Chapter 279: World Champion
November 29th, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi.
The scorching sun hung low in the western sky, painting half the track in brilliant golden light while leaving the other half draped in deep, cool shadow. A hot, humid sea breeze rolled in from the distant Persian Gulf harbor, carrying hints of salt and desert dust – but nothing could drown out the thunderous, undulating roar of engines that filled every corner of the paddock. The stands were packed to capacity, a sea of colorful shirts and waving flags, every single pair of eyes fixed on the gleaming asphalt below.
Wu Shi stood beside Jonathan at the edge of the Williams garage, already wearing the lower half of his race suit. The white and blue Williams FW37 sat elevated on its jacks, polished to a mirror finish that caught and scattered the fading sunlight. Further back, in the quiet shadow of the garage entrance, Wu Zhenlin stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable – a lifetime of watching his son race had taught him to keep his emotions locked away until the moment truly demanded them.
Across the paddock, in the vibrant red of the Ferrari pit box, Martina watched intently from behind the pit wall. As a member of the Scuderia, protocol kept her from crossing to Williams' side, but her eyes never left Wu Shi. Beside her, Louise gripped the metal railing so tightly her knuckles turned white, small beads of sweat forming on her forehead despite the cooling evening air.
After what felt like an eternity, Jonathan broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper: "Are you ready?"
"Of course," Wu Shi nodded firmly, though his eyes betrayed the weight he carried. "I've been ready for a long time – since I first sat in a kart when I was five years old."
Jonathan checked his watch – 17:47. The sky was transitioning from bright blue to soft orange and purple; tonight's race would take them from daylight through twilight and into full darkness, when the circuit's 6,000+ floodlights would turn night into day. "Reconnaissance lap in thirteen minutes," he said, as much to himself as to Wu Shi.
Wu Shi crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze fixed on the track. He had reviewed every single data point, every corner entry and exit speed, every possible scenario the team had simulated – hundreds of times throughout the day. The circuit was etched into his memory so deeply that closing his eyes brought forth every curb, every bump, every patch of asphalt with microscopic clarity. He found himself pursing his lips unconsciously, pacing small circles on the garage floor. Even before climbing into the car, his heart was already hammering against his ribs like a caged bird.
"Alright! Time to suit up and head out for reconnaissance," Jonathan called out, clapping his hands once to draw everyone's attention.
Wu Shi slipped into the upper half of his race suit, the familiar weight of the fire-resistant material a comfort against his skin. He slid into the cockpit, and a mechanic immediately removed the data screen from the steering column while another leaned in to tighten his six-point safety harness, checking and rechecking every buckle and strap. Wu Shi shifted his shoulders and hips a few times, adjusting his position – no matter how many times he did this, the cockpit always felt slightly different each race day.
"It's okay," Jonathan said, noticing his slight discomfort. "You've still got time to settle in before the warm-up lap. Take deep breaths."
Wu Shi nodded, accepting the steering wheel from the mechanic and securing it in place with practiced movements. His fingers found their familiar positions on the carbon fiber rim, each button and dial exactly where they should be. He waited patiently, listening to the chatter over the team radio as the pit lane marshals prepared for the cars to exit.
"Pit lane green light is on – all cars clear to exit," came the announcement over the circuit frequency.
A moment later, Wu Shi eased the throttle forward, and the Mercedes-powered engine rumbled to life, its tone rising from a deep growl to a sharp, metallic snarl as he pulled out of the garage and onto the fast lane. The setting sun caught the white paint of his car, making it shimmer like liquid silver as he joined the procession of drivers making their way around the circuit.
During the reconnaissance lap, Wu Shi methodically checked every system: the brakes bit cleanly when he tested them into Turn 1, the gear changes were smooth and precise, the suspension felt balanced over the bumps in Turns 5-7, and there was no sign of any abnormal vibrations or noises that might indicate metal fatigue or loose components. Everything was perfect – as perfect as any machine could be.
Vroom! Whoosh – the car sliced through the air as he completed his lap and rolled to a stop on the starting grid, taking his position in third place. Immediately, the Williams pit crew swarmed forward, making final adjustments to tire pressures, cleaning the headlights, and double-checking all connections. Wu Shi removed his steering wheel and headrest, climbing out of the cockpit to stretch his legs and clear his head. There were pre-race ceremonies to attend – the national anthem, the drivers' parade – but he found himself unable to focus on anything beyond the task at hand.
It's still twenty minutes until the start. Don't be nervous. Just breathe.
He took a slow, deep breath of the warm air, filling his lungs completely before exhaling slowly. Across the grid, he saw Hamilton had also climbed out of his car, talking quietly with his race engineer Bono. Neither driver made any move to acknowledge the other – at this moment, there could be no distractions between the two men fighting for the ultimate prize.
"Relax, mate," Jonathan said, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. "The whole season has led to this moment – you need to be looser now than ever before."
"I know," Wu Shi replied, though he could feel his stomach doing tight, nervous flips and his palms were damp with sweat.
Jonathan smiled, pulling something from behind his back – two small baseballs, one in each hand. "Come on then – pre-race reaction training. Let's get your focus sharp."
Wu Shi nodded, positioning his hands just below where Jonathan held the balls. Without warning, one dropped – Wu Shi caught it cleanly, his reflexes sharp despite his nerves.
"Good – again."
They repeated the exercise several times, each drop coming at a slightly different moment. The intense focus required pushed all thoughts of the championship from Wu Shi's mind, replacing them with the simple, immediate task of catching the ball.
Meanwhile, on the starting straight, former world champions Mika Häkkinen and Alain Prost stood before a bank of cameras, sharing their thoughts on the impending title decider. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG, stood nearby with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, both men watching the grid with serious expressions – they were here to witness history, one way or another. In the Sky Sports F1 commentary booth, Damon Hill and Jackie Stewart debated every possible scenario, from safety cars to mechanical failures to last-lap overtakes that could change everything.
Time moved forward in slow, heavy increments. The pre-race ceremonies concluded one by one, the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates echoing across the circuit before giving way to the familiar sound of engines being fired in sequence. A sharp "beep" rang out across the track – the final warning for all personnel to clear the grid.
"Alright, no more messing around," Jonathan said, his own voice showing a hint of emotion now. "This is it – the last race of the season. Go make us proud."
Wu Shi nodded, pulling on his helmet and securing the chin strap with deliberate care. His movements felt slightly clumsy, his hands trembling just enough to make simple tasks feel more difficult than they should be. What does it feel like when a dream you've chased for fifteen years is just minutes away from coming true? Wu Shi couldn't speak for anyone else, but for him, his mind was almost completely blank – as if his brain had chosen to shut down all unnecessary thoughts to focus solely on what lay ahead.
But the moment he lowered himself into the cockpit and the wind began to move gently over the car's bodywork, everything changed. The blankness was replaced by a flood of information – every aspect of the car, every corner of the track, every possible strategy and contingency plan filling his mind with perfect clarity.
Beep –
Another bell sounded, and the last of the pit crew retreated to the edges of the track, leaving only the drivers and their machines. The red starting lights began to illuminate one by one at the end of the straight. Rosberg fired his engine first, the sound rippling down the grid as each driver followed suit, their cars weaving gently from side to side as they made their way around the warm-up lap.
The race hadn't officially begun yet, but the battle was already underway. Hamilton stayed tucked tightly behind Rosberg, but Wu Shi deliberately hung back, giving himself space to warm his tires properly. This caused the two Mercedes cars to slow slightly until he caught up, then the entire field accelerated together as they approached the starting straight for the final time before the green light.
Vroom! – a wall of sound erupted as every driver pushed their throttle to the floor, accelerating hard before braking sharply into Turn 1 to bring their tires and brakes up to operating temperature. The safety car led them back to the grid, and as it pulled off to the side, a race official walked down the straight waving a green flag.
One by one, the red lights illuminated above the track – each one like a hammer blow to Wu Shi's heart.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep!
The final red light glowed bright against the darkening sky. Every engine on the grid screamed to full revs, the high-pitched wail echoing across the entire circuit as millions of fans around the world held their breath.
Then, in an instant – whoosh!
The lights went out.
"IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO!!!"
The commentator's voice exploded across every broadcast feed: "Rosberg gets a perfect start – he's leading into Turn 1! Lewis can't match his launch speed! And look at Wu Shi – he's flying! He's right on Lewis's gearbox and moving to the inside line! Who's going to brake later?! Can he make the move stick?!
"HE DOES! HE SQUEEZES TO THE INSIDE! TRYING TO TAKE SECOND FROM HAMILTON AT TURN 1!
"OH! LEWIS CLOSES THE DOOR HARD! BLOCKS EVERY POSSIBLE LINE! AND LECLERC – CHARLES LECLERC IN THE FERRARI – HE'S AROUND THE OUTSIDE! UNBELIEVABLE! HE'S PASSED BOTH OF THEM! LECLERC IS SECOND!"
The crowd erupted in a deafening roar as the red Ferrari sliced past both title contenders, the young Monegasque driver making a breathtaking move that set the tone for the entire race. After the first four cars cleared Turn 1, they began to string out slightly, but the battles continued all the way down the field.
Further back, Nico Hülkenberg made a perfect start in his Force India, dispatching both Red Bull and Williams cars to move into fifth place. Marcus Ericsson charged hard at Fernando Alonso, forcing the Spaniard to lock up his brakes into Turn 1 – the resulting contact sent Alonso spinning slightly and into contact with Valtteri Bottas's Williams, triggering chaos as drivers scrambled to avoid the spinning cars, squeezing through gaps that seemed impossibly small.
Up front, the battle between Wu Shi and Hamilton was far from over. Through Turns 5 and 6, they ran side by side, making perfect crossover moves as they fought for every inch of track. Hamilton managed to hold onto third place by the narrowest of margins, then used Leclerc's slipstream to pull away slightly down the long straight leading to Turn 8.
"ALL THREE ARE NOW THROUGH TURNS 8 AND 9 – THIS IS GOING TO BE FIERCE! LEWIS DIVES TO THE INSIDE OF LECLERC – NO MERCY WHATSOEVER! HE'S THROUGH! AND WU SHI IS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM! THEY'RE TAKING BACK THEIR POSITIONS!"
The top three shuffled again, with Hamilton reclaiming second and Wu Shi right behind him in third. The two title contenders drove as if possessed, refusing to give each other an inch, fighting for space in every corner and on every straight.
"MY GOODNESS – THIS FIRST LAP IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!"
The broadcast cameras stayed glued to their battle, completely ignoring the chaos unfolding further back.
"THESE TWO ARE JUST INSANE!" Brother Bing shouted in the commentary booth, his voice cracking with excitement.
"Did Leclerc just decide he'd had enough of their fighting? He's backing off slightly!" Brother Fei added, laughing with pure joy.
"Hahaha – maybe he just realized he'd stepped into a war zone! This is exactly how Hamilton used to race when he first came into F1 back in 2007!"
In that moment, viewers around the world were reminded of the young Hamilton who had taken the sport by storm – ruthless, relentless, and completely unwilling to yield. Now, he was facing a driver who matched that intensity blow for blow.
The first lap finally came to an end, but the chaos continued. Alonso pitted to replace his damaged front wing, dropping to last place. Max Verstappen tangled with Daniil Kvyat in their Red Bulls, then nearly collided with Carlos Sainz's Toro Rosso at Turn 11 as they fought over position. It wasn't until the fourth lap that the track finally settled into some semblance of order.
Rosberg held a steady 1.8-second lead over Hamilton, who in turn was 1.4 seconds ahead of Wu Shi. The top three had established their rhythm, each unable to break away from the others despite their best efforts. On lap 6, Kvyat became the first front-runner to pit, switching from supersoft to soft tires. Ricciardo spent several laps trying to pass Hülkenberg at Turn 8, but each time the German driver would reclaim the position with a brilliant defensive move at Turn 11.
As the front settled down, the cameras turned to Ferrari's other title contender – Sebastian Vettel, who had started from 15th on the grid but had driven brilliantly to move up to 12th on the first lap alone. On the same lap Kvyat pitted, Vettel passed Verstappen to take 10th place, then gained two more positions when Massa and Ricciardo made their stops, moving up to 7th. Starting on soft tires, Vettel was running a longer first stint than most – a strategy that immediately put Williams on high alert.
By lap 9, Vettel had advanced to 5th place but found himself blocked by his own teammate Leclerc, allowing the front runners to pull out a significant gap.
"Box, box, box," Jonathan said over the radio, his voice calm and confident after running the numbers through the team's simulations.
At the end of lap 9, Wu Shi pulled into the Williams pit box. The crew sprang into action, changing his tires to softs in 3.1 seconds – not the fastest stop of the season, but more than adequate. When he rejoined the track, he found himself right behind Vettel's Ferrari. But on lap 10, both Leclerc and Hamilton made their stops – Mercedes executed a lightning-fast 2.2-second change, and Hamilton emerged still ahead of Wu Shi, the gap between them remaining frustratingly small but just large enough to prevent any immediate overtaking.
"Hamilton, Wu Shi, and Leclerc are back in positions two, three, and four – no change there. Rosberg looks set to pit next lap, but we're still waiting to see when Vettel will come in," Brother Bing commented, his voice more measured now as the race settled into its rhythm.
On lap 11, Rosberg pitted, switching to soft tires in 2.6 seconds, maintaining his lead comfortably. By lap 14, the sun had disappeared completely below the horizon, and twilight gave way to full night. The track temperature began to drop rapidly, and Wu Shi could feel the cool evening air rushing over the car's bodywork as he streaked through the floodlit corners, the lights of the circuit creating streaks of white and yellow across his visor.
On the main straight of lap 15, Hamilton used DRS to easily pass Vettel, who was now running on worn tires. Wu Shi was just a little too far back to make the move on the straight, but it was clear he would catch up within a lap or two. Sure enough, on the next lap, facing the last of the orange glow reflecting off the track's surface, Wu Shi made his move – pulling alongside Vettel on the straight and holding the inside line through Turn 1 to take the position cleanly.
The track was back to its previous order: Rosberg leading, Hamilton second, Wu Shi third. Rosberg was setting blisteringly fast lap times at the front, but Hamilton was pushing even harder, consistently closing the gap by fractions of a second each lap. However, the time he'd lost fighting with Wu Shi and Leclerc early in the race had left him 7 seconds behind – even gaining 0.4 seconds per lap would take nearly 20 laps to close completely. Mercedes radioed no team orders – this race would be decided purely on speed and strategy.
For Williams, the strategy was clear: hold third place, and Wu Shi would be world champion. There was no need to push for more – third place would give him exactly the points he needed to secure the title regardless of where Hamilton finished.
As night deepened on lap 22, the track lights burned bright against the dark sky, making every corner as clear as day. Vettel finally pitted at the end of lap 23, switching to soft tires and rejoining the race in 6th place. The track remained stable until lap 32, when Rosberg made his second stop, surprising everyone by switching back to soft tires instead of the faster supersofts. Hamilton stayed out, gambling that he could extend his stint and gain track position.
On lap 33, Kimi Räikkönen pitted his Ferrari, but a problem with the front right wheel caused a delay – the stop took a full 6 seconds, effectively ending any chance he had of challenging for a podium finish. Seeing this, Williams called Wu Shi in for his second stop on lap 34, switching to a fresh set of soft tires in 2.9 seconds.
By lap 35, the standings were: Hamilton leading Rosberg by 18.3 seconds, Wu Shi third (33.7 seconds behind Hamilton), and Vettel fourth (3.37 seconds behind Wu Shi).
The two Mercedes drivers were in a league of their own on track – even with the early delays, Hamilton had used his second stint to make up all lost ground, his pace unmatched by any other team. But his final push was only to catch his teammate; the championship was already slipping away. On lap 36, he passed Vettel again as the Ferrari driver struggled with tire degradation.
By lap 37, Hamilton's lap times began to drop as his tires wore down, and Rosberg closed the gap steadily. By lap 39, the lead was down to 12 seconds. Vettel pitted for the final time on lap 40, while Wu Shi was now running in clear air – his pace consistent, tire wear perfectly controlled.
Ferrari repeatedly urged Räikkönen to close the gap to Wu Shi, but every time the Finn gained a tenth or two, Wu Shi would respond by finding more speed, immediately pulling away again. It was clear to everyone in the Ferrari pit box that this Williams, with Wu Shi at the wheel, was operating on another level – overtaking was impossible. As the car's fuel load lightened, Wu Shi's lap times remained strong, with no sign of slowing due to tire degradation, gradually extending his lead over Räikkönen to 5 seconds.
The outcome was settled. Anyone watching could see it clearly.
Hamilton was forced to pit on lap 41 for his final set of tires – with only 13 laps remaining, switching to supersofts wouldn't give him enough time to catch Rosberg. Worse still, he emerged just 3 seconds ahead of Wu Shi, with Räikkönen only 7 seconds behind him. For the first time all race, Hamilton found himself under threat from behind.
"Hamilton has lost his fighting spirit," Brother Bing said quietly.
"Does it matter now?" Brother Fei replied. The two fell silent, watching the screen as the race neared its end.
On lap 44, Hamilton set the fastest lap of the race – 1:44.123 – gaining nearly 0.4 seconds per lap on Rosberg. But it made no difference.
"How are my lap times?" Hamilton asked eagerly over the radio.
"Looking good, Lewis," Bono replied. Two laps later, he added: "Okay, Lewis – hold this pace to the end. Let's see what we can bring home."
With both drivers on soft tires, and degradation setting in for both, there simply wasn't enough time to create a gap large enough to change the result.
The night grew deeper, but the track lights blazed on. By lap 50, Hamilton had closed to 6.8 seconds behind Rosberg, while Wu Shi was 4 seconds back – close enough to see the Mercedes' taillights flickering ahead. On lap 51, Hamilton lapped Verstappen, but the young Dutch driver refused to yield immediately despite multiple blue flags being shown.
"We're setting mode 10 – this is a command," Bono told Hamilton.
"I can push harder," Hamilton protested.
"I know you can, but this is the safest way to bring it home," Bono said firmly.
"Our tire condition is excellent – we've got enough life for 8 more laps if we need it," Jonathan told Wu Shi over the Williams radio. "Just drive normally, mate. No need for anything extra. No need to chase speed – just hold your line."
Wu Shi tried to reply, but his throat was tight, and the flashing lights above the track made his eyes feel heavy. On the long straight, he felt a series of twitches in his right leg, the muscle growing weak from holding the throttle steady for so long.
"How many laps left?" he asked on lap 52.
"Four laps to go. You've got this – remember Silverstone? When your leg cramped there too, and you still brought it home. You can do this. This is what you've worked for your whole life."
Silence fell over the radio. On lap 55 – the final lap of the race – Jonathan didn't speak at all.
In those final 1 minute and 48 seconds, no one could know what was going through the drivers' minds. On the long straight after Turn 10, Wu Shi felt his heart pounding so hard it almost drowned out the engine's roar. The world championship was right there – so close he could almost reach out and touch it. Excitement surged through him so fiercely it blurred his vision, and the twitching in his right foot grew worse.
He bit down hard on his gums until he tasted blood, forcing his foot down on the accelerator with every ounce of strength he had left. The corner after the straight gave him brief relief, letting his left foot take over on the brakes as he navigated the turn smoothly. The car brushed past the trackside barriers, countless lights flashing by his visor like stars. The sea breeze carried a faint salty smell now, and the cool air felt good against the car's warm bodywork.
Approaching Turn 17, his reaction was a split-second slow – his mind wandering for just a moment – but he corrected course at the last instant, turning the wheel and staying on the racing line. That momentary delay let Räikkönen close in by 0.3 seconds, and in the Williams pit box, every single person held their breath as they watched the car slide through the corner on the big screen. The commentators fell silent. The cameras focused solely on Wu Shi as he turned into Turn 18.
Then – WHOOSH!!!
The checkered flag waved furiously as Rosberg crossed the finish line first, and the Mercedes pit box erupted in cheers.
"CHECKERED FLAG WAVES! ROSBERG TAKES THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX WIN!"
"But the race isn't over – LEWIS HAMILTON CROSSES THE LINE IN SECOND!"
In the Williams pit box, every engineer and mechanic had already rushed to the pit wall, leaning over the barrier with their eyes fixed on the track.
"AND BEHIND HIM – IT'S WU SHI! IN THE WILLIAMS! HE'S THROUGH TURN 21! WE CAN SEE THE WHITE CAR – CAR NUMBER 59!"
"LET US – CONGRATULATIONS TO WU SHI! HE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE! HE IS THE 2015 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPION!"
"THE YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION IN F1 HISTORY – A LEGEND HAS BEEN BORN!"
David's voice echoed across every broadcast feed around the world, raw with emotion. The Williams crew by the barrier went wild – jumping up and down, waving their arms, shouting until their throats were hoarse.
"YEAH!!! CHAMPION! WORLD CHAMPION!!!"
In the commentary booth, Brother Bing and Brother Fei had jumped to their feet the moment Wu Shi crossed the line, hugging each other and shouting at the screen.
"HOLY COW – AWESOME! WU SHI! OUR WORLD CHAMPION!!!"
Countless fans watching at home roared their approval, some crying, some cheering, some simply sitting in stunned silence at what they'd just witnessed. In the Ferrari pit box, Louise let out a scream of pure joy and began jumping up and down – drawing amused looks from her teammates.
"Go – go celebrate with him!" Martina said, pushing her gently forward.
In the Williams garage, Wu Zhenlin rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand, saying nothing as a small smile spread across his face. Sir Williams watched the screen with a proud grin, while Claire wrapped her arms around her assistant, both women crying tears of joy.
Over the radio, Jonathan's voice was thick with emotion: "YOU ARE THE CHAMPION! WU SHI – YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPION! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT – YOU DESERVE THIS MORE THAN ANYONE!"
Earth-shattering cheers flooded through Wu Shi's ear protectors as he slowed the car for his cool-down lap.
"YES! YES! WE DID IT! WE ACTUALLY DID IT!"
He wanted to wipe away the tears streaming down his face, but his gloves and helmet made it impossible. All he could do was grip the steering wheel tightly – as if holding onto the very thing that had carried him to the top of the world.
"I AM THE WORLD CHAMPION!!!" he screamed into his radio, his voice cracking with emotion. Exhaustion washed over his trembling body, but the surge of joy pushed it all away.
Bang! Bang! Bang! – brilliant fireworks exploded over the Yas Marina Circuit, painting the night sky in shades of gold, red, and blue as Wu Shi's car rolled to a stop behind the number 1 sign on the starting straight. Before he could even climb out, dozens of photographers had surrounded the car, their cameras flashing like lightning.
With slightly shaking hands, Wu Shi detached the steering wheel and climbed onto the cockpit, standing tall as the largest cluster of fireworks exploded overhead. Reporters crouched low, their cameras capturing the moment as the new world champion spread his arms wide, as if embracing the entire world.
When he leaped from the car, he sprinted toward his waiting team, throwing his arms around anyone he could reach. Claire hugged him tightly, patting his helmet repeatedly as she sobbed: "Congratulations! We did it! You're the world champion!"
Next came Jonathan, who clapped him on the helmet: "I told you – you had it in you. This is all yours."
One by one, every member of the crew embraced him – patting his back, thumping his helmet, offering words of praise and celebration. Cameras captured every moment, because while world champions are crowned every year, legends like this are born once in a generation.
Then someone tapped his shoulder. He turned to find Wu Zhenlin standing there, not shouting or cheering like the others, but smiling warmly as he opened his arms. Wu Shi rushed forward and hugged his father tightly.
"Wish fulfilled," Wu Zhenlin said, pushing up his visor so he could look his son in the eye.
"Hahaha – wish fulfilled!" Wu Shi laughed, tears still streaming down his face.
Louise ran over then, and Wu Shi opened his arms to embrace her too, lifting her slightly off the ground as she laughed and shouted his name.
Then he heard it – a unified chant rising from the stands: "WU SHI! WU SHI! WU SHI!"
He turned to see a section of the grandstands filled with his compatriots, waving red flags and cheering with all their might. He waved back, and the cameras captured the moment – making the cheers grow even louder.
"LIFT HIM UP!" someone shouted, and before he knew it, his teammates had lifted him high above their heads, carrying him toward the garage as the crowd roared their approval.
"Today, we've witnessed history," David said, his voice steady now as he summarized the moment. "A 16-year-old driver – who will turn 17 on December 3rd – has reached the pinnacle of motorsport. He has proven that talent, hard work, and determination can overcome any obstacle. Wu Shi is not just a world champion – he is the future of Formula 1."
After the initial celebration, Wu Shi completed the mandatory post-race procedures – weighing in, having his car checked – before heading to the podium ceremony. As he walked through the corridor to the podium, he saw Hamilton sitting quietly, wiping his face with a towel. Rosberg took a long drink of water, then stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Congratulations – youngest world champion in history. You had an incredible season. You're a true talent – I see so much in you that I respect."
Rosberg rarely praised other drivers openly – having competed with Hamilton since childhood, he'd never been one to concede easily. But in this moment, his admiration was genuine.
"Thank you," Wu Shi said, shaking his hand firmly before they embraced, patting each other on the back.
Hamilton stood up then, walking over with a small smile: "I still remember – eight years ago, a little kid told me his dream was to race in F1 and become world champion. I never thought I'd be standing here watching him do exactly that."
"Your performance this year was incredible – you deserve this title completely. Congratulations, new world champion."
They embraced briefly, then pulled apart. Hamilton looked at him for a long moment before simply saying: "Congratulations."
Cameras captured the moment – a passing of the torch between generations. Hamilton had known for two races that his chances were slim, and while the disappointment was real, he'd found peace with the outcome.
The award presenter's voice rang out, and Wu Shi – as third-place finisher – walked out first. But the cheers that greeted him were louder than those for anyone else. These were not cheers for a podium finish – they were cheers for a world champion.
After receiving his trophy and spraying champagne with Rosberg and Hamilton, Wu Shi was surrounded by interviewers.
"Wu Shi! Congratulations! While you're standing on the third step tonight, there's no doubt you're the true protagonist here. We've seen many world champions crowned, but none quite like you – you will go down as one of the most special in F1 history. This season has been like something out of a dream. We thought Mercedes would dominate completely, but you came out of nowhere and shocked the world. Your adaptability to F1 is extraordinary – what was this season like for you?"
Wu Shi took the microphone, and the crowd erupted in cheers. He began by thanking everyone in Chinese, then English, then Arabic – each language drawing a louder roar than the last.
"At the start of the season, we never even considered winning the world championship," he said, his voice clear and steady now. "I was just a rookie – new to F1 – and I was racing alongside an incredible driver in Felipe Massa. Everyone was asking – who is this Chinese driver? Can he compete at this level after all his success in karting and F3? Some thought I'd struggle to even stay in the series. But after a few races, I realized something – F1 fits my driving style perfectly."
"We started seizing every opportunity we could, and slowly, we began to realize that maybe – just maybe – we could fight for the title. But we didn't fully commit to that goal until after the summer break. None of this would have been possible without my team – they've given me everything I needed to succeed. This championship belongs to all of us."
He paused, his mind still racing with emotion. The interviewer nodded understandingly: "It's hard to put this moment into words – we know you've been through so much this season. Let's all cheer once more for our new world champion!"
The crowd roared their approval, and the interviewer turned to Hamilton: "Lewis – it must be disappointing to come so close but fall short."
Hamilton nodded, taking the microphone: "In the first three races, we felt we had all the advantage. It wasn't until Spain that we realized how much we'd lost – but even then, we didn't fully understand what we were up against. In the end, I lost the championship. I knew it was possible as early as Brazil, maybe even Mexico, but experiencing it firsthand is different. But what's done is done – this is the result, and I accept it completely."
The interviewer turned to Rosberg, whose race win had been somewhat overshadowed by the title decider. After a brief conversation, the podium ceremony concluded, and Wu Shi was swarmed by reporters with endless questions. He politely waved them off – a formal press conference would be held later – and made his way through the paddock.
Verstappen ran up to him, grinning widely as he opened his arms: "Hey! New world champion! You always beat me to the title – first karting, then F3, now this!"
"Hahaha – old habits die hard! But mark my words – you'll be standing here one day soon." They embraced warmly.
"I know I will," Verstappen said confidently. "But for now, I've got a lot to learn."
Alonso walked over next, giving him a thumbs up: "I knew from the first time we raced together that you were something special. This title – no one can question it."
Hülkenberg was nearby too: "You've shown us what real talent looks like. It's hard to believe you're only 16 – what have you been doing all these years to be this good?"
Wu Shi laughed – what had he been doing? Racing, training, dreaming – every single day of his life.
Driver after driver came over to offer their congratulations. Finally, Massa approached, patting him on the shoulder with a simple but heartfelt: "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Wu Shi said, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you for letting me be part of this," Massa said quietly, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy. "I feel like I've seen everything – the rise of a true champion."
At the formal press conference, reporters from around the world directed question after question to Wu Shi. He repeated much of what he'd said on the podium, still struggling to fully articulate his emotions. When asked about his winter plans, he simply said: "Right now, I can't think about anything beyond this moment. I'm just so happy. I'll figure out the rest once I've had time to calm down."
When Claire took the stage, she praised Wu Shi without reservation: "We underestimated him at first – we should have known from the very first race what kind of driver we had. But I'm glad we woke up to it in time. This championship – only Wu Shi could have won it."
Toto Wolff, when asked about the title loss, remained calm: "We've won the Constructors' Championship – proof our car is among the best in the field. As for the Drivers' title – racing is full of surprises, but we can't blame luck alone. We have two excellent drivers, and we'll be back stronger next year to reclaim what's ours."
A reporter immediately pressed: "Wu Shi has close ties to Mercedes, and Williams is a partner team. Did you ever consider bringing him to Mercedes as your lead driver?"
Toto rubbed his chin thoughtfully: "All our seats are confirmed for next season, and I believe Wu Shi has great ambitions with Williams. As I said, we have two outstanding drivers already."
When the question shifted to whether Wu Shi at Ferrari would threaten Mercedes next year, Toto simply replied: "You'll have to ask Ferrari about their plans."
Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene was cautious in his response: "Our 2016 lineup – Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc – is confirmed and unchanged. We're delighted to see such a talented young driver win the championship; we did have contact with him during his junior days, but as you can see, things have worked out differently."
Reporters knew better than to press further – major driver decisions were made in Maranello, not in the Abu Dhabi paddock.
That night, a lavish celebration party was held in Wu Shi's honor, hosted by a member of the Emirati royal family. For this gathering, Wu Shi kept the guest list small – just his team, his family, and his closest friends. More events were planned for the days ahead: one for all the drivers in the paddock, another for sponsors and industry leaders eager to share in the moment.
When the world champion crown was placed on his head, Wu Shi understood that everything had changed. He was no longer just a talented young driver – he was a veteran of the sport, even at 16. Though he had no deep-pocketed backers from home, though his journey had only just begun, everyone in the paddock knew what a champion this young would be.
Talk of driver contracts and breach of fees already swirled through the F1 world – no amount of money would stand in the way of securing Wu Shi's services if he chose to move teams. But all of that could wait.
For now, Wu Shi was lying on his back at the edge of a sprawling villa's pool, looking up at the clear desert sky. With a grin, he pushed off and fell backward into the water.
Splash!
Water sprayed everywhere as he surfaced, laughing as the cool water washed away the sweat and champagne of the day. Above him, the stars shone bright and clear against the dark night.
He was the world champion.
THE END