mousepad-d2 Chapter 62 Let's talk about
Chapter 62 Let's talk about
"Two seasons to get a seat?" Tanger laughed. "Mr. Mekis, if this is all the sincerity Ferrari has to offer, I think there's no need for us to waste each other's time any longer."
First, he'd go to Haas, then wait two seasons before moving up to Ferrari. That was the signing offer made by current Ferrari deputy team principal and sporting director Laurent Mechs on behalf of the Ferrari team.
Ferrari has already offered a Mercedes seat to Towntcher. How attractive would Ferrari's promise of a customer team seat plus a promotion still be to Towntcher? This offer is even less attractive than what Ferrari offered right after the end of the 21 season. How could Towntcher possibly accept it?
"I'm sorry, Tom, that's all, I..." Mekes sighed on the other end of the phone, "I really wish I could work with you..."
"Then you need a more decisive senior executive, or..." Tang Che joked, "you could switch to the team I'm going to join."
Megise said sullenly, "Sorry to take up your time, Tom. I wish you get a great contract."
Tang Che: "Thank you."
Neither side had much to say, and the call ended.
Tang Jingqing said, "Ferrari is really used to wanting both."
Ferrari recently extended its contract with Sainz until the 2024 season and is reluctant to pay the release clause to release Sainz and give the seat to Towntcherten. Therefore, they are still negotiating with Towntcherten using customer team seats.
Tang Che: "Whatever, I'm not planning on going to Ferrari anyway."
Tang Che didn't have any cheat codes; he couldn't handle all the problems at home and abroad all by himself, so he didn't go to jail.
Tang Che: "What did McLaren say?"
Not long after Tang Che and Tang Jingqing returned to the hotel from their conversation with Horner and others, McLaren and Ferrari called one after the other.
McLaren called first, dialing Tang Jingqing's cell phone. Just as Tang Jingqing answered, Megis called Tang Che's cell phone.
To avoid interfering with each other, the two people answered the phone separately.
Perhaps Tang Jingqing was more efficient at communication, or perhaps he was worried about Tang Che communicating with Meiqis alone. In any case, Tang Jingqing quickly ended the conversation and came over to listen to Tang Che and Meiqis's conversation.
Tang Jingqing: "McLaren already intended to terminate Ricciardo's contract early. If you are willing to join McLaren, McLaren will definitely fire Ricciardo to make room for you. Zach Brown said he is ready to start contract negotiations with us at any time."
McLaren was already considering terminating Ricardo's contract early? Why?
Because Ricardo's performance in the first six races of this season was exceptionally disastrous.
Aside from the Saudi Grand Prix, where he withdrew due to a technical malfunction, Ricciardo only performed slightly better in the Australian Grand Prix; he failed to even break into the points zone in the other four races.
While McLaren's car was indeed a bit heavy, it wasn't enough to prevent him from getting into the points zone. Ricciardo's failure to score points was purely a personal issue.
How could McLaren tolerate a driver who couldn't score points and was just sitting around doing nothing? They immediately started considering firing Ricciardo.
Tang Che: "It can be used as a bargaining chip."
When choosing a team, the first thing to consider is whether the team can build good cars in the future, or rather, it's a gamble that the team can build good cars in the future.
Even within the same regulatory cycle, a team that builds a good car this year may build a slow car in the future, and a team that builds a slow car this year may build a good car in the future. However, the team that can build a good car this year is significantly more likely to build a good car in the future, and it is hard to believe that a team that cannot build a good car this year is likely to build a good car in the future.
McLaren's performance this season makes it hard to believe they can build good cars in the future.
If the car doesn't work, everything else falls apart. In Tang Che and Tang Jingqing's minds, McLaren still ranks behind Ferrari.
Since it's already decided not to go to Ferrari, how could it possibly go to McLaren?
But McLaren's sincerity shouldn't be wasted; it can be used as leverage in negotiations with Red Bull and Mercedes.
Don't think this is anything special; it's a common practice in the F1 transfer market.
For chestnut:
Mercedes was actually reluctant to sign Russell for the 21 season. The Mercedes management preferred to keep Bottas for another year and hoped that Russell could wait another year in Williams before joining Mercedes.
Russell did not want to wait another year, and the negotiations between the two sides reached a stalemate.
During the crucial period of negotiations between Russell and Mercedes, Marko publicly stated: "If Mercedes doesn't promote Russell, we will consider signing him. His performance deserves a seat in a top team."
Horner later confirmed in a media interview that Red Bull had made initial contact with Russell's agent.
Mercedes only wanted Russell to join a year later, not to leave the Mercedes system directly, and even less to join the rivals' camp—Red Bull's interest naturally gave Russell a very important bargaining chip.
While Red Bull's publicly expressed interest in Russell may have had ulterior motives—Red Bull most likely didn't actually want to sign Russell, as they wouldn't have a seat for him—they were probably trying to influence Bottas's mindset, who was then negotiating a contract extension with Mercedes. Furthermore, Red Bull genuinely preferred Mercedes to replace their number 2 driver with the inexperienced Russell, rather than the experienced Bottas. However, Russell did use this as leverage to secure a well-paying contract.
It is clear that the interest of other major teams can indeed be an important bargaining chip for drivers in seat negotiations with target teams.
There are more than one major team interested in Tangcher now, and Tangcher has far more and more bargaining chips than Russell had in the 21 season.
Tang Jingqing could easily negotiate seats with several teams simultaneously, creating a competitive bidding atmosphere and raising Tang Che's value to the highest level.
Tang Jingqing has already taken action. After meeting with Toilet Wolf, Tang Jingqing's team started formal negotiations with Mercedes-Benz. After a small meeting with Horner and others, Tang Jingqing's team also started formal negotiations with Red Bull.
Now, Tang Jingqing said, "Then I will also start negotiations with McLaren."
Tang Che: "Isn't it too much work to negotiate with three teams at the same time, and also to work on terms with domestic sponsors? Maybe we should start negotiations with McLaren later. Anyway, we don't really want to join McLaren. It's enough to have a rumor that McLaren is interested in us."
Tang Jingqing: "The workload isn't as big as you imagine. Negotiations for seats with multiple bidders usually involve talking and observing at the same time, with frequent intervals between talks, leaving plenty of downtime. As for sponsorship, it's basically all settled, and we can officially announce it by the Monaco Grand Prix at the latest."
Tang Che was utterly awestruck: "Auntie, you're my god!"
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Arriving at the crown jewel of Formula 1 – Monaco!
The Monaco Grand Prix and the Spanish Grand Prix are only a week apart, so Tang Che and Tang Jingqing flew directly from Barcelona to Monaco.
Upon arriving in Monaco, Vettel actually invited Tanger to dinner: "Tang, are you free Wednesday evening? How about we have dinner together?"
Tang Che gladly accepted the invitation.
Shortly after Toncher accepted the invitation, Vettel sent him another message: "Nico said he also wants to join our dinner. What do you think?"
Toncher: "Huckenberger?"
Vettel: "Rosberg."
Tang Che was filled with awe: "An F1 driver who doesn't know the 15-time world champion is in vain, even if he becomes a WDC champion!"
Of course, I agreed.
The 15-time champion joined the group chat, and then the dinner party turned into the 15-time champion inviting Tom Che and the 4-time champion to his home.
Four-time champion: Let him treat me to a meal first, and I'll treat Tang to a meal later when I have time.
Tang Che's admiration for the 15-time champion was like a surging river, endless and unstoppable, like the Yellow River overflowing its banks. How could he refuse the invitation from the 15-time champion?
On Wednesday evening, Tanger rode his beloved little motorcycle.
Let's go! Let's go to the house of the 15-time champion and hear him tell the story of how he defeated the 7-time champion and the cupping king!
Monaco is a tiny place; it's only a few minutes' walk to the apartment building where the 15-time champion lives.
Guess who Tang Che met in the apartment elevator?
Cupping King Hamilton!
After all these years, the cupping king and the fifteen-time champion still live in the same building.
Upon encountering Tang Che at his doorstep, the Cupping King was slightly surprised: "Tang?! What are you doing here?"
Tang Che was having a hard time keeping his composure: "Nico invited me to his house."
An eerie silence fell over the elevator.
The Cupping Master arrived at his floor first. Before exiting the elevator, he flashed his signature smile: "Have fun, dude."
The cupping king is still a respectable person!
After climbing a few more floors, Tang Che arrived at the doorstep of the 15-time champion's house.
The 15-time champion personally opened the door and immediately gave Tang Che a very warm bro hug.
The 15-time champion: "Finally met you, Klay! You have no idea how much I love your defense. I absolutely have to take a picture with you!"
Everyone has one or more regrets at every stage of their life. For the 15-time champion, his most recent regret is not being able to take a photo with Tontatta after the main event of the 2021 Abu Dhabi tournament.
At the time, the 15-time champion was a guest commentator for Sky Sports and was thrilled watching the broadcast in the studio, so he really wanted to take a picture with Tom Che.
However, after the match, the 15-time champion still had to do post-match commentary and couldn't leave the studio for a while. When the 15-time champion left the studio to find Tomcher, Tomcher had already returned to Red Bull's motorhome, and Red Bull wouldn't allow the 15-time champion, a Mercedes legend, to enter the motorhome to meet Tomcher.
The 15-time champion had wanted to meet Tomchet several times afterward, but was delayed for various reasons. Today he finally met him, and the 15-time champion had to take a great photo with him!
"Seb," the fifteen-time champion, a man of many occasions, didn't neglect the four-time champion standing beside him in the group photo, "Come on, let's take a picture together."
Tang Che, the four-time champion, and the fifteen-time champion posed for a photo together.
After the group photo, the 15-time champion immediately invited Tom Che and the 4-time champion to sit down at the dinner table.
The wife of the 15-time champion, Vivian, along with her eldest daughter, Aleia, and youngest daughter, Naira, all sat at the same table.
The two girls were clearly a little afraid of Tang Che.
That's normal, since people online say that Toncher and Haaland eat children.
However, after seeing the gift that Tang Che pulled out, the two girls were no longer so afraid of him.
Tang Che: How can you visit the home of a 15-time champion empty-handed? Bringing a small gift for the young lady is just right.
Vettel: Me too!
Unfortunately, the 15-time champion didn't mention his victories over two 7-time champions and the cupping champion at the dinner table; the 4-time champion did most of the talking.
"Tang, you must have had a lot of teams contacting you lately, right? Has Ferrari contacted you? What kind of offer did they make?" The four-time world champion asked with curiosity and sincerity. "I know this question is presumptuous, but you don't have to answer it if you don't want to."
Tang Che: "This isn't something that can't be said, Ferrari..."
The 15-time champion quickly interrupted, "Wow! Wow! Wow! Should I step aside? I'm a Mercedes legend."
Although the 15-time champion and the cupping king have fallen out and become an ill-fated couple, the 15-time champion and Mercedes still have a good relationship. If the 15-time champion knows this kind of inside information that has not yet been leaked in the transfer market, he can pass it on to Mercedes.
Mercedes is Tontard's direct negotiating partner, and letting Mercedes know more information would be detrimental to Tontard.
Tanger: "If Seb had asked about other teams, I might not have been able to say anything, but since Seb asked about Ferrari, I can say whatever I want, since even though they offered conditions, it's practically like they didn't."
Upon hearing this, the fifteen-time champion perked up: "What conditions did Ferrari offer?"
Tanger: "Ferrari gave me a seat at Haas and promised me a promotion to Ferrari in two years."
The 15-time champion imitated Leclerc's accent: "Sjupid! Really stupid!"
Even a four-time champion can't hold his nerve; there's no F**k to say for a moment.
Tang Che remained silent, only mimicking the player's signature move.
"Tom, actually I'd really like you to join Mercedes," the 15-time champion chuckled. "It would be really fun playing with Lewis."
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The competition weekend is here, welcome back the Grand Prix!
Monaco has hosted over sixty Grand Prix races over the years, and the rights and wrongs are difficult to discuss. However, everyone in the paddock has noticed that it is precisely on this extremely difficult Monte Carlo circuit that the qualifying position determines how many drivers finish the race, hence the long-standing saying "Monaco Qualifying Grand Prix".
Just how difficult is it to overtake on the Monte Carlo circuit?
For chestnut:
In the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, Ricciardo, who started from pole position, encountered a problem on lap 28. The MGU-K kinetic motor completely failed, causing problems with the gearbox and brakes. The car's power dropped significantly, it was unable to engage 7th and 8th gear, and the rear brakes were prone to overheating.
Despite this malfunction, Ricciardo still managed to shut down Vettel behind him for the remaining 50 laps, ultimately securing the victory.
Vettel in 18 was a strong contender for WDC, but he couldn't get past Ricciardo's broken car in 50 laps, which shows that the overtaking difficulty of the Monte Carlo circuit is almost hellish!
Why is it so difficult to overtake on the Monte Carlo circuit? Because the track is narrow!
The Monte Carlo circuit is only 8-12 meters wide, and most sections do not provide enough space for overtaking.
However, everything has two sides. While a narrow track may not provide enough space for overtaking, it can also limit the performance of the race cars and reduce the performance gap between them to some extent.
In other words, on this track, a lunar rover or an Earth rover could potentially beat a Mars rover in the qualifying rounds!
Furthermore, due to the difficulty of overtaking on this track, if the lunar rover or Earth rover defeats the Mars rover in qualifying, it is almost equivalent to defeating the Mars rover in the main race!