Perhaps you're wondering: in a high-level Ferrari meeting, why are Sauber and Haas the main characters?
To understand this, you need to know one crucial background fact: The Engine.
In a race car, the engine is the heart and foundation. Without it, everything else is useless. However, not all ten teams on the grid produce their own engines.
In the 2017 season, the ten teams were divided into four engine camps:
Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes, Force India, Williams.Renault: Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso.Honda: McLaren.Ferrari: Ferrari, Sauber, Haas.
According to FIA regulations, components like gearboxes, suspension, cooling systems, and some hydraulic parts are transferable. Teams without their own R&D for these parts buy them from manufacturers or assemble them from purchased components.
However, critical parts like aerodynamics and the chassis (monocoque) cannot be bought or transferred. Teams must develop these themselves to prevent "customer cars" from undermining fair competition. Even Red Bull and Toro Rosso, sister teams, cannot transfer these parts or share technical staff.
Of course, the Red Bull Technical Director "visiting" the Toro Rosso factory for a "casual chat" is a grey area that persists despite the bans.
Back to engines. Cooperation means an exchange of interests. These partnerships aren't fixed; they can change at any time.
Take Red Bull. Red Bull Racing was formed from the purchase of Jaguar in 2004, and Toro Rosso from Minardi in 2006. They are sister teams but operate independently with separate management and technical staff. Yet, they share one key advisor:
Helmut Marko.
So, the power struggle between Horner and Marko is far from simple.
Toro Rosso used Ferrari engines from 2007-2013, Renault from 2014-2015, switched back to Ferrari in 2016, and then back to Renault in 2017.
Everything is in flux. Anything is possible.
Sauber and Haas are similar.
Sauber's partnership with Ferrari began in 1997. Aside from the BMW ownership period (2006-2009), their cooperation has spanned 17 years.
In 2017, Sauber was using a year-old (2016) Ferrari engine. They had tried to partner with Honda, but Honda's exclusive deal with McLaren blocked it. So, Sauber renewed with Ferrari for 2018.
The difference was that in 2018, Sauber would get the current-spec Ferrari power unit.
However, Sauber's cooperation with Ferrari was limited. Thanks to the BMW era, Sauber had its own wind tunnel and could design its own aero. They didn't need Ferrari's technical support and fought hard to maintain their independence.
Haas was different. Founded in 2016, this newborn team had limited funds and relied heavily on Ferrari to cut costs and survive.
Haas bought every transferable part allowed by the FIA from Ferrari. They even set up a design office in Maranello, right next to the Ferrari factory, where a team of 50 staff used Ferrari's wind tunnel to design their aero, maintaining constant communication with Ferrari engineers within the rules.
Because of this, the paddock complained endlessly, calling Haas the "Ferrari B-Team." Teams like Force India and McLaren protested publicly, claiming the deep cooperation violated the spirit of fair competition.
The FIA investigated and cleared them, issuing a report confirming the legality of the partnership.
Despite this, the prejudice remained. People widely considered Haas a parasite attached to Ferrari.
Clearly, Ferrari's relationship with Sauber and Haas was very different, and the two customer teams viewed themselves differently.
But undeniably, Ferrari's cooperation with both was comprehensive, long-term, tight, and loyal.
So, while neither Sauber nor Haas was officially a "Ferrari B-Team," if Ferrari wanted to place its academy drivers, these teams were the natural destination.
In 2016, Ferrari Academy driver Antonio Giovinazzi drove for Sauber in several FP1 sessions and even replaced the injured Wehrlein for the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix in 2017.
Similarly, this year, Giovinazzi and Leclerc had driven for Haas in FP1 sessions to gain experience.
This was why Marchionne had a plan. He wanted to promote young blood without risking the Ferrari seat. Inspired by Red Bull's handling of Verstappen, he looked to Sauber and Haas. It was just an exchange of interests.
But Arrivabene saw it differently. Sauber and Haas weren't suckers, nor were they Mother Teresa. They wouldn't necessarily open their seats as a testing ground for Ferrari without expecting something in return. Just look at Giovinazzi.
Giovinazzi, a Ferrari Academy product, had swept the Baku GP2 weekend in 2016 (a year before Leclerc), finishing second in the championship. He was highly rated and bathed in praise.
And he was Italian.
Arrivabene knew how desperate Ferrari was for an Italian driver, especially one winning at Monza in a Ferrari. Giovinazzi carried a lot of hope and resources.
Yet, he still hadn't found a full-time seat, serving as Sauber's reserve driver and waiting obediently.
One Giovinazzi was enough of a headache. Adding Leclerc and Kai? Arrivabene doubted Marchionne's plan would work.
Mattia Binotto thought differently. He understood these points, and so did Arrivabene. Marchionne had no reason not to see them. Yet Marchionne had called a formal meeting and spent time convincing them. Why?
So, Binotto believed they needed to seriously watch the GP3 footage. Maybe the answer was hidden there.
A storm centered on Kai was brewing quietly.
And what about the man himself?
"Dad! Mom!"
At Pudong International Airport, Terminal 2, Kai opened his arms and gave Lu Cheng and Jiang Mo big, solid hugs.
Lu Cheng was flustered, not knowing where to put his hands. He laughed, "Hugging as soon as we meet? Where did you learn that?"
"Italy," Kai replied frankly. "And France, and Monaco."
Lu Cheng grinned, shaking his head. "Show-off. People will think you've lived in Europe for ten years."
Kai scratched his head and chuckled, turning to Jiang Mo. "See? Mom didn't complain. From now on, I'll treat you differently."
Lu Cheng's eyes widened, ready to protest, but then he reconsidered and swallowed his words.
Jiang Mo studied her son carefully, patted his shoulder, and said one sentence. "You've lost weight."
Kai: ???
"Mom, are you sure? I follow the training base's diet for every meal. I'm building muscle. I'm absolutely certain my weight has gone up."
Lu Cheng chimed in. "I think so too. You look thinner. Your mom is right." He looked around. "Where's your luggage?"
Kai jumped in place, gesturing to the backpack on his back. "Just this." Seeing Lu Cheng's surprise, he added, "I just came back for exams."
Jiang Mo asked, "How many days are you staying?"
"I leave right after the exams. Ferrari wants me back in Maranello as soon as possible to test their 2018 F1 car. Not the simulator, but on the track."
"On the track? What about their own drivers?"
"The F1 drivers have packed schedules. Vettel doesn't have time. Räikkönen will come for one day, probably do about 30 laps. The rest of the time, they need us young guys to help. Charles and I will both be driving, plus another former academy driver."
Chattering away, the family reached the parking lot and got in the car.
Lu Cheng glanced in the rearview mirror. "Is the schedule that tight? I thought you could rest for a while."
Kai, oblivious to the sigh in his father's voice, said cheerfully, "Being busy is good. There are new things to learn every day. Ah, I need to review. I have to make use of every minute."
Jiang Mo turned and glared at him wordlessly.
Kai surrendered immediately. "Mom, I know, I know. I won't fall behind on homework and exams, trust me."
Jiang Mo turned back to the front. In the mirror, she saw Kai pull out his textbook and tablet, actually starting to study in the car.
It looked like a show. Jiang Mo couldn't hold back. "You don't study properly in the dorms, and now you're cramming at the last minute, putting on a performance for us? When you get to the exam room, the truth will come out. You can't hide it."
"This isn't just about exams, it's about habits and attitude..."
She stopped abruptly.
Lu Cheng was surprised. From her tone, he thought she was about to explode. Why did she stop?
He looked in the rearview mirror. Kai's head was lolling to the side. He was asleep. Constrained by the seatbelt, leaning awkwardly against the seat back, his mouth slightly open, he was dead to the world. He looked exhausted.
Kai had always been energetic, unable to sit still. But this Kai looked overdrawn. There were faint blue circles under his eyes. No wonder he looked thinner.
Clearly, Kai had been working himself to the bone recently.
Then, Lu Cheng noticed his wife turning her head quickly to look out the window, clearly flustered. He called softly, "Jiang Mo..."
She didn't answer. She silently closed the window and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, a mix of heartache and frustration.
Jiang Mo admitted she had reservations. Whether it was the Ferrari Academy or GP3, she hadn't fully bought into it.
Hope was a dangerous thing. Without hope, there is no disappointment. The higher you fly, the harder you fall. Jiang Mo felt she needed to be the bad guy, the one pouring cold water.
But she hadn't expected Kai to actually have talent. Not just a double win in Spain, but a sweep in Austria, too.
Jiang Mo, showing her lawyer's instincts, had done a detailed background check. She knew better than Lu Cheng what Kai's results meant.
But the more she knew, the harder it was. Because she realized that she and Lu Cheng might not have the ability to support Kai's dream.
People often think talent and ability are enough to achieve greatness. But reality is cruel. Talent only gets you in the door. Inside, everyone is a genius. To stand out from that crowd, talent alone is impossible.
Dreams are precious, but they are also expensive.
The situation was even more regrettable than Lu Cheng's had been. Sometimes, Jiang Mo couldn't help but think that if he had no talent and lived a mediocre life, things would be easier.
Lu Cheng looked at her profile. Although he couldn't fully understand her thoughts, as someone who had been there, his feelings were more direct.
He exhaled softly. "Kai is growing up. He's venturing out in his own way. All we need to do is support him. No matter what happens, he can always come home. We are always here."
Jiang Mo didn't speak. She turned to look back at Kai. There were cuts and bruises on his arms, knees, and shins, and a band-aid on his finger. Her heart clenched in pain. "He's still a child. I just don't want him to carry this pressure."
Slightly, Jiang Mo wavered. She had always been the one pouring cold water, holding the whip, worried about the pain of falling from a great height. But now she wondered if she was wrong.
Regardless of the outcome, even if it ended in failure, wouldn't it be better if she stood with her son, fighting together, working together, facing the storm together?
Silence filled the car, only thoughts churning in their minds.
Finally home, Jiang Mo woke Kai. "Go upstairs first. Get some sleep in your room. Fix your jet lag, or you'll fall asleep in the exam."
Kai rubbed his sleepy eyes and stumbled upstairs. Just as he entered his room, Song Bo's loud voice rushed in like a heatwave.
"Auntie Jiang, Uncle Lu, where's Kai?"
Arriving like a hurricane, leaving like a hurricane.
"Mom, Doctor and I are going out! I haven't heard the key points for the biology exam yet! We'll be in the yard downstairs!"
Before Jiang Mo could respond, she heard the two boys laughing and running out.
Jiang Mo looked at the open door, speechless. "Where was the exhaustion? He was probably just making an excuse to sleep in the car."
And she had been there feeling sad and sentimental all by herself!
Despite her grumbling, Jiang Mo turned to the kitchen. She started making soup. Kai was finally home, and naturally, he missed the taste of home. Tonight, she would cook herself, invite Song Yan and Zhang Qiaomu's family over, and have a small celebration in their humble home.
Downstairs, Kai was oblivious to his mother's inner monologue. His attention was entirely on the exam scope.
He was serious.
Do what you say. Kai believed that if he wanted his parents to support his "willfulness," he had to fulfill his promises and prove he was trustworthy. Regardless of his performance in the paddock, his homework and exams could not be neglected.
However, Song Bo's attention was elsewhere.
"...Come on, what exams? Are exams important? Who has time for exams?! Big brother, Boss, Grandpa Lu, I saw the F1 official website news!"
"So, is it true? Are you going to F1? Which team? Red Bull? Mercedes? I think you should choose Mercedes. If you enter the paddock, you should drive a fast car. The Mercedes is still a rocket ship. Partnering with Hamilton, you'd be invincible."
Seeing him boast like that, Kai couldn't help laughing. "It's fake."
One sentence, instant cooling.
Song Bo froze, eyes wide, staring at Kai dumbfounded.
Kai laughed harder. "Watch out for mosquitoes."
Song Bo quickly shut his mouth, but he was in no mood for jokes. "No way, Kai, be honest. Is it because of a non-disclosure agreement that you can't say?"
"Don't you know who I am? Dr. Song! Don't you know my ability to keep secrets? When you skipped class in ninth grade to go street racing in Fengxian, no one else knows about it to this day. Trust me, I absolutely won't tell anyone. I know how serious this is."
Watching the fast-talking Song Bo, Kai was amused. He waved his hand. "Really. I have no need to lie to you."
"Do you think winning two races is a big deal? Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari just letting me pick? Does the whole world revolve around the protagonist?"
Song Bo looked anxious, even more than Kai. "But, it's not just any two races. Two consecutive weekends, a total of four races."
Kai spread his hands. "Yes, just GP3. Did you see any domestic news reports? Did social media make a splash?"
Song Bo choked on his words.
Racing, after all, wasn't football or basketball. Its reach was limited, and GP3 was a niche within a niche, followed by only a small fraction of hardcore fans.
This small group cheered and celebrated for Kai, but in the mainstream view, he was invisible. No splash.
Song Bo looked sad. "What about the official website news? The news can't be fake, right?"
Kai bumped Song Bo's shoulder. "F1 official website... that's an all-English site. If Auntie Qiaomu knew, she'd probably be wiping tears of joy. 'My Doctor is actually reading English websites!' Are you confident about the reading comprehension on this English exam?"
Song Bo looked like he wanted to die.
Kai laughed happily and stopped teasing his friend. "The news is true. How could interviews given in front of reporters be fake? But interviews are just interviews. Actual action is another matter."
Song Bo thought for a moment and gasped. "You mean, it's all PR?"
Kai shrugged lightly. "Anyway, so far, I haven't spoken to Horner, and the same goes for Arrivabene. Toto Wolff did come over personally to congratulate me, but I think he's managing his fish pond. He still values George Russell very much; he was just greeting me in passing."
"Oh." Song Bo sighed heavily. "They really are old foxes. I didn't expect them to be two-faced. Horner was so enthusiastic in front of the media, I thought he really favored you."
"Tsk, I knew Horner wasn't a good person. Very cunning."
"So you're saying all that excitement was fake, and no team contacted you?"
Kai paused. "Not exactly."
One sentence, and Song Bo's eyes lit up. He held his breath.
Kai didn't keep him guessing. "Zak Brown from McLaren."
Song Bo almost screamed. He barely controlled himself, but still did a little happy dance in place.
Kai chuckled. "Actually, we didn't say much."
"He just congratulated me first, then discussed some details of the two race weekends, like an ordinary fan. Then we talked about the past. He knew I came from street racing and asked how I got into racing without karting."
Song Bo's eyes shone. "Then he must know about your karting when you were little? And Uncle Lu's garage?"
Kai nodded. "He did his homework. Later, he asked about my plans for the future. He knows Formula racing costs a lot of money. Without talent, you might not gain a foothold in the paddock, but that's just a 'might.' Without money, you absolutely have no chance."
Song Bo couldn't contain his excitement. "So he said McLaren is ready to sponsor you?"
"Haha, Doctor. I just love how direct you are." Kai laughed heartily. "No, of course not. We're not discussing a few hundred thousand RMB, but millions or even tens of millions of dollars. He wouldn't just hand over the checkbook in one phone call."
"But..."
Kai paused. "He showed sincerity."
"Not only did he prepare, but he wasn't just joining the fun or casting a wide net. We had a real conversation. He talked to me for nearly an hour."
"Of course, this might just be part of the strategy. Zak Brown is the CEO of McLaren now, not some random Daddy Long Legs. He's essentially the same as Wolff and Horner."
Song Bo nodded gently. "But at least he put in more effort and showed more sincerity. This shows that in McLaren's plan, you have more value. If value is calculated by time and energy, you carry the most weight with McLaren right now."
Kai: "At this stage, it seems so."
Song Bo pondered for a moment. "...But, McLaren is currently at the bottom of the Constructor's standings, right?"
Kai met Song Bo's gaze calmly. "Exactly. That's why they're more proactive. They are more desperate than Mercedes or Red Bull. Standing on the edge of life and death, they don't have many choices."
F1, since 1950, has gone through 66 years. Teams come and go, eras change like waves.
Currently, the oldest and most traditional team in the paddock is Ferrari, present since the second race in 1950, the Monaco Grand Prix.
Ferrari is the only team that has never missed a single F1 season, worthy of being the cornerstone. To date, they have won 16 Constructor's Championships and 15 Driver's Championships. Although they haven't won a championship for years since entering the hybrid era, undoubtedly, as long as F1 exists, Ferrari is the most special existence in the hearts of fans and the symbol of the sport.
So, what is the second oldest team in the paddock?
The answer is McLaren.
Since their debut in 1966, McLaren was celebrating its 51st season. Their papaya orange is undoubtedly another beautiful landscape in the paddock. With 8 Constructor's titles and 12 Driver's titles, their record also stands tall in history. Perhaps they are not as dominant as Ferrari, but McLaren fans are all over the world, with a deep market base.
Lewis Hamilton's career started at McLaren. In 2007, Hamilton created the myth of nine consecutive podiums in his debut season, writing an incredible rookie story.
After Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes in 2013, McLaren began to decline, hitting rock bottom in 2015, finishing 9th in the standings (second to last). Although they recovered slightly in 2016 to finish 6th, this year they were stuck in the mud again.
Currently, McLaren was at the bottom of the standings, in a difficult situation.
And the predicament wasn't just that.
In the paddock, apart from a few teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes that didn't need to worry about finances, every other team had no exceptions.
They needed to constantly worry about balancing the books, advertising sponsorship, etc. When selecting drivers, teams also needed to consider related issues.
First, does the driver bring sponsorship?
Second, are the team's main sponsors satisfied with the driver's brand image? Even if these sponsors don't sponsor the driver directly, if they worry the driver's image might bring negative impact, they have the right to protest. Then the team must mediate, negotiate, and make a choice.
McLaren was the same.
So, as Kai said, McLaren was facing severe challenges. They had no choice. Zak Brown had to be bolder and more adventurous.
In Kai's view, Brown had 100% considered the potential of the Asian market. If he went to sponsors holding the banner of "the first Asian driver in the paddock," could he find more sponsorship in Asia?
Under the combined effect of various factors, Brown appeared very active and sincere.
However, Song Bo saw things from a slightly different angle. "But... McLaren is a slow car. Isn't that bad for future development?"
Kai laughed directly. "Doctor, you speak as if I have a choice."
Song Bo suddenly realized, remembering Wolff and Horner's attitudes. Everyone wanted to join a big team, but how could a big team be so easy to enter? He scratched his head in embarrassment. "So, if McLaren really offers, will you go?"
"Go. Of course I'll go. 100%." Kai didn't hesitate. "Jumping from GP3 to F1, and not having to worry about sponsorship. There is no reason to refuse such a rare opportunity."
"If you want to fight for more initiative and voice, you must produce results on the track."
"Competitive sports are always like this. There is no problem a victory cannot solve. If one doesn't work, then two, three, four, five, six."
Song Bo took a deep breath. The excitement settled slightly, and unrealistic fantasies were put aside. The fever from Kai's double weekend sweep cooled a little, finally finding his center of gravity, feeling the weight of gravity again.
Despite this, Song Bo was confident. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, right?"
"One step at a time. Boss, I believe in you!"
Kai looked at Song Bo, who was acting out a Japanese shonen manga by himself, and smiled. "'Boss'? I remember someone always emphasizing that their birthday is earlier than mine?"
Song Bo immediately rubbed his hands together obsequiously, beaming at Kai. "Brother. From today on, you are my big brother."
Kai knew Song Bo too well. No movement escaped his eyes. The sugar-coated shell must have a purpose. "Spit it out. What is it?"
Song Bo didn't be coy. He seized the opportunity. "Can you review and explain the technical points of the Spanish and Austrian races with me?"
Kai had question marks all over his head. "Do you have a fever?"
Song Bo liked racing, but he was a "Fast and Furious" type of fan, purely liking speed. He didn't like studying technology. Seeing that data made him dizzy; the hypnotic effect was comparable to math problems. So he had never suffered from insomnia growing up.
Song Bo chuckled. "I opened an account on a video site to explain GP3 and provide first-hand racing information for domestic fans."
Kai didn't hide his surprise.
Since childhood, Song Bo had been a slacker, hot for three minutes on anything. Usually lazy and casual. Actually, Song Bo was very smart; he just used his cleverness to find loopholes and be lazy, causing Zhang Qiaomu to shed many tears.
This seemed to be the first time in Kai's memory that Song Bo was truly interested in something.
Bathed in Kai's gaze, Song Bo was slightly constrained. "I started during the New Year. I'm still rusty; making videos isn't as simple as it looks. And before, when I made videos, I made common sense errors and was pointed out by real veteran fans. I lost face big time. So now I've started checking information. Even if not that professional, at least I shouldn't make basic mistakes."
"Actually, I didn't want to tell you. The account has only about 800 fans, not even a thousand. I was embarrassed to bring it up to you. I thought I'd tell you as a surprise gift when you signed with an F1 team. But didn't you just win in Austria? There are many technical details in the Feature and Sprint races, so I wanted to analyze..."
As he spoke, Song Bo's voice gradually lowered. He still lacked confidence, feeling shy about bringing these things up.
Song Bo peeked at Kai, only to see Kai reveal a huge smile. "800! Wow, Doctor, you're amazing! So should I call you an influencer from now on?"
"When you have traffic in the future, remember to take care of me. 'Do not forget the friend of your humble days when you become rich,' understand?"
Song Bo froze, and a smile bloomed on his lips.
Kai's voice surged brightly in the afternoon sun, like soda dispersing the summer heat. "Come, come, come. Expert, tell me, how should I help? What do you want to analyze?"
June. Summer had quietly arrived. Shanghai, just past the rainy season, heated up overnight. The heat waved its claws in the air. Watermelon, durian, bayberry, mangosteen, cantaloupe appeared on every street corner. The scene of everyone holding a drink became lively.
For office workers, days were the same. But for students, with summer vacation approaching, everyone was restless.
However, before summer vacation, they still had to deal with the ultimate demon: final exams.
Especially for sophomores, this was the last summer vacation before the sprint year. Some arranged summer study plans early, some prepared to attend summer camps to enrich themselves, and some prepared to indulge for a summer before studying hard in September.
At this time, final exams seemed particularly important because they might determine whether their summer vacation could proceed as planned.
Kai was no exception.
While the paddock was buzzing about a dark horse disrupting everything in GP3 this year, that dark horse obediently returned to school, preparing for exams like thousands of ordinary students.
Slightly different from the New Year, Kai's return this time didn't make a splash. His classmates had learned their lesson. Although they were still curious about what happened during Kai's half-semester disappearance and what GP3 was, they were smart this time, keeping their mouths shut and minding their own business.
Kai was exceptionally low-key, attracting no extra attention, devoting himself to the exams. Everything was calm.
After the exams, Kai didn't stay. He turned and returned to Maranello, eager to test the 2018 F1 car for Ferrari
This was Kai's first time driving a real F1 car on track. Even if it was the backyard Fiorano circuit, the experience was different.
So, Kai couldn't wait to go back.
Coming in a hurry, leaving in a hurry, taking not a cloud with him. If they had focused wholeheartedly on studying and exams, they might not have even noticed Kai's presence.
It wasn't until the results came out that there was another uproar. Kai, completely unaware, had left another legend in the school.
Lu Cheng noticed Jiang Mo freezing in place. His heart skipped a beat, and he approached proactively. "What's wrong? Bad grades?"
Jiang Mo didn't answer, lost in thought.
Lu Cheng glanced at the report card: 2nd in class, 7th in grade.
Although not as good as the New Year's result, it was still excellent performance. Lu Cheng looked at Jiang Mo's face, worried she thought their son had regressed.
Thinking for a moment, Lu Cheng defended Kai. "This result is already excellent. Think about it, Kai was over there, training and racing, and testing cars for the team, busy all day long. He still found time to keep up with his studies. He has done his best to fulfill his promise."
Jiang Mo nodded gently. "Mm. I know."
Lu Cheng froze. "Then you..."
Jiang Mo exhaled. "I'm worried I was too strict with him."
"Honestly, the competition was so tense and fierce, and Kai's results were so good, I had almost no hope for this final exam. But he still performed so well. I know how intense sophomore studies are. This means he probably had to pay ten or a hundred times the effort behind the scenes."
She didn't continue.
Lu Cheng's throat was slightly blocked. He knew he wasn't the only one who cared about Kai; they just showed it differently.
Lu Cheng patted Jiang Mo's shoulder. "Don't worry. Our son understands your intentions. He's always working hard, isn't he? We should also work hard in our own way."
"If we don't try, how do we know it's impossible?"
Jiang Mo didn't answer immediately. Logic and emotion were in a tug-of-war. "...Let me think about it."
Far away in Maranello, Kai had no time to worry about his grades. He had done his best academically; the rest was out of his control. More importantly, there were more and more unknowns in racing, as if entering a brand new world.
People always think racing is just racing, no difference.
But that is wrong.
Ordinary racing and Formula racing are two different things. GP3 and F1 are two different things again.
If anyone thought that because Kai could easily handle GP3, he could naturally handle F1 just a bit faster, right? they were very wrong.
It's very intuitive. When the car speed is 40 km/h, control is simple. But at 100 km/h, the same control becomes complex under the pressure of speed. And F1 directly raises the speed to 300 km/h, like walking on the edge of the limit.
Moreover, aerodynamics, dynamic balance, throttle-brake coordination, steering control, etc., all differ. Everything needs new adaptation.
For Kai, who switched careers halfway, there were not just one or two strange things. If not for the systematic teaching of theoretical basics in the past six months the "100,000 Whys" really helped he would probably be a lost lamb in F1.
Everything was exciting for Kai.
In the GP3 world, he was still learning and improving. Now discovering the colorful world of F1, he was dazzled and overwhelmed.
Kai finally experienced what it felt like to "absorb knowledge like a sponge."
Until he left Maranello, Kai was still reluctant to part. But there was no other way; the next GP3 race was about to begin.
The GP3 schedule must match F1, with no choice. Previously, there was a full month between Spain and Austria, but there was no gap between Austria and the next race. Back-to-back race weekends.
In other words, in just one week, Kai traveled to three cities: Shanghai, Maranello, London. Too busy to breathe. After switching identities from student to test driver, he would return to his identity as an ART driver to compete in the third race of the season
Silverstone, UK.
Racing originated in the UK. F1 originated at Silverstone. In 1950, the first Formula 1 World Championship race was held at the Silverstone circuit.
To this day, the UK is still the headquarters of racing. Almost every F1 team has its headquarters here to exchange first-hand information. Only Ferrari, the old stubborn one, still stays alone in Maranello, showing its arrogance.
Silverstone Circuit is located about 100 kilometers north of London. Originally a WWII military airfield, it hosts not only F1 but also various other races. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous and prosperous tracks globally, with a long history and fanatical fans, almost equivalent to a holy land.
Just as British football has a deep fan culture, racing at Silverstone also has an incredible fan culture. Everything makes this a track no driver can miss.
And this weekend, GP3 was landing at Silverstone, competing on this track full of history and culture.
As soon as he arrived, the feeling was different.
And it was... completely different.
~~----------------------
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