Chapter 116 - 43: Reality Far Surpasses Fantasy

Chapter 116: Chapter 43: Reality Far Surpasses Fantasy

Wu Shi’s words made Niki Lauda smile. He was an interesting young man. He gestured for Toto Wolf to take over.

When it came to discussing a partnership, it was natural for Toto Wolf, the Team Principal and a shareholder of the Mercedes F1 Team, to handle it personally.

"Tell me about yourself," said Toto.

Wu Shi smiled faintly. ’It seems all bosses like to have the candidate start with a self-introduction, even when the file in their hands is probably more detailed than what the candidate knows about themselves.’

He didn’t believe for a second that Toto hadn’t researched him. He also knew there was no need to say his track record spoke for itself. He just had to state his defining characteristic. He said:

"In equal machinery, I’m always the fastest."

Toto rolled his tongue inside his cheek. He had just heard something extraordinary. That level of arrogance was truly different from most, because, up until now, Wu Shi’s statement had always held true.

It was a statement of fact that he couldn’t refute, so he had to change tack.

"Every driver is a chosen one before entering F1. They’ve all beaten countless rivals. But once you’re in F1, things are different."

"Yes, but those ’chosen ones’ you speak of? They’re all the people I’ve defeated."

Wu Shi projected even more confidence and presence than usual. No boss likes a timid applicant, especially not a business titan like Toto Wolf. He continued:

"If the team builds a car capable of a 1:30 lap, I will absolutely deliver a 1:29.5. I will be responsible for that half-second."

Toto Wolf was visibly moved. He felt the young man before him aligned perfectly with his own philosophy.

He was a man who prized the team, and he had always held the belief that a driver’s ability to contend for a championship was thanks to the unified effort of the entire team.

And the job of every single person on the team was to be responsible for their own part.

To put it more elegantly, everyone on the team had to be responsible for their own 0.1 seconds.

This was a phrase he had only ever mulled over in his own mind; he could never have predicted he would hear something so similar from a teenager.

More importantly, when he spoke of being responsible for 0.1 seconds, it was a figurative expression.

But the half-second this kid was promising to be responsible for—he could actually deliver that much time!

But before they arrived, he and Niki Lauda had already discussed the matter. Both Hamilton and Rosberg were proven, top-tier drivers.

Even though Wu Shi had countless impressive results, they were all in junior categories.

Furthermore, the kid was just too young. While youth meant limitless potential, it also meant a lack of experience and a huge amount of risk—something they had to take into account.

He interlaced his fingers, leaned back in his chair, and sized up the most sensational driver of his generation. In the end, he presented the decision he and Niki Lauda had agreed upon beforehand:

"We are prepared to offer you the position of third driver."

Wu Shi blinked, holding back Sid who was about to speak. "Sir! I already have a guaranteed F1 seat. Surely you don’t think I can’t get 21 wins in this year’s F3 Championship?"

"Of course. It is precisely because we see that potential that I’ve come to discuss this with you," Toto nodded.

"Then do you really think the position of third driver is something I should be accepting?" Wu Shi retorted.

Toto sensed Wu Shi’s anger but didn’t find it disrespectful. He himself had been a racing driver before entering F1 and could deeply empathize with the ’if not me, then who?’ mentality of a top driver.

But regardless, Wu Shi’s current age and lack of experience still represented a huge risk.

Although Mercedes-Benz had only been back in the paddock for a few years, its operational philosophy was similar to Rafa’s and very different from Red Bull’s.

They placed more value on a stable trajectory and had always been able to rely on their prestigious brand to attract the paddock’s greatest talents. Therefore, they weren’t in the business of rushing a driver’s development.

Historically, Mercedes-Benz had also pursued Verstappen, but just like now, they only offered him a third driver position. If Marco hadn’t swooped in, Mercedes might have actually succeeded...

Of course, the story of how Toto was later stunned when Marco struck gold, prompting him to change his own thinking and fast-track Little Kimi to F1, was a matter for another time.

Of course, none of these things happened for a single reason.

While Red Bull was certainly fond of its brutal, survival-of-the-fittest junior program, it was also true that they lacked a competitive edge and a top driver at the start of the 1.6L hybrid era. Promoting Verstappen so unconventionally was, in that context, understandable.

And in the future, when Mercedes-Benz fast-tracked Little Kimi, wasn’t that because Hamilton was leaving the team?

Toto, who had not yet been proven wrong by Verstappen, was currently unable to make up his mind. He had a premonition that if he didn’t offer a race seat, this driver of supreme talent would slip through his fingers.

After a long silence, he slowly said, "We are willing to provide you with an F1 race seat."

Wu Shi nodded, and a smile already crept onto Sid’s face.

After all, a direct promise of a seat was far more secure than the kind of conditional seat offered in Rafa’s contract. No one likes uncertainty.

What’s more, the recent internal turmoil at Rafa had already caused a huge stir in the racing world. Martina had even sent a warning, telling Sid that if Wu Shi could get his 21 wins, he should do it as soon as possible. The goal was to draw up a new contract before the situation at Rafa imploded, one that would raise the buyout clause to a figure so high that the board would never dare to breach it.