Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 169 Do you still remember the dreams you had when you were young?
Not only Chen Xiangbei, the person involved, but also the HRT team management sitting at the press conference, and even the reporters asking questions in the audience, almost all stared at Briatore in disbelief.

Leaving aside Alonso, who is currently at the peak of his career and whose achievements are not yet "conclusive," we can say for sure that he has accomplished something.

The other two world champions would still have a lot of room for challenge if they were placed in the F1 arena.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, a living legend, what can Chen Xiangbei do to surpass him?

It is no exaggeration to say that the seven-time champion's achievements are not limited to technique, but also include favorable timing, location, and people.

Even if you have the same skills as Schumacher, you still have a high probability of not being able to achieve the same legendary status as him.

Take Alonso as an example again. This evergreen who has been in the F1 paddock for over two decades is absolutely at a historical level in terms of strength and consistency.

Why does he only have two world championships?

The reason is that Alonso is a true "team selection genius," basically avoiding almost all the correct choices except for Renault.

If he were to join either Red Bull or Mercedes, there would likely be one more contender for the all-time greatness of F1.

What makes a legend a legend is that it is difficult to replicate.

That old Italian scoundrel, Florentino Perez, is probably out of his mind from the suspension and is showing signs of talking nonsense!
"Briatoli, are you making such a shocking statement to hype up the Chinese driver Bei, or to generate attention for your return?"

Hua Bu is a familiar face in the hunting grounds, and media reporters are quite familiar with his character.

Someone immediately questioned him, trying to expose his ulterior motives.

"Hype?"

Upon hearing this word, Huabu gave a disdainful smile.

"Back when I declared that Alonso would become the next champion, the doubts from the outside world were just like your performance now."

"As it turns out, I was right."

"Bei's potential and talent are in no way inferior to Alonso's. As long as he has a fast enough car, he can become the next legend in the F1 paddock!"

Briatore spoke these words with great enthusiasm and gestures.

He never cared about the ridicule and doubts from the outside world, and if you look closely, Briatore's reputation was ruined after the "crash incident".

The outside world's assessment of him is no longer a question of ability, but rather an insult to the spirit of sports.

People like that don't deserve to stay in the F1 paddock!

But so what?
Can public opinion feed you?
Throughout the years since Florentino Pérez left the paddock, countless F1 team management teams have approached him, trying to persuade him to return and turn the tide.

Even at the age of 75, he was still invited back by his former employer, Renault, to take on the task of reorganizing the chaotic team management.

It's worth noting that Renault, once one of the "Big Three" teams, has changed eight team principals in five years, indicating a period of continuous turmoil and decline.

If it weren't for the factory teams of major car manufacturers, they would have long since lost their mid-table position and would have been destined to become the next Williams team.

While Briatore certainly exaggerated and promoted Chen Xiangbei's abilities, he also genuinely acknowledged the talent and strength of the Chinese rookie!

Having taken over the HRT team these past few days, Hua Bu has seen Chen Xiangbei's simulator results and his self-discipline during training.

Talent and hard work are the standard requirements for success.

Chen Xiangbei, this Chinese kid, has everything he needs, so Briatore has no reason not to be optimistic about his future.

As for surpassing Alonso and Schumacher, that's not Chen Xiangbei's problem.

It is the responsibility of the entire HRT fleet, including myself!
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of teamwork; drivers only need to ensure they drive fast enough.

The team's task was to provide him with a race car that was fast enough!
Briatore's answer left many reporters speechless for a moment.

Even though they knew this old rogue was just talking nonsense, they didn't have enough confidence to refute him.

The reason is simple: he actually did deliver on the promises he made back then.

However, a few years later, Briatore made an even bigger boast!
“Briatoli, I’m a journalist from the Spanish sports newspaper. It’s hard to say about Briatore’s potential and talent yet. Even if he’s really no less than Alonso, can the HRT team provide such a fast car?”

Potential and talent are such abstract concepts; everyone has their own opinion on them.

If a reporter were to discuss this with Huabu, it would be tantamount to stepping into the other party's rhythm.

Even if Chen Xiangbei's rookie season was lackluster, it can still be said that Hua Bu's potential has not yet been realized. As long as Chinese rookies are given some time, they will eventually have their moment to shine.

As for how long this will take, only God knows.

However, team strength and car speed are tangible, quantifiable standards.

Slow is slow, and fast is fast!
The journalist from the Spanish sports newspaper is very clear about what the HRT team is really like.

An F3-level team would be considered excellent if it didn't finish last in the F1 paddock, so why assume it can provide a fast enough car?

So you just picked up that junk from the Toyota TF110 team?

In the 60-year history of Formula 1, only one miracle has been created: Brawn GP.

This reporter absolutely does not believe that the TF110 will be the next RA109.

Upon hearing this question, Briatore, unusually, did not reply immediately; instead, his expression was quite complex.

Just when the media reporters at the scene thought they had hit the nail on the head and that the old Italian rogue couldn't find any excuse,

Briatore replied meaningfully, "It seems you've all forgotten a piece of history."

“In 2000, I returned to the F1 paddock to take over Benetton-Renault. At that time, Ferrari was at the peak of its dynasty, and no one had high hopes for the declining Renault team.”

"But I've said it before, one day Renault will shine just like Ferrari!"

After saying that, Hua Bu pointed to the HRT fleet logo and announced.

"I can give you the same answer today: one day, the HRT fleet will also shine in its own light!"

As Briatore finished speaking, applause erupted from the press conference area.

The one clapping was none other than Chen Xiangbei!
Now he finally understood why this infamous old rogue was able to bring out Schumacher and Alonso, ending the Ferrari dynasty.

Briatore is the kind of person who can instill unwavering confidence in the entire team.

Whether he was just talking nonsense or he really thought that way, that's the image he projected to the outside world.

But there are two sides to every coin; if you set your goals too high, you're more likely to fall harder.

Briatore's words and actions will undoubtedly put enormous pressure on the team's rookie.

After all, it was he who made the promise, but it was Chen Xiangbei who achieved it.

In more modern parlance, this kind of team manager is a standard PUA master, using rhetoric to set extremely high goals, squeezing out all the potential of the drivers, and forcing them to constantly challenge their limits.

Although pushing the limits is the path a rookie in F1 is destined to take.

But if you really don't drive well and cause all sorts of crashes, Briatore would never have shown such unwavering confidence in Chen Xiangbei's potential and talent as he did at today's press conference.

Instead, he would not hesitate to kick Chen Xiangbei out and replace him with a driver full of "potential and talent".

Just like Renault's future rookie Duhan, many people have seen him crash and get kicked in various ways, and even do some daring things by bringing simulator driving habits into reality.

But I don't understand why he's so radical?
The root cause lies in the fact that even before Du Han made his debut, he had already foreseen his fate and was under immense pressure to be replaced.

Briatore had already signed an agreement with another rookie, Corapito's team, just waiting for Duhan to underperform so he could pull off a major upset!
Imagine a rookie who hasn't even driven a car yet, and the team's management is already preparing to replace him. Not everyone can withstand that kind of psychological pressure and state of mind.

The only way to survive is to demonstrate your irreplaceable speed.

Du Han did just that, but he acted too hastily and crashed.

But he dared not slow down, because he would have to compete in speed in the next race, thus falling into a vicious cycle.

Of course, being bad at the game is the original sin, so there's nothing to say about being kicked out.

However, the original intention of replacing the driver with a floral cloth was not to assess the driver's skills, but rather to take a liking to the South American consortium behind Corrapinto.

After all, Corrapinto crashed even harder than Duhan, causing eight car damages in nine games over 24 years...

Just like a line from Manager Ye in "Pegasus 2".

“We do have quite a few substitute drivers and test drivers who drive well, but in the end we still have to choose the one whose family is the richest.”

The second-generation rich kid couldn't beat the second-generation heir.

That's why floral prints have a bad reputation in the F1 paddock.

Eloquent words are merely a facade; Briatore's true nature lies in his extreme focus on interests and outcomes.

Chen Xiangbei was well aware of this, but that didn't stop him from applauding Hua Bu's "speech." For a small racing team to stand out, they often had to endure pressure and push their limits, much like rookies trying to maintain their positions.

This is especially true for newcomers like HRT, which lack a strong foundation.

If a team fails to achieve good results and relies solely on Chinese sponsorship, it will lack the ability to generate sustainable profits.

Not only will Chen Xiangbei lose his seat, but the entire team may also go out of business.

This means that regardless of whether Chen Xiangbei agrees with the concept of floral fabric, he has no way out and must demonstrate the position of the same team!

The press conference has reached this point, and it's time to come to an end.

The rest will have to wait and see.

The news that Chen Xiangbei became an official driver for the HRT team, along with Briatore's various "explosive" remarks at the press conference, caused a huge sensation worldwide as it spread and fermented in European media.

Its popularity and buzz even overshadowed the news of Michael Schumacher's comeback and joining the Mercedes team.

Especially in the distant Eastern country, when more than a billion people heard the host on CCTV's 7:30 news announce that Chen Xiangbei had become China's first F1 driver, the vast majority of them were shocked and surprised.

The last time I saw news about Chen Xiangbei was when he won the F3 championship at the Australian Grand Prix.

Even if most Chinese people don't understand Formula One racing, they at least know that there is a "2" between "3" and "1".

Chen Xiangbei skipped GP2 and became an F1 driver in less than half a year?
In 09, when China's auto industry was just beginning to take shape, no one expected that a Chinese F1 driver would actually emerge, let alone that it would happen so suddenly and without warning.

A Chinese driver has made it into the ranks of the world's top 24 drivers?
Coupled with the news of Chen Xiangbei's participation in the ROC National Cup, the speed of the domestic public opinion explosion was no less than that in Europe, occupying almost all newspaper pages and website headlines!
Chen Xiangbei had probably anticipated the surge in popularity in China. After all, in 09, the title of China's first official F1 driver was still quite prestigious.

But when he witnessed it with his own eyes, he was still shocked.

November 13th was the eve of the official start of the ROC National Cup.

At Beijing Yanjing International Airport, Chen Xiangbei, wearing a mask and a baseball cap, walked out of the arrival gate alone, dragging his suitcase in a low-key manner.

Before boarding his plane back to China, Chen Xiangbei contacted Qin Lianjie and learned that Yanjing International Airport was packed with reporters and racing fans. It wasn't that they were there specifically to welcome Chen Xiangbei, but rather that with the ROC Nations Cup about to start, countless top drivers were arriving in Yanjing.

The media won't miss the interview feast, while car fans are even more eager to see their beloved driver idols as soon as possible.

Chen Xiangbei hadn't originally planned to keep such a low profile. As the saying goes, "Wealth and honor should not be returned to one's hometown, for it is like wearing fine clothes at night."

Now that he has made history and become China's first F1 driver, he naturally wants to experience the cheers of the crowd and satisfy his little vanity.

However, the last time Chen Xiangbei returned to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, he was terrified by the way Fatty Wang and Glasses Zhou picked him up at the airport.

What if the media reporters and fans at the airport aren't there for themselves, but to wait for Schumacher, then the scene will be incredibly awkward...

To avoid repeating past mistakes, Chen Xiangbei disguised himself and made a low profile.

As Chen Xiangbei stepped out of the arrival gate, he was instantly stunned by the scene before him.

The entire airport terminal was filled with rows and rows of people!
That's right, it's a human wall!
Various banners and posters were scattered throughout the venue, many of which were indeed about Schumacher, Alonso, or Raikkonen.

However, Chen Xiangbei saw that what greeted him was almost "half the country".

He knew he would definitely have car enthusiasts and fans, but Chen Xiangbei never imagined there would be so many people and the scene would be so sensational!
After all, Zhou Guanyu in later generations never received such treatment.

"Chen Xiangbei~~! Chen Xiangbei~~! Chen Xiangbei~~!"

"A warm welcome to China's racing legend, Bei!"

"China's strongest driver, the world's best F1 driver!"

"Chen Xiangbei, the pride of China!"

As passengers disembarked from the plane, banners were waved and slogans were shouted.

Compared to the last time he returned to China, when it was just Fatty Wang and Glasses Zhou, the scene was quite a contrast.

To be honest, at that moment, Chen Xiangbei really wanted to take off his mask and hat and enjoy the cheers that belonged to him. But he restrained his impulse, pretended to be an ordinary passenger, and mingled in the crowd, pushing his luggage towards the parking lot.

Because Chen Xiangbei knew very well that he was far from being able to "return home in glory".

He didn't want to be distracted by the media and fans. After completing the ROC National Cup, he would immediately enter the F1 winter testing period, at which time the true speed of the TF110 would be verified.

Chen Xiangbei quietly arrived at the underground parking lot and spotted Qin Lianjie's conspicuous red Civic Type-R from afar.

However, this time, Qin Lianjie did not come alone. A familiar figure stood beside him, Han Han, who was also participating in the ROC National Cup.

Chen Xiangbei took off his mask and moved closer. When their eyes met, Chen Xiangbei had a faint smile on his face, while Han Han was filled with mixed feelings.

I still remember the scene of our first meeting. It was in the auditorium of Guang-Shen High School. Chen Xiangbei was wearing a school uniform and listening to my lecture. His face was full of the youth and naivety of a student.

In less than two years, when I saw Chen Xiangbei again, he had already reached the pinnacle of world racing.

F1 driver, that's a dream even Han Han wouldn't dare to pursue!

"Long time no see, Han Han."

Chen Xiangbei extended his hand to greet him.

"Hey north, it's been a long time."

Han Han replied with great emotion, and the two shook hands.

"Let's not be so formal and polite. Let's talk at the hotel first."

“Chen Xiangbei is a celebrity now. Once someone discovers he’s here, it won’t be easy for us to leave.”

Qin Lianjie arrived at Yanjing International Airport more than half an hour early and witnessed Raikkonen being surrounded by fans, especially the group of female fans who almost stripped him naked.

Thanks to the airport's excellent security, they managed to squeeze out a passage, which allowed me to escape.

Objectively speaking, Chen Xiangbei is quite handsome, and with the advantage of being a local driver, he should have quite a few female fans.

The scene where Raikkonen was surrounded will most likely repeat itself if he doesn't leave.

"Ah."

Han Han nodded, turned around and opened the door of the Subaru Impreza parked next to him.

In 09, he left the Volkswagen 222 team and transferred to the Donghai FCA team to participate in rally racing full-time.

He changed his vehicle from a Volkswagen Polo to a Subaru Impreza.

Looking at this familiar car model, Chen Xiangbei felt a surge of emotion.

Uncle Liang is currently at the Lifield Technical Centre, leading his technical team to familiarize themselves with the structure of the TF110's components, striving to have a thorough understanding before the winter testing begins. He simply cannot find the time to travel to Beijing to watch the race.

Otherwise, if there's a chance, bring over his modified Impreza STI; it would be a chance to experience the old days.

Realizing that Chen Xiangbei was staring at his Impreza, Han Han recalled the scene when the two of them had a showdown at the Haizhu International Circuit, when Chen Xiangbei was driving a modified Subaru Impreza STI.

"What's wrong, are you feeling nostalgic because of this?"

Han Han asked with a smile.

"Fortunately."

"Why don't you drive it?"

After saying that, Han Han handed over the car keys.

"Never mind, it doesn't matter who drives."

Chen Xiangbei shook his head; he had already passed the stage of being eager to try out performance cars.

After all, as a man who has driven F1 cars, ordinary performance cars can hardly arouse his interest and passion.

"Head north, this is a Subaru Impreza that has been modified for rally racing."

"Although you are very good at track driving, you may not be able to adapt to rally driving style."

Han Han replied in a "stubborn" tone.

As a senior and champion driver, even though he knew that there was a huge gap between him and Chen Xiangbei now.

But they still refused to admit defeat.

Winning the rally race was Han Han's last way of maintaining his pride.

Upon hearing Han Han's words, Chen Xiangbei did not explain and directly got into the passenger seat of Qin Lianjie's Type-R.

He worried that he wouldn't be able to suppress his desire to show off...

(End of this chapter)