Speed ​​God

Chapter 118 Baby Carrier
"That's a good thing."

“I have always believed that, like all competitive sports, fresh blood is the key to the continuation of a sport, so I have always paid close attention to the performance of young drivers.”

"I think the emergence of Zhizhou is a good thing for the entire sport. He has shown us more possibilities. It's not just him. Hubert, Russell, Bokolaci, Alesi, Han Shilong, and even Seaman, who performed brilliantly today, are all examples of a group of outstanding young people emerging in the paddock. As the competition becomes more and more intense, it also makes us realize that there are successors."

"I will continue to closely monitor their performance and look forward to them continuing to surprise us."

Wolf is still Wolf.

Low-key, reserved, comprehensive, and effortlessly delivering a response, he not only mentioned Lu Zhizhou but also praised all the young people equally.

Unlike Horner, Wolff focused on the entire group of "young drivers," addressing the topic directly while avoiding giving reporters room to exploit it.

Everything was perfect.

So the reporter was once again lost in a maze: Did Wolf really have a newfound respect for Lu Zhizhou, or not? And what exactly was Russell's position?
It must be said that although Wolff and Horner's strategies are slightly different, both are masters of psychological warfare, which explains why the paddock is never short of news.

It was a huge uproar, a real commotion.

Even as the F2 sprint race was about to begin, the buzz of discussion about Lu Zhizhou in the paddock hadn't completely died down; all eyes were on Leclerc.

Regardless of whether the two parties involved are willing or not, and regardless of whether the bigwigs in the hunting grounds are really concerned, the onlookers are all enjoying the spectacle.

"Lu Zhizhou vs. Leclerc" was the focus of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. First, Leclerc won the main race, then Lu Zhizhou fought back and won both the main race and the sprint race. Now it's Leclerc's turn to fight back. We'll see if Leclerc can continue his strong performance.

One is GP3, and the other is F2. These two completely unrelated races have actually sparked heated discussions by relying entirely on gossip and imagination to build a bridge between them.

Croft and Brendel, as professional commentators, naturally wouldn't participate in such gossip discussions, but that didn't stop them from continuing to show their interest, and their praise for Lu Zhizhou never stopped.

"...Viewers who just turned on their TVs to join us in watching the F2 sprint race, you don't want to miss this historic moment in GP3."

“A baby-driver who has won both the Spanish Grand Prix race and the sprint race, and then the Austrian Grand Prix weekend double, if we see the familiar Justin Bieber tune on the live stream next time, we should know that the protagonist of this GP3 season has arrived.”

"Now I finally understand that inside joke in the ART team, 'Baby, baby, baby, oh...' You have to say, it's very apt."

Croft was in a good mood, and his banter and witty remarks came easily to him.

Everything was just right.

Just last week, a brand new movie was released worldwide. Edgar Wright, the British director who made "Shaun of the Dead," brought us his latest work, "Baby Driver," which tells the story of a young man named "Baby," a highly talented driver for a criminal gang.

The movie is currently showing in theaters, but unexpectedly, in the real world of paddock, a baby carriage driver has also suddenly appeared and stolen all the attention.

The imaginative Croft immediately connected sports and movies, jokingly using the nickname, which spread through the live broadcast on Sky Sports. Little did he expect that the "Baby Driver" crew would actually share Croft's commentary GIF on social media.

From one "Baby" to another, in an instant, Lu Zhizhou's image effortlessly and easily entered the minds of netizens.

And it landed safely.

By the time the F2 sprint race ended, half the paddock knew Lu Zhizhou's new nickname.

What started as an internal joke within the ART racing team has now become a widely known topic of public conversation.

reason?

Because the F2 sprint race was absolutely spectacular, further proving Lu Zhizhou's impressive sweep of the weekend's two championships, Leclerc unfortunately had to retire from the race.

In the F2 sprint race, the Red Bull Ring once again showed its prowess, with young drivers fiercely competing and fighting tooth and nail.

Leclerc continued his top form from recently, starting tenth on the grid and overtaking and chasing all the way up to fifth place midway through the race.

Subsequently, the safety car was removed due to the car hitting the wall. Just like in GP3, the race entered a chaotic phase after the safety car returned to the pit area.

DAMS driver Oliver Roland, who was in third place, attempted to overtake ART driver Albon, who was in second place. However, Albon completely blocked the line, forcing Roland to brake hard to avoid a collision. In doing so, Roland blocked Prima driver Foucault, who was trying to overtake from behind.

To avoid a collision, Foucault hastily swerved, never expecting his teammate Leclerc, who was accelerating to overtake on the outside, to crash into him.

In a series of intense and close exchanges, Leclerc was eliminated, and Foucault also lost his position, dropping two places in the rankings.

The entire audience gasped in surprise.

Everyone sighed with regret. Leclerc was really unlucky. If it weren't for this accident, he could have continued his attack on the podium.

But precisely because of this, it further proves just how incredible Lu Zhizhou's feat of winning two titles in two consecutive weekends is. Look at Leclerc, who lost the sprint title in Baku last week due to a penalty time, and was eliminated from the Red Bull Ring this week due to a series of unexpected events. This is the essence of sprint racing.

Ironically, Lu Zhizhou accomplished such a feat.

then.

When the F2 sprint races concluded, the heated discussions surrounding Leclerc and Lu Zhizhou reignited.

The nickname "baby driver" perfectly encapsulates Lu Zhizhou's identity and condition, adding to the legendary nature of his feat and making him even more remarkable than Verstappen was back then.

For the first time ever, GP3 dominated the race weekend, only slightly diminishing its presence once the F1 race began; however, even with the F1 race drawing all the attention, the air in the paddock still thick with the name "baby driver"—

There's no way around it; compared to the name "Lu Zhizhou," "Baby" is obviously much easier to pronounce.

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene is absolutely fed up with this.

He hates media outlets that spread rumors and gossip, especially in the age of social networks.

The slightest disturbance is enough to stir up a huge storm. Trivial matters always manage to generate massive online traffic. After a brief period of commotion, a gust of wind blows, the bubble bursts, the true nature is revealed, and nothing remains. The media and netizens, with their goldfish-like memories, seem to have no recollection of what happened.

Then, time and again, they repeat the same mistakes, getting caught up in the next wave of traffic and continuing to blindly stir up trouble.

madness!

This is absolutely stupid.

“...If anyone keeps saying ‘baby,’ I’ll tear their mouth apart.”

Muttering curses and utterly agitated, Arivabené could barely contain his anger. He slammed the conference room door open, the thud echoing in the air like the fury and frustration exploding within him.

Everything is just like Justin Bieber's catchy song, with "baby baby baby" playing on repeat, which is extremely stupid and full of irony.

Upon entering the conference room, Arrivabene saw his team, who were on high alert, and Marchionne on the projection screen, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

However, Arrivabene was not afraid. Although Marchionne was the head of Ferrari and even the entire Fiat Group, he was not someone to be trifled with.

Arivaben waved his hand. "Sorry, there are too many flies. Traffic in the social media age is just too annoying. Please forgive my vulgar language. I'm ready, we can begin now."

Arrivabene took his seat, taking control of the situation. "Sergio," he said, "I know you're worried about where the team is right now, but I want to say, don't worry. We know our situation, we still have the initiative, and we know what to do next. Our goal remains unchanged."

Marchionne did not interrupt, patiently waiting for Arrivabene to finish speaking before nodding. "I know, I believe in your work. But that's not the reason I called this meeting."

Arivaben was taken aback. "No?"

Marchionne smiled. "No."

Arivabené frowned slightly.

This season, the competition between Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz has become extremely fierce and close, with every race potentially bringing unpredictable changes.

The Red Bull Ring is an example of this.

Here, Mercedes' Bottas took the championship, Ferrari's Vettel came in second, and Red Bull's Ricciardo came in third.

Although Vettel is still temporarily in first place in the drivers' standings, Mercedes has overtaken Ferrari to take the top spot in the team standings.

A single race, even a change in position, can have a ripple effect, making every point crucial. This puts immense pressure on Raikkonen, as Vettel continues to perform strongly, and Raikkonen's fluctuating performance could put Ferrari at a disadvantage in the constructors' championship.

Marchionne convened an emergency meeting. Arrivabene thought Raikkonen might be under fire, so he was prepared to defend Raikkonen. He immediately adopted a defensive stance and prepared a series of well-reasoned arguments. He believed he could appease Marchionne.

At Mercedes-Benz, internal competition and even disagreements are extremely fierce. Last season, the conflict between Hamilton and Rosberg escalated completely. This season, people thought Bottas was a good boy, but they did not expect that Bottas would express his ambition in public more than once.

"I believe I have the ability to chase the world championship. If I don't give it my all, I'm not a qualified driver."

Currently, Bottas is slightly behind Hamilton in the individual drivers' championship standings, but as he said, he does have a chance to win the world championship.

If we're not careful, Mercedes could face a repeat of the problems it faced last season, which is a serious concern.

But Ferrari doesn't have this problem.

Both Vettel and Raikkonen are world champions, but Raikkonen has a calm and carefree attitude, seemingly having already entered the stage of retirement. He is fully willing to cooperate with the team's tactics and contribute to Vettel's world championship as a driver and Ferrari's world championship as a team.

Ferrari needs Raikkonen; his experience, ability, and willingness to work with the team are key to their reclaiming of the Constructors' World Championship.

Arrivabene had planned everything perfectly, but Marchionne caught him completely off guard, leaving all his prepared drafts stuck.

Despite his confusion and frustration, Arrivabene convinced himself to relax. If Raikkonen wasn't the team's biggest crisis at the moment, then there was nothing to worry about.

Unfortunately, the relaxation lasted less than a second. When Arrivabene saw Marchionne's bright eyes, filled with eager excitement, an ominous premonition crept into his heart.

“Lu Zhizhou. We need to talk about Lu Zhizhou,” Marchionne said.

Arivabene's nerve snapped instantly. "No, Sergio, no. No! No!"

He repeated himself to the next sentence, forcefully expressing his dissatisfaction, his voice tinged with a hint of wailing, making it hard to believe his ears.

"No, Sergio, even you're doing it. It's one thing for others to follow suit and cause trouble, but why are you doing it too?"

"He's a rookie, a complete rookie. He's only played two games. Even a genius is still a rookie with only two games of experience."

"Formula racing is a sport that requires talent but even more experience. The intuitive judgment in a fraction of a second must be built up through countless races. Even Senna and Schumacher were no exception. No one! I mean, no one can break through that barrier! We need to stay clear-headed!"

“I know everyone has lost their minds because of Verstappen, but not you, Sergio. I didn’t expect you to act so recklessly.”

"You should look at Verstappen. He's brainless and just relies on brute force. He caused chaos at the start of today's race, left a mess, and then retired. He couldn't even finish the first lap. Isn't this a living lesson right in front of us?"

“He has talent, speed, and ability, I admit that, that’s an undeniable fact, but he still hasn’t mastered how to use those abilities. He doesn’t belong in F1, he should train in F2 for a couple more years. Maybe, given another two or three years, he will become a world champion, but definitely not now.”

"Verstappen is a ticking time bomb in the paddock right now, so are you planning to bring in another one to make the paddock more exciting?"

With a series of crackling sounds, they pressed on in one go.

All day long, Arivabené was holding his breath. From the media to the audience to the staff, everyone was restless like fleas. But in Arivabené's view, there was nothing to be surprised about. This group of people was just making a fuss.

Now, Marchionne is doing the same thing, and Arrivabene has suddenly lost control.

The meeting room was completely silent.

Forget about making a sound; everyone was too afraid to even look up, lowering their gazes and hunching their shoulders to hide their presence and avoid being swept away by the typhoon.

However, Marchionne on the other end of the video conference did not fly into a rage. On the contrary, he smiled slightly.

“Calm down, Maurizio, you should have some faith in me, calm down.” Only after Arrivabene had completely vented his anger did Marchionne speak. “I just wanted to talk about Lu Zhizhou, and Charles Leclerc…”

Arrivabene interrupted again, saying, "The same goes for Leclerc. He's too young and not ready for F1. I know he's achieved great things, and I know he's incredibly talented, but my opinion remains consistent: they need to continue accumulating experience."

"That...baby is like that, and so is Ciel."

Arivabene decisively shut down any possibility of further discussion.

He doesn't care who the other person is.

Tough, assertive, and fierce, Arivaben is like a lion, fiercely guarding his territory and refusing to allow others to interfere.

Even Marchionne was no exception. However, Marchionne was not angry. This tycoon who controlled an entire business empire was not just a brute. When facing people with completely different styles, such as Jean Todt and Ariwabénez, he displayed different temperaments and methods, being shrewd, flexible and firm, and in control of the overall situation.

Marchionne understood that a head-on confrontation with a strong leader like Arrivabene, who had a strong sense of territory, would often yield poor results and fail to achieve his goals.

Marchionne wasn't angry; in fact, a slight smile crept onto his lips as he seized upon a small slip in Arrivabene's words. "Oh. Baby/darling... Looks like you're no exception. Maurizio, I never knew you liked Justin Bieber too."

Arivabene: ...

He was fuming with rage, staring at Marchionne with a helpless expression, his frustrated state was quite amusing.

Marchionne stopped there, saying, "What I mean is, we need to focus on young people."

"Indeed, we have a star-studded driver lineup, with two world champion drivers, but they are both getting older, and we should plan for the future,"

"Among the top drivers in the paddock right now, Alonso could retire at any time, Toto Wolff can't let Hamilton go, and of course, I can't imagine what he would look like in a red racing suit."

“Maurizio, we can’t keep putting the initiative in our driver lineup in the hands of our competitors, relying on Ferrari’s titles and checkbook to pave the way every time; but the question is, if Ferrari can’t win the championship, how much appeal do you think we will have?”

The topic has come up again. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, as Marchionne expresses his philosophy.

Arrivabene was well aware that Ferrari had been preparing for this all these years, and Marchionne was very determined to implement the attitude and concept of "young blood".

Last year, when Ferrari renewed Raikkonen's contract, it was only for one year. At that time, Marchionne said that they would look for a suitable driver this year and prepare to introduce a brand new young driver during the summer break to replace Raikkonen next year.

Arrivabene has always favored proven, established drivers, especially in the Verstappen trend. Unlike others who favor younger drivers, Arrivabene believes that Verstappen's existence proves his point: experience is more important than talent.

But he couldn't fight against the powerful, so Arrivabene could only walk around and see what happened, trying to appease Marchionne while making up all sorts of excuses.

In fact, Arrivabene's plan has never changed: after the one-year contract expires, give Raikkonen another year's contract, and so on, year after year.

We'll keep looking for other experienced drivers from the paddock until Raikkonen decides to retire.

Of course, Arrivabene is not a naive fool. Marchionne is his boss, and a ruthless and cold-blooded tyrant at that. If Marchionne really makes up his mind, firing him is a piece of cake.

Arrivabene was able to stick to his opinions, which ultimately came down to two things.

First, he has support from within Ferrari, where he has a group of loyal connections at the top, which is his backing; second, he has the support of Ferrari's number one driver, Vettel.

In fact, Vettel is the biggest supporter of Raikkonen continuing as the number two driver.

Vettel likes Raikkonen, and as a friend and teammate, he has publicly stated more than once that he hopes to continue playing with Raikkonen.

Currently, Ferrari has been building the entire team around Vettel, hoping that Vettel will lead the team back to the top of the world and win both the driver's and constructor's championships. To some extent, Vettel's wishes are just as important as Arrivabene's attitude, and Marchionne cannot ignore them either.

At this point, Marchionne has come full circle back to the "young driver program," and Arrivabene has heard the same old rhetoric countless times—

Marchionne noticed the impatience on Arrivabene's face, his unfocused eyes barely concealed, which made Marchionne chuckle.

"Maurizio, you probably haven't watched Lu Zhizhou's matches, have you?"

Arivaben was stung, because he hadn't actually been watching, nor did he intend to, but how could he possibly give away a weakness?
“Sergio, I believe he is extremely talented…”

“But you lack experience, right?” Marchionne automatically finished the sentence. “We’ve had this kind of conversation so many times, just as you know the second half of my sentence, I know yours too.”

"But I still bring this up because he's different."

"Han Shilong, Russell, Alesi, Bokolaci. These young drivers are all experienced. But among them, Lu Zhizhou still firmly holds them in check. I can guarantee that the maturity and composure he displays on the track are definitely not those of a baby."

Arrivabene, however, was not so easily convinced. "Yes, this is GP3."

The subtext is that Lu Zhizhou's competitors are also a bunch of greenhorns.

“Therefore, the most suitable next step for him is F2,” Arrivabene said.

Marchionne: "What about Leclerc? If he wins the F2 championship this year, his next step will be F1."

Arrivabene said without hesitation, "Let's wait until he wins the championship. Look at today's sprint race, he was too impatient."

Marchionne: "Oh, it seems you did watch Leclerc's game, but not Lu Zhizhou's."

Arrivabene: "...What I mean is, maybe Leclerc has shown talent and could move up to F1 next year, but he's still too green. When Verstappen entered F1, he also spent a year with Toro Rosso first."

Arrivabene noticed a glint in Marchionne's eyes, but before he could figure out what it meant, Marchionne continued speaking.

"Right, that is it."

"So what I'm discussing is whether they should join F1 next year. I'm thinking of Leclerc going to Sauber and Lu Zhizhou going to Haas."

Arrivabene held his breath, only then realizing that Marchionne had gone around in circles, and his real purpose was here. Indeed, experience counts.

He was fooled.

Arrivabene gave a helpless smile. "You're in such a hurry? GP3 has only had two races. Two races, Sergio. Even for a new product trial, it should take at least three or even six months. You're already impatient after just two races. You have no Ferrari spirit at all."

It was sarcastic and cynical, but ultimately lacked the sharpness and incisiveness of its predecessor.

Marchionne knew that the first step had been achieved.

“You should watch his games; he’s shown more than just talent. Just two games, and such phenomenal performances further prove his excellence. Now it’s not just us watching him; Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have also taken notice.”

"You wouldn't want to see him wearing a silver or blue racing suit; that would be a disaster, both on the track and in public relations, from every angle."

With unhurried and methodical steps, Marchionne once again demonstrated his shrewdness, and Arrivabene still fell into his trap.

But Arrivabene was not so easily subdued; he remained calm, and at the same time, stubborn.

"No, it's all just an appearance."

"Wolf is still evaluating Bottas. He doesn't want to bring in a young player to compete head-on with Hamilton. Young players are more dangerous than Bottas."

"All Horner does is create smokescreens. I know about his feud with the Verstappen father and son. Jos Verstappen is indeed a firecracker. He may not be good at other things, but his ability to stir up hatred is absolutely unparalleled. However, Horner can never replace Verstappen, and Red Bull will not allow Horner to conduct a second risky experiment in just three years."

"They're a bunch of lunatics, but they're used to driving young drivers crazy rather than sacrificing their own interests."

Objective, incisive, and accurate.

Stubborn as he may be, Arrivabene's judgment was not without reason.

However, Marchionne had a different opinion.

"Toto Wolff doesn't need a young competitor, but he doesn't mind nurturing a successor. Hamilton is already thirty-two years old this year. How long will his peak last? Three years? Four years? After he turns thirty-five, Hamilton's competitiveness will plummet."

"Wolf is now planning ahead. He is training a new person to take over in three or four years, so as to seamlessly complete the generational transition at Mercedes-Benz."

"Wolf is casting a wide net now, Russell is doing the same, and so is Lu Zhizhou; he always has a long-term vision."

"Perhaps Wolff won't promote a young driver next year, but imagine if we don't promote any young drivers next year, or even give Lu Zhizhou any positive signals, giving Wolff an opportunity to lay the groundwork, observe, and build connections over the next two years. When we want to promote Lu Zhizhou then, who do you think he will choose?"

Arivabene pursed his lips tightly and remained silent.

The only voice in the entire conference room was Marchionne's, but clearly, Marchionne was not in a hurry. He did not push his luck, but instead slowed down and slowly unfolded his aura.

"And Horner, yes, you're right, Horner won't replace Verstappen, even if he wanted to, Red Bull Austria would absolutely not allow it."

"Therefore, Horner's goal was never to be the number two driver at Red Bull, and he never thought about undermining his competitiveness from within."

"What he needs is an illusion."

"On the one hand, he needs to make Verstappen nervous. Lu Zhizhou is like a catfish. Horner is trying to use Lu Zhizhou to keep Verstappen on edge at all times, to make him realize that his position is not so secure, and that he also needs to cooperate well with Horner. They should cooperate for a win-win situation."

"On the other hand, he needs Lu Zhizhou to curry favor with Red Bull Thailand, to get closer to them, and to make them think that he is bringing in Asian drivers. Marko and Verstappen are the obstacles to him achieving all this, pushing Red Bull Thailand out to compete with the Austrian side."

"For Horner, Lu Zhizhou was just a pawn, a tool."

"But the key point is that Horner is good at using public opinion. We can see the complex web of interests within the company, but the sponsors and drivers can't. If they continue to allow Horner to act so recklessly, how will the sponsors view Ferrari's treatment of its young drivers, and how will the young people in our academy view Ferrari?"

"Furthermore, if Horner really finds a loophole, do you think he will let it go easily? Is there really no possibility that Lu Zhizhou will join Red Bull's second team?"

Step by step, Marchionne struck the vital point.

Arivaben's entire back was covered in cold sweat.

Marchionne's tone softened again, "Indeed, it's only been two races so far, it's too early to say anything. Lu Zhizhou doesn't even have a super driver's license yet."

"However, we need to make plans."

"So, Maurizio, I'm asking for your opinion. What do you think of the idea of ​​Leclerc going to Sober and Lu Zhizhou going to Has?

Arrivabene felt a lump in his throat; subconsciously, he was resisting because this wasn't his method or technique for selecting drivers. What he valued wasn't Leclerc or Lu Zhizhou, and he ultimately couldn't accept them.

But Arrivabene wasn't stupid; he understood Marchionne's overall strategy.

Perhaps, as always, the best solution is to "delay".

For example, Lu Zhizhou, perhaps after two or three more matches, his halo will fade and his true colors will be revealed. At that time, there will be no need for Arrivabene to confront him head-on. Marchionne will naturally give up this plan. After all the traffic on social networks disappears, the ugly duckling's true colors will be revealed.

Arivabene swallowed his anger. "If they have no objections, what grounds do I have to object?"

Marchionne smiled, accurately seeing through the reluctance and perfunctoriness behind Arrivabene's words. "Maurizio, we all want to see Ferrari return to the top of the world. On this matter, we should be partners."

Arrivabene's expression remained stiff. "I know. But the point is, I'm the team principal, and team matters should be left to me; you're the CEO of Ferrari, so you should focus on Ferrari's operations. I won't interfere in your work, and you shouldn't interfere in mine either."

Marchionne raised an eyebrow slightly. "So, I'm seeking your opinion and spending a lot of time explaining my ideas, looking for your approval."

Instead of issuing orders directly.

Arrivabene immediately caught the sharp edge in Marchionne's words, swallowed hard, and thought, "He has already made his position and attitude clear, so there is no need to continue to be tough. I have always been grateful for this, Sergio, and it has always been an honor to work with you."

"But Sergio, please respect my judgment, okay?"

At this point, his words had softened, but he hadn't completely bowed his head.

Marchionne chuckled. "If you don't want me to interfere in the process, then let me see the result. I don't want to see us in second place in the constructors' championship."

The air was completely still.

Arivaben immediately sat up straight, extinguishing all excuses and resistance, even the drafts of his defense in his mind vanished completely.

Then, Marchionne didn't say anything more, hung up the phone, and ended the meeting.

The entire conference room was completely silent. Arrivabene sat there blankly, then stood up without a word and stormed out of the conference room.

Now, the staff who had been pretending to be ostriches were finally able to breathe. After looking at each other in bewilderment, their gazes finally settled on a nerdy guy with ramen-noodle hair and glasses.

"Matthia, what do you think?"

Mattia Binotto joined the Ferrari team in 1995, became the head of the engine department in 2013, and was promoted to team technical director in 2016.

As a graduate of mechanical and automotive engineering, Binotto's professional knowledge is clearly outstanding. It is under Binotto's leadership that Ferrari has regained its vitality in the past two years, finding competitiveness for the first time since F1 entered the hybrid era in 2014 and returning to the ranks of podium contenders.

There is no doubt that Binotto's position in the team is crucial. Although the main focus of their discussion today is Sauber and Haas, they all know that Ferrari is already shrouded in a storm, and no one can be an exception.

Binotto didn't speak immediately, but remained silent for a moment. "How about we watch some GP3 race footage?"

(End of this chapter)