"Amazing! He really took second place! This is the first time someone from Hua Country will stand on an F1 podium!"
Brother Bing shouted excitedly in the Six-Star Sports Studio.
The excitement back home was even more feverish than at the track in Australia. Countless viewers leaped from their sofas, cheering and screaming at their TVs.
Within just three minutes, the news was all over the sports sections of every major social media platform.
F1, normally a niche sport in the country, shot to the top of the trending charts once again, drawing in crowds of curious onlookers.
"What’s F1?"
"What kind of competition is this? Everyone seems so hyped."
"I’ve never even heard of this race before [crying laughing]."
Enthusiastic racing fans were quick to educate them, explaining that it was "one of the three biggest sporting events in the world, on par with the Olympics and the World Cup."
Some explained, "No driver from Hua Country has ever qualified to compete since the sport began! Wu Shi is the very first!"
Others added, "This is the 20 fastest drivers in the world competing! It’s much harder to become an F1 driver than a pilot!"
The fans were finally unleashing emotions that had been bottled up for a decade, or even several. Without exception, they all stressed just how monumental it was for Wu Shi to reach the podium.
Of course, plenty of these "facts" were just rumors about F1, but the onlookers didn’t care. All they knew was that one of their own had reached the pinnacle of a world-class sport.
This prompted many newcomers to start searching for more information, driven by curiosity and a burgeoning sense of shared glory.
With a deliberate push from the various social and new media outlets under the Sky Eye Group, the news swept across the country.
For F1 fans, it was like Christmas had come early!
"Okay everyone, calm down! Reaching the podium is great, but..."
A user posing as a neutral observer had deliberately left their comment unfinished, adding the rest in their own reply thread:
"...for a rookie to reach the podium in his debut race is even greater!"
This "bait-and-switch" style of comment, where you feign criticism before being positive, often reeled in some clueless folks.
But most of the fans played along with the meme, flooding the replies with comments like, "Aw man, he’s on our side! I already drew my knife, can’t stop now. Guess we’ll just have to bury him here."
"Everyone, calm down! A rookie getting on the podium in his debut is great, but a rookie taking *second place* is even greater!"
"Everyone, calm down! A rookie taking second place is great, but a sixteen-year-old rookie taking second place is even greater!"
Jokes aside, more and more fans began to realize the true significance of Wu Shi’s podium finish.
So how many records did Wu Shi break in this one race?
Youngest driver to compete in an F1 Grand Prix!
Youngest driver to lead a Grand Prix!
Youngest driver to set the fastest lap!
Youngest driver to score points!
Youngest driver to finish on the podium!
A runner-up finish on his rookie debut!
He had shattered records previously held by Hamilton, Vettel, and other legends of the sport. The title of "prodigy" now truly belonged to this driver from Hua Country, who wouldn’t even turn 17 until the end of the year.
As the race results generated massive media attention, the relevant national sports authorities also realized that a new athletic superstar, one worthy of major state promotion, might have just emerged.
Back at the circuit, the commentator David couldn’t help but chuckle.
The race broadcast had just played the team radio communications from both Rosberg and Wu Shi.
Both drivers had said, "It’s all thanks to the team," but the undertones were completely different. The contrast was genuinely funny.
David, ever the professional, commented, "Clearly, both drivers understand that a good result depends on teamwork and coordination."
After that diplomatic remark, he began his assessment of Wu Shi:
"When this young man from Hua Country crossed the finish line, we all witnessed the birth of the youngest Grand Prix runner-up in F1 history. And I’m willing to bet he’s also one of the drivers on the grid with the most potential to win a World Drivers’ Championship.
"It’s incredible what this rookie driver has managed to accomplish today."
On the cool-down lap, Hamilton, up ahead, slowed his car. After waving to the crowd, he saw the Williams approaching from behind.
He stuck his hand out of the cockpit and gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Wu Shi smiled and waved back in acknowledgment, grateful for the praise.
The two drivers brought their cars back to the designated area for the top three finishers in the pit lane. On the blue and white checkered ground, the #44 Mercedes-Benz parked behind the #1 board.
The #59 Williams pulled in next, parking behind the #2 board.
A long while later, the #6 Mercedes-Benz finally rolled in and parked behind the #3 board.
The camera focused first on Hamilton, then panned to Wu Shi.
After removing his steering wheel and headrest, Hamilton climbed out. He didn’t seem overly excited. He patted his car’s sidepod, then walked over to the barrier to high-five his team, the media, and the fans.
Wu Shi climbed out of his car very slowly, even more slowly than Rosberg.
He hadn’t felt it during the race, but now that he’d stopped, an immense exhaustion washed over him. If not for the adrenaline of the upcoming podium ceremony, he probably would have just wanted to take a shower and go straight to sleep.
He struggled to place the steering wheel and headrest aside. Jonathan came over, extending a hand.
"Hey! That was absolutely brilliant!"
"Thanks."
Jonathan pulled him to his feet, and Wu Shi gave him a tight hug. The middle-aged man was absolutely ecstatic.
"Go show your face to the crowd," Jonathan said.
It was tradition for the top three finishers to make an appearance at the barriers.
When Wu Shi walked out, the cheers were, as expected, coming from his team’s personnel. He went over and high-fived them one by one. A few who were overcome with excitement pulled him into a hug, patting his helmet repeatedly.