Car Racing without Money-Chapter 435 - 174: F1 Winter Training Team Assembly (Part 5)
For a driver, performance is the greatest commercial value, far beyond the mere twenty thousand US dollar commission.
This is why people like Alonso and Weber, despite knowing Hua Bu’s greed and notorious reputation, still choose to collaborate with him.
Because this guy really gets things done when he’s paid!
Even Alonso’s position at Renault was solidly secured thanks to Hua Bu, preventing him from being ousted by Button and Trulli.
It’s like buying two world championships with a twenty percent commission!
"So what’s the bad news?"
"Your Super Driver’s License application has been rejected again."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangbei, usually calm, finally couldn’t hold back somewhat.
He could understand being denied a special Super Driver’s License without any achievements before.
It’s like practicing with a small sedan at a driving school and wanting the vehicle authority to issue a big truck license, which is indeed a bit absurd.
But now, he has proved himself in two F3 races.
Not to mention beating Schumacher in the ROC National Cup.
Even though the ROC National Cup doesn’t belong to FIA’s official races, it should carry some reference value.
Defeating the newly crowned F1 world champion Button, the Australian V8 world champion, the seven-time F1 champion Schumacher, isn’t that enough?
Without a Super Driver’s License, Chen Xiangbei cannot compete in the official F1 race.
An official F1 driver who can’t race is quite ridiculous no matter how you look at it.
"Why exactly was the application rejected?"
Chen Xiangbei questioned again, unable to understand.
"It might have something to do with me."
Hua Bu replied awkwardly, which was rare for him.
If F1 is a paddock where competitiveness and commerce coexist, then FIA is a purely bureaucratic organization.
In this world, many times, it’s like a makeshift troupe, and FIA is naturally no exception.
Briatore’s successful appeal in France was undeniably a slap in FIA’s face, and this guy was exceptionally high-profile, boasting to the media outside the court, claiming he will create the next great legend upon his return.
Slaps in the face could be tolerated, but stepping on FIA’s face? That could not be tolerated!
If they couldn’t deal with Hua Bu for now, they would make things unpleasant for Chen Xiangbei. After all, the special Super Driver’s License is ambiguous, and there isn’t any violation involved.
"But it’s not a big problem. Jean Todt assumed office as the new FIA chairman this year. You can ask Ross Brown to communicate, and even leverage his girlfriend’s connections."
Jean Todt was once the Ferrari team principal, part of the Iron Triangle of the Prancing Horse dynasty.
His girlfriend, on the other hand, is the famous Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh, but in Hua Bu’s eyes, he doesn’t consider anything other than yellow-skinned and Chinese-speaking individuals as "Chinese."
[You really are troublesome]
Chen Xiangbei was utterly surprised that Hua Bu’s big mouth could have such negative effects.
No wonder Kalanbant specifically warned him that this guy is a double-edged sword.
Indeed, only businessmen understand weighing pros and cons better.
At this point, Chen Xiangbei understood that no more words would be of use.
However, the last sentence from the Italian rascal did have some reason; as long as Jean Todt’s connections are utilized, getting approved for the Super Driver’s License isn’t a big problem.
Chen Xiangbei has watched many of Michelle Yeoh’s movies, but they have no personal relationship, unless he reaches out to Cheng Long.
Chen Xiangbei doesn’t want to bother Cheng Long with such matters and plans to contact Staler and Ross Brown to have them liaise.
Setting off soon, after Briatore finished saying these two pieces of news, the two boarded a bus heading to London Airport.
Chen Xiangbei is quite familiar with the Catalonia Circuit, having tested cars there for over a month, running more than two thousand kilometers, feeling quite relaxed mentally and physically.
Nevertheless, Chen Xiangbei noticed his companion Ayong looked a bit tense. Logically, he had also stayed at the Catalonia Circuit for over a month and shouldn’t feel unfamiliar, nor should he feel this way.
"Ayong, what’s wrong? You seem a bit tense."
Upon hearing Chen Xiangbei’s inquiry, Ayong responded with a forced smile on his face.
"It’s nothing, Hua Bu is very stringent, I’m worried I won’t do well."
Briatore cut many technical staff mercilessly during Chen Xiangbei’s return to China, and those who survived felt increasingly pressured as the complexity and technological level of the competition intensified.
They understood very well that an F1 team does not allow for "false pretenses."
If their skills and expertise don’t meet the competition’s requirements, even with Chen Xiangbei’s connections, they would still be ousted.
Having come this far, Ayong hopes to enter the F1 paddock alongside Chen Xiangbei and doesn’t want to disgrace Chinese maintenance technicians.
With the practical test at the Catalonia Circuit approaching, Ayong was quite apprehensive.
"Ayong, effort will be rewarded; you’ve done well."
Chen Xiangbei offered reassurance decisively, which was absolutely not mere friendly comfort. On the contrary, he believed Ayong and others were in no way inferior to foreign technicians.
Just consider tire changing for instance; these two have practiced thousands of times, and it’s no exaggeration to say they could complete each step accurately even blindfolded.
"Really?"
"Really!"
Chen Xiangbei smiled as he patted Ayong’s shoulder.
After roughly four hours of journey, the entire team of mechanics finally arrived in Barcelona at two in the afternoon.
A bus had been booked in advance; the team, numbering over a hundred, headed to the hotel next to the Catalonia Circuit.
Compared to the "cold and quiet" scene before, the Catalonia Circuit was bustling this time; at the hotel alone, Chen Xiangbei encountered both the Mercedes and Sauber teams.
Moreover, he met his F1 teammate, the Italian driver Jarno Trulli.
He’s the only driver who achieved both qualifying and points "double kill" against Alonso.
