With the Ferrari engine selection finalized, a dedicated meeting to recruit the core R&D team was quickly put on the agenda.
In the conference room, the projection equipment had already been set up. Team principal Rossi arrived early, copying the talent presentation onto the meeting computer. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the mouse as he focused intently on the screen.
Finance Director Alice sat upright to one side, salary budget reports in hand, quietly confirming key cost-control points with several senior executives. The air was heavy with the seriousness of decisions that would shape the very foundation of the team.
Everyone attended to their own responsibilities, waiting for the core decision-maker—Alex Sun.
Alex Sun was the last to arrive. He paused outside the door, his fingers tightening unconsciously around the doorknob, his heartbeat pounding even harder than when he stood on the starting grid.
Behind the wheel, he was supremely confident. But as a management novice, facing a room full of seasoned executives and specialists—and about to lead a talent decision meeting that would determine the team's future—he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
He took a deep breath, forced down the rising nerves, and pushed the door open. His gaze swept quickly across the room as he did his best to maintain a calm, composed demeanor.
Rebecca Lin followed closely behind him, catching every subtle fluctuation in his emotions. A trace of surprise flickered in her eyes, along with quiet curiosity.
The boss who was always so unflappable on the track could actually be this nervous. She stepped lightly into the room with him, her posture respectful and proper.
The discussion inside stopped instantly. All eyes turned to Alex Sun. Rossi halted what he was doing, stood up, and gestured for him to proceed. Several executives straightened in their seats, waiting for him to take his place.
Rebecca Lin quietly moved to a position slightly behind and to the side of the main seat, standing neatly and remaining ready to assist at any moment.
Alex Sun walked over and sat down, his fingertips resting lightly on the edge of the table. On the surface, he looked calm, but inwardly he was relying on his complete memories of F1 from his previous life to steady himself.
He knew all too well that the 2022 ground effect rule reboot was no minor adjustment—it completely overturned the old performance hierarchy. This talent selection could not afford the slightest mistake, and he had already reached a firm conclusion about the key hire.
Once Alex Sun was seated, Rossi immediately stood and walked over to the projection screen to begin his report.
"Boss, I personally followed the engine negotiations through to completion. In addition, per your instructions, I've compiled four dossiers on core R&D talents. All of them are elite figures with solid reputations in the paddock. Their salaries comply with the 2022 $145 million budget cap, and they're all willing to bring their deputies with them."
The slides advanced one by one as Rossi explained in a steady tone.
"Former Red Bull aerodynamics designer, twelve years of deep experience, capable of maximizing Downforce.
"Floor tuning prodigy Matteo Rizzo, who led Alfa Romeo's ground-effect floor development and specializes in airflow matching.
"Former Ferrari engine integration expert, able to rapidly coordinate the Power unit with the chassis.
"And a Mercedes-trained component durability authority, capable of improving stability within the budget cap."
Each slide clearly laid out experience, strengths, and projected compensation.
When he reached the summary page, Rossi leaned forward slightly and stated his view with confidence.
"Based on industry experience, aerodynamics remains the core. Even with the return of ground effect rules, aerodynamic optimization is still the key."
He pointed the laser at the aerodynamics designer profile, emphasizing his point.
"For a new team, an aerodynamic shortfall will immediately cripple competitiveness in low-speed corners. I recommend prioritizing the former Red Bull aerodynamics designer. The floor is important, but aerodynamics is the foundation—we can't put the cart before the horse."
Rebecca Lin instinctively glanced at Alex Sun, quietly wondering whether he would agree with this safe, conventional approach.
Alex Sun didn't respond right away. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and tapped the table lightly with his fingers. In his mind flashed vivid scenes from 2022—the chaos surrounding floor issues after the ground effect rules took effect, and Hamilton being tormented by porpoising.
When Rossi finished speaking, Alex Sun suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze sharpened, and he reached out to point at Matteo's file.
"No. We're choosing Matteo Rizzo."
The room fell silent.
A clear look of surprise crossed Rossi's face as he frowned and spoke up in objection.
"Boss, an aerodynamic weakness will directly widen lap-time gaps in low-speed corners, shrink the setup window, and increase operational complexity. The floor is critical, but aerodynamics is the foundation!"
Rebecca Lin held her breath, her eyes moving back and forth between the two men, anxious about the outcome of the clash yet eager to hear Alex Sun's response.
Alex Sun stood up first. He walked to the window and raised a hand to signal Rossi to wait, his tone calm and firm.
"Rossi, you're stuck in the thinking of the old era. I can make up the deficit in low-speed corners with driving technique, but the crushing advantage in high-speed corners can only come from the floor."
He turned and pointed to the technical highlights on the PPT, breaking down the logic step by step. He avoided obscure jargon, but every word landed with force.
"In the aero era, cars relied on aerodynamic kits to 'suck' themselves to the ground. With the shift to ground effect rules, 80% of Downforce now comes from the airflow effects created by the floor and the diffuser.
"The floor forms a low-pressure zone close to the ground, pressing the car firmly onto the track. That's what creates an absolute performance gap. Aerodynamic kits now only help fine-tune balance—they're no longer the core."
Rebecca Lin diligently took notes, the admiration in her eyes growing stronger by the second. She felt quietly grateful to be following a boss with such vision.
Alice stood up at just the right moment and added in a precise, professional tone.
"Matteo's team salaries and relocation costs fully comply with the 2022 budget cap, and they're 15% cheaper than the Red Bull aerodynamics design team. That leaves room in the budget for future aerodynamic hires."
That single statement reinforced the financial logic behind the decision, making Alex Sun's argument even more convincing.
Alex Sun pressed on, his reasoning building layer by layer.
"We're in the exploration window of the ground effect era. Whoever truly masters floor tuning first will dominate high-speed circuits.
"Matteo can help us lock in the right airflow matching rhythm and secure sufficient Downforce at the source. I can claw back time in low-speed corners through driving lines, but if the floor can't keep up, we'll only watch our rivals disappear in high-speed corners—no amount of aerodynamics will save us.
"And as a new team, we don't have time for trial and error. Matteo's experience can get the floor and Ferrari engine integration sorted before the summer break. His deputy is also strong in ground-effect aerodynamic adaptation, which is enough to cover our early needs. We can reinforce pure aerodynamics later. Matteo is a rare ace—if we miss him, we'll be taking a detour that costs us more than half a year."
Alex Sun turned to Rossi and said with certainty, "In the ground effect era, the floor is the foundation of everything. Only by laying a solid base can we build a towering structure on top of it."
Rossi froze for a moment, turning the words over in his mind. His fingers rubbed the tabletop unconsciously as the tension in his shoulders slowly eased. His tightly furrowed brow relaxed, the urgency in his eyes fading into rational agreement and respect. It was clear that he had been largely convinced.
Standing slightly behind them, Rebecca Lin's pen suddenly stopped on the page. Watching Alex Sun speak with ease and command, fully in control of the room, her earlier curiosity had long since turned into deep admiration. A subtle, indescribable feeling quietly stirred in her heart.
The nervousness from his entrance was gone. In its place was a powerful aura of strategic confidence that inspired absolute trust.
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
p-@-treon/GhostParser (20 Chapters Ahead)
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.