F1: Starting with a Simulator Master

Chapter 144 Closed-Door Meeting

Unlike the boisterous celebrations across the country, a day later, Maranello, Italy, thousands of miles away, was like an impenetrable fortress.

Ferrari headquarters building, top-secret conference room.

On the heavy, solid wood table sat rows of finely aged cigars and fragrant coffee.

Ferrari Chairman John Elkann expressionlessly pushed a manila envelope bearing a top-secret watermark to the center of the table.

The edge of the cover reveals a glimpse of the silver Mercedes-AMG logo, something that should be taboo in Maranello.

"Negotiations with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton have ended."

Elkann's voice echoed in the silent conference room, "Next season, he will be wearing Ferrari's racing suit. The PR department will make an official announcement online no later than before the Shanghai race."

All the managers at the table, including the newly appointed team leader Vasel, couldn't help but hold their breath.

What truly convinced Hamilton to make his decision was Ferrari's enormous potential, demonstrated in these races, to challenge the Red Bull dynasty.

But the sudden arrival of this colossal Buddha also instantly presented the entire management team with an extremely complicated, sweet dilemma, or rather—a bloody reshuffle.

Hamilton, Leclerc, Sainz, and that Chinese driver who suddenly appeared, Luo Xiu.

Four options, two choices: who stays and who goes? There's no possibility of compromise.

Vasser rubbed his temples wearily, picked up a red pen, and wrote the four names in his notebook.

The pen paused for only half a second before coldly and decisively drawing a huge X over Sainz's name.

This isn't about whether you're in good or bad form; it's an indisputable business principle.

Next year, the Spanish team must be eliminated.

Then he drew a heavy circle next to Hamilton.

This sensational transfer deal, which is about to shock the sports world, was personally facilitated by Chairman John Elkann, with Vassell almost entirely present throughout the process. The deal was completed right under his nose.

Whether he liked Hamilton or not, Hamilton was handpicked by his superior, the big boss, so Hamilton's position was as unshakeable as imperial power.

Now, the red pen tip hovers between "Leclerc" and "Luo".

Reason told him that he should undoubtedly side with Luo Xiu.

It wasn't because of Luo Xiu's track skills.

In his view, track ability and talent are not the most important factors for surviving in the F1 paddock.

Politics and interests are the decisive factors affecting survival.

As a newcomer who had just taken over as Ferrari team principal, Vassell's political resources in Maranello were not even comparable to Leclerc's.

What truly attracted Vasser to Roche was his background.

Vassell automatically ignored Luo Xiu's comment about shifting blame when he won the championship, because in retrospect, it seemed more like a stopgap measure to avoid trouble.

Luo Xiu is now clean and pure, almost like a blank sheet of paper!

Apart from the young master of the Xu Group, there were almost no complicated conflicts of interest.

And that's exactly what Vassal wanted!

He was confident that he could keep Luo Xiu firmly under his control.

Behind Leclerc lies a complex web of vested interests within the Monaco consortium and the stubborn conservatism of old Italy.

Protective instincts.

But—Vassel anticipated a very real problem.

What if Ferrari starts a team with one Black man and one Asian man next year?

This century-old racing team, with its proud Italian heritage, will likely face an immeasurable backlash from right-wing fans.

Just thinking about this political obstacle sent waves of phantom pain through Vasser's mind.

"We can decide on next year's plans during the summer break!"

Vasser slammed his laptop shut, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with lightning speed.

"Now, we must decide on the Shanghai station immediately."

There are less than two weeks left until the China Shanghai Grand Prix.

This closed-door meeting, held at the Ferrari table, raged from the first light of dawn until late at night.

The table was piled high with scattered sponsor contracts, cigar butts, and empty espresso cups.

The managers argued heatedly, some insisting on the "starting point guarantee clause" in Sainz's contract, while others boasted about Luo Xiu's telemetry data.

Commercial interests, driver contracts, political status, public opinion, competitive strength —

The various indicators, almost comparable to those for developing an F1 race car, were repeatedly weighed on the scales of the paddock.

Next stop, should we go to Sainz or Luo Xiu?

This single topic set a new record for the longest closed-door meeting in the history of this century-old family.

Fortunately, the negotiation between the various parties has finally yielded a result.

Luo Xiu's outstanding championship-level performance, coupled with the capital intervention of the Xu Group, has elevated his status within Ferrari.

More importantly, Shanghai is in China, it's Rothe's home turf, and it's Ferrari's most important market in Asia.

"Next stop is Shanghai! It's that kid's absolute home turf! If we don't let him compete in front of all the sponsors in China and tens of thousands of crazy fans—"

"I guarantee Mercedes will put a Silver Arrow racing suit on him right there and then! We'll be handing over a world-class champion driver to Toto Wolff for free!"

Weighing competition, contracts, public opinion, and the commercial battles spanning thousands of miles, the so-called spirit of the initial contract and colleague relationships are worthless in the face of capital.

Ultimately, John Elkann delivered the final verdict.

The official line will be that "Sainz's recovery after acute appendicitis surgery requires a more stable period."

Vasser breathed a sigh of relief, a smile that suited him perfectly appearing on his face.

"I will arrange for the team to send a letter to the FIA, and Sainz will officially rejoin the team in Miami after the Shanghai race."

Once this lie, filled with hypocrisy and cold calculation, is printed in a public relations press release, it means it's a done deal.

Luo Xiu will naturally continue as a substitute driver for this century-old team, competing in the upcoming China Shanghai Grand Prix!

Even if it's just a substitute role, when that red "postponed" stamp is placed on Sainz's data sheet, racing fans across China, who have been suppressed for twenty years, will soon experience a top-level carnival they never dared to dream of in just a few hours. And this carnival is different from the one at the Jeddah circuit.

This time, it will last a long time.

A sun-drenched luxury mansion on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain.

Here, there is none of Jeddah's hustle and bustle, nor Maranello's oppressive atmosphere. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is a private lawn manicured like a carpet, and the spacious equipment room echoes with the vibrant music of Spanish bullfighting.

Carlos Sainz is undergoing rehabilitation training.

This Spanish man, who had just had his inflamed appendix removed a few days ago, has now made a 180-degree turn in his attitude toward public opinion on social media.

He was shirtless, deliberately positioning his phone camera at a perfect low angle, sweating profusely on a stationary bike while simultaneously livestreaming on Instagram and TikTok.

His firm, full muscles rose and fell with each step, as if he were trying to send a blazing message to fans and sponsors worldwide in a manner reminiscent of a peacock spreading its tail feathers:

I'm perfectly fine, and my physical condition is not a problem at all!

In the comment section of the live stream, countless enthusiastic female fans from Europe and America flooded the screen with messages, and various explicit jokes almost turned the live stream into an 18+ chat.

[Oh! Carlos, you're amazing! I'm afraid you're going to break me tonight!]

[Get back to your car, my Spanish hunk! Ferrari needs you!]

Sainz watched the trending topic on the screen, winked at the camera with obvious satisfaction, and even deliberately showed off his powerful biceps.

Just then.

The screen of the personal cell phone next to him lit up; it was a video call from team leader Vasser.

Sainz pressed the answer button and greeted the caller cheerfully.

"Ciao, Boss."

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