Speed ​​God

Chapter 119 Intricate Roots
Perhaps some people are wondering why Sauber and Haas became the main characters in what was supposed to be a meeting of Ferrari's top management?
This requires understanding an important background: the engine.

For a race car, the engine is the foundation and the core; without an engine, everything else is useless. However, not all of the ten teams in the paddock currently have their own self-developed engines.

In the 2017 season, the ten teams in the paddock were divided into four camps.

First, the Mercedes-Benz engine lineup, including Mercedes-Benz, Force India, and Williams.

Second, the Renault engine camp, including Renault, Red Bull, and Toro Rosso.

Third, Honda's engine lineup, including McLaren.

Fourth, the Ferrari engine lineup, including Ferrari, Sauber, and Haas.

According to FIA regulations, gearboxes, suspensions, cooling systems, and some hydraulic components are allowed to be transferred. Therefore, teams that do not have their own engine development teams purchase or assemble engine components from traditional engine manufacturers.

At the same time, key components such as aerodynamics and chassis are prohibited from being purchased or transferred and must be developed by the teams themselves to avoid the "customer team" model from undermining the fairness of competition. Even within Red Bull and Toro Rosso, these parts cannot be transferred, and even communication between technical personnel is prohibited.

Of course, the fact that Red Bull's technical director visited the Red Bull second team's factory and casually discussed the matter shows that this gray area is still difficult to eradicate.

Returning our attention to the engine, since it's a collaboration, it involves an exchange of benefits. These collaborations are not fixed and can change at any time.

Take Red Bull as an example. Red Bull acquired and transformed the Jaguar team in 2004, while Toro Rosso acquired and transformed the Minardi team in 2006. Therefore, the two teams come from the same system but have their own complete teams. As teams, they have their own independent teams, with separate management and technical teams, but they share the same advisor.

Helmut Marko.

Therefore, the power struggle between Horner and Marco is far more complex than it seems.

At Toro Rosso, Ferrari engines were used from 2007 to 2013, Renault engines from 2014 to 2015, and then Ferrari engines were used in 2016, only to be replaced by Renault engines in 2017.

Everything is in flux, and everything is possible.

The same applies to Sauber and Haas.

Sauber and Ferrari's partnership began in 1997, with an exception from 2006 to 2009 when BMW owned Sauber. Otherwise, the partnership has lasted for seventeen years.

In the 2017 season, Sauber used Ferrari's 2016 engine instead of the latest model. Sauber had been trying to cooperate with Honda, but Honda had signed an exclusive supply agreement with McLaren, and the negotiations ultimately failed. So Sauber renewed its contract with Ferrari and continued to cooperate in 2018.

The difference is that in 2018, Sauber will use Ferrari's latest power unit for the new season.

However, the collaboration between Sauber and Ferrari was limited to this. Thanks to the brief BMW era, Sauber had its own wind tunnel and could design its own aerodynamic components, so they did not need Ferrari's technical support and tried their best to maintain their independence.

Haas is slightly different. This newly formed team, which entered the paddock in 2016, has a serious shortage of operating funds. Therefore, they are heavily reliant on Ferrari and need a lot of technical support from Ferrari to reduce costs and maintain their long-term foothold in the paddock.

Therefore, Haas sources all the technical components that can be transferred under the FIA ​​regulations from Ferrari; and Haas has set up a branch in Maranello, right next to Ferrari’s base, where a team of fifty people designs their own aerodynamic components using Ferrari’s wind tunnel and constantly communicates with Ferrari’s engineering team within the limits of the regulations.

As a result, complaints arose in the paddock, with many referring to Haas as "Ferrari 2.0". Teams including Force India and McLaren publicly protested and filed appeals, arguing that the deep partnership between Ferrari and Haas undermined the fair competition agreement.

Subsequently, the FIA ​​established an investigation team to conduct an in-depth investigation, eliminate suspicions, clarify disputes, and finally issue a report to guarantee the legality of the cooperation between Ferrari and Haas.

Nevertheless, this did not change the prejudice in the paddock, where people generally believed that Haas was simply a clone attached to Ferrari.

It is evident that Ferrari's cooperation with Sauber and Haas is quite different, and Sauber and Haas also have distinctly different self-positioning.

However, it is undeniable that Ferrari's cooperation with the two teams is comprehensive, long-term, close, and loyal.

Therefore, although neither Sauber nor Haas is a "second Ferrari team", young drivers from the Ferrari Junior Academy naturally have an inherent advantage if they want to join either team.

In 2016, Ferrari Junior Academy driver Antonio Giovinazzi repeatedly represented Sauber in the first free practice session of F1 weekends, and also made his official debut for Sauber in the Australian and Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year.

Similarly, Giovinazzi and Leclerc have also made several appearances for Haas in the first free practice sessions of F1 this year, accumulating experience.

That's why Marchionne had a good plan. He wanted to promote young people and fresh blood, but he didn't want to take risks with Ferrari. Red Bull was inspired by Verstappen's way of operating, so Sauber and Haas came into view. It was nothing more than an exchange of interests.

However, in Arrivabene's view, things are not that simple. Sauber and Haas are not fools, nor are they Mother Teresa with a heart for the world. They may not be willing to open their driver seats as Ferrari's testing ground without asking for anything in return. Just look at Giovinazzi's position to know.

Giovinazzi, a product of Ferrari's junior academy, won the "Baku Grand Prix double victory" last season, a full year earlier than Lu Zhizhou, and emerged out of nowhere; and ultimately ranked second in the GP2 annual driver standings, he can be said to be the focus of attention, bathed in countless praises and expectations.

Moreover, Giovanni is Italian.

Arrivabene knew how much Ferrari longed for an Italian driver to appear in the paddock again, especially to witness an Italian driver triumph at Monza in a Ferrari, which would be enough to send the whole of Italy into a frenzy. Giovinazzi indeed carried many of Ferrari's hopes and resources.

However, look at Giovinazzi; he still hasn't found a place and is serving as Sauber's backup driver, patiently waiting for his chance.

One Giovanni is already a problem, and with Leclerc and Lu Zhizhou added to the mix, Arrivabene believes that Marchionne's wishful thinking may not come true.

Binotto's idea was slightly different. He understood these principles, as did Arrivabene, and Marchionne had no reason not to see through them. But Marchionne still held a serious meeting and spent time persuading Arrivabene and the team's main staff. What was the reason behind this?
Therefore, Binotto believes that they need to carefully watch the GP3 race footage, and perhaps the answer lies within.

A storm is quietly brewing, with Lu Zhizhou at its center.

So, what about the person in question?
……

"Dad! Mom!"

It was Pudong International Airport again, and Terminal 2 again. Lu Zhizhou opened his arms and gave Lu Cheng and Jiang Mo a big, firm hug each.

Lu Cheng was completely bewildered, unsure of what to do with his hands, and said with a smile, "Hugging and cuddling as soon as you meet? Where did you learn that?"

“Italy,” Lu Zhizhou answered calmly, “and France, and Monaco.”

Lu Cheng grinned and shook his head. "You're just showing off. People who don't know better would think you've been living in Europe for ten years."

Lu Zhizhou scratched his head, chuckled, and turned to look at Jiang Mo, "See, Mom didn't complain. From now on, we'll treat you differently."

Lu Cheng's eyes widened, and he was about to protest, but then he thought about it again and was unsure whether he should protest or not, so the words remained on his lips.

After carefully examining his son, Jiang Mo patted him on the shoulder and said, "You've lost weight."

Lu Zhizhou: ? ? ?

"Mom, are you sure? I've been following the training center's menu three times a day, and I'm building muscle. I'm absolutely certain that my weight should be going up."

Lu Cheng chimed in, "I think so too, you've lost weight. Your mother was right." Then he looked around and asked, "Where's your luggage?"

Lu Zhizhou jumped up and down, gesturing to his backpack behind him. "That's all." Noticing Lu Cheng's surprised look, he added, "I just came back to take the exam."

Jiang Mo asked one more question, "How many days will you stay this time?"

"I'll leave as soon as the exam is over. Ferrari wants me to get back as soon as possible to participate in testing their F1 car next year in Maranello, not simulator testing, but direct testing on the track."

"Go straight to the track? What about their own drivers?"

“F1 drivers have packed schedules and are extremely busy. Vettel simply doesn’t have time. Raikkonen will come for a day and will probably test around thirty laps. The rest of the time, we young drivers will help with the testing. Charles and I will both be on the track together, along with a former junior academy student.”

The family chattered away as they arrived at the parking lot and got into their car.

Lu Cheng glanced at the rearview mirror. "Is the schedule so tight? I thought you could take a break after coming back this time."

Lu Zhizhou, oblivious to the sigh in his father's words, said carelessly, "It's good to have more to learn. There's something new to learn every day. Ah, I need to review. I have to hurry."

Jiang Mo turned his head and glared at Lu Zhizhou speechlessly.

Lu Zhizhou quickly surrendered, "Mom, I know, I know, I won't fall behind on my homework and exams, trust me."

Jiang Mo looked ahead again and saw in the rearview mirror that Lu Zhizhou had taken out his textbooks and tablet and actually started reviewing in the carriage.

It was obvious he was just putting on an act, and Jiang Mo couldn't help but say, "You don't study hard in the dorm usually, and now you're cramming at the last minute. I thought you had everything planned out, so how exactly do you manage your time..."

Lu Cheng quickly stepped in to mediate, "Isn't our son's schedule completely full? He always keeps his word, when has he ever made us worry?"

Jiang Mo thought differently. "It's because I trusted him that I didn't ask him a single question these past few months, believing he was self-disciplined and could manage his time well. And what's the result? Now he's cramming for the exam at the last minute, putting on a show for us. When it comes to the actual exam, his true colors will be revealed, and he won't be able to hide them anymore."

"This isn't just a problem with exams, it's a problem with habits and attitudes..."

The words could not be continued and came to an abrupt end.

Lu Cheng was very surprised. Judging from the sound, he thought Jiang Mo was about to explode. Why did he suddenly cut it off?
Lu Cheng looked up at the rearview mirror and saw Lu Zhizhou sitting there asleep, his head slumped over. His body was restrained by the seatbelt, and he was awkwardly leaning against the back of the seat with his mouth slightly open. He was completely asleep and it was obvious that he was exhausted.

Lu Zhizhou is an energetic person who has never been able to stay indoors since he was a child, but the Lu Zhizhou in front of us looks exhausted. There is a light blue under his eyes, no wonder he looked thinner just now.

Clearly, Lu Zhizhou must have been exhausted lately.

Then, Lu Cheng noticed his wife looking disheveled and hurriedly turning her head to look out the car window. He called out softly, "Jiang Mo..."

Jiang Mo didn't respond. He silently closed the car window, rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, feeling both heartache and frustration.

Jiang Mo admitted that she had always been reserved, whether it was the Ferrari Junior Academy or GP3, she never fully believed what was happening in front of her.

Hope is this: without hope there is no disappointment; the higher you fly, the harder you fall. Jiang Mo needs to play the villain, the one who pours cold water on things.

But to everyone's surprise, Lu Zhizhou actually has real talent, not only winning two titles at the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, but also achieving the feat of winning two titles at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Jiang Mo displayed her lawyer's skills by conducting a thorough background check. She even understood better than Lu Cheng what Lu Zhizhou's achievements meant.

However, the more this was the case, the more distressed Jiang Mo felt, because he realized that he and his wife might not have enough resources to support Lu Zhizhou in pursuing his dreams.

People often believe that as long as you have talent and ability, you can achieve great things. But the reality is cruel. Talent and ability can only help you get into competitive sports. There, you are surrounded by a huge crowd of geniuses. If you want to stand out from the crowd, it is impossible to achieve success by relying on talent alone.

Dreams are precious, but they are also expensive.

Jiang Mo's current situation is even more regrettable than Lu Cheng's back then. Sometimes, Jiang Mo can't help but wonder if things would be easier if he didn't have talent and lived a mediocre life.

Lu Cheng looked at Jiang Mo's profile. Although he couldn't fully understand her thoughts, he had been through it all himself, so his feelings were more direct.

Lu Cheng let out a soft breath, "Xiao Zhou has grown up now. He is going on his own adventure in his own way. All we need to do is support him. No matter what happens, he can always come home. We will always be here."

Jiang Mo didn't speak, but turned her head to look behind her. Lu Zhizhou had wounds and bruises on his arms, knees, and calves, and there were bandages on his fingers. Her heart clenched and ached slightly. "He's still a child. I just don't want him to bear this pressure."

Slightly, Jiang Mo wavered. She had been pouring cold water on him and holding a whip in his hand, always worried about the pain and despair of falling freely from the sky after his dream was shattered; but now she couldn't help but wonder if she was wrong.

Regardless of the outcome, even if it ultimately ends in failure, wouldn't it be better if she and her son stood on the same side, fought together, worked hard together, and faced the storms together?
The carriage was silent, with only a jumble of thoughts swirling in my mind.

Finally home, Jiang Mo woke up the soundly sleeping Lu Zhizhou, "Let's go upstairs first. Go to your room and catch up on some sleep. We'll deal with jet lag later, otherwise it would be terrible if you fell asleep in the exam room."

Lu Zhizhou rubbed his sleepy eyes and stumbled upstairs. He had barely entered the house when Song Bo's loud, boisterous voice rushed in, accompanied by a wave of heat.

"Aunt Jiang, Uncle Lu, where's Zhizhou?"

They entered like a hurricane, and they left like a hurricane.

"Mom, I went out with the PhD student. I haven't had a chance to listen to the key points of the biology exam yet. We're just in the courtyard downstairs."

Lu Zhizhou's voice came, but before Jiang Mo could respond, he heard the two children running out laughing and shouting.

Jiang Mo stared speechlessly at the open door. "He doesn't look tired at all. He was probably just making excuses to sleep in the car."

As a result, she ended up feeling melancholic and sentimental all by herself!
Even so, Jiang Mo still turned around and got busy, starting to make soup. Lu Zhizhou had finally come back for a visit, so naturally he missed the taste of home. Tonight, Jiang Mo planned to cook for himself and invite Song Yan and Zhang Qiaomu's family over for a small celebration at their humble abode.

Downstairs, Lu Zhizhou was completely unaware of his mother's inner turmoil; his attention was entirely focused on the exam content.

He means it.

Lu Zhizhou firmly believed in keeping his word. If he wanted his parents to agree to or even support his continued "reckless behavior," he had to fulfill his promise and prove his trustworthiness. Regardless of his performance in the hunting grounds, he could not neglect his homework and exams; this was a necessary condition.

However, Song Bo's attention was not on this at all.

"...Please, what exam? Is an exam important? Who has time to worry about exams right now! Big brother, boss, Grandpa Lu, I saw the news on the F1 official website!"

"So, really? You're going to F1? Which team? Red Bull? Mercedes? I think you should choose Mercedes. Once you're in the paddock, you should drive fast. Mercedes' cars are still good, still like Mars. Plus, with you and Hamilton as partners, you're simply invincible."

The way he boasted made Lu Zhizhou burst out laughing, "It's fake."

In short, the temperature dropped instantly.

Song Bo was stunned, his eyes wide, staring at Lu Zhizhou in disbelief.

Lu Zhizhou laughed even harder, "Watch out for mosquitoes."

Song Bo quickly shut his mouth, but he wasn't in the mood for jokes. "No way, Lu Zhizhou, tell me honestly, is it because of the confidentiality agreement that you can't say?"

"Don't you know who I am—Dr. Song! Don't you know my ability to keep secrets? Back in junior high, when you skipped class to go to Fengxian for underground racing, no one else knows about it. Believe me, I absolutely won't tell anyone. Do you think I don't know how serious this is?"

Looking at Song Bo, who was talking non-stop with remarkable eloquence, Lu Zhizhou couldn't help but laugh and waved his hand, "Really, I have no reason to lie to you."

"You think winning two games is a big deal? Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari—I can pick any car I want. The whole world revolves around Long Aotian?"

Song Bo looked anxious, even more so than Lu Zhizhou. "But it's not just two games, it's four games in total over two consecutive weekends."

Lu Zhizhou shrugged. "Yeah, it's just a GP3. Have you seen the news reports in China? Has it made any splash on social media?"

Song Bo's words caught in his throat—

Racing, unlike football or basketball, has a limited reach, and GP3 is an even smaller niche, attracting only a small number of die-hard fans.

This small group of people were overjoyed and cheered for Lu Zhizhou; however, he remained completely unknown to the mainstream public and made no splash whatsoever.

Song Bo looked sorrowful. "What about those official website news articles? The news can't be fake, can it?"

Lu Zhizhou nudged Song Bo's shoulder. "The F1 official website, that's an all-English website. If Aunt Qiao Mu knew, she'd probably be secretly shedding tears, 'My PhD has actually started reading English websites!' 'Aren't you full of confidence for the reading comprehension section of the English exam this time?'"

Song Bo looked utterly dejected.

Lu Zhizhou laughed heartily and stopped criticizing his friend. "The news is true. How could they fake the interviews they gave in front of reporters? But an interview is just an interview, and their actual actions are another matter."

Song Bo thought for a moment, then gasped, "You mean, it's all a public relations effort?"

Lu Zhizhou shrugged lightly. "Anyway, I haven't spoken to Horner so far, and neither has Arivabené. Toto Wolf came to congratulate me personally, but I think he's in charge of the fish farm, and he still values ​​George Russell highly. He was just sending me a casual greeting." "Oh," Song Bo sighed heavily. "They're all old foxes after all. I didn't expect them to be two-faced. Horner was so enthusiastic and eloquent in front of the media; I thought he really thought highly of you."

"Tch, I knew Horner wasn't a good person, he's very cunning."

"So you're saying all that hype was fake, and no convoy contacted you at all?"

Lu Zhizhou paused for a moment, then said, "Not exactly."

One sentence was enough to make Song Bo's eyes light up, and he couldn't help but hold his breath.

Lu Zhizhou didn't keep them in suspense any longer, saying, "McLaren's Zach Brown."

Song Bo almost screamed, and it took all his strength to barely control himself, but he still couldn't help but jump around in small steps.

Lu Zhizhou chuckled softly, "Actually, I didn't say much."

"He first congratulated me, then discussed the details of the two races, just like any other fan; then we talked about the past. He knew I came from street racing, and asked how I got into racing if I hadn't been driving a go-kart."

Song Bo's eyes lit up. "Then he must know about your go-karting days when you were little, right? And Uncle Lu's repair shop?"

Lu Zhizhou nodded. "He did his homework. Later, he asked me about my future plans. He knew that Formula One racing requires a lot of money, and without talent, it might be impossible to gain a foothold in the paddock, but that's only a possibility; without money, there is absolutely no chance of entering the paddock."

Song Bo couldn't contain his excitement, "So he's saying McLaren is going to sponsor you?"

"Haha, Doctor. I love how direct you are." Lu Zhizhou laughed heartily. "No, of course not. We're not talking about a few hundred thousand RMB, but millions or even tens of millions of US dollars. He won't just hand over his checkbook with one phone call."

"but……"

Lu Zhizhou paused for a moment, then said, "He showed sincerity."

“He not only did his homework, but he also did more than just join the crowd and cast a wide net. We actually had a conversation, and he talked to me for almost an hour.”

"Of course, this may only be part of the strategy. Zach Brown is now the CEO of McLaren, not just some random Daddy Long Legs. He is essentially the same as Wolff and Horner."

Song Bo nodded slightly. "But at least he put in more effort and showed more sincerity, which means you have more value in McLaren's plans. If you calculate value in terms of time and effort, you are the most important person to McLaren right now."

Lu Zhizhou: "At this stage, that is indeed the case."

Song Bo pondered for a moment, "...But isn't McLaren currently at the bottom of the team standings?"

Lu Zhizhou met Song Bo's gaze with a calm expression. "Yes, that's why they are even more proactive. They are more eager than Mercedes-Benz or Red Bull. Standing on the edge of life and death, they really don't have many options."

Formula 1, which started in 1950, has gone through 66 years, with participating teams coming and going, and the waves of change of the times.

Currently, the oldest and most traditional team in the paddock is Ferrari, which has never missed a race since the second race in 1950, the Monaco Grand Prix.

Ferrari is the only team in the paddock that has never missed a single F1 season, truly deserving of its status as a cornerstone. To date, they have won a total of sixteen Constructors' World Championships and fifteen Drivers' World Championships. Although they haven't won a championship for many years since the advent of hybrid technology, there is no doubt that as long as F1 exists, Ferrari will be the most special team in the hearts of racing fans and a symbol of the entire sport.

So, what about the second oldest car team in the paddock?

The answer is McLaren.

Since their debut in 1966, McLaren is entering their 51st season in the paddock. Their papaya orange is undoubtedly another striking feature of the track. Eight Constructors' World Championships and twelve Drivers' World Championships—these achievements also stand tall in Formula One history. Perhaps they are not as dominant as Ferrari, but McLaren's fanbase is global, demonstrating a strong market foundation.

Lewis Hamilton's professional career began with McLaren. In 2007, Hamilton made his first appearance in the paddock and created the myth of reaching the podium in nine consecutive races, writing an incredible rookie season.

After Hamilton left McLaren to join Mercedes in 2013, McLaren began to decline, hitting rock bottom in 2015, finishing ninth in the year-end constructors' championship, second to last. Although it recovered slightly in 2016, finishing sixth in the constructors' championship, it is struggling again this year.

Currently, McLaren is at the bottom of the constructors' championship and is in a difficult situation.

Moreover, the predicament doesn't end there.

In the paddock, apart from a few teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes-Benz that don't need to worry about financial issues, all other teams are exceptions.

They need to constantly worry about breaking even, advertising sponsorships, and other issues. When selecting drivers, the teams also need to consider related issues.

Firstly, does the driver have his own sponsors?

Secondly, whether the team's main sponsors are satisfied with the driver's brand image is another matter. Even if these sponsors do not sponsor the driver, if they are concerned that the driver's brand image may have a negative impact, they have the right to protest. In that case, the team must mediate, negotiate, and make a decision.

McLaren is the same.

Therefore, as Lu Zhizhou said, McLaren is now facing a severe challenge. They have no choice but to be bolder and more adventurous.

In Lu Zhizhou's view, Brown had fully considered the potential of the Asian market. If he went out to solicit sponsors with the title of "the first Asian driver in the paddock", would he be able to find more sponsors in Asia?

It was due to a combination of factors that Brown appeared very proactive and sincere.

However, Song Bo had a slightly different perspective on the whole matter: "But... McLaren, a slow car, isn't that bad for its future development?"

Lu Zhizhou laughed directly, "Doctor, you make it sound like I have a choice."

Song Bo immediately realized what was going on, and only then did he recall Wolff and Horner's attitudes. Everyone wanted to join a top team, but getting into a top team wasn't so easy. He scratched his head sheepishly, "So, if McLaren really invites you, will you go?"

“Yes. Of course I’ll go. One hundred percent.” Lu Zhizhou said without hesitation. “To jump from GP3 to F1, and without having to worry about sponsorship, such a rare opportunity is not worth refusing.”

"If we want to gain more initiative and a stronger voice, we must achieve results in the field."

"That's how competitive sports are. There's no problem that a single victory can't solve. If one victory isn't enough, then two, three, four, five, or six more."

Song Bo took a deep breath, and his excitement and exhilaration subsided slightly. He put aside his unrealistic fantasies for the time being, and the fervor of Lu Zhizhou winning two championships in two consecutive weekends also cooled down a bit. He finally regained his focus and began to feel the weight of gravity again.

Nevertheless, Song Bo remained confident, saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, right?"

"Take it one step at a time, boss, I believe in you!"

Lu Zhizhou looked at Song Bo, who was acting out a scene straight out of a Japanese shonen manga, and smiled broadly. "Boss? I remember someone kept emphasizing that his birthday was earlier than mine?"

Song Bo immediately rubbed his hands together obsequiously and looked at Lu Zhizhou with a beaming smile, "Brother, from today onwards, you are my brother."

Lu Zhizhou knew Song Bo all too well; no action could escape his eyes. The sweet talk in front of him must have an ulterior motive. "Speak, what's wrong?"

Song Bo didn't mince words and pressed his advantage, asking, "Could you review and explain the key technical points of the Spanish and Austrian Grand Prix with me?"

Lu Zhizhou was puzzled. "You have a fever?"

Song Bo also likes racing, but he's a fan of the "Fast and Furious" genre. He simply enjoys the speed and doesn't like studying the technology. He gets dizzy and lightheaded just looking at those data, and the hypnotic effect is comparable to solving math problems. So he has never had insomnia since he was a child.

Song Bo chuckled twice. "I opened an account on a video website to popularize GP3 and provide first-hand racing information for domestic car enthusiasts."

Lu Zhizhou did not hide his surprise.

From childhood to adulthood, Song Bo has always been a person who works hard for three days and then slacks off for two. He only has a three-minute attention span for everything and is usually lazy and carefree. In fact, Song Bo is very smart, but he is used to using his cleverness to find loopholes and be lazy. Zhang Qiaomu has shed many tears for this.

This should be the first time in Lu Zhizhou's memory that Song Bo has shown interest in something.

Bathed in Lu Zhizhou's gaze, Song Bo appeared slightly reserved. "I started around the Chinese New Year. I'm still a novice. Making videos isn't as simple as it looks. Moreover, when I made videos before, I made some basic mistakes that were pointed out by real veteran car enthusiasts. It was incredibly embarrassing. So now I've started researching. Even if I'm not that professional, at least I shouldn't make basic mistakes."

"Actually, I didn't want to tell you. My account only has a little over 800 followers, less than 1,000. I was embarrassed to bring it up in front of you. I was thinking of telling you as a surprise gift when you signed with an F1 team. But you just won the Austrian Grand Prix, right? There are a lot of technical details in both the race and the sprint, and I wanted to analyze them..."

As he spoke, Song Bo's voice gradually lowered. He still lacked confidence and felt somewhat ashamed to bring these things up.

Song Bo secretly glanced at Lu Zhizhou, only to see Lu Zhizhou flash a big smile. "Eight hundred! Wow, Doctor, you're really something! So from now on, I'll have to call you an internet celebrity?"

"When you have more data in the future, remember to take care of me. If you become rich and powerful, don't forget me, okay?"

Song Bo was taken aback, then a smile spread across his face.

Lu Zhizhou's cheerful voice boomed in the afternoon sunlight, dispelling the summer heat like a soda, "Come on, let a professional tell me, how can I help? What do you want to analyze?"

June marks the quiet arrival of summer. Shanghai, having just passed the plum rain season, suddenly became sweltering overnight. Rolling heat waves roamed the air, and fruits such as watermelon, durian, bayberry, mangosteen, and cantaloupe were everywhere on the streets. The scene of everyone holding a drink gradually became lively.

For office workers, life goes on the same way, without any changes; but for students, with summer vacation just around the corner, they are all getting restless and eager to go out.

However, before summer vacation arrives, there is still the final exam, the ultimate boss, to deal with.

Especially for second-year high school students, this is the last summer before entering the final year of their academic year. Some people have made plans for their summer studies early, some are preparing to attend summer camps to enrich themselves, and some are preparing to indulge themselves for a whole summer and then study hard again in September.

At this time, the final exams become especially important, as they may determine whether one's summer vacation can proceed as planned.

Lu Zhizhou was no exception.

While the paddock was buzzing about a dark horse emerging in this year's GP3 that disrupted everything, that dark horse obediently returned to school and prepared for the exams just like millions of ordinary students.

Unlike the Lunar New Year, Lu Zhizhou's return this time did not cause a stir. His classmates had learned their lesson. Although they were still curious about what had happened during Lu Zhizhou's disappearance for half a semester and what GP3 ​​was, they were wiser this time and kept their mouths shut, not meddling in other people's business.

Lu Zhizhou kept a low profile and did not attract much attention. He focused entirely on the exam, and everything went smoothly.

After the test, Lu Zhizhou didn't linger. He turned back to Maranello, eager to test Ferrari's new 2018 F1 car.

This was Lu Zhizhou's first time driving a real F1 car on a racetrack, and even though it was his own backyard Fiorano circuit, the experience was different.

Therefore, Lu Zhizhou couldn't wait to go back.

He came and went in a hurry, leaving without a trace. If one were fully focused on studying and taking exams, one might not even notice Lu Zhizhou's presence.

When the exam results came out, there was another uproar. Lu Zhizhou had no idea that he had once again left a legend in the school.

Lu Cheng noticed Jiang Mo standing there in a daze, his heart skipped a beat, and he took the initiative to lean closer, "What's wrong, are your grades bad?"

Jiang Mo did not answer, and fell into deep thought.

Lu Cheng glanced at the report card: second in the class, seventh in the grade.

Although it wasn't as good as the one during the New Year, his performance was still excellent. Lu Cheng glanced at Jiang Mo's expression, worried that Jiang Mo might think his son had regressed.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Cheng still defended Lu Zhizhou, "This result is already outstanding. Think about it, Xiaozhou is there, he has to train, compete, and test cars for the team. He's so busy all day long, but he still manages to find time to keep up with his studies. He has done his best to fulfill his promise."

Jiang Mo nodded gently. "Yes. I know."

Lu Cheng was taken aback, "Then you..."

Jiang Mo let out a breath, "I'm worried that I might be too harsh on him."

"To be honest, the competition was so intense and fierce, and Xiaozhou's grades were so good, I had almost no hope for this final exam, but he still performed so well. I know how intense the second year of high school is, which means that he may have to put in ten or a hundred times more effort behind the scenes."

The words did not continue.

Lu Cheng felt a slight tightness in his throat. He knew that he wasn't the only one who cared about Lu Zhizhou; they just expressed it in different ways.

Lu Cheng patted Jiang Mo on the shoulder, "Don't worry, your son understands your good intentions. He's been working hard, hasn't he? We should also work hard in our own way."

"How do we know something is impossible if we don't try?"

Jiang Mo didn't answer immediately, torn between reason and emotion. "...Let me think about it some more."

Lu Zhizhou, far away in Maranello, had no time to worry about his grades. He had already done his best in his studies, and the rest was beyond his control. More importantly, there were more and more unknowns in racing, as if he had entered a brand new world.

People always think that since they are all racing cars, there is no difference between them.

But this is wrong.

Regular racing cars and Formula One cars are two different things, and GP3 and F1 cars are two different things as well.

If anyone thinks that Lu Zhizhou can easily handle GP3, then he can naturally handle F1, since it's just a matter of being a little faster, then they are sorely mistaken.

The point is very clear: when the car is traveling at 40 kilometers per hour, everything is very simple to control, but when the car is traveling at 100 kilometers per hour, the same control becomes complicated under the pressure of speed; and F1 takes it a step further and pushes the speed to 300 kilometers per hour, as if walking on the edge of the limit.

Moreover, aerodynamics, dynamic balance, hydraulic brake coordination, steering control, and so on are inherently different, and everything requires a completely new adaptation.

For Lu Zhizhou, who came to the sport later in life, there were many unfamiliar things. If it weren't for the systematic teaching of theoretical foundations he received over the past six months, and the invaluable help of the "100,000 Whys" question, he probably would have been a lost sheep unable to find his way in F1.

Everything was exhilarating for Lu Zhizhou.

In the world of GP3, he is still learning and improving, and now he has discovered the dazzling world of F1, which is overwhelming and dazzling.

Lu Zhizhou finally got to experience what it felt like to "absorb knowledge like a sponge".

Even as he left Maranello, Lu Zhizhou was still reluctant to leave; but there was nothing he could do, as the next GP3 ​​race was about to begin.

The GP3 schedule must be coordinated with F1, leaving no room for choice. Previously, there was a full month's interval between the Spanish and Austrian Grands Prix, but the next race in Austria has no such gap, with two consecutive weeks of racing.

In other words, Lu Zhizhou traveled to three cities in just one week—Shanghai, Maranello, and London—keeping himself so busy he had no time to breathe. After transitioning between his roles as a student and a test driver, he will now return to his identity as an ART driver, competing in the third race of the season.

Silverstone, England.

Motor racing originated in Britain; F1, on the other hand, originated at Silverstone. In 1950, the first Formula One World Championship race was held at Silverstone Circuit.

Even now, Britain remains the home of motorsports, with almost every F1 team setting up its headquarters there to exchange firsthand information. Only Ferrari, the old stubborn stalwart, remains alone in Maranello, displaying its pride.

Silverstone Circuit is located about 100 kilometers north of London. It was originally a military airfield during World War II. Not only F1, but all kinds of racing cars compete here. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous and bustling circuits in the world. It is not only historically significant, but also has a passionate fanbase, making it almost a holy site.

Just as English football has a deep-rooted fan culture, motorsports at Silverstone boasts an incredible fan culture, making it a track that no driver can afford to miss.

This weekend, the GP3 will also be making its debut at Silverstone Circuit, competing on this track steeped in history and culture.

The moment they appeared, it felt different.

And it's...completely different.

(End of this chapter)