Speed ​​God

Chapter 54 The Style of a General
He spoke casually and eloquently.

There were no slogans or inspirational quotes, no grand pronouncements or spittle flying everywhere. Everything was just like discussing the menu for tonight's dinner. The conversation was relaxed and natural, the demeanor poised and confident. Every gesture exuded the air of a great general, and the situation was brought under control without a sound.

Standing before me were three big shots: Marchionne, Nicolas, and Wasser, seasoned veterans who had spent years in the industry and were now at the very top of the pyramid.

Furthermore, they were discussing an ART team seat, a coveted spot that drivers would fight tooth and nail for.

However, all eyes, all focus, and all thoughts were fixed on Lu Zhizhou.

The words lingered in the air, settling there, yet they could not be calmed down.

Lu Zhizhou remained calm and composed, yet still measured in his demeanor. "Nevertheless, I sincerely thank you for the invitation, and I hope you enjoy today's race."

After a brief greeting and polite small talk, Lu Zhizhou turned and left, just like that... he waved his sleeves and left without taking a single cloud with him.

Nicholas and Wasser both stood there dumbfounded.

This scene, witnessed by Marchionne, put him in a great mood, his heart filled with joy and a light smile that revealed a hint of contentment and enjoyment.

Finally, Nicholas was the first to calm down and regain his composure. He noticed Marchionne's expression, and a flood of thoughts rushed through his mind. Although he didn't know what had happened before, he could tell that Marchionne wasn't surprised. In a flash, Nicholas grasped the key.

"Sergio, you won't want to miss out on a driver like this."

Marchionne nodded inwardly. Nicolas was indeed capable of carving out a niche for himself in the racing world, but he didn't show it on the surface. "We already have Charles Leclerc."

Without a doubt, Leclerc is the biggest hope for Ferrari's youth academy right now.

Nicholas, however, was not fooled. He shook his head and said, "You won't be satisfied with this. Otherwise, you wouldn't have convinced Lu Zhizhou to join the academy in the first place."

"So, at what cost did you persuade him?"

As expected of Nicolas, he immediately grasped the crux of the problem and sorted out the ins and outs from the chaos. Before ART, Ferrari's youth academy must have also experienced a "challenge".

Since Ferrari's youth academy also suffered setbacks, it's not surprising that ART experienced the same fate.

Having figured this out, Nicholas calmed down a bit.

Marchionne didn't keep them in suspense; Nicolas could ask his father for the answer anyway. "In addition to the academy's full sponsorship, there are extra bonuses for simulators, test matches, and so on."

He paused, savoring the astonishment in Nicholas and Wasser's eyes, before continuing.

"And it's only a three-month contract."

Nicholas dislocated his jaw.

Vasseur was no exception; he was taken aback at first, but then he realized what was happening and couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Haha."

Upon closer reflection, Vasser realized that Marchionne's scheme was far more complex than what they had initially perceived. The more he thought about it, the more amusing it became. "Hahaha."

With his arms crossed, Vasser grinned broadly. "So, you called us hoping ART could help keep this kid here. You think the GP3 opportunity will interest him?"

Marchionne, however, would not admit it easily. He remained calm and composed, without even raising an eyebrow. "If you wish, you can continue to use Fukuzumi Jinrei."

This should be a win-win situation where both sides help each other. ART shouldn't try to gain the upper hand, and Ferrari won't lose the initiative either.

After a brief moment of shock and disbelief, Nicolas once again demonstrated his business acumen, looking at Marchionne and asking, "What's your real plan?"

Sometimes, you need to beat around the bush and use cunning; other times, you need to be direct and get straight to the point.

Marchionne naturally wouldn't reveal all his cards; Ferrari's overall strategy was still in his mind, but there was no problem with the specifics of the matter.

"Ferrari will fully sponsor the race costs, similar to Charles Leclerc; however, ART will be responsible for the race prize money. It's a performance-based bonus contract." Gently, a bait is thrown out, stirring up ripples.

Marchionne did not continue, but instead took a half step back to create space, made an inviting gesture, and led Nicolas and Vasser away from the pit area.

Because Marchionne knew they needed time and space to think, this was clearly not an easy decision.

In the world of Formula racing, funding is crucial. Why?
Racing cars are expensive to build. A minor bump or scratch on a racing car can cost tens of thousands of euros. Even slight damage can wipe out hundreds of thousands of euros in the blink of an eye. If it crashes into a wall and is destroyed, it can cost anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million euros in no time.

That is why everyone, from drivers to teams, is subject to the same rule: they must bow to capital. In the face of money, even superpowers have to take a backseat.

Talent? Hard work?
The hunting grounds don't believe in these things; capital is an insurmountable barrier.

The same applies to F1. Even the top teams cannot completely ignore the power of capital. When small and medium-sized teams select drivers, they must also consider the financial backers behind them, let alone the lower-level races.

It is no exaggeration to say that the entire world of Formula racing is built on capital, and it is also a constraint that no driver can break.

ART is no exception. By choosing Fukuzumi Jinling, with the support of Red Bull's youth training program and Honda's sponsorship, the team's financial pressure can be greatly alleviated.

Now, choosing Lu Zhizhou, setting aside his background as a street racer for the time being, capital is the real key. Although Ferrari is fully sponsoring him, more funds are always better. As a result, they still need to pay Lu Zhizhou extra bonuses.
What's going on here?

Faced with the harshness and coldness of reality, it was only natural for ART to choose Fukuzumi Jinling.

However, the most ironic thing is precisely this: everything Lu Zhizhou predicted was spot on, a perfect match. This was all a game of money.

Before ART had to abandon Lu Zhizhou due to capital reasons, Lu Zhizhou remained calm and unmoved, not swayed in the slightest by their invitation.

Involuntarily, Nicholas gave a wry smile and turned to Vasser for his opinion.

Vasser chuckled, looking particularly pleased. "That kid not only rejected us, but also mocked us mercilessly. If we choose Fukuju Renling, it would be equivalent to proving his point; if we choose him, he would be the biggest winner."

"No matter what we choose, we've already lost. It's really interesting; don't you think characters like this are extremely rare?"

Nicholas shook his head slightly. He couldn't laugh. He glanced at Marchionne's back and lowered his voice, "Fred, now is not the time for jokes and self-deprecation."

Vasser remained oblivious. "Nick, you already have the answer, so why ask me?"

Nicholas was stunned; his heart felt like it had been struck hard.

Indeed, his hesitation and wavering were, in fact, the answer.

For ART, although they are eager to replace Jinrei Fukuzumi, it is not a necessity. Besides Jinrei Fukuzumi, they have other excellent drivers. In the new season, they are determined to defend both the driver and team championships. Having Riku is just icing on the cake.

To be precise, Marchionne's calculations are not hard to see. He has high hopes for Lu Zhizhou, hoping that Lu Zhizhou can get the best conditions to continue to hone his skills and grow. If he succeeds, then Lu Zhizhou may become Ferrari's future hope. But ART has no need to do so.

No matter how outstanding Lu Zhizhou is, he is not ART's exclusive driver.

ART aspires to win both the driver and team championships, but also needs the support of sponsors.

In other words, choosing Fukuju Renling was the realistic decision, even though they were severely ridiculed by Lu Zhizhou.

However, Nicholas still hesitated.

Hesitation signifies longing, and even more so, it means that the scales of one's heart have already tilted unfairly to one side.

So, is this desire due to self-respect and pride, a reluctance to admit to Lu Zhizhou that they are willing to compromise their principles for a living, or is it for something else entirely?

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(End of this chapter)