Formula 1: The GOAT

“The standing water on the track is reaching a dangerous level! Officials are inspecting the track now; it seems they’re considering ending the race early before it becomes too hazardous for the drivers, many of whom are sliding more and more frequently!” the main commentator announced as TOSFED officials in high-visibility vests could be seen at various points, assessing the conditions without entering the circuit itself.

“I’m sure the top two would love for that to happen right now, but I really hope they let this race continue! It’s far too interesting to end prematurely!” Zakir responded, but before he could even finish his thought, he saw the officials retreat. “And it seems they’re withdrawing! They’re going to let the race go to the end! One and a quarter laps remain!”

The main commentator immediately took over. “And Fatih, having already shaved three seconds off the lead in the quarter-lap since clearing that last group, is now powering through the second double hairpin! He gains an additional two seconds in that complex alone, reducing the gap to just five seconds! He brings the two leaders into his view as they all exit T12! Rediscovering the track every single lap is incredibly intensive, demanding immense concentration, but Fatih makes it look easy! He reduces the gap by another second as he practically swims while they struggle for grip!

They start the final lap, and the official waves the last lap board! That must be the worst news imaginable for the top two, who now have Fatih just four seconds behind them and closing fast! They take T1 and enter the longest straight, doing their absolute best to maximize speed while being careful to avoid any wheelspin that would lose them precious time! But Fatih, the man driving as if possessed, continues to devour the gap! He gains another half-second on the straight! As the leading pair brakes for T2 and T3, Fatih has already closed the gap by another eight-tenths! He carries more speed into T2 than the two in front, maintains it through the corner, and accelerates the moment he hits the apex, his throttle input absolutely perfect! He shaves another half-second in those two corners alone! He is now less than three seconds behind Jackson!

He continues the chase, gaining another tenth on the short straight, then another two-tenths into T4! He enters the straight with the rising and falling elevation – the section where he has been utterly dominant! And he doesn’t disappoint! He maintains a significantly higher average speed than the leaders, shaving a full second off the gap and bringing them into touching distance! They are now separated by less than half a second! But unlike his previous moves, he remains calm, not attempting a daring overtake at the start of the double hairpin, choosing instead to apply pressure! It’s immediately proven to be the right decision! The two leaders, Jackson and Selçuk, cover the inside lines as they enter the first of the double hairpins, T5 and T6, cooperating to prevent him from passing through the narrowest section of the track where overtaking is virtually impossible! Fatih closes the gap to zero, slightly bumping Jackson’s rear as they exit T6, a clear message as they head onto the next straight!”

Zakir took over as the main commentator took a desperate breath. “This straight and the following double hairpin are the only areas left where he can complete a successful overtake! If he fails here, there’s nothing he can do in the final two corners! I’m sure he knows that, hence the immense pressure he’s now exerting on Jackson, who is forced to do the same to Selçuk ahead!” But just as he was about to continue his analysis, he was interrupted by the main commentator, whose voice exploded with excitement.

“AND FATIH FEINTS TO THE INSIDE! JACKSON MOVES TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK TO COVER, LEAVING A TINY GAP! BUT FATIH, AS IF HE PLANNED THIS ALL ALONG, EXECUTES A PERFECT SWITCHBACK TO THE OUTSIDE! JACKSON TRIES TO DEFEND, BUT THIS TOO SEEMS TO BE PART OF FATIH’S CALCULATION! He forced Jackson to change direction more aggressively than he wanted, causing him to lose grip for a split second and slide wide! FATIH HAS COMPLETED A DOUBLE FEINT, A DOUBLE SWITCHBACK! HE MOVES SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH JACKSON AS THEY DRAG RACE TO TURN 8! WHO IS BRAVER? AND LIKE EVERY TIME BEFORE, IT IS FATIH! HE BRAKES LATER, PURPOSEFULLY GOES WIDE, SHUTTING THE DOOR AND FORCING JACKSON TO EITHER BACK OFF OR CRASH THEM BOTH OUT OF THE RACE! A DARING MOVE WITH A PERFECT RETURN! FATIH IS IN P2, CHASING SELÇUK!

The leader is now looking back as they enter the short straight before the final double hairpin! These are the final chances for Fatih to overtake and for Selçuk to defend! And Selçuk seems intent on doing exactly that! He slows more than usual in the middle of the track, backing Fatih up and allowing Jackson to close the gap, inducing the concertina effect! BUT FATIH HAS OTHER PLANS! HE DOESN’T EVEN TOUCH THE BRAKE, using Selçuk’s defensive braking to slow his own kart! He continues into the corner, taking a very late apex, the opposite of Selçuk’s middle apex, while Jackson takes an early apex! All three drivers are on three different racing lines! WHO IS RIGHT? IT LOOKS LIKE FATIH IS! He attempts to use his superior exit speed on the outside, but Selçuk deliberately goes wide to block the line as they exit T10! If he successfully holds this, he will win the ra— BUT FATIH HAS OTHER IDEAS! THAT TOO WAS ANOTHER BAIT! HE TUCKS TO THE INSIDE OF T10, BARELY BRAKES, AND INDUCES A DELIBERATE, CONTROLLED SLIDE! IT WORKS! HE ROTATES THE KART PERFECTLY AND IS NOW SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH SELÇUK, HOLDING THE INSIDE LINE FOR THE EXIT OF T10! THEY ENTER THE UNDERPASS STRAIGHT, DRAG RACING, NEITHER GIVING AN INCH! SELÇUK GLANCES AT FATIH, BUT FATIH’S EYES ARE LOCKED FORWARD! WHO WILL LIFT FIRST INTO T11? THIS MIRRORS THE FIRST LAP, BUT THE STAKES ARE INFINITELY HIGHER!

The track width here barely accommodates two karts and requires cooperation, which is why no overtakes have happened here all race! BUT THEY ARE BOTH INTENT ON BEING THE ONE TO ENTER THAT STRAIGHT AHEAD! THEY BOTH BRAKE INCREDIBLY LATE! SELÇUK, WHOSE WIDE LINE FROM T10 HAS NOW BECOME THE INSIDE LINE FOR T11, HAS A LOCKUP! HE CAN’T MAKE THE CORNER! HE’S GOING TO TAKE FATIH WITH HIM! BUT FATIH BRAKES PERFECTLY! HE PERFORMS A SWITCHBACK AS THEY SWAP LINES, FATIH MOVING TO THE INSIDE, SELÇUK FORCED TO THE OUTSIDE! THEY ENTER THE CORNER AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH AGGRESSIVE, BUT GIVING EACH OTHER JUST ENOUGH SPACE! THEY DRAG RACE ONCE AGAIN TO THE FINAL CORNER, T12! FATIH BRAKES LATER, KEEPS THE INSIDE LINE, AVOIDS A LOCKUP UNLIKE SELÇUK, AND COMES OUT AHEAD! HE’S BACK IN THE LEAD OF THE RACE ON THE FINAL CORNER! HE REMAINS CALM AND GETS ON THE POWER! SELÇUK GETS AGGRESSIVE, TRYING TO CHASE HIM TO THE FINISH LINE, BUT FATIH’S PERFECT EXIT KEEPS HIM AHEAD! AND FATIH YILDIRIM, THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD, THE ONE WITH THE NAME MEANING ‘THE CONQUEROR’ OR ‘VICTOR,’ COMES HOME VICTORIOUS! THE ONE WITH THE NAMESAKE OF THE CONQUEROR OF CONSTANTINOPLE HAS CONQUERED THE ISTANBUL PARK KARTING TRACK! HE WINS THE FIRST RACE OF THE 2009 MINI CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON!

OOOOOOOOOOH MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! HE HAS ACHIEVED THE IMPOSSIBLE, THE IMPROBABLE, WHAT WAS CONSIDERED UNACHIEVABLE! IN HIS FIRST RACE, NO LESS! THIS IS A MARK OF THE GREATS! A PERFECT START FOR WHAT MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME! YOU MIGHT SAY IT’S AN EXAGGERATION, BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL RACE OF HIS CAREER! HE WAS SENT TO THE BACK OF THE TRACK BY THE MISTAKE OF ANOTHER, BUT THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD, ON HIS FIRST-EVER RACE, DIDN’T GIVE UP! HE FOUGHT HIS WAY BACK TO HIS RIGHTFUL POSITION, HIS DESERVED POSITION, AND WINS THE ISTANBUL PARK RACE!”

The commentator didn’t even know what he was saying anymore, his mouth having taken over, spitting words of pure, unadulterated shock and awe. No one stopped him, not even Zakir, who seemed to believe every single word.

“As you can see, the crowd is on its feet, clapping for him,” Zakir finally managed to say, his voice much calmer but filled with reverence. “For the performance he has shown them, for the drive he has given them. It was not the drive of a rookie, but the drive of a very talented monster. Or rather, I should say, the drive of a champion. A drive that will be referenced in his future career as the first sign of his greatness.”

“You think he’s already clenched the championship?” the main commentator asked, his voice raspy.

“Yes, I believe so,” Zakir replied confidently. “He has shown the signs all weekend. Had it not been for the accident, this would have been a grand slam weekend where he led every session. But I think the accident was for the better. It answered the questions many would have had about his racecraft, or if he was only good when leading from the front. I don’t see anyone causing him an upset after this. His perfect, mistake-free drive on a soaking wet track, while everyone else was affected, was masterful. He drove as if he created these conditions himself and had hidden the grippiest parts of the track for his own personal use. This race answered every question: How is his racecraft? How is his overtaking? Is he strategic? How is his driving in the wet? Can he handle force majeure situations? Can he handle pressure? Can he handle things not going as planned?”

The main commentator took over, answering the rhetorical questions. “And I’m sure everyone present will answer ‘yes’ to all the yes-or-no questions and ‘perfect’ to the rest! He showed no mistakes at all! Ooooh, I’m being told the replay of the first-corner accident is ready. Let’s watch it again!” The massive screen switched from showing Fatih on his cool-down lap, one hand raised in celebration, to a slow-motion replay of the race start. The perfectly edited sequence, showing multiple angles, explained why it had taken so long to prepare; Fatih’s relentless recovery drive had left no window to play it earlier.

“Looks like I need to add another thing about him,” Zakir said as he watched the replay. “He is incredibly aware of his surroundings.”

“Why do you say that?” the main commentator asked.

“Look at Fatih’s kart carefully,” Zakir instructed. “His steering, throttle, and braking inputs a few moments before the impact. He used all of those things to turn the kart and reduce the potential damage as much as possible, to keep his race alive.” The director, hearing this, replayed the accident again, this time zoomed in on Fatih.

The viewers could now clearly see it. In slow motion, they saw Fatih’s head turn, followed by an immediate lift of the throttle, his other foot hitting the brake as he shifted his body weight to force the rear-left of the kart to rise, ensuring the tire would receive the brunt of the impact. The chassis would bear only the remainder of the force, already reduced by the deforming tire. But it didn’t stop there. As the hit was taking place, Fatih was already counter-steering, not only to control the direction of his slide but to ensure that when he hit the tire wall, the entire left side of the kart would do so at once, distributing the force uniformly and keeping him out of the path of the oncoming karts.

“Holy sh—” the main commentator had to stop himself from finishing the curse, but the sentiment was echoed in the minds of everyone watching. “Is he really a five-year-old rookie in his first race, or are we being trolled? Because it doesn’t make sense any other way for him to be able to do that at that age!” He found himself asking the question aloud. What they were seeing was not something a five-year-old should be able to do – not only to make a decision in a split second but to devise and perfectly implement a complex course of action to minimize damage and prevent a larger pile-up.

“The greats are often incomprehensible,” Zakir said, a wry smile in his voice. “For them, what we see as difficult and impossible might just be a Tuesday.” He paused for a moment before adding, in a sarcastic tone, “Maybe we can ask him what was on his mind during the interviews. They’re setting up the podium now.”

“Oh, right! You have to go ask the top three questions!” the main commentator said. “What wouldn’t I give to be the one asking those questions! Looks like you’re the lucky one, so ask them for us!” Zakir nodded, leaving the commentary booth and heading towards the pitlane, where the podium was being prepared on the main straight.