Car Racing without Money-Chapter 465 - 185: Bahrain F1 New Season Begins

The process of the F1 race calendar each year often involves a brief break after the main race, followed by winter testing. With the arrival of Christmas and the New Year, there is then a long break.

This period is called the "winter break," similar to the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

Due to the clash between the opening race of the new season next year and the Lunar New Year holiday, plus Chen Xiangbei needing Lifield Technology Center’s facilities for training, he doesn’t plan on going back home for the New Year.

A few days ago, Chen Xiangbei received a call from Zhou Chenshu, saying their University of Southampton would be on holiday during Christmas, and he’d come to London’s racing valley to hang out. If possible, they could spend New Year together.

Chen Xiangbei readily agreed to this. Now that he has obtained the Super Driver’s License and become an official F1 Driver, he no longer feels the same pressure or urgency as before.

Stepping out of the office, Chen Xiangbei unexpectedly saw Lu Xiaoman standing right outside the door, with a teasing smile asking, "Was it settled?"

"You know?"

Clearly, Lu Xiaoman was referring to the issue with the Agent.

"Of course, I took the initiative to invite Briatore to take the role."

Lu Xiaoman not only knew but even actively facilitated it.

Just like in motorsports, many professional matters need to be handled by professionals.

During the early days of makeshift teams, Lu Xiaoman could multitask as a physical trainer, nutritionist, doctor, and an agent.

As he formally joins the F1 team and Chen Xiangbei’s racing team gets on track, Lu Xiaoman has already stepped down from roles like doctor and physical trainer, only maintaining her responsibilities as a nutritionist and agent.

Yet she was very clear that she was not a competent agent.

F1 Driver’s professional agents often form an economic management team to handle all daily affairs so that the drivers can focus on racing.

This includes media relations, commercial endorsements, contract negotiations, and more.

Lu Xiaoman can at most provide some sponsorship connections back home through her parents’ relations, but now in Europe, many things exceed her capability. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

For instance, issues like negotiations with Kalanbant, securing Briatore as the team manager, and coordinating outside for Super Driver’s License applications.

These tasks should be handled by the driver’s management team, but they ended up being tackled by Chen Xiangbei himself.

It’s manageable during the off-season, but once the new season starts with its twenty races back to back, Chen Xiangbei will be flying globally for competitions, leaving no time or energy to manage these things.

There’s also the crucial issue of commercial sponsorship contracts, where, limited by China’s current economic conditions, the available funds are relatively constrained.

Abroad, F1 already boasts a mature racing system where experienced individuals will find it quicker and smoother to secure sponsorships without worrying about converting RMB to US Dollars issues.

After nearly a month’s interaction, Lu Xiaoman has gained some understanding of Briatore, finding this Italian manager exceptionally competent!

F1 is a battleground where the weak are prey to the strong, and rather than being a mediocre nice guy, it’s better to be a cunning rogue.

Particularly for someone like Chen Xiangbei, a "three-no driver" with no roots, that collaboration with a local influencer like Hua Bu is necessary, even if there’s a risk of being exploited.

After all, the greater the waves, the more precious the fish!

"Thank you, Sister Xiaoman."

Chen Xiangbei didn’t know what else to say except thank you.

"Don’t be so sentimental here, I’m just glad to be relaxed."

"With the winter break here, I finally have time to go shopping. Bye-bye~~!"

Lu Xiaoman waved her hand nonchalantly and then turned away and left.

She had been in the United Kingdom for so long, apart from celebrating with team members, she really didn’t have much time to relax and play around.

After all, Chen Xiangbei is like a racing machine, with no concept of downtime.

Watching Lu Xiaoman’s retreating figure, Chen Xiangbei smiled and turned to head to the team’s gym.

Everyone could relax during the winter break, except for Chen Xiangbei.

He was acutely aware of his weaknesses and shortcomings, akin to Hamilton’s rookie season efforts without slack, seizing the off-season to log two thousand hours on the simulator.

Opportunities always favor the prepared.

As it was nearing noon, Chen Xiangbei received a phone call from Zhou Chenshu, who had already arrived at the entrance of the Lifield Technology Center.

It had been over half a year since they last met. At that time, Zhou Chenshu mentioned he had applied to study in the United Kingdom, at Newey’s alma mater, wanting to join Chen Xiangbei at the peak of racing.

Now he has fulfilled his promise, coming to the UK to pursue his dream!

However, when Chen Xiangbei reached the entrance, he witnessed a surprising scene.

That bookish Zhou Chenshu, who once presented such a scholar-like appearance, was now wearing riding gear, a full helmet, and sitting on a racing motorcycle, waving at him.

"Zhou Chenshu, you can ride a motorcycle?"

Chen Xiangbei asked with a face of surprise. This guy used to be a standard homebody, going home every day after school to tinker with computers, not participating in any outdoor activities.

How did he change so much in just half a year?

"Yeah, learned it here in the UK."

"What made you switch to learning this?"

"I went to see the Isle of Man TT."

When Zhou Chenshu said this, there was an unmistakable excitement and thrill in his tone.

[Isle of Man TT?]

Upon hearing this term, Chen Xiangbei had a somewhat complex expression.

There’s a saying in the racing world: four wheels carry the body, two wheels carry the soul.