Speed ​​God

Chapter 92 Matchmaking
Monaco has long been known as a "tax haven" because there is no personal income tax here, making it a popular destination for wealthy Europeans.

In the world of Formula 1, fifteen out of the twenty active drivers live in Monaco. The convenience of transportation is one reason, and the fact that they don't have to pay taxes is another. It's not just racing drivers; top athletes in competitive sports are also settling there, especially tennis, one of the highest-paid sports in the world.

The same is true of top superstar Novak Djokovic, who, despite being a national hero in Serbia, has lived in Monaco for many years.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both top superstars, do not live in their respective countries. Nadal, in particular, has always resided on Mallorca, the island where he was born and raised.

When asked by the media if he had considered settling in Monaco, the Spaniard said, "I am very happy to contribute to the country's tax revenue. I love my hometown, I love the sea, the people, and the food, and I am very happy to continue to be a resident of Mallorca."

However, countless wealthy people and celebrities still choose to live in Monaco.

Lorenzo chuckled beside him, “Can you believe it? Just one street away is France, but the rent there is only a third of what it is here.”

Lu Zhizhou laughed, "I believe in the law of conservation of energy. Paying three times the rent to live here should bring more benefits. Besides a lifestyle, a sense of pride and dignity, and showing off on social media to gain attention, there should be other things, right?"

"Haha." Lorenzo caught the sarcasm in Lu Zhizhou's words and laughed heartily. "I guess so. An opportunity, an opportunity to showcase myself and break free from class barriers."

"As I just said, there are many wealthy people, celebrities and nobles living here. Maybe your next-door neighbor is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, maybe the person you meet in the convenience store is a pop star, or maybe the man in the coffee shop is deciding on a $50 billion business."

Opportunity is always there, but it is only for those who are prepared.

Lorenzo turned to look at Lu Zhizhou. "That's why I invited you here."

Lu Zhizhou was very surprised. "I thought I came to watch the game."

Right now, it's the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, where F1 and F2 races will be held.

Monaco is a classic street circuit. Unlike dedicated circuits, street circuits have different surfaces, routes, and spaces, making them more dangerous. Therefore, the FIA ​​has clearly stipulated that neither the GP3 nor the F3 European Series have street circuits, thus excluding them from the Monaco Grand Prix.

Monaco is even more special, a gathering place for celebrities. Every year during F1 race weekend, it is packed with people, and the prices of accommodation and food rise across the board. Even the VIP boxes in the pit area are overcrowded, making it difficult to even go there to watch the race.

Therefore, when Lorenzo invited Lu Zhizhou to Monaco, he naturally assumed that it should be a racing weekend.

Lorenzo shrugged slightly. "Yes, watching the game is one thing, but finding a sponsor is another."

“We all know that Formula One racing is a world of money; without sponsorship, you can’t get anywhere. So I thought, why don’t I lend a hand?”

Lu Zhizhou was slightly taken aback.

Lorenzo didn't even turn his head, his expression completely matter-of-fact. "Super touched, right? There's no way around it, I'm just that kind and loyal. Italians always take care of their friends, right?"

A lighthearted remark made Lu Zhizhou chuckle, "Northern style of care, or southern style?"

Lorenzo burst out laughing instantly, "Haha, looks like you've gone astray in Maranello."

Finally, Lorenzo turned to look at Lu Zhizhou, "Don't worry about it. This is an investment. I'm not Mother Teresa; I don't intend to do charity work for free."

“I see your talent, I believe in your ability, and I think you have a future in the world of racing. So, it’s time to invest early.”

"People are still watching and waiting. A double victory in the GP3 weekend might not be enough, but this is the time to test your vision. Only the truly smart can seize the opportunity and win big with small investments, right?" "However, there's no guarantee. I'll be the one to connect them, but whether you can convince them to invest is up to you."

After a brief surge of emotion, Lu Zhizhou finally regained his composure. Various thoughts collided in his mind, but he still keenly grasped the key points.

"Who is the person I'm interested in? Should I prepare in advance?"

Lorenzo: "No, I don't think you need to prepare in advance. Just be yourself. I believe they have been closely monitoring the young drivers' movements."

After a pause, Lorenzo dropped a bombshell: "Richard Mill."

Richard Mille, a Swiss watch brand, was founded in 2001. In theory, watches are an industry that emphasizes heritage and history, and the longer the history, the more valuable they are. However, this company has grown into one of the world's top watch brands in less than 20 years.

The reasons are complex and varied, but the core lies in the highlights.

First, the philosophy.

Unlike traditional watches, Richard Mille prioritizes comfort, shock resistance, durability, precision, and lightness. Generally, watches are delicate and require careful handling; water or dust can cause problems, let alone impacts. Richard Mille, however, is entirely different. One of its main focuses is sports wear; it can withstand strong impacts and is as light as a feather.

The watch that Richard Mille specially designed for Rafael Nadal weighs less than 30 grams, meaning it's almost imperceptible when worn on the wrist.

This also earned them the honorary title of "Formula One on the wrist".

Second, brand positioning.

Young, stylish, and high-tech. Richard Mille primarily targets high-end sports such as tennis, motorsports, golf, sailing, and cycling.

Traditional watch enthusiasts generally look down on Richard Mille; but in fact, Richard Mille, which understands marketing and precise positioning, has long been deeply associated with billionaires, and even took the lead over other watch brands by being associated with the image of F1 racing cars.

Today, a Richard Mille watch can easily cost $100,000, while million-dollar timepieces are limited editions.

Undoubtedly, they know what they want and how to achieve it, which has helped them reach the pinnacle of the industry and secure a firm foothold.

Currently, Rolex remains the official timekeeping partner of F1, but Richard Mir is gradually encroaching on this territory. They have signed sponsorship agreements with McLaren and Haas, and have partnered with drivers such as Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso. However, they also know that disrupting the existing paddock order is not easy, so they might as well target young drivers and invest in the future.

Charles Leclerc, this is the first young driver sponsored by Richard Mir.

But clearly, Richard Mill was not satisfied with that.

Although Lu Zhizhou didn't know how Lorenzo had made the connections, his ability to persuade Richard Mille was undoubtedly a well-intentioned move.

Before Lu Zhizhou could even meet Richard Mille, he encountered Leclerc at the hotel.

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(End of this chapter)