Chapter 82 - 14: No Downside to Signing

Chapter 82: Chapter 14: No Downside to Signing

Wu Shi wasted no time, rushing to Maranello that same evening.

Sid had already booked a hotel there. When they met, he said, "This was a sudden summons, but I’ve already spoken with Martina. According to her, this might be due to some internal struggles within Rafa."

"So what’s the plan for tomorrow?"

"We don’t have to do anything special. Just remember, we’re here for tangible benefits, not empty promises."

Wu Shi didn’t sleep well that night, his mind heavy with thoughts.

But no matter how much he mulled it over, what was to come would come.

The next day, they met in a conference room at the Rafa Headquarters in Maranello. Montezemolo was sitting there alone, with no one else beside him.

Wu Shi and Sid walked in and offered their greetings.

"Sit." Even when calm, Montezemolo had a fierce air about him. He set down the file in his hands and said, "I asked Martina to join us, but she said she needed to avoid suspicion. So, it will just be the three of us talking today."

Wu Shi and Sid nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"I saw your race in Florida. An outstanding performance. I imagine many F3 teams have already been in touch with you?" Montezemolo asked.

"Of course. The Prema Team has already contacted us. In fact, Mercedes-Benz is also interested in having us join them."

Negotiations were a game of showing one’s cards, a back-and-forth until an agreement was reached.

The Prema Team Sid mentioned had won the team championships for the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in both 2012 and 2013. They were the best of the best.

Of course, the Prema Team was just an opening play. A team that wasn’t in F1 didn’t hold much negotiating power on its own. The real leverage in Sid’s statement was Mercedes-Benz.

As Prema’s engine supplier, Mercedes-Benz had significant influence in recommending drivers for the Prema Team.

By bringing this up, Sid was telling Montezemolo that it wasn’t just Rafa who had noticed Wu Shi’s talent—Mercedes-Benz had too.

"Yes, that’s to be expected. You’re well aware of the talent Wu Shi has demonstrated. In races where the gaps should be measured in hundredths of a second, he’s managed to build leads measured in whole seconds. I believe he must have a unique quality."

Montezemolo openly acknowledged Wu Shi’s potential and spoke bluntly. "I think very highly of him, and I don’t want to beat around the bush. I want him to join our F1 team."

Sid and Wu Shi were stunned speechless.

’Whoa, we just threw a basic jab, and you’re already dropping your ultimate?’

Seeing their shock, Montezemolo actually cracked a smile. He said to Wu Shi, "However, my conditions are very demanding. As a rookie in F3 this year, you must win the championship."

"I..."

Wu Shi had just begun to speak when Montezemolo cut him off. "I don’t think that will be too difficult for you. F3 races are always filled with collisions and incidents, but I’m confident you can handle all that, correct?"

Without waiting for a response, he added, "So, my real requirement is this: secure twenty-one victories this season."

Wu Shi and Sid both drew in a sharp breath.

The 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship schedule had already been set: a total of thirty-three races across eleven circuits.

Winning twenty-one out of thirty-three races might not sound that hard, but in reality, it was an incredibly difficult feat.

First, there was the issue of the car’s reliability; you might have to retire from four or five races in a single season. And that didn’t even factor in the probability of being taken out in a collision caused by someone else.

Second, at the F3 level, there were no weak competitors. The slightest mistake could cost you positions, let alone the victory.

But no matter how absurd the demand seemed, and despite the fact that no one in history had ever achieved such a feat, Wu Shi wanted to bite the bullet and agree anyway.

Sid stopped him. "You know that’s completely impossible," he said.

"Yes. It’s precisely because the requirement is so extraordinary that I have the authority to sign off on it." Montezemolo crossed his legs, waiting for a reply, giving no indication that there was any room for negotiation.

Sid, of course, wasn’t going to let it go at that. He was about to say more when he heard a KNOCK KNOCK on the door.

"Come in," Montezemolo said.

A slightly balding man wearing black-framed glasses walked in.

"Domenicali?!" Sid was shocked. They had brought the team principal in directly.

"Hello," Domenicali said in greeting, laying out the prepared contract.

Sid scanned it quickly. The clauses weren’t convoluted. As long as Wu Shi secured twenty-one victories, Rafa would help him obtain an F1 seat for 2015.

Of course, it also specified that the seat wouldn’t be with Rafa itself, but rather with one of its customer teams.

After all, Rafa’s current driver lineup was Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso; they weren’t lacking for top-tier drivers.

"Agree or disagree. I only need one of those two answers. If you say anything else, I will consider the contract rejected." Montezemolo raised his wrist and glanced at his watch.

Sid looked at Wu Shi, who was reading the contract. He had wanted to agree from the start, only hoping that with Sid present, they might be able to negotiate a little. Even for him, winning twenty-one races was no sure bet.

The recent series he’d just competed in had been full of unexpected incidents that had cost him two titles. And that was for a non-championship series focused mainly on practice, with no actual points on the line.

Now that Sid had been silenced, it was naturally up to him.

"I agree," Wu Shi said, looking up at Montezemolo.

"Excellent!"

Montezemolo smiled and passed a fountain pen over. "You may sign. However, I expect this partnership of ours to be completely aboveboard. You’re with that Dutch Team at the moment, aren’t you?"

"Yes."

Wu Shi knew what the Rafa chairman was implying: don’t even think about switching teams to gain an advantage. After all, the Prema car was simply better overall. That was something a driver couldn’t change; it was decided by money.

After the two had left, Montezemolo asked Domenicali, "Do you think he can actually meet that condition?"

"Of course not," Domenicali said, shaking his head without a moment’s hesitation. "If it were possible, this contract never would have been approved and drafted in the first place."

Montezemolo smiled. This was precisely why he hadn’t haggled with Sid. He had no room to negotiate.

...

Just as they stepped out of the gates of Rafa Headquarters, they ran into Martina, who was just returning. Seeing their unhappy expressions, she asked, "It didn’t work out?"

"It did," Sid said, pulling out the contract for Martina to see.

After scanning it, Martina shook her head. "They have no intention of ever letting this contract take effect."

"It’s no loss, even having signed it," Wu Shi said, having come to terms with it. His voice was lighter now.