How Did I Become an F1 Driver?

I will always be grateful to Mercedes for their support and efforts over the years, especially to Toto for discovering and nurturing me. I think we can wrap up our cooperation with Mercedes this season on a perfect note.

We will focus on the 2024 races and bring everyone an exciting season.

As for Ferrari... it’s undeniable that Ferrari and I have had some not-so-pleasant memories, but those are all in the past now. People need to learn to look forward.

Ferrari has shown their sincerity to me, and my contract with Mercedes happens to expire this year." Qin Miao paused here, then smiled and said, "Just like Vettel said, everyone is a Ferrari fan, even if they claim they’re not, they are still Ferrari fans.

So I’m very happy, as a Ferrari fan, to have the opportunity to return to Maranello and serve the team I’ve loved since childhood."

After answering this question, another reporter stood up and asked, "Qin Miao, next season you will be teammates with Leclerc. We all know you and Shire have a good relationship privately. Will becoming teammates affect your friendship?"

"No, just a few days ago, during a meal with Shire, we talked about this issue and eventually agreed that the racetrack is the racetrack, life is life. As professional drivers, we should distinguish between the two."

But Qin Miao saw that the next reporter still wanted to catch him with questions, so he picked up the microphone and interrupted the next reporter’s attempt.

"Okay, journalist friends, this is a pre-season press conference, not a press conference about me joining Ferrari, so save some footage and questions for other drivers."

Upon hearing Qin Miao say this, almost all the reporters looked at him with a bit of grievance.

Don’t they know this is the pre-season press conference? Don’t they know they should give all drivers equal treatment at this time?

But the key point is that you, this birdman, didn’t announce such a big event by holding a press conference for us to ask questions. During the time before the race week, you’re completely out of sight.

It’s impossible to catch you for an interview.

The only way to ask you a few questions is at the pre-season press conference, isn’t it?

But since Qin Miao has already said so, the reporters couldn’t keep chasing him with questions, so they gave other drivers quite a few questions.

Of course, any driver with a good relationship with Qin Miao was asked by reporters about their thoughts on Qin Miao going to Ferrari.

For example, Zhou Guanyu.

"Zhou, we all know you have a good relationship with Qin Miao. Before last weekend, did you know he was going to Ferrari? What do you think about this matter?"

Zhou Guanyu glanced at Qin Miao and then shook his head saying, "No, let me correct you on one point. Since Qin Miao didn’t tell me this matter in advance, we have severed our relations, and now we are just ordinary colleagues."

Qin Miao crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

The other drivers also laughed.

After the harmless little joke, Zhou Guanyu returned to normal and said directly, "With Qin Miao’s skills, him going to Ferrari is a mutual effort. I hope everything goes smoothly for him at Ferrari.

As for my view, I’m really looking forward to Qin Miao delivering an eye-catching performance at Ferrari; maybe he’ll even help Ferrari bring back the driver’s championship that’s been missing for so long?

After all, you all know I’ve always believed in Qin Miao’s abilities."

...

Before the pre-season press conference ended, the reporters managed to ask Qin Miao quite a few questions.

Qin Miao was open to all comers and kept sparring with them like Tai Chi.

After more than half an hour, the pre-season interview finally ended.

The reporters, however, felt a bit unsatisfied, because the sudden transfer of Qin Miao to Ferrari was such a hot topic, it couldn’t be fully digested in a short time.

As they left the interview area, Zhou Guanyu came up.

Although during the interview, Zhou Guanyu clearly stated he was looking forward to Qin Miao’s performance at Ferrari, honestly, he still felt a bit worried for Qin Miao.

"With Ferrari’s state this season, aren’t you afraid that going to Ferrari will make you directly lose competitiveness for the championship?"

Qin Miao glanced at his system regarding the development ability boost of his team.

To be honest, with Ferrari’s foundation, if I stay with Ferrari for two years, they’ll definitely bring out a Mars rover for me.

At least it would be a Mars rover that’s 0.3 seconds faster per lap.

But Qin Miao couldn’t say that outright, so he thought for a moment and said, "I trust Vassel, he still has something.

And to be fair, you’ve spent much more time with Vassel than I have, so you should understand Vassel’s capabilities better, right?"

"I don’t deny Vassel’s leadership abilities, but you have to understand, this is Ferrari.

Ferrari has innumerable stubborn issues; it’s not something a capable leader can entirely reverse."

Qin Miao scratched his face, then directly put forth his lazy statement: "At least, Ferrari is treating me well. As long as I perform better on the track than the second driver, isn’t that enough?"

Zhou Guanyu twitched at Qin Miao’s words; you’re not even at Ferrari yet, and you’ve already labeled Leclerc as the second driver?

It’s unclear how Leclerc would think about this if he knew.

The two of them chatted like this back to the paddock.

Today isn’t a formal race day, so there aren’t many fans in the paddock.

After separating from Zhou Guanyu, Qin Miao returned to the Mercedes team’s P room.

This was the first time Qin Miao returned to the Mercedes team’s P room after the news of him leaving Mercedes the next season became completely public.

But contrary to Qin Miao’s expectations, at this time, everyone didn’t show much emotional fluctuation when they saw him.

The technicians were still busy with their own tasks, greeted Qin Miao normally when they saw him.

Of course, those who were temporarily free also stopped to chat with Qin Miao about his thoughts and were curious about what conditions Ferrari offered. However, Qin Miao didn’t find anyone feeling overly regretful or unwilling due to his departure.

At that time, Qin Miao was indeed a bit puzzled, but as he returned to the team home and chatted with Hamilton in the lounge about this matter, Old Man Hamilton smiled and patted Qin Miao’s shoulder saying, "It’s no big deal, it’s not like you’ll never see them again. We’re all working in the same paddock; there’s a chance you announce leaving Mercedes this season and next season at Ferrari, you encounter crew members from the Mercedes garage. After all, there is quite high mobility among team technicians, and for them, the constant replacement of drivers is also a very ordinary thing.

You shouldn’t think that they have no feelings for you, they’re just used to it."

Qin Miao shook his head, "Even though you’re quite right, it still feels too counter-intuitive for me. But that’s okay too, it saves me from having to explain to everyone everywhere; recently everyone’s asking me about Ferrari, and I’m a bit overwhelmed."

Hamilton instead laughed, "That’s inevitable; if the driver going to Ferrari weren’t you but me, I believe when you see me, you’d catch me non-stop asking questions on this matter."

Qin Miao scratched his face, "I probably wouldn’t be that inconsiderate."

Hamilton shrugged but gave Qin Miao a knowing smile.

After a brief chat with Hamilton, Barber came to the second floor of the team home and said to Qin Miao, "Qin Miao, the scooter is fully charged, you can take a track walk now."

After nodding to Barber, Qin Miao looked at Old Man Lewis and said, "I’m off to walk the track, see you later."

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