Speed ​​God

Chapter 124 Super Driver's License
Get straight to the point and draw clear lines.

Jean Todt made his position clear early on, which didn't surprise Marchionne. He smiled and said, "Of course I know, I won't make things difficult for you."

“I’m not Helmut Marko. I just need to remind the Super License Board, ‘Hey, Jean and I have been friends for years.’”

The subtext is that Ferrari and the FIA ​​have a long-standing relationship.

Todd chuckled at the little joke. He naturally understood the underlying meaning; otherwise, he wouldn't have come out to greet Marchionne in person today.

"Don't get me wrong, you know how I feel about that kid. I'm just curious why you're in such a hurry?"

"In yesterday's Budapest sprint, the baby didn't continue to win, did it? Waiting a little longer and observing further doesn't seem like a bad thing."

The Hungarian Grand Prix has concluded. In the GP3 sprint race, Lu Zhizhou, who won the main race, was surrounded and faced numerous dangers. He was unable to replicate his miracle. This time, there was no collision or accident. It was purely because the Trident team cooperated perfectly to block Lu Zhizhou's solo efforts. They proved that racing is indeed a team sport and requires teamwork.

Ultimately, the Trident team swept the podium, salvaging some pride for Silverstone after their near-miss.

Lu Zhizhou, however, was outnumbered and finished fourth, missing the podium for the first time this season.

This should be the first time Lu Zhizhou has encountered a real "bump" since his sudden emergence. From the UK to Budapest, his dominance has loosened. Most obviously, his sprint results have steadily declined, with second and fourth place respectively. A wave of doubts and criticisms has surged, once again pushing Lu Zhizhou to the forefront and subjecting him to unbelievable pressure.

Originally, people had been questioning Lu Zhizhou's challenge to Lu Zhizhou. In the paddock, Lu Zhizhou had no foundation whatsoever, and even the slightest ripple could drag him into a storm. Now, with his performance in the sprint races of two consecutive events "below expectations," the voices have suddenly become lively.

At this point, it's understandable that Marchionne would have been more cautious and less hasty in stabilizing the situation.

However, Marchionne did not.

He personally arrived in Paris at the first opportunity to work tirelessly for Lu Zhizhou's super driver's license, demonstrating the temperament and charisma of a powerful figure.

Marchionne didn't answer, but instead asked, "Do you also think Lu Zhizhou's performance is fluctuating and needs further observation?"

Todd was taken aback. "No, of course not."

After a pause, I said, "In fact, I think his performance is still on the rise. The pressure and attention are increasing, and there are more and more noises inside and outside the paddock. It is easy for a 17-year-old teenager to be distracted, but he has always remained focused. I am still amazed by his performance."

"In fact, I personally prefer the sprint race between Great Britain and Hungary."

"but."

“Sergio, we’re talking about a power struggle, it’s not that simple. You know what your move really means.”

Marchionne's eyes flashed with a smile. "You're going to talk to me about interests? Then let's talk about interests. It's all because of your committee. They're scheduled to meet in August, and I've already heard that they're planning to further tighten the review process for super licenses."

Todt wasn't surprised. "No, you misunderstood. It's not that the review process is more rigorous, but rather that it helps young drivers enter F1 in a regular and step-by-step manner."

Marchionne: "But what if I can't wait?"

Todd paused, pondered for a moment, and a flash of inspiration struck him. He looked at Marchionne with a look of astonishment, seeking confirmation.

Marchionne responded with a smile, but said nothing.

A storm raged through Todd's mind. His heart pounded, and his ears rang. It wasn't because he was naive, but because he clearly understood the uproar and shock behind the whole affair. "Does Maurizio know about this?"

Marchionne calmly shrugged, still not answering, but patted Todd on the shoulder, "Mr. Chairman, please lead the way."

So, what's going on?

The matter still needs to be traced back to Verstappen.

In 2014, Verstappen burst onto the scene, and Red Bull's Marko was overjoyed, believing that Red Bull's hope lay in Verstappen.

At the time, Verstappen was not even seventeen years old and was not yet a minor. Not to mention a super license, he might not even be able to get a regular driver's license in some countries and regions. However, after carefully reading the relevant FIA regulations, Marco went through the back door to obtain a super license for Verstappen.

The rest is history.

Verstappen became the youngest F1 driver in history, and later the youngest points driver and Grand Prix winner. Almost all the historical records related to age belong to Verstappen, making him a whirlwind in the paddock and influencing the development of young drivers.

The FIA ​​suffered a loss in silence and quickly amended the rules to close the loopholes and prevent other teams from following suit. In 2016, it introduced new regulations.

Currently, there are detailed and strict regulations for obtaining a super license, among which there are three key elements.

First, you must be at least 18 years old. This is a strict rule; the FIA ​​has explicitly prohibited drivers under the age of 18 from applying for a super license.

Secondly, you need to accumulate 40 points for a Super License within three years. For F2, the champion gets 40 points, the runner-up gets 30 points, and the third place gets 20 points; for F3 European Series and GP3, the champion gets 30 points, the runner-up gets 20 points, and the third place gets 15 points. The points are different for different races, but you need to accumulate 40 points in three years.

Third, 300 kilometers of F1 testing, accumulated within 180 days in F1 free practice or FIA-certified testing.

Of course, that's not all. There are also super license theory tests, two seasons of single-seater racing experience, and so on, totaling hundreds of pages of regulations.

Ultimately, F1 is a dangerous sport that can truly threaten lives, and the FIA ​​has established these detailed rules to ensure driver safety.

Judging from the existing rules alone, it is impossible for Lu Zhizhou to apply for a super license. Firstly, he does not have enough points, secondly, he does not have enough seasons for single-seater racing, and of course, most importantly, he does not meet the age requirement.

From any perspective, Lu Zhizhou is ineligible to apply for a super license. This is precisely the original intention behind the FIA's rules: young people must accumulate at least two seasons of experience before they can apply. Otherwise, these hormone-fueled youngsters might cause all sorts of trouble.

Everything is aimed at Verstappen; these rules are all the consequences of Red Bull and Verstappen's actions.

Under the existing rules, Lu Zhizhou's chances of directly advancing to F1 next year are very slim. However, something even worse is about to happen next month.

Last year and this year, Verstappen continued his reckless and impulsive behavior, becoming one of the drivers with the most penalty points since the introduction of the Super License penalty point system in 2014.

The FIA ​​realized that this couldn't continue; they needed to tighten the review process for super licenses. They then prepared to hold a meeting to discuss the relevant rules.

For Marchionne, this was like a bolt from the blue; he had to act before the committee's August meeting extinguished the last vestige of possibility.

Every second counts; there is no room for hesitation or delay.

Everything is about timing.

Indeed, Marchionne admired Lu Zhizhou. His spontaneous, unintentional act of inspiration had unexpectedly brought about such a pleasant surprise.

But his appreciation stopped at just an idea, a thought, or a blueprint. Marchionne had no intention of disrupting Ferrari's plans on a whim. After all, the F1 team is different from the junior academy; every move here could involve many interests and required careful consideration.

"Leclerc joining Sauber, Lu Zhizhou joining Haas" is less of a plan and more of a beautiful fantasy.

Just think about it.

However, Lu Zhizhou continues to surprise, from the main race to the sprint race, from the track to the mind, traveling to different cities and different tracks and facing numerous challenges, but time and time again he withstood the pressure and broke through the shackles, step by step turning Marchionne's crazy imagination into reality.

Heroes are made by the times. Those who create miracles and write history are often not accomplished by their own efforts. Favorable timing, geographical location, and human factors are all indispensable.

The situation is the same right now.

When Marchionne learned that the FIA ​​Super License Committee was preparing to meet to continue discussing the rules and further tighten the review standards, inspiration struck.

He realized that this was a golden opportunity, a chance that would not come again, and that this was the chance to propel history forward.

Perhaps Lu Zhizhou will meet expectations and step onto the F1 track next year; perhaps everything is just a bubble, and Lu Zhizhou will not be able to withstand the test of time, like countless other geniuses who will be lost in the torrent of F2 and never be able to step onto the F1 track in his lifetime; perhaps even if Ferrari manages to obtain a super license for Lu Zhizhou, it may not be able to be used immediately next year.

Everything is possible.

But if Marchionne doesn't seize the opportunity and fight for a chance to survive, he will miss those possibilities and be firmly bound by reality.

Completely lost the initiative.

This is not in Marchionne's character; this is precisely the key reason why Marchionne decisively went to Paris.

He needs to secure a window of opportunity for Lu Zhizhou. Whether Lu Zhizhou can seize it depends on his own performance.

Indeed, the FIA ​​has set out the rules in black and white, and Lu Zhizhou cannot meet any of the conditions at present. However, there are always exceptions. Just as Red Bull found a loophole for Verstappen, the FIA ​​is now preparing to further modify the rules because teams can still find opportunities to exploit loopholes.

Marchionne never fights unprepared battles, and he always manages to find ways to turn the tide and increase his chances of winning.

In the conference room.

Dominique Keller opened his mouth slightly, his face full of astonishment. He even forgot to adjust his glasses, letting the gold-rimmed glasses slip off his nose. His blue eyes were full of surprise and confusion, and he couldn't believe his ears. "Mr. Marchionne, you know this is impossible."

"Absurd. This is absolutely absurd!"

By this time, Todd had already left, offering neither help nor interference, leaving the meeting room space entirely to the Super License Committee members.

Keller, a Frenchman, is the current chairman of the Super License Committee. In the past two years, he has been under intense scrutiny because of Verstappen's constant criticism in the paddock. People believe that Red Bull's persuasion of Keller to give him the green light is undoubtedly the culprit for the chaos in the paddock, which makes Keller feel particularly aggrieved.

From the outset, Keller decisively and firmly rejected Marchionne.

However, Marchionne remained calm. "Dominic," he said, "we all know that cars are static, but people are dynamic. We should judge based on the specific circumstances and performance."

“I thought the original quote was ‘Rules are dead’,” Keller rolled his eyes and muttered irritably.

Without pausing, Keller immediately switched to offensive mode, "But, eighteen years old, no discussion, this rule cannot be broken under any circumstances."

Marchionne, "Even if it's only one day away from my eighteenth birthday?"

Keller: ...

Marchionne: "What about a week? A month?"

Keller: "Mr. Marchionne, I never knew you were so glib."

Marchionne stopped there, saying, "What I mean is, there's room for maneuver. Besides, Lu Zhizhou isn't entering F1 this season; I'm talking about next year. He got his super license this year, but he'll be on the track next year. He'll be 18 after November."

"I am simply asking the committee to approve the application."

Keller's eyebrows furrowed completely. "But what about points? You know we have to follow the rules. The GP3 season isn't over yet. I know he's far ahead in points, but even if he wins the GP3 championship, he'll only have thirty points, which isn't enough."

"It's not just not enough, it's far from it, a full quarter of the way."

Marchionne glanced at Henry Reems, who was sitting slightly younger beside him—

The FIA ​​Youth Development Coordinator focuses on developing young drivers, not just in F2 and GP3, but in all FIA-authorized races worldwide, including underage drivers.

"Henry, as far as I know, young drivers can also earn points by completing F1 testing missions, right?"

Rim nodded. "Yes, one point for every 100 kilometers, with a maximum of ten points."

After receiving a positive reply, Marchionne looked at Keller again, "Lu Zhizhou has already started testing for the Ferrari F1 car, and everything is in compliance with regulations. We can complete the task before the end of the season; forty points are not a problem."

Keller looked up at the sky speechlessly. "You mean, he's planning to test Ferrari for a thousand kilometers?"

Marchionne looked completely unfazed and shrugged lightly.

Keller took a deep breath, his tone finally softening, and his form of address changed, "Sergio, I'm not trying to cause trouble, I understand what you mean, but have you forgotten that we require drivers to have at least two seasons of single-seater racing experience? This... Lu, he's only raced a few races so far, four?"

"Isn't this too little?"

Marchionne could hear the earnestness in Keller's voice; he knew the real key was yet to come. "Of course I know, how could I forget?"

"But Dominic, I haven't forgotten that if a top team is willing to vouch for a driver, the FIA ​​can make an exception and issue a super license."

Marchionne casually dropped a bombshell—

As he said, the FIA ​​could indeed make an exception if the team vouched for the team in its own name, because if problems arose, the FIA ​​could simply target the guarantor.

It was Red Bull that guaranteed Verstappen's entry, which allowed them to exploit a loophole and break the rules.

Moreover, Ferrari is not Red Bull. Ferrari is the most important and prestigious team in F1, unmatched by any other. The weight of Ferrari's brand is completely different.

If Marchionne provides a guarantee in Ferrari's name, the FIA ​​cannot remain indifferent.

Keller was shocked. He never expected that this was Marchionne's trump card. But thinking about it carefully, Marchionne had personally arrived in Paris today and used Todd to protect him. From the beginning, he had been determined to win. So the current situation seemed to be justified.

Nevertheless, Keller remained deeply shocked, leaning forward slightly as he stared at Marchionne, uttering each word slowly and deliberately.

"Sergio, are you sure?"

The air was slightly heavy, and one could almost hear the roar of the tide of history. A seemingly simple decision could change history once again. With eyes closed, one could see the hunting grounds once more engulfed in turmoil. One's heart pounded faster and faster uncontrollably.

Marchionne did not give Keller a direct answer, saying, "The track, that's the only answer. You shouldn't be asking me that question."

Keller followed Marchionne's gaze and turned to look to the side—

Simon Jenkins, a neutral technical advisor for F1, has no vested interests with the teams and no direct contact with young drivers. He remains neutral and analyzes purely from a technical perspective. Of course, he also does not participate in decision-making, but only provides objective technical support to the FIA.

At this moment, Jenkins noticed the gaze but remained unmoved, speaking in a calm and steady voice.

"During long-distance driving, there was no tire lock-up or loss of position, and the tire degradation control was excellent; during offense and defense, the driving line was clean, and the timing was just right."

"Although there was a collision on the track, it was not his fault at all." "After four races and eight rounds so far, he has shown excellent stability and top-notch control, making him a class above in GP3."

Objective and rational.

Jenkins is only responsible for judging Lu Zhizhou's driving, regardless of the results, limited to GP3, and does not predict the possibility of F2 or F1; it is purely technical support.

However, it is precisely because of this objective evaluation, devoid of any superfluous emotions, that people are deeply aware of the potential shown by Lu Zhizhou.

Involuntarily, Keller looked at Marchionne.

Marchionne did not boast triumphantly, nor did he rush to continue persuading. Instead, he calmly and composedly sat in place, accepting all scrutiny. The confidence he exuded from within was itself highly persuasive.

Keller hesitated slightly and fell into deep thought.

At this moment, Remus, who had been sitting to the side, hesitated for a moment before cautiously speaking, "Currently, everything is just theoretical and lacks practical experience."

"Perhaps we can allow him to participate in the first free practice match, and if he performs well, we can sit down and have a detailed discussion."

GP3 is just GP3, not F1. Although Marchionne said that Lu Zhizhou was testing F1 for Ferrari in Maranello, an unofficial track and an unofficial race are two different things. Whether Lu Zhizhou can carry over the excellent qualities he showed in GP3 to the F1 circuit is still a question mark.

Instead of sitting here letting your imagination run wild, let's get into real-world practice. We'll find out what it's all about once we've put it to the test.

In fact, Rhames's suggestion was not unfounded—

The FIA ​​Super License Committee is scheduled to meet in August to revise the rules, partly because of Verstappen and partly because of the free practice sessions.

According to regulations, the FIA ​​requires F1 teams to allow young drivers to participate in the first free practice session of some races to gain racing experience.

However, this year, the FIA ​​found that young drivers lacked experience after entering F1. Highly anticipated young drivers such as Leclerc and Russell performed poorly, and Verstappen's youthful arrogance and impulsiveness continued to plague other young drivers.

Ultimately, F1 is F1, and they are still different.

To this end, the committee plans to further solidify the tiered advancement path to ensure that young drivers can reach the standards of F1 cars step by step, and to mandate that F1 teams must provide young drivers with a certain number of free practice sessions each year to avoid a repeat of cases like Verstappen.

And now, before the new rules are complete, another Lu Zhizhou is coming?

Keller cannot be blamed for being cautious. At a time when the FIA ​​is preparing for further reforms, Marchionne is clearly seizing the opportunity to exploit a loophole, undoubtedly pushing the Super License Committee into the spotlight once again.

But Reims' suggestion opened up another possibility for Keller. Since rising stars like Leclerc and Russell failed to deliver convincing performances in the free practice matches, what about Lu Zhizhou?

If Lu Zhizhou also fails, then the FIA ​​can not only reject Marchionne with due honor, but should also face no obstacles in passing new rules.

But what if Lu Zhizhou proves himself?

Keller's mind was racing. He looked at Marchionne again. "Sergio, are you really sure?"

This was the second time Keller had asked the same question.

This time, Marchionne didn't look away; he stared intently into Keller's eyes. "Yes."

There were no flowery words or flowery phrases, just a simple and clear sentence that resonated deeply and conveyed a firm conviction.

After a pause, Marchionne made sure Keller had received his message before continuing, "Dominic, you know Ferrari has been struggling all these years, right? We thought Sebastian was the future of Ferrari, but obviously, what we hoped for still hasn't happened."

"So, maybe now is the time to take a risk, before it's too late."

It is simple and clear, yet profound in meaning.

Keller couldn't believe his ears. They all thought Marchionne was working for Lu Zhizhou to replace Raikkonen, but now it seemed...

Keller instinctively looked around, only to find Rhames and Jenkins, one with his head down and the other spacing out, both pretending to be deaf, as if they had never been there.

Keller held his breath; he deeply felt Marchione's determination, and that was enough.

Then, Keller looked up again, regaining his composure. "Okay, you can let him play at Spa. But I'm warning you, Sergio, he only has one chance. If he fails, he'll become a laughingstock for the FIA ​​and Ferrari, and we will absolutely not give him a second chance."

Marchionne remained calm and composed, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's look forward to it together, shall we?"

There were no grand promises or boasts, but rather a deep-seated confidence that emanated from within, calmly and methodically bringing the entire situation under control.

Although he didn't get a super license directly, Marchio turned and left satisfied, because he had already exceeded expectations.

On the one hand, this lays the groundwork, demonstrating Ferrari's determination and conviction, and ensuring that Keller feels the weight and warmth of this commitment.

On the other hand, it secured a free practice match for Lu Zhizhou, a chance to influence the direction of his fate.

Now, whether to go left or right, it's all in Lu Zhizhou's hands.

When the official F1 social media account announced the big news, the summer break had just ended. After nearly a month away from racing news, the afternoon heat and languor were filled with all sorts of rumors and speculation. People cheered and enthusiastically welcomed the return of F1 weekends.

The very first message sparked endless speculation—

In the first free practice session of the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, two young drivers will take to the track to make their F1 debuts.

One of them is Lando Norris, who will be playing for McLaren, driving Alonso's car.

One of them is Lu Zhizhou, who will be representing Ferrari and driving Kimi Räikkönen's race car.

boom! Boom boom boom!
A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

In an instant, social media platforms went crazy, with a torrent of traffic pouring down, and people rubbed their eyes to make sure they weren't seeing things.

Ferrari?
Is that really a Ferrari? The Ferrari that everyone knows? Lu Zhizhou is actually going to represent Ferrari on stage, what kind of treatment is this?
The night was deep and all was quiet. The chirping of crickets and insects could be clearly heard outside the window. The small space was enveloped in a milky yellow halo and disappeared into the boundless darkness, floating in the vast universe as if isolated from the world. At this moment, time seemed to slow down briefly.

The silence was broken by his phone vibrating; Lu Zhizhou glanced at the caller ID—

Zhou Guanyu.

He answered the phone, but before he could even speak, a scream came from the receiver.

"Ahhh!"

"Ferrari, Aa ...

The phone call was continuous and deafening. Lu Zhizhou hung up the phone decisively, put his phone back on the table, and continued to focus on the math problem in front of him.

Before I could even begin to think, the phone vibrated again.

As soon as I answered, Zhou Guanyu's aggrieved voice came through the phone, "Did you just hang up on me?"

Lu Zhizhou chuckled, "Lando said you're a shy and introverted guy."

Zhou Guanyu: ...

She took a deep breath. "But it's a Ferrari. A Ferrari! Aa ...

Lu Zhizhou felt a dull pain in his eardrums and pulled the phone away a little. He could clearly feel Zhou Guanyu's joy through the phone call.

As a result, Lu Zhizhou's emotions, which had finally calmed down, began to boil over again.

"Zhizhou! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! An unbelievable opportunity!"

"Ahhh! You're about to become the first Chinese person in history to step onto the paddock! How could I not be excited? How could I not be!"

Jumping around, panting, Lu Zhizhou already had a picture in his mind: "Sorry, I beat you to it."

"Haha." Zhou Guanyu laughed heartily. "It's okay, it's okay. I've already started browsing sneakers. I'll send you the link later, and you can just place an order and have it shipped to me. Receiving your gift will soothe my wounded heart, and I'll be fine now."

Lu Zhizhou chuckled, "Don't choose the limited edition, or I'll have to go to the store to queue up."

After the lighthearted joke, Zhou Guanyu became serious. "You've already taken the lead. It seems I should speed things up."

Lu Zhizhou: "Now, I'm not chasing my dream alone, but a group of friends fighting side by side. We sprint together and cross the finish line together."

The seemingly casual words stirred Zhou Guanyu's blood, and he couldn't help but clench his fist and swing it heavily at the air twice. The heavy burden that had been weighing on his chest silently transformed into motivation, and the dawn seemed to reappear in the chaotic and dull darkness ahead.

Over the years, not only in China, but also throughout Asia, drivers have continuously tried to break into the paddock and stand at the pinnacle of racing. However, F1 has always been a game for Europeans. Not to mention Asia, drivers from North America, South America, and Oceania have also spent countless efforts to join the ranks of the competition.

Before Lu Zhizhou and Zhou Guanyu, one Chinese driver after another tried to climb the Mount Everest of motorsports, but always missed it.

Among this generation of young people, Zhou Guanyu carries incredible pressure on his shoulders. It is not only his dream, but also the dream of millions of racing fans. He struggles and moves forward alone in this lonely sport. At only seventeen years old, Zhou Guanyu sometimes feels confused and lost.

In the stillness of the night, in the quiet of the night, self-doubt begins to fester.

Perhaps dreams don't exist at all; perhaps only fools believe in dreams and should return to reality; perhaps some things are just destined.

Running aimlessly and alone in the darkness for too long, one gradually loses direction and loses oneself.

Now, he is no longer walking alone on the road to his dream and the peak, but has a partner to fight alongside him.

To accompany, encourage, and inspire each other.

More importantly, Lu Zhizhou's existence made Zhou Guanyu believe that dreams were no longer ethereal fantasies or unattainable miracles; they were real and even within reach. That faint ray of dawn made the boundless darkness seem insignificant.

Although it was just a free practice match and the future was still uncertain, Zhou Guanyu knew clearly how much effort and hardship they had put in to get here.

The joy and happiness were beyond words.

Zhou Guanyu let out a long breath, and a wide smile spread across his face. "The whole world outside has gone completely mad, but you sound remarkably calm."

Lu Zhizhou's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of helplessness. "It seems my acting skills are pretty good."

"Actually, I ran ten kilometers tonight, and now I'm sitting at my desk solving math problems, trying to calm down the jumbled thoughts in my mind."

Zhou Guanyu: ...

"Pfft," she couldn't help but exclaim. "Math problems? Haha, as expected of you. You're probably the only one who can use math problems to regain your focus."

Lu Zhizhou shrugged. "If it could create a hypnotic effect, it would be the same; but I seem to be getting more and more energetic the more I do it."

Zhou Guanyu: "Hahaha."

It was absolutely hilarious.

Lu Zhizhou leaned back slightly, using the chair legs behind him to support himself on the ground, and gently rocked back and forth, chatting and joking with Zhou Guanyu, his laughter never stopping.

The outside world, as Zhou Guanyu said—

crazy.

It was a massive, uproarious event, comparable to a volcanic eruption. Sure enough, Lu Zhizhou was wise; he didn't open social media, but instead remained focused.

"Shortest bench time in history? GP3 driver skips to F1?"

"Money power is at its peak again, even Ferrari has succumbed to it."

"An adventure, or a show?"

Clickbait headlines won. By taking things out of context, distorting facts, and fanning the flames, a single sentence easily ignited the focus, driving not only racing enthusiasts crazy but also quickly spreading beyond the mainstream, drawing even casual observers who weren't particularly interested in racing into the frenzy.

Indeed, Lu Zhizhou has emerged with unparalleled performance over the past period, sweeping GP3 and becoming the focus of discussion in the paddock early on.

However, the objective facts are clear: Lu Zhizhou is still an inexperienced novice. He has been in the world of Formula racing for less than a year, and from any perspective, he is a complete novice, even more so than Verstappen was back then.

As a result, Ferrari, in a daring and outrageous act, crammed Lu Zhizhou into an F1 car, and he's about to race on one of the most dangerous and challenging tracks on the calendar—

Spa, Belgium.

A complete newbie who has only been in the game for less than five minutes, and hasn't even finished the beginner village, goes straight to the hell mode?
What is this if not utterly insane? What is this if not a complete loss of reason? Is this a moral decay or a distortion of humanity? Don't those who made such decisions feel any remorse?

First of all, is Lu Zhizhou worthy?

Despite Lu Zhizhou's outstanding performance in GP3, there are countless young and talented drivers in GP3, F3 European Series, and F2 who deserve to be promoted. Now, Lu Zhizhou has overtaken his competitors on the outside and won the opportunity to participate in free practice. Is this fair?

Secondly, is this a game of interests or a political maneuver?

After all, no one can ignore Lu Zhizhou's inherent Chinese identity. Was it because Asian capital successfully impressed Ferrari, or was it a move by Ferrari to target the Asian market? Or is there some conspiracy that people can't guess yet?
But whether it's the former or the latter, is such a reckless move really not just a publicity stunt or a performance?

It's so absurd it's laughable! A flood of speculation has erupted!

A storm is brewing, and a media frenzy is sweeping across the entire hunting grounds, leaving no one untouched.

(End of this chapter)