Speed ​​God

Chapter 9 Arabian Nights
Maranello, located in northern Italy, is a tiny town on a plain, so small that it has no presence on the map or in the annals of history.

It wasn't until Enzo Ferrari chose Modena in northern Italy to pursue his automotive dreams, and later moved the base to Maranello, even further north in the province of Modena, that this small town gained a place on the global map and evolved into a mecca over more than half a century.

Nowadays, the world's top car manufacturers often have multiple bases and branches in different cities and regions; while in the world of Formula racing, car manufacturers often gather in the UK, the birthplace of Formula racing, with all racing headquarters located near London.

However, Ferrari is an exception; their headquarters are in Maranello, and only in Maranello.

It's not just Formula One racing; all of Ferrari's research and development, factories, museums, and more are located here. The same goes for the youth academy.

It is no exaggeration to say that Maranello was born because of Ferrari and exists because of Ferrari.

When people talk about Maranello, Ferrari naturally comes to mind.

However... the journey from Rome to Maranello is over 400 kilometers, and considering the road conditions in Italy, it will take at least four hours.

The problem is that the race ended after midnight, but Todt's scheduled practice time was 9 a.m.

Clearly, this is also a test—

In Todd's view, this test was not about speed, which was only 400 kilometers per hour, and Lu Zhizhou could not possibly be unable to reach it; the real test was about adaptability.

Imagine Lu Zhizhou driving all night to Maranello. After arriving in the town, he can't find a place to sleep in the middle of the night. He'll probably have to curl up in the car for two or three hours. Then he has to be alert and participate in the trial training. So, how to perform well in the trial training is a problem.

Of course, Lu Zhizhou could just go through the motions, since Todd hadn't attached any conditions to the bonus. Even if he failed the trial, he would still get the eight thousand euros.

But in that case, Todt wouldn't regret it, because he doesn't need a driver who doesn't understand change, doesn't understand strategy, and has absolutely no interest in Formula One racing. Lu Zhizhou leaving is fine.

For Todd, the loss was minimal; at most, it was just the shattering of an idea.

Unlike Lu Zhizhou, Todd took a small private plane back to Modena overnight, slept comfortably for six and a half hours, and even leisurely enjoyed breakfast after washing up in the morning before heading to Maranello, a 15-minute drive away.

In the early morning, a thin mist blanketed Maranello in late autumn, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

Contrary to expectations, although the town's streets, shops, and bars are filled with familiar horse symbols, they lack the grandeur one might expect. They are extremely respectful of the surrounding low-rise plain buildings and do not display their bright red color. If it weren't for the familiar two-story black horse symbol in front of the exhibition center, people might hardly notice that this town shrouded in mist is the famous Maranello.

When Sergio Marchionne saw Jean Todt again, he made no attempt to hide his astonishment. How could his old friend, who had just left Maranello yesterday, have returned?

Moreover, "...I thought you had a meeting in Paris today."

Todd nodded. "Yes, I adjusted the time, delaying it by three hours. Once I'm done here, I'll head to Paris soon."

Marchionne was even more surprised and slightly nervous. "What happened? Why did you suddenly come back?"

At this moment, Todd also showed another side of himself. Unlike his usual amiable and approachable demeanor, his decisive and ruthless style of action revealed a hint of ruthlessness.

Todd gestured for Marchionne to sit down, and they closed the office door.

As CEO of Ferrari, Marchionne holds multiple positions, including at Ferrari's parent company Fiat and Philip Morris Group, but he still maintains a hands-on approach to his work.

In Maranello, he gave up his prestigious top-floor office and instead took a position on the same floor as the engineering department, appearing to be just an ordinary member of the company.

Therefore, when it's time to close the door, it must be closed properly.

Todd cut to the chase, "Remember what we talked about yesterday? I have an idea." With that, Marchionne's attention was immediately drawn.

Marchionne has been worried about the situation at Ferrari's youth academy recently.

It is well known that Ferrari Formula One does not like to develop new talent; they tend to sign established veterans directly, or even world champions.

complete in one step.

This situation changed in 2009 when Felipe Massa's training at Ferrari inspired them to create a youth academy.

However, although the youth training academy was established, its effectiveness was mediocre.

Ferrari has never given it real importance, and has failed to produce a single F1 driver for the team over the years. As a result, Ferrari's F team remains trapped in a vicious cycle of desperately searching for established champion drivers.

Meanwhile, Red Bull's youth academy, Renault's youth academy, and Mercedes-Benz's youth academy are thriving, continuously supplying outstanding talent to Formula One.

Last season, in particular, Max Verstappen burst onto the scene, joining Formula One before he was even 18 years old and showing championship potential early on.

Without comparison, there is no harm, and the current state of Ferrari's youth training is becoming increasingly worrying.

Marchionne has always been a pragmatist; he genuinely believes that having his own youth training system can help Ferrari return to the pinnacle of the racing world.

Since Schumacher's retirement, Ferrari has never won the Formula One World Championship again; their last world title was back in 2008.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye, and if things continue to drag on, ten years won't be far off. Ferrari always seems to be just one step away from the world championship.

For other teams, finishing second or third in the Drivers' World Championship or Constructors' World Championship is a remarkable honor and a glorious achievement; but for Ferrari, it is a failure.

Marchionne genuinely believes that Ferrari's youth academy is the key to changing the status quo.

To this end, he specially invited Todt, who had left Ferrari many years ago but still maintained a close relationship with him, to discuss how to reform and adjust, look to the future, and lead Ferrari back to the top of the racing world, not to regain past glory, but to open a new chapter.

but……

Whether it's Marchionne or Todt, they both know that youth training requires patience and cannot be achieved overnight. It's difficult to make earth-shattering changes in a short period of time. They must take a long-term view. Even Todt cannot turn the impossible into the possible.

Yesterday's meeting involved a long brainstorming session, but no results were reached.

As a result, seeing street racing last night unexpectedly rekindled the youthful drive and passion in Todd, giving him an idea—a bold, even insane, idea.

The catfish effect.

The trainees at Ferrari's youth academy are now pampered and have not undergone rigorous training or fierce competition. They lack the killer instinct and decisiveness that Ferrari possesses. Despite their exceptional talent and skills, they are prone to faltering in life-or-death situations and decisive moments.

In Lu Zhizhou, Todd saw talent and skill, as well as the wildness and brutality of street racing, and the toughness and decisiveness that comes from being tough on the outside but soft on the inside. This spirit, which comes from being tempered on the street, may be the key that the youth training academy lacks in turning stones into gold and carp into dragons.

This gave Todd a seemingly far-fetched idea that might be worth the risk.

　Dear readers, this fledgling racing game desperately needs nurturing and care. I earnestly request your continued support. I thank you all deeply. Updates will come, and there will be bursts of new chapters. Please trust my integrity and be sure to read the latest chapters during the new book period to show your support. Thank you!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)