Chirp—chirp—
The sweltering summer sun beat down. The scorching air was thick and humid, making it difficult to breathe. The entirety of Maranello felt as though it was baking in a steamer.
In Italy, air conditioning is not widely embraced. To preserve the vast number of historic buildings and protect the environment, installing AC units is generally discouraged. Local residents have long since adapted to living without it.
Despite the heat, people didn't stay cooped up indoors. They sat idly under the shade of trees, sipping soda and beer. Watermelons chilled in cold springs as they chatted lazily, listening to the protesting cicadas. Eyelids drooped, heads nodding like woodpeckers as sleepiness took over.
A black Ferrari slowly came into view, gliding smoothly and precisely into a parking spot. Before the engine was even cut, the 'birds' under the trees couldn't wait any longer. They rushed out, swarming the sports car.
"Captain! Captain!"
"Beautiful win at Silverstone!"
"Captain, when I grow up, I want to be just like you!"
The youthful voices couldn't hide their excitement, burning brightly under the blazing sun. Their vibrant energy seemed to outshine the sun itself.
This scene had long become a daily occurrence.
In Italy today, people might not know the captain of the national football team, but everyone knew the captain of Ferrari. It was that simple. Every time Kai returned to Maranello, the word spread quickly, and the passionate Tifosi flocked to him.
And Kai remained exactly as he always was—humble, low-key, and friendly. He did his best to fulfill all the fans' requests: autographs, photos, handshakes, hugs. He even paused occasionally to chat with the fervent supporters.
Within moments, the tourists currently touring the Ferrari facilities caught wind of the news. The captain had arrived for work.
Whoosh!
The tourists abandoned their tours of the race cars and supercars. They surged into the golden sunlight, craning their necks and waiting eagerly, ignoring the sweltering heat.
They saw him every day on television, in the media, and across social media, but seeing him in real life was entirely different.
"Here he comes—"
A burst of noise erupted, but before it could peak, it caught in their throats.
Tall and slender, handsome and effortless. Dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans, with no unnecessary accessories save for a custom Richard Mille watch on his wrist. His youthful vigor was palpable. The aura he exuded with every casual movement commanded attention, making it impossible to look away. Compared to the brilliant, untamed arrogance he displayed on the track, his off-track demeanor was slightly green and reserved, like a scholar.
At first glance, it was Leclerc who typically grabbed your attention. He looked like a prince stepping out of a fairy tale, radiating light in the sunshine. But with a casual glance toward Kai, you were hooked. He wasn't doing anything special, just looking quiet and polite, offering a well-mannered smile and nodding in greeting. Yet he quietly glowed. One look, and you couldn't help but look again. Unforgettable.
A second later, Kai noticed the intense stares and looked over.
"Good morning!" With one simple greeting, the crowd instantly stirred.
"Ahhhhhhh, Kai! We flew all the way from Chengdu just to see you! I love you! We really, really love you! Ahhhhh!"
The sudden, piercing scream drew everyone's attention. A gentle smile blossomed on Kai's lips. "Welcome to Maranello. I hope you have a wonderful time. Just don't get your hopes up about the food."
Haha, hahaha—
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Clearly, there were quite a few Chinese tourists present.
Kai and Leclerc kept walking, not lingering for too long, but the crowd's excitement couldn't be contained. The screams and cheers followed them.
One marveled at how handsome Leclerc was in person; the other sighed over Kai's undeniable charm.
A moment later, a staff member ran out, personally delivering a small souvenir—
A signed baseball cap, bearing the signatures of both Kai and Leclerc.
He explained that Kai and Leclerc had work to do and were headed straight into a meeting, so they unfortunately couldn't stop to thank the fans for their support, but they offered this small gift instead.
Ahhhh! Ahhhhhhhh!
The screaming didn't stop. The trip to the Ferrari base was definitely worth the price of admission.
Only then did people realize that Silverstone had just ended. They were still immersed in the historic, classic duel, their emotions still running high. Yet the protagonists had already thrown themselves into the next round of work without missing a beat. Despite the lingering excitement, what happened at Silverstone stayed at Silverstone.
That was the reality.
If anyone thought Ferrari would lose their heads over the victory at Silverstone, or that the young and ambitious Kai and Leclerc would drown in the euphoria, they knew absolutely nothing about Kai.
The points gap was right there in front of them. The season was nearly half over, and Ferrari currently only had three wins.
Relying solely on this level of performance, Ferrari had absolutely zero chance of fighting for the World Championship. While Mercedes was urgently getting back on track, Ferrari hadn't stopped moving forward either.
Furthermore, putting all that aside, Silverstone... wasn't a flawless victory. The pit lane errors, Kai's tire crisis at the end—the difficulties were plain to see. If Bottas and Verstappen hadn't taken each other out, Leclerc likely wouldn't have made the podium.
The victory was worth celebrating, but they were far from the point where they could be complacent.
Strictly speaking, in the battle between the Big Three, Ferrari still didn't hold the upper hand. Kai and Leclerc had to keep their nerves stretched to the limit in every single race. There was no room to relax in the upcoming races in Germany and Hungary, let alone after the summer break, when the real decisive battles of the second half of the season would begin.
After a brief celebration, Kai and Leclerc had both returned to Maranello.
The tasks ahead of them were still piled high like a mountain.
The first order of business was to review Silverstone. The positives needed to be maintained and expanded; the negatives and weaknesses needed to be corrected. In a championship fight, the margin for error left for Ferrari was incredibly limited.
First and foremost, Kai believed the pit crew's tire change efficiency needed to improve.
Mistakes? Allowed.
Nobody is perfect; humans make mistakes. The pit crew makes mistakes, just like the drivers make mistakes on the track. There was no need to obsess over the Ferrari pit crew's errors at Silverstone. That was a fact.
But similarly, they needed to progress. Through relentless practice, they had to minimize errors and reduce the probability of them happening.
From last year to this year, Ferrari's pit lane efficiency had been repeatedly criticized, lagging far behind Mercedes and Red Bull. They couldn't rely on the pit crew experiencing an adrenaline-fueled comeback every time they were pushed to the brink.
What if the adrenaline didn't work?
Therefore, pit lane efficiency had to improve.
Kai knew this wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. Shaving half a second—from 2.5 seconds to 2.0 seconds—was not to be underestimated. Just like the immense effort required to shave a tenth of a second in a 100-meter sprint, the pit crew needed to put in unimaginable sweat.
Precisely because of this, they might not see immediate results. That meant they needed to seize the opportunity even more urgently. Starting one day earlier meant one more day of training. Accumulating effort over time, like water wearing through stone—that was the logic.
Ferrari needed to take this seriously. Otherwise, while they fought tooth and nail on the track for a thousandth of a second, a single pit stop error could cost them a full second or more. A slight lapse in concentration could destroy the entire team's hard work.
Binotto had to prioritize this and translate it into real action.
However, pit lane efficiency was only one aspect. There were many other issues demanding attention right now, with the car's next upgrade being a major one.
...
"Silverstone proves our upgrade direction is correct. The front suspension tweaks and brake mapping saved us. But Hungary will be a severe test. We cannot rely on luck."
Binotto spoke first, looking at the projection screen. On the left was the layout of the Hungaroring; on the right was a comparison of post-race data from Silverstone and Austria.
The curves were indeed much smoother, but there was still a clear 'plateau degradation' in the low-to-medium speed sections.
From a spectator's perspective, Austria, Britain, and Hungary were all fast tracks. To some extent, Mercedes was at a disadvantage, while these tracks happened to be Ferrari's strong suit. This was the reason Mercedes had looked slightly vulnerable recently.
But from an engineering perspective, while they were all fast tracks, their characteristics and types were entirely different.
Silverstone's "fast" was about flowing rhythm; Hungary's "fast" was about a compact layout.
In reality, Hungary had many slow and sharp corners. In high temperatures, the tire operating window was incredibly narrow. Speed was one thing; degradation was another entirely.
Last year, after Mercedes suffered a devastating loss at Hockenheim, they turned around and won in Hungary, entering the summer break from a position of strength.
This year, the situation was even more dire for Ferrari. For one, they had angered Mercedes at Silverstone. Coupled with Red Bull angering Mercedes in Austria, Mercedes was likely preparing a full-scale counterattack. Secondly, there were the SF90's inherent flaws.
As mentioned before, the strength of the W10 was its adaptability. It accommodated both the drivers and the tracks. Its adaptability across different circuits was far ahead of the pack. The SF90's weakness was its lack of compatibility. Every time they switched tracks, new problems arose, requiring more time and energy from the drivers and the team to make adjustments.
Looking at Bahrain, and then looking at the performance under high temperatures at Silverstone, it wasn't hard to deduce that the SF90's high-temperature performance was still disastrous.
The problem was that there were quite a few high-temperature races in the second half of the season.
Kai wasn't surprised by this. The SF90 was fraught with problems entering the new season. They didn't expect to solve everything at once; that wasn't realistic or possible. So, their season plan was to progress step-by-step. Don't rush it; take it slow.
Gradual progress, continuous improvement.
Kai nodded slightly. "The SF90 is much more honest now, but that's still relative."
"Silverstone masked our issues in the low-to-medium speed corners. Through corners like Village and The Loop, we were able to brake at the limit mainly because the front axle heated up quickly."
"But in Hungary, through continuous slow corners like Turn 1, Turn 4, and Turn 11, if the temperatures spike, the front tires will slip, and the rears will grain."
"It's not a lack of grip; it's a balance shift."
Resta turned on his tablet and pulled up a thermal map of the tires, projecting it onto the screen. "In the latter stages of Silverstone, the peak temperature of the right-rear tire was eight to ten degrees higher than expected."
"The edge vortices from the diffuser become unstable at high temperatures. The seal isn't clean, so the hot air isn't extracted properly and accumulates around the tire. Under high temperatures, the thermal expansion of the floor causes the rear wing angle to lift slightly, reducing the load on the front axle and making the understeer more pronounced."
Leclerc looked at Kai. "I thought that was the point of our upgrade."
In these tactical meetings, Leclerc was becoming bolder, gradually participating in the discussions. Although infrequent and cautious, he was slowly integrating into the team, trying to make his voice heard.
However, he still trusted Kai more. Under the intimidating gaze of the senior engineers, he still lacked a bit of confidence.
Kai knew Leclerc was still desperately chasing his first Grand Prix victory. Standing before these seasoned veterans, it was natural to feel a bit out of his depth.
But Kai didn't mind. He gave Leclerc an encouraging look and nodded. "Yes, that was the intention."
"We made the front axle respond quicker, but the rear axle hasn't caught up yet. To adapt to different tracks next, we need localized adjustments. Adding small vortex generators to the floor edges will clean up the airflow, reducing drag and heat accumulation."
Encouraged, Leclerc offered a suggestion. "If the front axle responds too quickly, the steering will be harder to control."
Kai nodded. "So we need to trim it simultaneously. Fine-tune the angle of the diffuser sidewalls to improve the low-speed seal. We don't need a major overhaul, just detail adjustments. I'm guessing—"
"Two millimeters?"
As he said this, a hint of uncertainty crept into Kai's voice, the tone rising slightly at the end.
As a driver, he ultimately lacked the specialized engineering expertise. Despite always trying to communicate with a precise, professional demeanor, the technical details inevitably exposed his limits.
Kai didn't try to hide it or pretend to know. He looked at Cardile with an expression of genuine inquiry.
Head of Chassis.
A slight smile touched the corners of Cardile's mouth. "Good thing you looked at the right person. If you'd looked at Diego, you'd be buying lunch today."
A little joke, and the atmosphere lightened.
Cardile shifted the topic. "We've already run the floor in the wind tunnel, but there's still a deviation in correlation. There's a big gap in the high-temperature test data."
Beside him, Resta looked thoughtful and exchanged a glance with Binotto.
If they had realized these problems when designing the SF90 last season, they could have collected enough data, adjusted and modified, and the direction would have been much clearer.
But now, with the season underway, things weren't that simple.
Looking back at the first half of the season, regardless of whether they won or lost, Kai always insisted on collecting massive amounts of data during free practice and the races. Even on tracks where they underperformed, like Bahrain and Baku, they completed data collection within their capabilities. Now, that data was proving invaluable.
It was hard to imagine how many question marks their current upgrades would face without that data.
Resta remembered a casual chat where Binotto had mentioned offhandedly, "Mr. Marchionne said Kai sees the long game, but I didn't understand what he meant."
He hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now the memory rushed back, bringing a moment of clarity. Was this what Marchionne meant?
The meeting didn't pause for Resta and Binotto's exchanged glances. Kai, entirely absorbed in the brainstorming session, didn't notice either.
"We need simulator time." Kai frowned slightly. "Charles, how about we split the tasks and run the simulator over the next two days?"
Leclerc nodded. "No problem."
Binotto smiled faintly. "Kai, that's what reserve drivers are for. Just leave the simulator testing to them."
Clearly, Kai wasn't entirely familiar with how top teams operated.
Surprisingly, Kai looked over. "But we don't have a reserve driver this year, do we?"
At the start of a new season, teams typically announce their driver lineup, including the two main drivers and the reserves.
There's no limit on the number of reserve drivers; it varies from one to three, or even more. They handle different responsibilities, with simulator testing being one of them.
Kai was familiar with this, having helped with simulator testing frequently during his GP3 days. However, after Giovinazzi joined Alfa Romeo this year, Ferrari hadn't announced a reserve driver roster at the start of the season. This wasn't particularly unusual, and no one paid much attention to it.
A faint smile appeared in Binotto's eyes. "We don't have a fixed reserve driver, but this is Ferrari. We will never be short of drivers to help test the simulator."
"Hartley. Fuoco. Even Anton. If we call, they can come help anytime."
Hartley, the Toro Rosso driver from last season, hadn't secured a seat after losing his drive.
Fuoco, an old acquaintance who had been in the Ferrari Driver Academy alongside Leclerc. Unfortunately, his talent was limited, and he couldn't progress further.
The last name, 'Anton', was Antonio Giovinazzi's nickname. Regardless of Giovinazzi's ultimate talent ceiling, he was a unique favorite in Maranello.
Like a child they had raised to adulthood themselves, even if he didn't quite meet their highest expectations, he still held a soft spot in their hearts.
Until the next Italian prodigy appeared, Giovinazzi would always hold a special place at Ferrari.
Kai raised an eyebrow, not hiding his surprise.
It wasn't that Giovinazzi still held a special place at the Ferrari base, but rather that Giovinazzi was actively competing in Formula 1 just like them. How did he have the time to run over to Maranello and test the simulator?
Was Alfa Romeo's season that relaxed? Weren't they busy? Wouldn't Vasseur complain and grumble? Was he really that accommodating?
As the outside world speculated, the relationship between these engine suppliers and their customer teams was indeed quite unique.
Binotto seemed to read the meaningful look in Kai's eyes and casually added, "If that's not enough, we have plenty of students in the Driver Academy. They can all help. Tell me how much data you need, and we can get it all done before Hungary."
His nonchalant tone revealed a confident grasp of the entire operation.
Kai's lips curled into a slight smile. A figure popped into his mind.
Guanyu Zhou.
Although it was only simulator testing, giving young drivers the chance to experience the 2019 cars as much as possible was crucial for them to keep up with the pace of F1.
So, even though Giovinazzi was already at Alfa Romeo, he was still willing to come and test the simulator for Ferrari. For Zhou, this was also a great opportunity.
"Massive. We need a massive amount of high-temperature, long-run data," Kai said, turning to Resta for confirmation.
"Not just average lap times, but quantitative curves."
"Push for the first ten laps, manage the rhythm in the middle stint, and push again at the end. We need to see how the tire temperature climbs, when it enters the dead zone, and then adjust the brake bias—move it slightly forward to let the front tires help share the heat load with the rears. Then we observe how the tire temperature curve changes."
"And, of course, the suspension curves."
He only needed to touch on the details; Resta already understood and nodded in agreement.
Kai looked back at the layout of the Hungaroring. "The continuous corners in Sector 2 are key. If we can make the car behave honestly there, I think we still have a chance in Hungary."
"Hockenheim is the same. High-speed mixed with low-speed. In the rain, it tests the car's predictability even more. If we find the balance, we can be competitive enough to fight for the win."
More importantly, these upcoming adjustments were the foundation for their resurgence after the summer break.
Binotto crossed his arms over his chest, staring intently at the projection screen. His mind was racing as he muttered to himself, "Floor edges. Diffuser tweaks. Brake/suspension mapping iterations."
Before their third major upgrade during the summer break, they still had a lot of localized upgrades to complete. Time was tight, and the tasks were heavy.
But—
The light of hope was growing brighter.
To outsiders, Mercedes' lead was substantial. The Constructors' Championship, in particular, looked like an insurmountable chasm, utterly out of reach.
However, internally, Ferrari was not panicked or tense. Unlike previous seasons, they were actually clearer, calmer, and more determined. They were sticking to their own pace and rhythm to complete their transformation. All the experience and lessons accumulated so far would ultimately lead to a qualitative leap.
Confidence didn't just appear out of nowhere; it was forged through the crucible of race after race, meeting after meeting, and clash after clash.
The gaze hidden behind Binotto's glasses grew brighter. Winning at Silverstone was all about rhythm. The high temperatures in Hungary would magnify their weaknesses. If they could resolve the low-to-medium speed balance and high-temperature tire degradation, Spa and Monza after the summer break would be the stages where they truly shined.
Step by step. This chess match had finally reached a crucial turning point.
In 2018, 2017, and even further back in 2016, Ferrari's seasons always followed the same pattern. They started with high hopes, only to slowly bog down and slide into the abyss as the season progressed. After the summer break, they would self-destruct entirely. Mercedes didn't even need to make a move; Ferrari tripped over themselves, watching helplessly as their rivals pulled away, squandering yet another chance to reclaim their former glory.
Again and again. Failure is contagious. It gradually became a habit, to the point where they started panicking on their own every year as the summer break approached.
This year seemed to be the same. Although Ferrari won at Silverstone—their third win of the season, and the first time they comprehensively suppressed Mercedes, proving they were the only team capable of challenging them—the massive points deficit in both championships still weighed heavily on their chests.
Elkann was not satisfied.
Elkann worried that with time running out, Ferrari might not be able to pull off a comeback in the second half of the season.
The summer break had once again become Ferrari's seasonal turning point, and also Elkann's ultimatum.
Yet, miraculously, Binotto thought he would feel nervous. The familiar story repeating itself over and over like a nightmare. But he didn't. On the contrary, he actually felt a sense of anticipation. Anticipation for the summer break, and anticipation for the battles in the second half of the season.
This was a first.
He glanced around the room. It wasn't just Resta; the other engineers seemed to have grown accustomed to the current atmosphere in the Maranello conference room.
All this change had happened in just six short months. Even having lived through the entire process, it still felt somewhat surreal to Binotto.
Like a midsummer night's dream.
A gentle breeze carried the muggy air through the cracks in the window. The noisy cicadas, acting like a lullaby, had gradually become a familiar, passionate hum.
Without a doubt, Silverstone was a turning point. It was different from Shanghai and Monaco. This time, Kai and Leclerc had pushed themselves to the absolute limit of their capabilities. Although the SF90 had given them a cold sweat right at the finish line, nearly betraying all their previous efforts, they held on to the very end, successfully converting the drivers' hard work into reality. Ferrari finally had a car capable of a fair, head-to-head fight.
Next up was the journey of sounding the horn for a counterattack.
Of course, everything had to proceed step by step. They couldn't rush it. Ferrari had to take it one race at a time, and their rivals wouldn't just sit and wait.
It was certain that Red Bull was working overtime, and Mercedes, having experienced two consecutive races with results below expectations, had certainly heard the alarm bells.
Undoubtedly, every upcoming Grand Prix was bound to be a fierce battle. This would likely be the most chaotic phase since the 2019 season began. But at the same time, this was also the phase where Ferrari truly had hope of overturning the situation. They were ready. No longer lost, no longer chaotic. The blueprint was on track; they just needed to step forward bravely.
The meeting lasted for a full four hours before finally coming to an end!
From morning until afternoon, excluding lunchtime, they had been trapped in the conference room. Sitting for so long left their lower backs and thighs numb, their muscles stiff. Standing felt awkward; sitting felt worse.
Finally!
Kai stretched luxuriantly and stood up to loosen his body. The physical toll was just as heavy as the mental strain.
Turning to Leclerc, Kai discussed heading over to test the simulator shortly. The reserve drivers could handle data collection, but Kai still wanted to review Silverstone and Austria. Through comparison and analysis, he wanted a deeper understanding of the car's current condition and to actively participate in the subsequent upgrade process.
The more dialogue they had with the technical team, the better they understood each other, and the tighter their teamwork became.
The bustling chatter and casual banter revealed relaxing nerves. There was more laughter in the conversation. From the chaos and confusion at the start of the season to now, Maranello finally seemed to have found some certainty. A voice cut through the noise.
"Kai, could you wait a moment?"
Kai instinctively turned his head. Having switched off work mode, he was slightly more relaxed, but sitting in the meeting room for so long had left him with a sore back. It was honestly comparable to two hours of high-intensity racing in a Grand Prix. Given the choice, he'd rather be racing.
Paperwork was truly torture.
In truth, it wasn't just Kai; everyone else was in a similar state. Binotto's curly hair drooped lifelessly. His cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat, though his expression remained steady and calm.
Kai looked over, unable to read Binotto's expression immediately. His muddled brain couldn't be bothered to process it, so he just asked directly, "What is it? Don't tell me it's another media shoot. Mattia, I didn't realize you were managing PR now."
"Autographs. Kai, three thousand souvenirs." Someone chimed in with a joke, and the room instantly erupted in laughter.
Kai wasn't bothered. He looked back calmly. "Only three thousand? I'm disappointed. I figured after Silverstone, the baseline would be thirty thousand."
He shook his head in mock devastation, looking ready to beat his chest in despair.
The conference room burst into laughter again. Complaints, jokes, and laughter filled the room. It was lively.
In a rare move, Leclerc joined in the fun with a joke of his own. "Mattia, what about me? Don't tell me I don't even have three hundred."
Ha!
The laughter had barely started when Leclerc raised a hand in a stopping gesture. "No, if that's true, please don't tell me."
Boom!
The laughter rippled through the room. It was a small detail, but it showed that Leclerc was loosening up and slowly integrating into the team.
A faint smile appeared in Binotto's eyes, but he maintained a serious expression. "If necessary, we can add a few more media days?"
Leclerc choked, the smile freezing on his face. With his hands on his hips, he stared silently at the ceiling. The laughter in the room exploded, livelier than ever.
Media days were officially mandated promotional events for the team. Marketing, PR, interviews, activities—it encompassed everything. It was a physically and mentally draining task. A full media day could leave you more exhausted than an actual race, and the mental drain was even worse.
In all competitive sports, off-field work like marketing and media relations is the most exhausting. And in F1, the most highly commercialized sport, the toll is likely the highest.
Driver contracts explicitly state the number of mandatory media days. Kai had exactly twice as many as Leclerc, required to participate in official Ferrari promotions for a minimum of forty days a season.
Of course, the difference was that Kai received extra bonuses for his promotional work, whereas for poor Leclerc, it was simply a contractual obligation.
Obviously, no one wanted to increase their workload.
If there was anything harder to endure than endless technical meetings, it was definitely media days.
Leclerc had accidentally dug a hole for himself. He obediently shut his mouth, hurriedly gathered his things, and prepared to slip quietly out of the room.
Following Leclerc's movements, Kai noticed that people were packing up their files and laptops, leaving the room one by one. They looked like office workers clocking out precisely on time, not wanting to stay a second longer. But in the surging crowd, there were a few exceptions.
Cardile... Ravono... Lotti...
A quick glance, and Kai immediately realized what they had in common. They were the heads of their respective departments.
Something wasn't quite right.
Kai patted Leclerc on the shoulder. Leclerc turned around with an innocent look. "Sorry, can't help you there—"
Before he could finish, Leclerc caught the look in Kai's eyes and followed his gaze around the room.
In just that short time, the conference room had mostly emptied, making the senior figures still seated stand out even more. Leclerc sensed the anomaly and turned back to Kai, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Were there still unresolved issues regarding the SF90's upgrades?
Before Kai could answer, another group of people, who seemed to have been waiting at the door, filed in. Seeing the room mostly clear, they entered and found seats. In the blink of an eye, the room began to fill up again.
"Kai!"
"Hey, Charles!"
The newcomers were almost entirely familiar faces. After all, both Leclerc and Kai were graduates of the Ferrari Driver Academy, so the faces coming and going at the Maranello base were recognizable. Even if they didn't work together directly, they crossed paths daily.
After a quick assessment, Leclerc, having spent more years in Maranello, was the first to react. He looked at Kai and mouthed a single word.
"Same."
They were also engineers, members of Ferrari's technical team.
The question was, the SF90 technical meeting had just ended. They hadn't participated in it, and were only appearing now. Why?
Leclerc was stunned. Kai was also stunned. Their minds paused briefly, and then Kai had a flash of inspiration. A thought popped into his head.
These people—could they be the design team for Ferrari's new car?
As mentioned previously, the design and development of a new season's car usually begins six to eight months in advance, or even earlier. Once the FIA confirms the regulations for the new season, the team's technical staff splits into two groups.
One group continues to maintain and upgrade the 2019 car, while the other focuses on designing the entirely new 2020 car.
The personnel between the two groups aren't fixed; they shift according to the team's strategy. If there's still a chance to fight for the 2019 championship, the focus remains on the former to keep the team strong. But if the 2019 season is deemed a lost cause, the focus shifts to the latter.
Recently, the FIA officially finalized the regulations for the 2020 season. All team headquarters immediately dived into the new cycle.
Studying the rules, finding loopholes, developing concepts, and then beginning the design.
The engineers are the same people, but their focus is divided.
Kai made a bold guess. This group of people in front of him might just be... Ferrari's 2020 car design team?
This situation was a first for Kai. Unable to confirm his judgment immediately, he hesitated and shot Leclerc a look. "New car?"
Leclerc's instinctive reaction was to deny it, a smile forming. He thought Kai was joking. But seeing the seriousness in Kai's eyes, he paused and thought about it carefully.
Although Leclerc had been in single-seaters for a few years, he only had a rough idea of when the conceptualization and design of a new car began—usually around April or May. He had no concrete concept of the exact timeline, as it was outside his scope of authority and knowledge.
Thinking calmly, this timing made sense. If they didn't want to fall behind their competitors, they needed to start planning for next season now. This was especially true for a top team like Ferrari, which lacked neither funds nor talent. Their new car development plans were typically more comprehensive.
Before the two young men could figure it out, Binotto's voice provided the answer. "This is the design team for our 2020 car. We have established preliminary design concepts and frameworks, and we are ready to begin discussions."
Boom—
A bombshell.
Without giving them time to react, Binotto continued, "You should join us."
The air froze slightly. Leclerc was completely stunned, his brain seeming to hit pause. He didn't know how to react. His first instinct upon snapping out of it was to pack his things and leave.
Binotto was formally inviting Kai to stay and participate in the discussions for the new season's car. He was doing this because Kai was the core of the entire team. But he wasn't inviting Leclerc. Their positions within the team were, ultimately, different.
Moving quickly, Leclerc finished packing, turned to look at Kai, and with a glint of excitement in his eyes, covertly gave him a thumbs up.
Leclerc didn't know the specifics of Kai's contract, but he knew that Binotto inviting Kai to participate in the new car's design in front of the entire technical team meant Kai had truly established his position in Maranello. Through relentless effort, he had finally opened the door.
Leclerc was genuinely happy for Kai.
Turning and walking away, Leclerc straightened his back. He believed his day would come too, but he needed to earn that privilege through his own hard work.
But then Kai's voice called out from behind. "Charles, wait!"