F1: The Making of a Racing God

Chapter 284 The face is a mask that has taken root.
The rest area at Red Bull Milton Keynes headquarters.

Two girls sat facing each other, each holding a cup of hot coffee, chattering away about something. Every now and then, a burst of clear, tinkling laughter would draw the attention of those around them.

However, it's not just the laughter that attracts attention.
"Really? You two have such a good relationship, from elementary school until now."

"Ugh, I don't even want to talk about him anymore. Why did he have to come all this way to build an engine? He's not some kind of top-notch tech expert, and his salary isn't even that high. I just don't understand what he was thinking!"

Isn't the salary high?

Gan Mengning was at a loss for words. In her mind, a high-end company like Red Bull should have high salaries even for its cleaners. She was unsure what level Shen Qian meant by "not high salary".

Compared to many industries, Red Bull's salaries are definitely high, but due to the budget cap and the need to control the team's operating costs, the salaries of F1 team technicians are the main area that is cut.

Especially for the train crew mechanics who travel around with the team all year round, their salary is really not very high compared to their workload, the compromises and sacrifices they make in their lives, and the hardship they endure.

Each person often has to hold multiple jobs and receive multiple salaries to be considered to have a so-called "high salary," but even then, the amount is limited.

Technical talents like Yu Mujie, who are stationed at headquarters to conduct research and development, don't have to work as hard as this group of mechanics, but the high-pressure environment of the entire F1 competition means that they are destined to be treated like beasts of burden.

High salaries are relative. For families like Yu Mujie and Shen Qian's, if they didn't have aspirations and perseverance, they would basically be here to pursue their dreams and work for love.

Gan Mengning wasn't quite clear on the situation. Although her boyfriend earned over ten million euros a year, it didn't really translate into real income. Apart from the recent purchase of a property in Monaco, Shu Long rarely had any major expenses.

Even Gan Mengning herself doesn't really have any particular idea of ​​relying on her boyfriend. Her usual income is enough to cover her daily expenses, and she will even think about preparing small gifts for Shu Long if she sees any small items she likes.

But explaining at this point would be somewhat like a Versailles interpretation, and even if it were the truth, others might not want to hear it.
After a brief moment's consideration, Gan Mengning decided to say a few good words for Shu Long's childhood friend:

"I heard Shu Long say that Yu Mujie is actually very good! Shu Long himself is very grateful for the efforts made by the team for the competition. If it weren't for them providing a very competitive car, no matter how good the driver is, he wouldn't have achieved these results."

Actually, this statement isn't quite appropriate here.

Drivers' salaries are not included in the team's operating budget, so whether drivers earn a lot or a little is not directly related to the reduction in the income of technical staff, at least not in a team like Red Bull, which is not short of money.

But knowing that every victory requires the efforts of everyone, yet only the driver can enjoy the benefits of this success, isn't that even more unfair to the foundational team members who work silently in the factory?

Although Gan Mengning was unaware of this, fortunately, Shen Qian didn't seem to care much either.

Having the privilege of being friends and classmates with Shu Long in childhood, they both have some passion for racing. Moreover, given their current age, family circumstances, and perspectives, there's no rush for Yu Mujie to earn a pittance.

Just like Shu Long, who has to travel all over the world for competitions every few days, the heavy workload always makes it difficult to balance work and life. Being apart from each other is probably the norm, and you can't always rely on one person to maintain a relationship.

Looking at the young girl across the table, talking so eloquently, Shen Qian couldn't help but feel a desire to learn from her, wondering how Gan Mengning managed to maintain such a good relationship with Shu Long.

Gan Mengning felt a little uneasy under the gaze of those eyes that were gradually losing focus. As she was talking, she suddenly remembered something and quickly looked around furtively.

Then she noticed that there were indeed many eyes watching them from all around, and a few cameras were scattered around, though she didn't know what they were going to film. Unsure if Red Bull had any staff who could understand Chinese, the girl cautiously lowered her voice:
"After a few years of training at Red Bull, you could probably become a tech guru. And I've heard that Geely is also preparing to develop into an engine manufacturer, so they'll definitely be highly regarded!"

"Oh my god~ when will we ever get to that?"

As she was talking, Shen Qian lay down on the table and started whining and acting coquettishly towards Gan Mengning across from her.

"Your childhood sweetheart is so much better! Why can't I meet such a great childhood sweetheart? If I had known, I shouldn't have liked 'Elm Cut' back in elementary school. I should have gotten 'Tree Stump' earlier!"

Ok? !

Gan Mengning sat up straight in a fluster, but her cute, nervous expression was anything but intimidating, which made Shen Qian laugh again. She couldn't help but reach out and pinch her chubby cheeks.

"oops!"

It flailed and swatted away the mischievous hand, but wasn't it just a fluffy little cat? It seems even cuter now, how come?
Shen Qian found it quite amusing and reached out to poke Gan Mengning's nose, but was politely deterred by the girl's "woof".

Haha~?

In terms of age, Shen Qian, who was born in August, is actually a bit younger than Gan Mengning. However, in terms of appearance, figure, and personality, Shen Qian, who has a mature and sophisticated style, is clearly much more mature.

Although both of them are dressed in Red Bull T-shirts and Red Bull baseball caps, it is impossible to make a clear distinction between their personalities based on their clothing styles. However, from a distance, anyone would think that this is an older sister teasing her younger sister who is still in junior or senior high school.

After a period of playful banter, Gan Mengning tried her best to maintain a more serious demeanor, but every time she was about to clarify the topic that had been bothering her, she would immediately break down again after being teased by Shen Qian.

Seeing that she was about to lose her temper, Shen Qian quickly waved her hand and surrendered.

Although she had never been involved in any rumors with Shu Long, compared to the Shu Long "rumored girlfriends" that Zhang Jinhua, with her big mouth, had spread about inexplicably during elementary and middle school, Shen Qian's relationship with Shu Long was actually much closer.

She, Yu Mujie, and Shu Long all grew up in the same villa community.

Before Shu Long went astray into racing, the three of them, the "Adventure Tigers," were the ones who got together the most often. In a way, Shu Long could be considered Shen Qian's childhood sweetheart.

Thinking back, Shulong wasn't bad-looking at all. Except for being a little short because she developed later, she was delicate and pretty, and if she dressed up, she could look like a little girl. How come I didn't have that kind of thought at the time?

Thinking back carefully, perhaps it's related to the fact that Shulong had a "dull" aura that made him feel out of place since childhood?

If it weren't for Yu Mujie constantly taking the initiative to play with him, he would be practically invisible most of the time, only showing a little liveliness when talking about topics that interest him.

"Pfft~"

what happened again?
Gan Mengning felt like she was an innocent elementary school student, and the other person was leading the conversation by the nose.

Seriously, aren't we talking about my boyfriend? Don't act like you know him better than I do!
"Sigh~ I bet you, a lot of girls in our class back then are definitely regretting it now!"

"Uh, um."

"You don't know, back when Zhang Jinhua was spreading rumors everywhere, Shu Long actually had a very bad reputation among us girls."

"Uh-huh?!"

"They say he's arrogant and aloof. Girls say they like him, but he doesn't even greet them when they meet. It's like he looks down on people just because his family has some money!"

Then, by the time they reached the age where they could understand the value of the dragon, it was too late for them to actively curry favor with it.

So that's what it was.
Having roughly understood the situation, Gan Mengning covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She had been so busy arguing when they met as children that she hadn't really realized that this guy had always been like this since he was a child.

If it weren't for an accident that led to her being recognized when they reunited at the driving school, Gan Mengning doubted that she would have been able to exchange more than five words with Shu Long by the time they graduated with their driver's licenses and went home.

Looking at it this way, I guess I'm still quite special~
"Oh, by the way, since everyone will be going their separate ways for further education and work soon, we have a primary school reunion during the summer vacation. You can ask Shulong if he's interested?"

"Okay, I'll ask him later. I don't think Shu Long is that aloof."

"Friends who know him well know that he is not at all pretentious in private. Unfortunately, many of his old classmates in the group only remember him from elementary school and after he became famous. Although the task of inviting him out was left to me and Yu Mujie, it seems that no one had much expectation."

Does this sound like it has a hidden meaning?
Gan Mengning responded with "uh-huh" sounds. Although Shen Qian seemed to be subtly putting pressure on her, she felt it was best not to have too high hopes.

If it was a classmate reunion organized by the group, then Shu Long himself would most likely know about it, but Shu Long never mentioned it to me.

Perhaps he's been too busy lately and forgot, or perhaps Shu Long himself is unwilling to go back and get involved.

Based on Gan Mengning's understanding of her boyfriend's personality, he is a very nostalgic person who would rather let many things remain in the most beautiful state of his memory than face the fact that they are slowly changing.

Many of the differences were actually formed the moment Shulong became famous. It is difficult for people to avoid being stained by the complex colors of their journey as they grow up. If they become too different from each other, meeting again will only add to their feelings of nostalgia.

They are unwilling to take the initiative to develop a relationship that could potentially deepen, but they cherish everything they already have.

It has nothing to do with whether someone is aloof or not.
Hahaha!

“Wu——!”

What the hell is going on? The two girls, each with a straw in their mouths, exchanged a silent glance, then raised their eyebrows with inexplicable expressions, clearly sensing that several camera lenses nearby were already quietly pointed at them.

The tea bar they were in was set up in a large hall enclosed by transparent glass, which offered a very friendly view for visitors, and made it easy to spot any drivers who came into contact with them.

In fact, many rooms at Red Bull's headquarters have a similar design, and the whole space feels very clear and bright.

Even Horner's own office is set up in a completely transparent and open room, as if to allow all the team's employees to know what each other is doing, thereby creating a strong sense of unity and shared goals within the team.

However, anyone with even a slight understanding of Shulong's past experiences will feel a strange sense of incongruity with the layout of this headquarters.

Where there is light, there is shadow. Even the most public work environment cannot stop the undercurrents. The human heart can be hidden very deeply without any cover-up. What can be seen is ultimately just a embellished appearance.

Moreover, the world is so complex that even the clearest environment is inevitably obscured by other chaotic elements that block our view of the outside world.

Upon hearing the strange cry, the two girls immediately looked up, but apart from what seemed like a dark, shadowy thing flashing by among the green leaves of the potted plant, they saw nothing else.

Before their brains could even process what they had just seen, two tall boys, both over 1.8 meters tall, wearing helmets and huddled together on a miniature motorcycle that was probably less than half a meter high, roared past the two girls in front of them across the corridor separated by a wall.

Well.
Do you race cars at the company?

Shu Long doesn't seem to be forced at all; you seem to be having a lot of fun.
That's definitely very aloof!

However, it does resemble the kind of thing Red Bull would do, always leaving people stunned and shattering the mysterious and lofty idol image they once had in a matter of minutes.

Shulong has driven all sorts of strange and fancy vehicles during the event, including even the garbage trucks used to clean the roads in the park. Last year, after the final race, the team's event operations team invited him to drive and race with Verstappen.

To be honest, compared to those serious, formal promotions and commercial activities, Shu Long actually quite likes these Red Bull gimmicks.

It's really fun. Compared to worrying about winning or losing, Shulong can be more immersed in enjoying the process.

No fan would expect him to compete for the championship in this area, and even if they did, he could simply ignore it.

As for whether he would mind making himself look ugly and damaging his image...
Where is this?

Ferrari and Mercedes are both eager to create perfect images and personas for their drivers to maximize their commercial value.

Red Bull places more emphasis on the driver's ability, but they do not completely ignore the maintenance of the driver's public image. On the contrary, they are not so obsessed with maintaining the perfect image they have created. Instead, they are happy to break certain preconceived notions, and fans love to see these kinds of tricks.

They've experienced even tougher things before. They might have cared a bit more during the Little Red Bull era, but now Shulong has completely let go of it.

As long as there is no so-called persona, there is no such thing as a persona collapsing.

As long as there is no image, there is no such thing as ruining one's image.

Shortly after the corridor racing grand prix ended, and with some time to spare before lunchtime, the filming crew and operations manager decided to move the afternoon's activities to the morning.

The rules were briefly explained.

Shu Long and Verstappen each sat in a go-kart covered with a Honda NSX shell (?), then each put on a helmet with serrated rooster combs on top, and drove these little cars around in an empty warehouse filled with balloons. The winner was the one who could pop the most balloons in the last five minutes.

It's unclear whether the design of this little car signifies a complete breakdown in negotiations between Red Bull and Porsche. In the end, Verstappen popped 23 balloons, while Shulong only popped 18, making Verstappen the obvious winner of this round.

Anyway, Shulong seemed to be having a lot of fun, with only one complaint.
"Why did you have to give me a black balloon?"

"You two are a good match?"

I wonder if Red Bull's internal event planning team also took note of the smoke display for the Austrian Grand Prix. Orange is the national color of the Netherlands, so I have no objection to choosing an orange ribbon for Verstappen.

Fans felt that red and yellow were more suitable for Shulong's identity, but because the colors were similar, it would be difficult to distinguish it from Verstappen. Therefore, the decision not to use these two colors for Shulong is understandable.

But wasn't black a scrapped design that even the car enthusiasts themselves rejected?
These balloons are not just balloons; they are filled with a lot of the same-colored dust. Once popped, they will immediately cover a person's face, and the effect is comparable to that of a smoke bomb.

In the end, he didn't even count how many balloons he popped. All he knew was that towards the end, he was physically and mentally resisting the urge to jump out of the car and actively push against the balloons.

Anyway, he didn't have the insistence to win every single thing against his teammates, so he just followed the route he remembered and made his way through, breaking through if he could, and not breaking through if he couldn't.

After getting off the bus, I took off my completely covered-up rearview mirror and was immediately amused by Verstappen's face, which was now stained red like a monkey's bottom.

To everyone's surprise, Verstappen's laughter became even more unnatural. He pointed at Shulong's dark face and nearly choked on the lingering smoke and dust in the air.

Is it really that exaggerated?
Shu Long looked at his girlfriend with some disbelief. To his surprise, Gan Mengning was relatively normal at first, but Shu Long had just grinned and showed his big white teeth when he immediately hugged his knees and squatted down on the ground.

Don't laugh, really!

The humor in his dark expression was 20%, and the humor in Shu Long's humiliation was 20%. In front of so many people and cameras, Gan Mengning felt that as his girlfriend, she should make a small contribution to protecting Shu Long's self-esteem. She thought that if she just endured it, it would probably pass.

The fact that black smoke billows out of its nostrils is probably not the worst part; the real problem is its teeth, and...
"The King of Mauritius?"

"Pfft—hehehe!"

Shen Qian did it on purpose, she absolutely did it on purpose!

The filming with the team has come to an end, and Shu Long and Verstappen took some time to clean themselves up. The team also presented Max with a small trophy shaped like a flowerpot as encouragement.

During the lunch break, Yu Mujie, who was getting used to the work rhythm, officially rejoined the team. Just like couples on a date back in their student days, they had lunch together at the Red Bull restaurant.

In the afternoon, Yu Mujie went to work on the tasks assigned to him, while Shu Long and Verstappen also got ready to do something that was a treat for car enthusiasts.

The event likely involved randomly selecting a few lucky fans to visit the headquarters. After surveying each fan about their favorite driver, they were informed that either Shu Long or Verstappen had entered their summer break, so they might not be able to see their idols on this trip.

Once they were completely disheartened, they were given a tour and a time to wait for a guide to explain the history of Red Bull racing cars.

Then, have Shu Long and Verstappen dress up as cleaners, carrying mops, and rudely encroach on each other's space under the pretext of cleaning. Finally, see if the fans discover their idols' identities first, or if they get angry and start a fight they'll soon regret.

It's quite interesting, but it's still really awful not to say it.
Both of them had been given an aged makeover by Red Bull, and almost no one could recognize at a glance that the annoying old man in front of them who kept nagging and complaining was actually their idol. However, since they were on Red Bull's turf, they didn't dare to be too obvious.

But when the two of them peeled off the fake wrinkles on their faces, the complex changes in their eyes still made it hard not to feel guilty.

Because of concerns that Gan Mengning might reveal Shu Long's identity, the two girls were not allowed to get close to each other during the afternoon's filming session.

Shen Qian finally couldn't contain her curiosity, so she invited Gan Mengning out to walk around the Red Bull park together and continue discussing some topics that were not convenient to discuss in front of the camera.

"Speaking of which—I've watched a few games this season, and I always had the feeling that the relationships within the Red Bull team were quite tense. But today, it seemed like Shu Long and his teammates had a pretty good relationship off the court?"

"It's alright, isn't it? What the outside world sees is only part of the story. Shu Long himself said that there's no room for sentimentality on the track, but he and Max are both the type who clearly separate work and life."

It's not just about competing on the track.

Although their goals and focuses differ, Verstappen often takes the initiative to invite Shu Long to practice iracing in private, and Shu Long always makes time to gladly accept the challenge.

The car model they often choose is the GT3, where physical contact can be even more violent, and the scenes and methods are much more brutal than what fans see on the F1 track.

Negative emotions are common, of course. Gan Mengning has witnessed the two arguing more than once, whether in virtual or real races. But they usually resolve their arguments on the track and act as if nothing happened the next day.

so.
"Is the reason your relationship is still so stable is because Shulong can flexibly shift his focus between work and life?"

The topic jumped around so quickly that Gan Mengning couldn't quite process it for a moment. She just nodded blankly and then shook her head from side to side.

To be honest, their relationship is the most important part of their lives, but it's not everything.

Shu Long didn't revolve around Gan Mengning all day long, and Gan Mengning didn't intend to become Shu Long's complete appendage. She also had her own work focus and life pursuits.

Just as a delicious dish cannot be without seasonings like salt, people can't eat only salt, right?
(End of this chapter)