Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 164 The Man is Back (10K)

To be honest, Chen Xiangbei was tempted!

He had a desire to take a big gamble, whether it was on his stake in the HRT team or the performance of the TF110 prototype.

Having experienced the future, Chen Xiangbei understands better than anyone the importance of drivers having control over their voice and autonomy.

Leaving aside Hulkenberg of this era, who displayed the performance of a super rookie, he was still ruthlessly kicked out by the Williams team.

For Zhou Guanyu, who had to sign a contract every year in later generations, it was often a torment of "living in constant uncertainty".

The team kept delaying the signing and confirmation of the contract, engaging in psychological warfare with the drivers, hoping to squeeze out more sponsorship funds through extreme pressure.

Drivers, unsure if they'll still be able to drive a race car tomorrow or if their careers will end, often find themselves in a vicious cycle of anxiety and difficulty performing well.

Of course, you could also say that they lack mental fortitude and have poor stress resistance.

Ultimately, very few drivers can reach the standards of racing machines; the vast majority are just ordinary people.

Everyone wants a stable work environment with room for trial and error and tolerance for mistakes.

In another sense, Chen Xiangbei has a gambler's nature, which is why he left no way out and resolutely chose to skip levels and try to enter the F1 paddock.

If Chen Xiangbei remembers correctly, after Mercedes replaced Brawn GP, ​​the performance of their new generation of cars was not good; in fact, it could be described as a precipitous decline.

From being a top-performing "Mars car" in the 09 season, it has fallen to the ranks of Earth cars, and even lost its position among the top three fastest cars.

This is also a common "growing pain" period when a team changes hands. Compared to Brawn GP, ​​which is just Honda with a different skin, the core team is still the same.

Mercedes-Benz completely replaced Honda's technological approach from top to bottom.

Based on the TF110's design philosophy and dynamic data, as well as Toyota Group's "all-or-nothing" technological reserves, Chen Xiangbei was 80% confident that this car could rival the Red Bull RB6 in speed and break into the top three fastest cars in the paddock.

No rookie F1 driver doesn't dream of scoring points or making a podium debut, or of winning the championship in their first season.

Chen Xiangbei is well aware of the power of making a name for yourself; often, the course of your entire career depends on your performance in your rookie season.

Even if it starts strong and then declines, the gains will far exceed those from a disastrous start!

Why did Hulkenberg never stand on the podium, and why did he not have any powerful sponsors, yet he was still able to drive in and out of the F1 paddock for more than a decade, and even in his old age, he still managed to get a long-term contract that many drivers dream of?
His rookie season was so impressive that it gave many teams the first impression of a super rookie.

Even if his career doesn't reach the expectations of his rookie years, his overall performance will still be above average.

If you're a mid-to-lower tier team, choose him. He can get to your desired position at any speed, and he can even give you a little surprise from time to time.

With no obvious shortcomings and no high vehicle damage, it is a very cost-effective "tool".

On the contrary, if the start is disastrous, the F1 paddock will in most cases not give drivers a second chance to prove themselves!
"Bei, what are your thoughts?"

Seeing Chen Xiangbei's thoughtful expression, Odeto asked him a question.

Having worked together for so long, the two had come to know each other quite well, and the Italian man knew that the Chinese lad was interested.

“Under normal circumstances, the HRT team would not sell shares to recruit drivers. In addition, Campos mentioned internal assessments, which means they should have had multiple rounds of negotiations with the Toyota team regarding the acquisition, and there is a significant funding gap.”

"If the HRT fleet dares to take such a big gamble, why shouldn't I?"

If they were to gamble on the performance of the TF110 prototype, the HRT team would undoubtedly face a greater investment and risk.

Chen Xiangbei had no reason not to fight for a "bright" future for himself.

“You need to think this through. The TF110 could be the next RA109, or it could be a half-finished product that's left at the bottom.”

"A full-time driver's seat at Brawn GP can at least guarantee a mid-table finish."

When it comes to racing car development, mid-to-upstream groups can rely on technology, but for a "Mars rover," it's purely a matter of fate.

Even giants like Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, which have no shortage of funds, often develop race cars that are either incredibly fast or incredibly slow, and they can't guarantee an absolute speed to win championships.

After all, the data simulated in a wind tunnel is quite different from reality.

To give a simple example, chassis data obtained through wind tunnel testing is based on an absolutely smooth and flat road surface environment.

Which racetrack in reality can achieve an absolutely smooth surface?

If the road surface is bumpy or uneven, the chassis data obtained from the test will have a large error. At this time, what we are looking at is not the speed limit of the race car, but its range of operation.

However, even the worst teams can still maintain a stable position in the middle of the pack by relying on subsequent upgrades, and may even be able to make a comeback and push into the top of the pack.

The most typical example of this is the McLaren team in later generations. Even though the former "Big Three" have declined like Williams and Renault, the foundation and strength of independent factory teams are still there.

At the beginning of the 23 season, the McLaren team was at the bottom of the pack, with extremely poor speed and stability. At the time, public opinion was that Piastri would be imprisoned.

As a result, after just a few races, by continuously upgrading the car parts, they quickly surpassed downstream groups such as Haas, Williams and Sauber.

In 24, they even had the ability to compete with Red Bull Racing for the championship.

Needless to say, in 25 years, Red Bull Racing was no match for them; now it's more about competition within the McLaren team.

Odttor's meaning is clear: betting on the TF110 race car is extremely risky, and with Mercedes' support, the Brawn GP team is guaranteed a stable position in the mid-table.

"It depends on the money. If we can get 20 million US dollars, we'll talk to Brown GP."

"With 30 million US dollars, I would choose to invest in the HRT team."

Chen Xiangbei spoke his mind, saying that moderation had never been his style.

Even if there's only a one percent chance, the driver should fight for that championship instead of watching others cheer on the podium!

"GOOD."

Odeto did not try to dissuade him; on the contrary, he was very satisfied with Chen Xiangbei's answer.

The Italian gentleman dislikes conservatism, which is why he gave Chen Xiangbei a risk warning instead of direct advice.

He didn't want his likes and dislikes to influence Chen Xiangbei's career path.

Fate should be in the hands of young people themselves!
"We'll think about sponsorship tomorrow; it's time to go all out."

Odeto shouted and then pulled Chen Xiangbei toward the celebratory bar.

Tonight, we're determined to drink until we drop!
The night passed quickly. In the morning, while the team members were all resting, Chen Xiangbei got up early as usual to do his physical training.

Being able to withstand the G-forces of an F3 car does not mean it can withstand an F1 car.

The lateral tilt force does not increase in sync with the speed of the race car, but rather increases exponentially.

This means the speed could be 10 to 20 kilometers per hour faster, and the impact of G-force on the driver might double!
Another thing Chen Xiangbei is very self-disciplined about is that he doesn't drink alcohol.

Alcohol can numb a driver's reflexes, and in F1, the outcome of a match often hinges on a split second.

Furthermore, there are two negative examples in the F1 paddock: fellow Finnish drivers Mika Salo and Kimi Räikkönen.

The former was once hailed as one of the Finnish giants alongside world champion Häkkinen, but the latter was caught playing drunk, which ruined his reputation and led to his expulsion from the paddock.

Needless to say, Raikkonen's alcoholism directly destroyed his career, and his rapid decline from his peak was largely due to this bad habit.

Chen Xiangbei doesn't want to follow in his footsteps; self-discipline is an essential condition for becoming a top professional driver.

About an hour later, Lu Xiaoman walked into the gym with a lazy look on her face. She was used to Chen Xiangbei working out here. As long as there was no competition, he would do all his professional training without fail!
Lu Xiaoman casually found a gym chair to sit on and then asked, "Any plans regarding sponsorship?"

"Huali Auto and Jiuli Sports are the main businesses. Brother Cheng Long can contact the Dong family of Eastern Shipping to see what happens."

"The funding gap is quite large, and we may need to find potential sponsors in China. If all else fails, we will have to rely on the friendly sponsorships of Qin Lianjie and Stahler."

While partying at the bar last night, Chen Xiangbei was already thinking about where to get the sponsorship funding.

Huali and Jiuli are self-explanatory; as long as they can provide the funds, major problems can be solved.

Brother Cheng Long's previous sponsorship was a friendly gesture; he actually wanted to run the racing team himself.

HRT's willingness to transfer 20% of its shares has partially met Cheng Long's goal of building a racing team.

Just because Jackie Chan can afford to play in Le Mans doesn't mean he can afford to play in F1. The financial requirements and investments of a team are too extravagant; even international superstars can't meet the standards to "get on the table."

As for the Dong family of Eastern Shipping, they do have the financial strength, and given their long-term sponsorship of the Grand Prix, they have a certain investment intention.

However, the same problem remains: thirty million US dollars translates to over two hundred million RMB.

Furthermore, the team may need to invest additional money for mid-term upgrades.

Back in 09, this would have been a huge sum for any company, let alone an individual, and might have required joint sponsorship to raise the money.

"Should I go and talk to them?"

"Of course, you're my agent."

Chen Xiangbei replied with a smile that Lu Xiaoman was more familiar with and better at domestic business negotiations than he was.

In addition, Chen Xiangbei doesn't have that much time to devote to business operations, which is something that agents should be doing.

In reality, F1 drivers don't negotiate contract renewals directly with the team; they leave everything to their agents.

On the one hand, it's better to maintain a respectable appearance, and in many cases, it's better for a third party to make the decision.

On the other hand, it's important to maintain a good mindset, as the negotiation process can easily affect a driver's emotions and performance.

Racing often requires a clear mind and no distractions.

"Tch, being your agent is a real loss!"

Lu Xiaoman complained that other agents were making money, but she, who held multiple positions, not only didn't earn a penny, but also lost her connections.

“Sister Man, this is called investing in the future. One day you will become the most famous agent in F1.”

"This little guy has potential; he's already learned to make empty promises so quickly!"

"Haha, I've been receiving a lot of empty promises lately, so I've been learning a bit from them."

"Learn the bad things, not the good ones; focus on training!"

Despite her complaints, Lu Xiaoman didn't dawdle when it came to getting things done.

However, such a commercial sponsorship worth hundreds of millions is not something that can be negotiated in a few words. It requires consideration of many detailed terms and coordination with the HRT team.

By the time initial results were achieved, a week had already passed.

Jackie Chan was the first to give a regretful reply. He has now returned to Hong Kong from Hollywood, which has naturally reduced his income significantly, and he also needs to support the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.

Although Jackie Chan has invested in many companies over the years, including several listed companies, the operation of an F1 team is indeed not a business game that private individuals can afford to play, a point that Chen Xiangbei understands.

The Dong family of Eastern Shipping gave a similarly straightforward answer: they were willing to sponsor Chen Xiangbei with five million US dollars a year, which translates to approximately forty million Hong Kong dollars.

This offer was actually quite high, even exceeding Chen Xiangbei's expectations.

It's important to understand that large shipping companies operate in a "semi-monopolistic" industry, with only a few leading companies in each region. Moreover, their target audience is primarily corporate clients, so their need for commercial promotion is not high.

Furthermore, Chen Xiangbei didn't have much interaction with the Dong family of Eastern Shipping, having only participated in one Macau Grand Prix. So, it would be reasonable for them to refuse his sponsorship request.

The Dong family quickly and decisively gave five million US dollars. Chen Xiangbei didn't know if Dong Yuanxi's "friendship" played a part in it.

If so, it would truly be true what Qin Lianjie said.

A race car driver might not need a woman, but a rich woman can definitely get you a faster race car...

However, the five million US dollars raised was only one-sixth of the total sponsorship amount.

The remaining hole will have to be filled by large car companies like Huali Group and the strong backing of Jiuli Sports.

Lu Xiaoman understood this as well, and directly contacted Starr to discuss the matter with Mr. Li of the Huali Group.

The British gentleman used his connections to contact the president of Ford and provide a $200 million loan to help the Walmart Group acquire Volvo. Now it's time to repay that favor.

Originally, the sponsorship negotiations between Huali Group and Jiuli Sports were between two unrelated companies.

As if they had planned it all along, the two companies made the same request to Chen Xiangbei: they wanted him to participate in the ROC National Cup race held in Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium in 09.

That same evening after receiving the reply, Lu Xiaoman found Chen Xiangbei, who was training, and informed him of the current sponsorship situation.

"Heading north, Jiuli Sports has already secured the hosting rights for the F1 Chinese Grand Prix, and President Peng has been actively pushing for you to enter F1. On top of the original sponsorship of 50 million RMB, they are willing to increase their investment to 10 million USD."

"As for Huali Auto, Stahler said that Mr. Li has long had the idea of ​​entering the high-level formula racing, and even plans to directly invest 20 million US dollars to acquire 20% of the HRT team's shares, becoming the title sponsor or co-operating."

At this point, Lu Xiaoman paused for a moment before adding, "However, they all made the same request, albeit through different means."

"any request?"

Chen Xiangbei asked back.

"Participate in the 09 Beijing National ROC Cup at the Bird's Nest".

Upon hearing this term, Chen Xiangbei paused for a moment.

To be honest, this wasn't the first time he'd heard others mention participating in the ROC National Cup, but Chen Xiangbei had never considered it his goal.

The reason is simple: this tournament is of a special nature and is more of an honorary match.

If one had to find a similar case in other sports, Chen Xiangbei believes it is very similar to boxing.

Boxing is divided into Olympic boxing and professional boxing. The former focuses on the honor of winning glory for the country, while the latter focuses on the pinnacle of professional competition.

The former can win Olympic gold medals and enjoy the cheers and adoration of the nation, but only the latter can be called a true "boxing champion".

However, the ROC National Cup is not entirely the same. Because Olympic boxing is significantly weaker than professional boxing, the International Olympic Committee has clearly stipulated that professional boxers from the four major organizations are not allowed to return to participate in Olympic events.

But the drivers in the ROC National Cup are the true champions!
This means that Chen Xiangbei is going to participate in an honorary match, but he may not necessarily win any honors. In the end, he might end up with nothing...

If you've already achieved great success, then it's fine to just treat it as a bit of fun.

Chen Xiangbei was in a crucial period of striving for an F1 seat, so he naturally couldn't be distracted by the ROC National Cup.

Now that the seats are basically confirmed, all that's left is for the sponsorship funds to be in place, and Chen Xiangbei finally has some free time.

Do you think I should participate?

"We are the host country this time, and the country needs this honor."

Lu Xiaoman replied meaningfully, "Some things don't need to be said; the answer has already been given."

Under normal circumstances, the Chinese team wouldn't even qualify for the ROC Nations Cup.

The reason is simple: the Nations Cup Final only has eight teams and sixteen drivers, all of whom are dominant figures in a particular motorsport event, including some F1 world champions.

Chinese drivers don't have the skill to participate in the top-level ranked matches.

Just as the World Cup grants a spot to the host country, the Chinese team, as the host of the 09 ROC Nations Cup, also received a direct qualification spot.

Playing on home soil in the Bird's Nest stadium, a venue that attracts worldwide attention, would certainly be embarrassing if you were eliminated without a single win.

Without a doubt, Chen Xiangbei is currently China's strongest driver, standing at the threshold of F1.

This is why both Huali Auto and Jiuli Sports unanimously hoped that Chen Xiangbei would participate in the competition; they did not have a better driver option.

"Furthermore, heading north, if you really intend to join the HRT team, even if the TF110 is a race car that is no less than the Honda RA109, you still have to consider the issue of subsequent upgrades."

"The National Cup brings you not only glory, but also sponsorship at the level of a national hero."

Lu Xiaoman knew Chen Xiangbei well; beneath his calm and collected exterior lay a heart brimming with the ambition to gamble big.

From the very beginning of his collaboration with the Super Dream Racing Team, he was already seeking independence and a voice within the team, unwilling to place himself in a weaker position as a driver.

Now, with the opportunity to invest in the HRT fleet and a potential Mars rover in hand, will Chen Xiangbei accept a high-start-low-finish scenario?

The answer is obvious!
Even with a strong team like Brawn GP, ​​built around Honda's core, and despite receiving investment and technical support from Mercedes, they still couldn't keep up with their competitors' pace in terms of mid-season upgrades.

The HRT team is practically worthless; it's just a weakling that was forcibly brought into the F1 paddock by F3 teams in response to FIA President Max Mosley's expansion plan.

Over a full year of racing, F1 cars need at least two to three major upgrades and four to five minor upgrades, all of which require countless engineers and wind tunnels to blow out upgrade data.

To put it bluntly, it's all about burning money.

Having become a national hero, Chen Xiangbei's future sponsorships will no longer be limited to private enterprises. Real state-owned enterprise giants will join the fray in this game of automotive technology at its peak.

"I understand."

"Reply to Huali Auto and Jiuli Sports that I will participate in the ROC National Cup."

Chen Xiangbei nodded. In fact, there weren't that many vested interests involved, not even just for the sake of honor.

He will still choose to participate given the right opportunity.

The reason is simple: drivers also have the identity of athletes.

No athlete would not want to witness the cheers of hundreds of thousands of spectators and the raising of the red flag at their home stadium, the Bird's Nest.

Just like Yao Ming entered the highest level of basketball, the NBA, he would still accept the national team's call-up to participate in the 08 Olympics.

The Bird's Nest stadium has only had one chance in its history to receive this national honor.

Chen Xiangbei didn't want to miss out.

"OK, I'll reply right now."

Lu Xiaoman nodded, turned around and walked out of the training room.

The next morning, Chen Xiangbei convened an internal meeting to inform the team's core members about his sponsorship and participation in the ROC National Cup.

Odeto and others had no objection to this; on the contrary, they strongly supported Chen Xiangbei's decision.

Drivers should not only pursue money and commercial value, but also a sense of honor.

The reason is simple: money can't buy life, but a sense of honor can!

When you're risking your life, the driving force behind it all is definitely the heart of a champion.

Just as Satoru Nakajima is hailed as a Japanese hero, Sena is considered a Brazilian hero.

Although the sponsorship has been secured, it will still take some time for this huge sum of money to arrive.

Chen Xiangbei has been in Belgium for half a month now. He should return to the Blackley factory headquarters in the UK to continue his simulator training as usual, while also taking on some of the team's new component testing tasks.

Let alone test drivers like Chen Xiangbei, even official F1 drivers mostly train on simulators and rarely have real cars to test on.

After all, the cost of F1 car test runs is too outrageous; Chen Xiangbei's previous tens of millions of yuan were used to run nearly two thousand kilometers.

The total cost, after calculation, is close to 11,000 kilometers.

By the time they returned to the Brawn GP team headquarters in the UK, it was already September.

However, this time the scene of their return was a bit unusual. Ross Brown and Staller appeared at the entrance of the Blackley factory.

They weren't there to welcome Chen Xiangbei and his group; on the contrary, their expressions were very solemn.

“Odeto, North, I need to discuss something very important with you now.”

Ross Brown was the first to speak.

"Okay, let's go inside and talk."

Odtto nodded. In fact, when he saw Ross Brown and Sterner, he already had a bad feeling.

The crew members returned to their dormitory first, while Chen Xiangbei and Odeto went to the headquarters office.

As soon as he entered, Ross Brown said with a guilty look on his face, "North, I want to apologize to you."

"In the end what happened?"

Chen Xiangbei was completely bewildered and felt somewhat confused.

"Brown GP team may not be able to offer you a full-time driver's seat."

Upon hearing this sudden news, Chen Xiangbei and Odeto exchanged a glance, their expressions both somewhat complicated.

No wonder Ross Brown and Staller were at the factory gate; something big had indeed happened.

"North, the board of directors has passed a resolution that Mercedes and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority will acquire all shares of the Brawn GP team."

Staller added that the Brawn GP team had changed hands three days ago and was just waiting to announce it at a later date.

From then on, Brawn GP was no longer a part of the F1 paddock; it was replaced by Mercedes-Benz.

"You agreed?"

Odeto asked in return with a calm expression.

Although Ross Brown and Staller's shares were diluted, the two of them still have more than 20 percent of the voting rights combined.

If they strongly disagree, they have the right to convene a shareholders' meeting, then the acquisition of Mercedes-Benz by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority could not have happened so quickly.

"That's right, we agreed."

Staller nodded in agreement.

"Odette, the team scored zero points at Spa, and we've fallen behind the major groups in the mid-term upgrade. At the same time, nearly a third of the team's more than 700 employees have been laid off, and the team is still operating at a loss."

"Daimler Group has set a condition: in order to obtain their technical support and engine supply for next year, you must relinquish control of the team."

"The championship is right in front of us, we have no choice!"

Ross Brown's voice was filled with pain; when it came to selling the team, no one was more heartbroken than him, the team principal.

Back then, in order to maintain the team and give the RA109 race car a chance to prove itself.

Ross Brawn poured his entire fortune into the project, begging and pleading for investment, which kept the Honda F1 team from disbanding and allowed the culmination of the three technical teams to shine.

But that's still not enough!
F1 teams are a game of capital. Just as Chen Xiangbei considered mid-term upgrades, championship contenders absolutely cannot lag behind in this regard.

Brawn GP has built a huge advantage early on, and if they just watch Red Bull turn the tide...

It wasn't just Ross Brown who couldn't accept it; the entire Super Aguri technical team that was laid off also couldn't accept it, as their "sacrifice" had become meaningless.

Daimler Group is Brawn GP's only lifeline, and the factory team's support can also stabilize the remaining team staff.

Sometimes, making a decision affects not only the individual but also the entire team.

It was precisely because he understood this that Staller agreed to and cooperated with Ross Brown's decision.
Selling it to Mercedes-Benz will give Brawn GP a brighter future!
"Even if it's sold to Daimler, North will still be competitive. Didn't you help him fight for it?"

Odeto, lacking Chen Xiangbei's omniscient perspective, naturally had no idea that the next few years would belong to the Red Bull dynasty.

In his view, if team ownership is disregarded, the acquisition is actually a good thing for the drivers. After all, the capital and technical strength of factory teams far surpass those of private teams like Brawn GP!

Odeto had only given Chen Xiangbei risk warnings, not direct advice.

The Brawn GP team's seat, if the current trend continues, will soon fall into the predicament of a private team, and even with Mercedes' technical support, it can only maintain a mid-table position.

Conversely, the Toyota TF110 prototype has a chance to gamble on a Mars rover.

But once Brawn GP becomes a Mercedes factory team, the car's speed will be more than just mid-range. Based on their collaboration with McLaren, they might even be able to squeeze into the "Big Three".

In this situation, betting on TF110 would obviously be less risky than potentially profitable.

A 30% chance of winning is called gambling.

A 10% chance of winning is called a free win!
The upper limit of the TF110 race car may simply be the lower limit of the Mercedes race car.

Is it worth gambling when you're guaranteed to lose?
"We can't try."

Staller shook his head.

"why?"

Odeto was puzzled; even if Mercedes was a large and established company, why would they look down on rookie drivers?

Given Chen Xiangbei's amazing performance at Spa Station, there's always hope that he can make a run for it, right?

“A driver is about to make a comeback, and Mercedes management has reserved a seat for him.”

"Who?"

Michael Schumacher.

Upon hearing the name, Odeto was completely stunned.

He was just wondering who had such influence that they could get a spot reserved for a giant like Mercedes.

Once this name appears, any controversy is no longer in doubt.

Only this man would motivate the team to go to any lengths to win him over.

"Michael is back."

Odeto muttered to himself that anyone who experienced Ferrari's Prancing Horse dynasty would never forget that era.

If Schumacher joins Mercedes, then two of the former Ferrari trio will be reunited, with only team manager Jean Todt missing.

At the same time, Oddot vaguely understood why Schumacher chose to make a comeback at Mercedes, which seemed to be related to his old friendship with Ross Brawn.

"Yes, he's back."

Ross Brawn reiterated that the F1 paddock will once again be a frenzy next year!
"North, have you finalized the sponsorship funding for the HRT team?"

Staller then asked a question.

When Lu Xiaoman was negotiating with the Huali Group, she had informed Starr Assistance, and he was aware of Chen Xiangbei's two-pronged approach.

"The agreement is basically finalized."

"I can sponsor if needed."

Now that Mercedes' path is blocked, Stahler will do everything in his power to push Chen Xiangbei into the F1 paddock for one last race.

"Thank you, Staller."

Chen Xiangbei smiled; this old British man had helped him a great deal.

Now that he has sold his shares in the Brawn GP team, there is no need for him to get involved in the paddock disputes anymore, and he can enjoy his retirement in peace.

"I know the HRT team in the north quite well; their team organization is very weak."

"If you can gain some control by investing, I can give you two suggestions."

As the saying goes, even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains. Ross Brown had watched Chen Xiangbei grow up and hoped that this young Chinese man would have a bright future.

As the Ferrari team principal during the era of the "iron triangle" (Ross Brawn, Ross Brawn, and Griffin), his team management skills are absolutely historic, and his professional experience can be of great help to Chen Xiangbei.

“Mr. Ross, please speak.”

Chen Xiangbei understood this and spoke very politely.

"The first point is to recruit R&D personnel from the Super Aguri team and the Toyota team. They have a complete technical team, so there is no need to pay any training costs, and they also have team chemistry with the Super Dream team."

As a former member of the Honda camp, no one knows better than Ross Brawn what kind of technological and personnel legacy the Japanese giant left to the F1 paddock.

HRT is essentially an F3 team. Rather than building its own R&D team and personnel from scratch, it would be better to recruit technical personnel from the broader Honda camp.

In addition, Ross Brawn knew that the HRT team was in talks with the Toyota team about an acquisition agreement, which meant that there was also an opportunity to recruit Toyota's technical staff to join the team.

By combining the strengths of Toyota and Honda, HRT's technological reserves are on par with any racing team, provided there is sufficient financial investment.

Even against the factory teams of the "Big Three" (HRT, HRT, and the Big Three), HRT can put up a fight!
"Secondly, having a research and development team alone is not enough; there must be a professional team manager to coordinate the affairs of the management and technical teams."

“Odette, he is not suited to manage a large team.”

Ross Brawn had worked with Odette at Ferrari and knew the Italian man's straightforward and radical personality very well.

While decisions regarding racing can be made aggressively, team operations and management require more tact and diplomacy.

Odeto is not suited for doing "dirty work".

Odeto did not deny this point; former colleagues know each other well.

"I'd like to recommend a team manager to you; he's absolutely capable of managing all aspects of the team's operations."

"Which one?"

Flavio Briatore.

[Floral fabric?]

Briatore is undoubtedly one of the legendary figures in F1, and also one of the most controversial team managers in F1 over the decades.

He led his team to seven world championships and also discovered two genius drivers, Schumacher and Alonso.

Hua Bu is a results-oriented person who will stop at nothing to win and doesn't care about controversies from the outside world or even within the team.

Even drivers who have worked with the company for many years are not spared when it's time to kick them.

Last year's Renault "crash scandal" was orchestrated under the direction of Hua Bu.

For this reason, Huabu was banned for life by the FIA.

How can this Italian playboy, who can't even enter the F1 paddock, serve as a team manager?

Perhaps sensing Chen Xiangbei's confusion, Ross Brown offered an explanation.

“Briatoli has appealed to the French High Court, arguing that the FIA’s investigation and procedures violated the code of conduct for the sport and the laws of France, where its headquarters are located.”

“I think Briatore has a high chance of a successful appeal and he will be back in the F1 paddock soon.”

"I remember there's an old Chinese saying that goes, 'It's better to offer help in times of need than to add flowers to brocade.' If you invite him to be the team manager when he's being looked down upon by the outside world, you might just forge a friendship with him."

"North, this is an opportunity!"

Ross Brown emphasized one point.

Under normal circumstances, a legendary manager like Briatore would never deign to work for a newly established private racing team unless offered an exorbitant salary.

It is obvious that neither Chen Xiangbei nor the HRT team can afford this amount of money.

Briatore is now despised, and no one knows if he will ever be able to return to the paddock.

Chen Xiangbei's act of extending an olive branch at this time demonstrates sincerity and respect, which will be a huge plus.

Briatore may not be a good person, but he is definitely a top-class team manager.

For the HRT team to establish itself and thrive in the F1 paddock, it needs this kind of strong leadership.

This is Chen Xiangbei's only chance to "snag a bargain"!

(End of this chapter)