Chapter 358: 358: Brought to a Sudden Halt

The timer froze at 1:42.519.

Not a sound echoed through the air as even the wild gusts momentarily died down. Countless eyes locked onto the display screen above the starting line.

Motionless, with no time improvements registered.

Bottas failed to improve on his previous best on his second flying lap, leaving his initial Q3 time of 1:43.415 firmly locked in place.

Forget pole position; he hadn’t even managed to touch the edge of the 1:42s. A brutal, glaring gap of nearly a second stretched out before them, forming an unbridgeable chasm that pushed the hearts of Mercedes-Benz fans straight into a bottomless abyss.

Wolff froze in shock, drawing in a sharp breath as he pressed his lips together, exerting every ounce of effort to remain calm and composed.

This meant only one thing.

Pole position for the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix belonged to Kai.

With absolute dominance and a fierce display of speed amid controversy and turmoil, he stood atop the timing sheets to claim his second pole position of the season.

It felt like a moment of uncanny deja vu.

Crofty’s memory of the previous year remained vivid. Last season, Kai had claimed victories in Australia, Monaco, Austria, and Germany, yet had repeatedly missed out on pole position during qualifying, prompting a relentless stream of skepticism. Returning after the summer break, Kai had broken through to secure his career-first pole position at Monza, signaling the start of his World Championship charge.

Now, history was repeating itself.

“Ferrari is back!”

“A Ferrari team that struggled all season yet remained fiercely resilient has overcome numerous hurdles to reclaim its competitive edge in qualifying!”

“An incredible display! An unbelievable flying lap!”

“Kai proves once again that he thrives on the grandest stages! The greater the pressure and the brighter the spotlight, the better he performs. He consistently unleashes two hundred percent to push the machine to its absolute limit, mounting a fierce counterattack to ensure his presence is felt by all!”

“Zero point seven six three seconds ahead of Hamilton! Zero point seven four eight seconds ahead of his teammate, Leclerc!”

“A lap for the history books!”

“With a clean, flawless lap, Kai claims his career-first pole position at Spa! Dominating every session from all three practice runs to all three qualifying segments, Kai has proven he is the undisputed master of Spa for 2019, standing tall as an absolute benchmark for the rest of the grid!”

“His second pole of the season! Ferrari’s second front-row lockout of the year!”

“Tomorrow, Ferrari will launch a powerful assault aimed at capturing victory in the first race after the summer break! A qualifying session to remember!”

Cheers erupted across the Ferrari garage. Long hours of waiting, grueling preparation, and the pressure of being surrounded on all sides had finally culminated in a massive reward: their second pole position of the season.

They knew the race still lay ahead tomorrow, but all season long, the SF90 had been forced to compromise its qualifying performance, relying on race strategy time after time to fight for a sliver of hope. Every weekend had felt like an exhausting uphill battle, but now, a bright ray of hope had finally broken through.

A sea of red flooded forward, surrounding Kai as team members clapped his helmet, patted his shoulders, and thumped his chest in celebration.

Even Adami and Binotto joined in, stepping forward to give Kai a warm embrace. After a long dive in dark, turbulent waters, surfacing for a breath of fresh air brought genuine happiness that filled their hearts, uniting everyone in celebration.

Watching this scene unfold left a bitter taste in the mouths of those in the Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull garages.

What had all the secret meetings and frantic maneuvering during the summer break actually accomplished?

Seven teams had banded together to drag Ferrari into the spotlight, hoping to shut them down once and for all. None of them had anticipated witnessing Ferrari emerge stronger than ever.

Was this a swan song, a final blaze of glory before an impending shutdown, or had they awakened a sleeping giant that had evolved into its ultimate form through adversity?

Ferrari had let out a roar, asserting its dominance in a way that compelled everyone to take notice.

The paddock buzzed with chatter as journalists, commentators, sponsors, and team members engaged in heated discussions.

What did this result truly signify?

Was Ferrari’s performance at Spa achieved within the rules, or was it the result of an illegal configuration?

Where did Ferrari stand now, and where did that leave Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull?

Kai’s margin of 0.763 seconds was staggering, operating on a completely different level. Was this the true potential of Ferrari’s package?

Or was this pole position simply a showcase of Kai’s raw talent, defending his reputation as a generational phenomenon with another magical lap? After all, the gap between Leclerc and Hamilton was only 0.015 seconds, a razor-thin margin, while Bottas trailed Leclerc by just 0.148 seconds. In other words, the rest of the lead pack remained evenly matched.

Kai was simply an anomaly.

Besides, qualifying was just qualifying; it didn’t guarantee anything on Sunday.

Hamilton himself was the prime example.

At the season opener at Albert Park, Hamilton had delivered a dominant performance through practice and qualifying, claiming pole position by a massive margin of 0.704 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz as a whole had looked untouchable that weekend, with Bottas taking second place just 0.112 seconds behind.

The W10 had earned its reputation as an unstoppable machine back then, making Mercedes look supreme while Hamilton aimed for a grand slam.

And what was the outcome of that race?

Bottas won, Kai took second, and Hamilton finished third.

The lesson was clear: qualifying pace did not directly translate to race victory. Even with an advantage of over seven-tenths on Saturday, Sunday remained an entirely different challenge.

Now, moving from Albert Park to Spa, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari had swapped roles, keeping the battle for victory wide open.

Naturally, Kai was determined to convert pole into a race win, but Mercedes-Benz had no intention of backing down, as evidenced by the sharp focus in Wolff’s eyes.

Amid the noise and bustle, Horner stood quietly in the shadows, observing Kai surrounded by the crowd. Not far away, Verstappen kicked his car’s tire in frustration before ripping off his helmet and gloves, ignored by a media corps entirely focused on Kai.

Red Bull was being overlooked.

Horner disliked being ignored and intended to reclaim the spotlight during the race. Anyone who underestimated Red Bull would pay a heavy price.

Still, no one could deny the sheer drama unfolding across the paddock.

From Red Bull dominating before the summer break, to Kai’s provocative comments, to the seven-team alliance targeting Ferrari, and finally to a chaos-filled qualifying session where six teams experienced power unit troubles, the story had culminated in Ferrari locking out the front row for the second time this season.

It was dramatic, intense, and filled with storyline potential.

Events had escalated rapidly over the past five days, creating a whirlwind that left the paddock spinning.

Now, with a dominant pole position secured, rivals facing setbacks, and an unpredictable race ahead, journalists jammed into the pit lane to capture every reaction.

The crowd density rivaled the season finale at Yas Marina.

Media members packed the narrow interview zone shoulder to shoulder, forming clusters every few steps. Reporters from television, print, and digital outlets flooded the area, turning the quiet valley into a crowded media hub.

The restart of the season had delivered on its promise, igniting the paddock right from the start.

While the pole sitter headed off to collect the Pirelli Pole Position Award, Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull held intense discussions within their respective garages.

Their immediate priority was understanding what had transpired in qualifying rather than speaking to the press.

Meanwhile, midfield teams continued to draw significant media focus.

Renault drivers Ricciardo and Hülkenberg had made it into Q3 only for both to encounter power unit issues. Despite qualifying fifth and sixth, both faced grid penalties for Sunday’s race, prompting journalists to seek clarification.

Abiteboul deflected blame before the cameras, suggesting the dual engine failures were driver errors and directing criticism toward Hülkenberg, while promising that the technical team would work through the night to ensure a strong showing on Sunday.

This brought back memories of summer break rumors regarding the uncertainty surrounding both Renault seats.

Räikkönen remained quiet and composed, moving steadily through the media crowd like a turtle carrying a heavy shell, confident in his methodical approach.

Benefiting from the Renault engine troubles, Räikkönen finished fifth to secure Alfa Romeo’s best qualifying result of the season. This revived speculation regarding Ferrari’s engine advantage, leading reporters to probe customer teams for inside details.

However, the Finnish driver maintained an unreadable expression and offered nothing.

It was a similar story at Haas. While Alfa Romeo delivered a strong result, Haas failed to capitalize on the Ferrari power unit’s potential, with Grosjean suffering an elimination in Q2, fueling further rumors about driver seats.

Team Principal Steiner took a lighthearted approach, remarking with a laugh, “I was expecting our power unit to give us a massive edge over our rivals, but clearly my intelligence on the paddock was a bit off. I’m actually feeling a little envious of the other teams.”

Though left unsaid, the implication was clear: Ferrari wasn’t running an illegal engine, otherwise Haas and Alfa Romeo wouldn’t be struggling so much. Perhaps everyone should shift their focus back to Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull instead.

The atmosphere grew charged as tensions between teams flared. An invisible divide formed between the Ferrari camp and the rest of the grid, marked by veiled jabs and subtle exchanges that kept journalists highly engaged.

Suddenly, a stir ran through the crowd as reporters and drivers turned to look.

The top drivers were arriving.

“…It was a terrible qualifying session. I don’t think we’re where we should be. We performed well at the Red Bull Ring and the Hungaroring, so Spa shouldn’t present this much of an issue. We’re clearly facing a series of problems…”

Verstappen voiced his frustrations openly.

Nearby, Bottas appeared visibly downcast, answering questions with a muted tone.

“Our performance didn’t meet expectations, and this isn’t a satisfying result. We have a lot of work ahead of us to see what adjustments we can make for the race.”

Even when offering standard responses, Bottas sounded detached. In contrast, Hamilton stepped forward to engage the media directly.

He clearly had points to make.

“This is ridiculous. I pushed to the absolute limit through the corners to build a tenth or two of an advantage, only to lose it all down the straights. Not only did we lose our edge, but we ended up behind.”

“Things shouldn’t work like this!”

Without naming names, his comments were clearly directed at Ferrari, implying that their power unit was non-compliant and that they were gaining an unfair advantage on the straights through illegal means. It framed Mercedes-Benz as working tirelessly to gain fractions of a second in the corners, only to be overtaken by Ferrari’s straight-line speed.

The implication was that Kai’s pole position lacked technical merit, relying entirely on an unfair advantage to disrupt the competitive balance, demanding FIA intervention.

However, reporters were quick to press further.

“So were you trying to use Leclerc’s slipstream down the Kemmel Straight to make up that gap?”

The question put Hamilton on the spot. While utilizing a tow in qualifying was entirely legal, a four-time World Champion relying on Leclerc for a tow without securing pole position—falling behind both Kai and Leclerc—was an awkward look.

Hamilton maintained his composure and offered a quick explanation.

“That was simply a misunderstanding. I didn’t gain any advantage down the Kemmel Straight. On the contrary, Ferrari showed us the strength of their power unit once again. They’re the benchmark everyone needs to beat right now.”

Deflecting the awkwardness of Mercedes’ failed slipstream tactic, he deftly redirected attention back toward Ferrari’s pace—a display of media handling fitting for a top driver.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Someone nearby began to clap.

Everyone turned instinctively to find Kai smiling back at them.

Was Kai openly mocking Hamilton’s explanation?

The applause and smile carried clear irony.

Hamilton caught sight of the expression, feeling a surge of annoyance. Yet he wasn’t surprised; Kai possessed a knack for getting under people’s skin and leaving them exposed to public scrutiny while appearing completely innocent himself. Hamilton recognized the tactic immediately.

As Hamilton prepared to offer a sharp comeback to expose the act, Kai stepped forward to greet him first.

There had to be a catch!

Hamilton immediately raised his guard, recalling their past encounter in Monaco as he subconsciously clenched his fists, ready for a confrontation.

To his surprise, Kai extended a hand in a gesture of sportsmanship.

Hamilton stared in silence.

Kai offered a bright smile. “Congratulations on a great qualifying session. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s race, and hopefully another memorable battle.”

Hamilton remained quiet for a moment.

Swallowing his frustration, he had to maintain his composure.

Standing there braced for a confrontation, assuming Kai was mocking him, only to be offered a handshake, made Hamilton look overly defensive in front of the cameras.

He could feel the sharp, amused gazes of the surrounding reporters enjoying the interaction.

Hamilton forced a polite smile, reaching out to shake Kai’s hand. “I just hope you guys don’t pull away too fast and give the rest of us a chance,” he replied with a subtle jab.

Kai remained completely unbothered. “I didn’t expect that from you, Lewis. I thought Mercedes-Benz preferred a straightforward, fair fight on track.”

The remark carried a double meaning, sharp beneath a polite tone.

In the brisk breeze of Spa, the underlying tension reached a peak.

The air grew still.

Reporters watched intently, their attention darting between Kai and Hamilton.

Kai was true to form, calling out Hamilton directly: suggesting Mercedes-Benz was less focused on fair play and more concerned with winning at all costs—first lodging off-track appeals with rivals, then employing track tactics that failed, only to play the victim afterward.

The subtle jab served to mock Mercedes-Benz while asserting Ferrari’s innocence, helping shift public perception.

It was an impressive display.

Reporters were well aware of Kai’s sharp wit and ability to hold his own in verbal exchanges, yet witnessing him operate under pressure was always compelling.

Facing intense scrutiny and strong opposition, Kai managed to hold his ground with calm composure, turning the narrative around without losing his cool.

Furthermore, Kai wasn’t just defending; he was ready to take the initiative.

Before Hamilton could respond, Kai smiled and added, “We at Ferrari feel the same way. We’re looking forward to a great race tomorrow. We’ll give it everything, and we expect Mercedes-Benz to do the same to put on a great show for the fans.”

The words were gracious, yet the intent behind his eyes was firm, showcasing the determination of a young driver confident in his abilities.

Without waiting for a reply, Kai released Hamilton’s hand and turned to walk away.

Hamilton was left momentarily speechless, watching Kai walk off before turning back to face the media, attempting to regain his usual composure in front of the cameras.

Yet regaining his footing wasn’t easy, as the frustration lingered.

Hamilton forced a brief smile to cover his awkwardness. “It looks like tomorrow’s race is going to be a tough challenge.” His words sounded flat, lacking his usual confidence, leaving him feeling frustrated.

The Spa Grand Prix weekend was turning out quite differently than expected.

Mercedes-Benz had planned to pressure Ferrari and gain a decisive advantage early in the second half of the season. They had expected Ferrari to be rattled, yet Saturday’s qualifying saw Ferrari managing the situation with complete composure while Mercedes and Red Bull found themselves trailing.

Something was off!

Wolff had already sensed that Ferrari’s deep roots meant they likely had additional measures in place. With events already set in motion, there was no turning back, pointing toward a fiercely contested second half of the season.

With these thoughts in mind, Hamilton held his head high, refusing to show frustration before the press.

If Hamilton intended the gesture for Ferrari and Kai, he would be disappointed, as Kai hadn’t looked back, quickly surrounded by layers of reporters.

“Kai, you only did one run in Q3! What happened there?”

“Congratulations on Ferrari’s second pole position of the season! Did you expect this result?”

“Ferrari established a massive margin in qualifying. How did that come about?”

Beneath the congratulations lay subtle probing questions about whether Ferrari’s engine advantage was entirely compliant.

Over the summer break, while Mercedes and Red Bull were planning their moves, Ferrari had clearly been hard at work, making an already intense season even more competitive.

The pressing curiosity of the crowd was palpable, yet Kai remained composed, keeping a light smile on his face.

“To be honest, it was a pleasant surprise for me as well. None of us expected this margin. There was certainly a bit of luck involved in that Q3 lap. When we saw the time after crossing the line, we were shocked and wondered if the timing system had glitched.”

“Even if I had gone out for another lap, I wouldn’t have been able to beat that time, or even replicate it. So I decided to skip the second run. Heaven knows what I’ve been through over the past two weeks, so taking a moment to catch my breath on the pit wall and view things from a different perspective felt nice.”

Was his comment a self-deprecating nod to the surrounding noise, a light jab at Mercedes-Benz’s appeals and media pressure, or a reference to the hectic workload at Maranello?

Perhaps a mix of all three. Regardless, reporters picked up on the humor, breaking into subtle smiles.

“Pole position is a nice bonus. But if we miss out, that’s fine too. We’re getting used to fighting our way up from behind as challengers.”

A wave of light laughter rippled through the media gathering.

When questioned about pole positions the previous season, Kai had offered a similar response: he didn’t mind starting further back, because the pressure remained on the drivers ahead of him, knowing he would always push forward to fight for the win.

The scenario felt familiar once again.

Then, a reporter in the crowd spoke up directly. “Kai, given Ferrari’s massive advantage today, does this confirm speculation that your power unit is non-compliant, gaining an illegal advantage that’s unfair to other teams?”

The question was posed sharply.

All eyes turned to Kai, but he showed no sign of panic, his smile widening slightly.

“Last year at Spa, before rain disrupted qualifying, the fastest Q2 time set by Mercedes-Benz was a 1:41.533—a time well out of reach. Today, my pole lap was nearly a full second slower than Mercedes’ benchmark from last year. I’m not sure if that fits the definition of an illegal advantage.”

He delivered a direct, factual counter.

As the crowd shifted, Kai looked back with a clear gaze, meeting the eyes of those posing the questions before continuing.

“At Albert Park, Mercedes-Benz held an advantage of over seven-tenths over the field, yet no one questioned their legality. Suddenly, everyone is questioning Ferrari overnight. I’m not sure what standard is being applied here, or if everyone has already concluded an investigation ahead of the FIA.”

The murmurs died down instantly.

Pressing the matter further would risk appearing biased toward Mercedes-Benz, a position no outlet wanted to take.

Without directly addressing the specifics of the appeals, Kai offered a clear response that effectively quieted the sharpest critiques.

Glancing across the crowd, not a single reporter met his gaze directly.

A brief silence settled over the gathering.

Finally, another journalist broke the silence by shifting to a different topic, putting the engine controversy aside.

“Kai, this season has seen a strange trend regarding the ‘pole position curse.’ Are you concerned that starting on pole might actually hurt your chances of taking the win tomorrow?”

Amid the intense focus on Ferrari’s engine, the question offered a refreshing change of pace, drawing light chuckles from the crowd.

Indeed, the 2019 season had seen an unusual trend where pole position rarely led to victory. Barcelona was the sole exception, where Hamilton converted pole into a win; across the other eleven races, the pole sitter had consistently missed out on the top step.

While everyone understood that pole didn’t guarantee victory in Formula 1, such a low conversion rate was rare, becoming a frequent topic of conversation.

It highlighted just how competitive the 2019 season had been, with race dynamics often differing significantly from qualifying pace.

Kai paused, a genuine smile breaking out as he chuckled softly. “Well, that’s a very specific question. I feel personally targeted, but thank you.”

Laughter broke out.

“In all seriousness,” Kai paused for the chuckles to subside before continuing, “breaking trends and beating the odds is what makes sports exciting. I’ll give it everything to break the curse, and make the other pole records look small in comparison.”

A beat passed.

Laughter erupted across the gathering once more. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, wondering if Kai had just casually poked fun at Hamilton and Bottas alongside himself.

His charm and composure shone through, demonstrating his ability to keep the paddock atmosphere light and engaging.

Boom!

Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed from the north. The sound came from a distance, dull yet deep, breaking through the lighthearted mood and drawing everyone’s attention toward its source.

Kai turned instinctively toward the sound as his mind froze.

A plume of dark smoke was rising from the end of Raidillon.

A sudden chill settled over him, sending a heavy knot tightening in his chest.

No!