” Roxana announces in lap 22.
“My tires are still good.”
Strategic chess begins. Do they cover her stop or run their planned strategy to go long on the mediums?
“We want you to stay out,” Roxana says. “Your temperatures are stable.” That means the brakes and power unit are staying cool.
“Okay.” Nico glances at one of the huge screens showing the race to the fans and sees Petra’s green and pink car rejoin the race. She’s still P2, but the gap between them has opened to over five seconds.
Now it gets interesting as other cars start to box for fresh tires.
Nitro’s counting on Nico pitting for tires. He plans to make this set last. The question is whether or not Petra’s fresher compounds will give her enough speed to close the gap again, then take P1 when he pits.
“Where’s Wyn?”
“Fighting Reece for P3,” Rox updates. “Seven point three seconds back.”
Another glance at one of the screens lets Nico see the brothers racing as they should’ve all along, without Graham-mandated aggression and forced rivalry.
“Gap to Hayter four point six. She’s flying, Nico.”
Petra’s finding speed in sectors where the thin air should make it impossible, and Nico admires her too much to be mad.
With each lap, she gains on him, shrinking the gap, and it’s clear WolfBett’s tire strategy will cost them.
“My tires are graining,” he says on lap 29.
“How’s the grip?”
“Define ‘grip,’ Rox.”
That actually makes her laugh. A moment later, she says, “Box this lap, Nico. Box, box.”
“Did Wyn box?”
“Right before Reece. He’s still holding third.” She adds, “No penalty over contact between Lynch and Hayter in lap 1. We’ve asked him to open a gap.” Meaning they’ve want Wyn to slow down Reece and the field so Nico can pit without danger of slipping farther back because they can’t count on a penalty tohelp him regain the pole as he peels off from the track into the pit lane.
The stop runs perfectly, only two point three seconds. Clean hard tires, fresh grip, but Petra’s gained time while he pitted.
“What’s the gap, Rox?
“Three point eight. Mode push, Nico.”
“Vale.” If he’s going to surpass Petra, he’ll need everything these tires and the car have to offer. It’s a challenge while managing temperatures in this thin air.
But El Conejo likes a challenge.
The roles reverse. Now Nico’s the hunter, seeking any weakness, any opportunity. But Petra’s defense is perfect, her lines exactly where they need to be.
He hunts her down, lap after lap, turning in purple sector after purple sector and snagging the fastest times. For the next twenty laps, the gap shrinks: three seconds, two, one point five, one...
“DRS available next lap,” Roxana confirms.
Reece has overtaken Wyn, claiming P3, but both still push hard.
