F1: Absolute Car Feel

Chapter 217 Business Activities
"Chinese players have taken a dominant position in F1 racing!"

"Wu Shi: An F1 driver who is about to break records, becoming a world champion in his rookie season!"

"Williams' car development strategy clearly favored certain aspects, leaving Massa unable to compete with his teammate."

"The fastest driver + the third fastest car = world champion?"

The numerous headlines were eye-catching, leaving many racing fans who missed the Monaco Grand Prix somewhat bewildered.

How come China dominates the competition?
How did Wu Shi become a world champion?
When I went in, I found it was all clickbait; the articles only mentioned Wu Shi's leading advantage at that time in the first part.

The following analysis was entirely rational and objective, concluding that Wu Shi's lead would not last long.

Of course, there are also some conspiracy theory articles in small media outlets.

Something like:

"Chinese capital's interference in F1 racing is an attempt to artificially create Chinese racing legends!"

"Is the bribed Mercedes-Benz team always creating opportunities for Wu Shi?"

Upon seeing these articles, Wu Shi was speechless.

I didn't, I didn't do it, this is completely slandering me!
Of course, he just took these as a joke, but Panzi and Locke would always turn around and turn them over, which made him angry.

Upon returning to England, Wu Shi was surprised to receive a call from Sid.

“Zhou Guanyu, his mother does want to discuss some things with us. She wants you to provide some advice on Zhou Guanyu’s development,” Sid said.

“Oh? I remember he was running F4, right?” Wu Shi asked.

“Yes, he’s also preparing for F3 next year,” Sid said.

Wu Shi hesitated for a moment, but quickly said, "Let's meet and talk. I know him, we're friends."

The rest is up to Sid to handle.

Wu Shi's name had become very famous in F1 by this time, and most racing fans realized the emergence of an absolute genius.

Many fellow countrymen who came to Europe to develop their careers have also benefited from this, and some have even asked him to help them out of consideration for their fellow countrymen.

Wu Shi would usually lend a hand, whether it was for go-karting interviews or lower-level formula car interviews, he would recommend them.

However, how well they perform depends on themselves.

The drivers who can go to Europe to study generally come from well-off families, and they haven't encountered the kind of selfish people who try to morally blackmail them.

The parents were quite grateful to Wu Shi, because without an introduction, most European karting teams would not have accepted a child from China.

He remembered that he wanted to join a go-karting team, but even with Aunt Martina's prior arrangements, he was stood up. How much more so would these kids?
Meanwhile, Bianchi sent another letter, indicating that his racetrack was doing well, and that he had fully taken control of it in the short time since he took over.

Wu Shi knew that Bianchi still wanted to invite him to join his racetrack and karting team.

His attitude this time was different from before. Previously, he was too arrogant and, being new to F1, did not want to be involved in too much of his energy, so he refused.

Now, on the one hand, Bianchi has repeatedly invited him, and on the other hand, many families in China have found him through various connections, hoping that he can help them.

Taking these two points into account, he could indeed invest in and operate a go-kart team.

This way, at least the younger generation who want to participate in competitions in Europe will have a way to do so.

Furthermore, it is already 2015, and ten years from now, the domestic automobile industry will undergo tremendous changes.

However, because motorsports receive so little attention in China, only one of the leading automakers and only one of the emerging automakers are somewhat interested.

This can naturally be attributed to the fact that domestic companies prioritize practicality, while so-called racing events are seen as a waste of resources due to a lack of ambition.

In fact, motorsports events have both technical value and cultural and entertainment industry value.

A quick search throughout the history of the automotive industry reveals a wealth of technologies that originated in motorsports and were subsequently adopted by civilian users.

Features like engine cylinder coating, keyless start, disc brakes, energy recovery, dual-clutch transmissions, and so on.

These are all easy to understand, and there are also many vehicle systems engineering projects that have been tested in racing, which have also contributed to the continuous development of civilian vehicles.

It can be said that motorsports have catalyzed the development and progress of the automotive industry to a certain extent. How can you say that it's just a waste of time?
Which of the major car manufacturers doesn't participate in various racing events?

From the perspective of the cultural and entertainment industry, motorsports, a highly competitive and exciting sport, has also attracted a large following.

Its development could bring about economic growth, just like sports such as football and basketball.

In conclusion, whether from his own rational thinking or from the perspective of self-interest, Wu Shi is bound to contribute to the development of the domestic motorsports industry.

Given this, it's only right to make plans early.

He shared his ideas with Sid, and that he and Bianchi would be running the business together.

Although he didn't contribute any money, simply registering someone with that go-karting team was already a contribution in itself.

Many children grew up listening to his legendary stories in various races, and his achievements have influenced a new generation of drivers.

There are many complex issues that require our attention, such as the restrictions on Wu Shi's participation in business activities stipulated in his contract with Williams. These are things that need to be considered when discussing cooperation with Bianchi.

Anyway, Sid is no longer fighting alone, so it's not too much of a problem.

After reviewing the information from his agency, Wu Shi was finally able to focus on his F1 activities.

As a result, before he could even return to the factory, Claire informed him that he was to attend a business event hosted by Martini, the biggest sponsor.

It's said that he was singled out.

As a Williams contracted driver, Wu Shi naturally couldn't refuse such commercial opportunities.

Its main role is to participate in the promotional activities of Martini, the Italian wine industry giant, in Italy.

Martini had actually had this idea for a while, but Wu Shi's performance in F1 hadn't been impressive enough, so Martini was conservative and didn't believe in Wu Shi's commercial value.

However, after Wu Shi achieved consecutive good results, which further boosted his popularity in Italie, Martini began to consider this matter.

That makes sense, as Wu Shi and Italie had a very close relationship.

After all, there are no Italian drivers in the paddock right now, so he, an Italian karting driver, was used as a substitute.

Of course, there are still some people who are unwilling to regard a foreigner as Italy's glory. However, on the internet, a strange competitive spirit has led many Italy netizens to insist on the relationship between Wu Shi and Italy.

The key connections in this process, besides Wu Shi's professional career starting in Italie, are also related to Aunt Martina and Louise.

On June 1st, Wu Shi hurriedly flew to Milan, accompanied only by his press officer, Jennifer Stone, a blonde woman who explained the entire itinerary on the plane.

"So, all I need to do is show up at the press conference and say a few words?" Wu Shi asked.

“Yes, you don’t need to do anything too complicated. After all, the Canadian Grand Prix is ​​next weekend, and we won’t let you spend too much time here.” Jennifer nodded.

"understood."

Seeing that the task wasn't too difficult, Wu Shi felt a little relieved. He wouldn't have any emotional reaction if he were driving, but he was still somewhat uncomfortable about performing at commercial events.

As soon as he got off the plane, he realized he had underestimated his current popularity.

Surprisingly, someone knew about the news in advance and tried to take pictures of him. Fortunately, Jennifer was very familiar with this and had prepared masks, sunglasses, and other protective gear.

After he signed autographs for a few fans, he went straight to the venue.

The enormous estate was filled with people from all walks of life, with luxury cars and beautiful women coming and going. This grand party had clearly invited a large number of people.

“Nervous? I believe you won’t be. You’re quite adept at dealing with those reporters in the paddock,” Jennifer laughed, then straightened his suit.

For such a cocktail party, formal attire is naturally required.

Standing at 1.79 meters tall, Wu Shi looks quite dashing in a suit, and his strong facial features make him appealing to both Eastern and Western tastes.

“Of course, I only need to go up and say a few words, why would I be nervous?” Wu Shi shook his head.

“That’s good. Remember, if anyone asks you anything related to drinking, you can’t answer,” Jennifer reminded her.

"Okay, I understand. You emphasized it several times on the way here. I'm clearly a minor and shouldn't drink alcohol, but you still insisted that I do it," Wu Shi said helplessly.

“You need to change this mindset. Do you know that you are already a celebrity with considerable status?”

"Huh?" Wu Shi really didn't believe it. Two championships, are there very few F1 drivers with that achievement?
“Your future is limitless,” Jennifer said, glancing at Wu Shi’s surprised face, and then added:
"Martini doesn't think you'll stay at Williams for long. They're afraid you'll leave Williams next season, so they're eager to use this opportunity to promote you."

Wu Shi showed no emotion, but simply shook his head and said, "I signed a three-year contract with Williams."

Jennifer looked at Wu Shi with a strange expression and said, "It seems you really haven't changed. Your performance in Monaco qualifying has already made many teams interested in you."

Wu Shi laughed after hearing this and said, "And then? Mercedes? Ferrari? Or Red Bull, McLaren? Which team do you think would be a better fit for me right now than Williams?"

"Alright, we've arrived. Get off the bus."

Jennifer was also wearing a gown today, and her beautiful figure made the gown fit perfectly. Her fair skin shone like the bright moonlight under the lights.

Wu Shi didn't dwell on the topic; the two just chatted casually and didn't really have to debate anything.

After getting out of the car, Jennifer took Wu Shi's arm and walked inside.

Throughout the journey, Jennifer demonstrated her high level of professionalism, recognizing and offering kind words to any celebrities who came to greet her.

With such a press officer, Wu Shi felt even less pressure. Even though he didn't know anyone in the entire venue, Jennifer was able to handle things properly for him.

He only needed to keep smiling and say hello and compliments to Jennifer as instructed, and that would be considered completing the activity.

Upon arriving at the main venue in the center of the manor, everyone was chatting while holding wine glasses, with waiters moving about among them.

Soon someone handed Wu Shi a cup of wine.

"Mr. Wu, this is a non-alcoholic sparkling wine specially prepared for you," the waiter said.

"Thank you."

Just as Wu Shi took the wine glass, a dark brown-haired woman wearing a low-cut dress walked over.

"Wu Shi? I didn't expect to see you here!"

The woman's surprised look surprised Wu Shi as well. "Sister, who are you?"

Jennifer reacted quickly, saying:

"Elizabeta Canalis, I never expected to see you here! I thought you had retired from the entertainment industry."

“Oh! That’s what I was thinking after I got married to Brian Perri, but after being invited, I decided to come and try this delicious martini.”

Jennifer quickly started chatting with the beautiful actress, while Wu Shi listened from the side. It turned out that Elizabeta Canalis also followed F1, which was why she knew Wu Shi.

Later on, I heard some gossip, such as Elizabeta Canalis complaining that she was trying to have a child but nothing happened.

Wu Shi was speechless.

After dealing with this person, it was finally the main character's turn to appear, and an executive from Bacardi began to give the opening remarks for the party.

After the speech, the various celebrities in attendance were invited to speak on stage. This was the core purpose of the evening: to further promote Martini's fame.

The alcohol industry is highly dependent on celebrity endorsements.

Wu Shi wasn't ranked very high, so I was still a little nervous when his name was called.

The audience was packed with people from all walks of life, including politics and business. He held a wine glass, his hands steady as if he were controlling an F1 steering wheel.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm also a bit surprised to be standing here. After all, I'm only sixteen, not the age for drinking. But it would be such a disappointment if I couldn't open a bottle of champagne when we celebrated a victory. Fortunately..."

He raised his glass to a non-alcoholic sparkling wine produced by Martini and continued reciting his prepared script.

After the speech, which was over a thousand words long, was finished, the audience's reaction was quite positive.

Wu Shi breathed a sigh of relief and left the platform.

“You did a great job. The $100,000 has arrived,” Jennifer said jokingly.

"I'd rather drive than do this job."

Wu Shi shrugged, speaking in a joking tone, indicating that these activities were something he would definitely need to get used to.

He and Jennifer rushed back to England overnight, and their preparations for the Canadian Grand Prix remained incredibly busy.

After a busy night, he hadn't even had a chance to rest when Louise called him in the morning.

"You went back to Italia last night?"

"Ugh~" Wu Shi said weakly.

"Hmph, I'd love for you to come home. It's been so long since I've seen you," Louise muttered, her voice growing softer and softer.

"I was suddenly notified about what happened last night. I'll go back after the Canadian Grand Prix."

"Okay! Are you still resting? Didn't you get any sleep last night? You should get some rest." Louise asked with concern, then hung up the phone.

Wu Shi glanced at Louise on the screensaver, then buried his head in the pillow. It seemed he was somewhat similar to Wu Zhenlin, completely forgetting about home when he was working.

He could only keep reminding himself that he couldn't do this, and that he should go back more often when he had time.

The Canadian Grand Prix is ​​on June 7th. June has already arrived, and we are almost halfway through the year.

Wu Shi glanced at his points: 119. While not far ahead, he had at least a few stops ahead.

Keep it up, this WDC opportunity is just too good to be true.

　Sorry everyone, I went out today and got back very late. I'm so sorry!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)