Before Alex Sun could fully digest the system task information, the door to the lounge was pushed open. Mark walked in with two men in tailored suits, his expression solemn. "Alex Sun, this is Mr. Binotto, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari, and his assistant."
Alex Sun stood up to greet them, his gaze settling on the man at the front—Binotto, whom he had met at the French dinner by the harbor the night before. Dressed in a bespoke suit, the Ferrari prancing horse badge on his chest stood out sharply. His eyes were keen and steady, carrying the unmistakable presence of a top-tier team leader.
"Alex Sun, congratulations on your podium finish," Binotto said as he extended his hand, his smile warm yet precise. "You've delivered on your promise. Your result here at Monaco fully meets our evaluation standards. As I said last night, once you reached the F2 podium this weekend, the Ferrari junior assessment would conclude, and the official contract would take effect immediately."
Alex Sun returned the handshake, his grip firm but his expression calm. "Mr. Binotto, thank you to Ferrari for the recognition. I'll repay this trust with results on the track."
"Ferrari doesn't pay for 'potential.' We only look at results," Binotto replied directly, his tone reflecting the rigor and sincerity of a true racing powerhouse. "And you've proven yourself through performance."
"This junior contract runs for two years. During this time, you'll be an official junior driver. We'll provide a dedicated training team, full access to top-level simulator resources, and comprehensive technical guidance.
You'll also continue racing in F2 with Prema to build race experience. Prema is a core partner within our junior system, and the technical synergy between both sides will maximize your development.
If your performance continues to meet our standards, you'll earn a clear pathway toward becoming a Ferrari F1 reserve driver—and potentially a full-time race driver."
The announcement didn't stir much emotion in Alex Sun. In fact, it was largely what he had expected.
From securing the evaluation opportunity at last night's banquet to fighting his way onto the podium today and fulfilling the promise, in just a single day he had gone from a sponsored driver on the verge of elimination to holding the Ferrari junior program ticket that countless young drivers dream of.
But for Alex Sun—who already knew the system would help him establish a brand-new F1 team in the 2022 season—this contract was only a transitional step, not his final destination.
In the seventy-five days since his arrival, he had climbed from a backmarker test driver in winter testing, to a sponsored driver who found his footing with the system's help, and now to a junior driver signed purely on merit.
The road had been hard, but it brought him closer to his ultimate goal of building his own F1 team. That accumulation of growth mattered far more to him than the contract itself.
Mark, standing beside him, was already flushed with excitement. He discreetly nudged Alex Sun's arm, urging him to accept. Alex Sun remained unaffected by the emotion. He took a deep breath to steady his thoughts and asked the system internally, "If I'm going to build my own F1 team, what real value does joining Ferrari's junior program bring?"
[Host, there is no need for confusion.]The system's mechanical voice responded promptly. [Ferrari possesses the top operational structure, technical R&D processes, and team management systems in F1.
By joining as a junior driver, you can leverage the cooperative link between Prema and Ferrari to closely observe and learn their core operational logic—from training coordination and race strategy formulation to technical collaboration and commercial sponsorship management. This experience will help you avoid major risks when building your own team in the future.
More importantly, the junior program's simulator resources and technical guidance will rapidly enhance your driving ability, ensuring the achievement of your core objective: winning the F2 championship. That title is the foundation for obtaining an F1 Super Licence and advancing your team-building plan.]
After hearing the explanation, Alex Sun immediately understood the logic, and his last trace of doubt vanished. He looked at Binotto, his voice calm but resolute. "I'm willing to sign. Thank you for Ferrari Junior's recognition. However, given the importance of this contract, I need to review it carefully before proceeding with the next steps."
Binotto nodded in understanding and gestured for his assistant to bring out three copies of the contract. "The terms cover guaranteed training resources and race rights, including the configuration of a dedicated training team, minimum monthly simulator usage, and priority access to F1 simulator testing.
Take your time reviewing it. If you have any questions, raise them at any point. We've already reserved time for notarization to ensure the signing process is fully compliant."
Alex Sun accepted the thick contract and reviewed it line by line with meticulous care. He focused on three key areas:
First, the concrete implementation standards for training resources, such as a minimum of twenty hours of simulator use per month, and the specifications for dedicated physical trainers and technical mentors.
Second, race rights, clearly defining the scope of technical support while racing for Prema in F2, as well as the quantified evaluation criteria for promotion to F1 reserve driver status, including annual points totals and individual race results.
Third, risk control clauses—carefully checking breach liabilities, termination conditions, and the boundaries of non-compete restrictions to ensure his own interests were protected.
Halfway through the review, Alex Sun stood and apologized. "Sorry, I need to have a notary lawyer remotely verify the contract's legal compliance." He took out his phone and initiated a video call with an international motorsport notary lawyer he had engaged in advance, displaying the contract page by page and consulting on professional matters such as salary payment cycles and intellectual property ownership, including training data and personal image rights.
After a thorough review, the lawyer confirmed that the contract complied with FIA junior program regulations and EU commercial contract standards, with no hidden risks, and advised that it could proceed as normal. When the call ended, Alex Sun's final concern disappeared.
He paid special attention to the compensation structure, which fully matched top-tier junior program standards:
A base annual salary of €120,000, paid monthly to avoid cash-flow pressure from quarterly settlements.
Race bonuses followed a tiered system: €30,000 for an F2 race win, €20,000 for second place, and €15,000 for third, with an additional €200,000 bonus for the overall championship. All bonuses would be paid in full within ten working days of official results being published, with no deductions or conditions.
Most importantly, the contract clearly stated that all development-related costs would be fully covered by Ferrari Junior—simulator usage, specialized physical training, dedicated technical team support, full-season travel expenses, customized racing equipment including helmet, race suit, and gloves, annual medical checkups, and injury rehabilitation coverage. It even included a dedicated agent to handle commercial partnerships. The scale of these benefits far exceeded industry norms and clearly showed Ferrari's intent to prioritize his development.
With all terms confirmed, Alex Sun picked up the pen and solemnly signed his name in the designated space.
Once the signing was complete, both parties stamped across the binding seam of the contract. One copy was handed to Alex Sun for his records, while another was immediately submitted to the notary lawyer for archiving.
Binotto shook his hand again. "Welcome officially to the Ferrari Junior family, Alex Sun. The €120,000 base salary reflects recognition of your current ability, while the performance bonuses represent our expectations for your future. And once the contract was signed, the prize money from this weekend was already transferred to you as acknowledgment of your result.
We'll be watching tomorrow's feature race closely. We expect you to demonstrate the standard of a junior driver. Remember—Ferrari's red is reserved only for those who can keep proving themselves."
After Binotto and his group left, Mark threw his arms around Alex Sun in excitement. "Ferrari Junior! You did it! I was worried last night that the pressure might be too much, but you fought your way onto the podium. This is the fast track to F1!"
The mechanics in the garage gathered around to offer their congratulations, their eyes filled with undisguised envy. In the world of racing, entering Ferrari Junior meant having one foot firmly among the elite.
That night, instead of turning in early as usual, Alex Sun returned to the hotel with his data tablet and began an online strategy review with Mark.
He pulled up detailed data from the Monaco circuit, combining it with the forecast of clear weather for the next day, and focused on breaking down racing lines and braking points through every corner. Monaco is narrow and unforgiving, with almost no room to overtake—every detail directly affects race rhythm.
They analyzed the sprint race data segment by segment, marking areas for improvement, such as throttle application out of the tunnel and the absolute limits through the swimming pool section. They also factored in the track surface characteristics to anticipate changes in grip on a fully dry circuit.
This precise data analysis formed the core support for their tactical planning.
Late into the night, Alex Sun compiled the findings into a concrete race strategy, refining it repeatedly in his notebook. From controlling the launch phase, to tire management across different stints, to contingency plans for unexpected situations, every detail was considered until a complete battle plan took shape.
The next morning, the skies over Monaco were clear. Sunlight poured over the dry track, reflecting brightly.
After a night of natural drying, the track surface had regained optimal grip—ideal conditions for every driver. On a circuit like Monaco, where precision is everything, a dry surface allows drivers to control the limit with far greater accuracy.
Alex Sun walked into the pit lane wearing a race suit emblazoned with the Ferrari prancing horse. Mark quickly approached and handed him the latest track data report, his tone confident. "Track conditions are excellent today. You're starting second, and with only supersoft and soft tyres available at Monaco, we've finalized a supersoft start.
Supersofts offer strong grip and a clear short-run speed advantage—perfect for fighting for the lead at the start.
After the race passes the halfway point, we'll make one stop, switching to the more durable soft tyres to run to the finish. Based on yesterday's wet race, the strategy team has complete confidence in your pace control and pit-stop timing."
Alex Sun nodded and followed Mark toward the grid. The circuit announcer was calling out the pre-race procedures, and the pit lane entry was about to close. Mechanics worked around the cars on the grid for final checks, while drivers arrived at their positions. Engine noise built into a thunderous roar that echoed around the circuit.
He arrived at the second grid slot, where the Prema crew had completed their final inspections. With the mechanics' assistance, Alex Sun put on his gloves and helmet, lowered himself into the cockpit, fastened the six-point harness, and quickly adjusted the steering wheel and mirrors.
As his fingers touched the wheel, he confirmed the communication button and dashboard displays—standard for receiving instructions and monitoring key data such as speed and RPM in F2. Tactical information would come through the helmet intercom. After final safety checks, the mechanics withdrew from the grid in an orderly fashion.
"Alex Sun, comms are clear. Tyre temperatures and fuel load are all within targets," Mark's voice came through the radio. Immediately after, the track announcement followed: "Attention all drivers. Entering the start procedure. Mechanics, clear the grid immediately. Formation lap will begin shortly."
"Copy," Alex Sun replied as he started the car according to procedure. When the green light illuminated, the formation lap began. He guided the car smoothly out of his grid slot and joined the field.
Following the plan, he carefully controlled his pace during the lap, repeatedly applying light throttle and braking to bring the supersoft tyres fully into their working window and build optimal grip.
At the same time, he assessed grip levels across different sections of the track and mentally checked key corners. As the formation lap ended, he positioned the car precisely back into second place on the grid.
Sunlight filtered through his visor, reflecting off the asphalt. His gaze was steady, his mind fixed on a single thought: today's race—aiming for the championship.