How Did I Become an F1 Driver?

Chapter 1115 - 424: Zhou Guanyu’s Future (6K, Extra Update 3/17)

Zhou Guanyu helplessly let out a bitter laugh, glanced at Qin Miao, who was pretending to taste tea without understanding anything, and said teasingly, "He’s the one truly bringing glory to the country. Getting on the podium is as easy as eating and drinking for him, whereas I’m still struggling with points and finishing races. He’s won both race and world championships in his first year."Though Zhou Guanyu’s words seemed somewhat deliberate, Li Shufu didn’t mind but looked at Qin Miao, nodded, and said, "Qin Miao indeed has the ability. This season, even with the Mercedes cars performing so poorly, he managed to help the team win many races with his tire preservation skills."

Qin Miao nodded in agreement, "I think so too."

Zhou Guanyu: ...

Li Shufu: ...

...

After that, the three naturally sat down, starting the traditional Chinese dining culture.

However, since Qin Miao doesn’t drink alcohol, a part of this culture was directly skipped over. After eating, the three stayed in the private room, drinking tea and talking about things inside the paddock.

Eventually, they naturally talked about Geely’s entry into F1.

Both Qin Miao and Zhou Guanyu naturally turned to Li Shufu for confirmation on whether it was true.

"It is indeed true; we are negotiating with Old Stroll. But the price from the other side is currently unacceptable to us, and we are still haggling. However, our intention to enter F1 is genuine, and you don’t need to doubt that," Li Shufu said.

Zhou Guanyu visibly sighed in relief at hearing this, whereas Qin Miao seemed indifferent; sometimes people with real strength have that kind of attitude.

And Zhou Guanyu actually can occupy a position among the mid-field drivers, but he doesn’t have Qin Miao’s overwhelming dominance and irreplaceability, so he’s always very aware of the crisis.

If Zhou Guanyu were a bit less skilled, it wouldn’t matter; he could be a pay driver in F1, constantly learning and eventually moving to another team when he grows more experienced.

But now Zhou Guanyu happens to be slightly skilled, to the point that Alfa Romeo is willing to have him without pay. Given his current abilities, he indeed deserves that spot at Alfa Romeo; it’s actually Alfa Romeo, which frequently messes around, that is somewhat unworthy of him.

Skilled Zhou Guanyu doesn’t want to be a pay driver on the track anymore.

But he’s also afraid that after not being a pay driver, no team will want him.

Therefore, Zhou Guanyu has great expectations for Geely.

Seeing Zhou Guanyu’s hopeful look, Li Shufu spread his hands and said, "We will definitely prioritize Chinese drivers, and based on your current contract and capabilities, Zhou, you will definitely be among our top choices when we enter F1.

It’s just that we’re not sure about your thoughts."

Zhou Guanyu paused, then quickly nodded, saying, "Of course, I’m willing. I’d love to drive for our own national team."

"What about Qin Miao?"

Qin Miao waved his hand and said, "President Li, don’t joke with me. I still have a chance to compete for the driver’s championship this season, and I’m not at my peak yet. I need to learn and grow with an experienced team, so my stance remains the same: unless Geely has a competitive car, I’m not planning to switch teams."

Li Shufu sighed helplessly.

Li Shufu genuinely loves racing, and he wouldn’t lock a talented driver forcibly into his team just to improve it more quickly.

Not to mention that the other party doesn’t plan to come until they have enough competitiveness.

What Qin Miao said differs from what Qimeng mentioned.

With Qimeng, Qin Miao said he would join Geely as long as they had the ability to compete for points, but with Li Shufu, Qin Miao said he’d only consider it after Geely can consistently achieve podiums.

This was Qin Miao putting pressure on Geely, and he reasonably used Lu Xun’s theory of opening a window.

When he boldly joined Geely, given his strength and achievements, the team would practically be under his control.

After nodding, indicating he understood Qin Miao’s demands, Li Shufu kept his focus more on Zhou Guanyu.

Because compared to Qin Miao, Zhou Guanyu is clearly more likely to join Geely.

As the conversation came near its end, Qin Miao became more of an accompaniment.

But Qin Miao didn’t mind; actually, this was intentional on his part.

Having been in the paddock for so long, Qin Miao even knew from the F2 days that Alfa Romeo was unreliable, and even Kimi, a somewhat emotionless world champion, got so agitated he cursed while sitting in Alfa Romeo’s cockpit due to their antics.

It was evident that Alfa Romeo was not a good destination.

But in his first year entering F1, Zhou Guanyu indeed didn’t have many good choices, and Alfa Romeo’s surprisingly good performance in the first year was a bonus.

However, besides those, Alfa Romeo has too many problems.

Frequent gearbox failures, mechanical issues, always messing up tire changes, and dizzying pit strategies.

Ferrari’s errors were made without exception by Alfa Romeo, and they even seemed to be expanding those errors.

Therefore, to prevent Zhou Guanyu from losing all his spirit in Ferrari’s second team, Qin Miao made a smooth transition to push Zhou Guanyu towards Geely’s side.

After the meal, they bid farewell to Li Shufu.

Because Zhou Guanyu’s luggage hadn’t been returned home, and he deliberately took the subway to avoid traffic, his luggage was left in the hotel lobby.

After eating and wrapping up business, Qin Miao drove to take Zhou Guanyu home.

Just that once downstairs, Zhou Guanyu’s mouth twitched seeing the red mini Qin Miao drove out of the parking lot.

You’re a world champion, driving Ferrari, Mercedes, or even Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo wouldn’t trigger any emotional reaction, but driving a MINI...

It somehow doesn’t match your image on the track.

Seeing Zhou Guanyu with a slightly off look while placing his luggage in the trunk and getting into the car, Qin Miao instantly knew what he was thinking.

So Qin Miao sarcastically said, "Qimeng’s car, I haven’t left any car here in Shanghai, so I’m using hers. It can carry goods, it’s small, and the acceleration is passable; it’s totally sufficient for city commuting.

The key is, it’s much more comfortable than those sports cars, both in suspension and sound insulation."

Zhou Guanyu, while buckling his seatbelt, said, "No, I don’t mean to discriminate; I’m just surprised. Mainly, the car has quite a contrast with your style, and I couldn’t accept it immediately."

Qin Miao started the car, turned on the navigation, and said, "What’s so big about it? It’s just a tool. A regular kitchen knife and a kitchen knife tied with a pink bow both chop meat into pieces, the effect is the same."

"True." Zhou Guanyu nodded, then said, "But speaking of which, Geely is facing considerable resistance in the paddock, Old Stroll’s asking price is quite high, 2 billion US Dollars, how did he come up with that price?"

"Martin Team is currently valued at about 1.2 billion, Old Stroll’s 2 billion is indeed a bit high," Qin Miao nodded and said. "However, in business, while we Chinese were doing business, these Anglo-Saxon folks were pirates at sea, pillaging and looting everywhere. Geely is unlikely to lose out on this deal.

Moreover, in business, you ask for the moon and settle for less."

Zhou Guanyu’s home is in Puxi, and the location is much better than Qin Miao’s. The interior decoration is also more luxurious than Qin Miao’s, situated in the city center of Shanghai, with views of the Huangpu River, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and even the Shanghai Tower and that suitcase.

Standing in front of Zhou Guanyu’s floor-to-ceiling window looking at the scenery across the river, Qin Miao couldn’t help but exclaim, "Is this the joy of the wealthy? At this moment, I feel the deep gap between the rich and poor pressing down on me like a mountain."

A pillow flew over from Zhou Guanyu: "Stop bullshitting! I earned less in half a season this year than you do in a month, and the key is, I’ve been busy with commercial stuff, various events, while you’ve been mostly resting!

Rich? That’s the legacy from my ancestors, and you’re the one truly rich.

God, I don’t even know where your extraordinary talent comes from."