Chapter 1348 - 507: Lynk & Co Lotus Saudi Aramco F1 Team (2)

Chapter 1348: Chapter 507: Lynk & Co Lotus Saudi Aramco F1 Team (2)

5.1% was given to the Thai Red Bull, 4.9% is still in the hands of Austria Red Bull.

Meanwhile, because no one at Geely is familiar with F1 operations and work relationships, although many people were sent to the paddock to learn in 2022, learning is learning, no one has experienced the practical operations.

So the internal personnel structure of the team formerly known as Toro Rosso won’t change much in 2023; the same people are still in charge, and the team manager remains Tost.

Only, Tost’s reporting line has changed from Red Bull to Geely.

The only difference is that the personnel of the team formerly known as Toro Rosso have been expanded, and 30% of the new recruits are Chinese.

Everyone knows these people are here to intern, and once they become familiar with the operation processes of an F1 team and everything that will happen over a year, they will gradually replace all current senior management within the team.

As for the team leader position...that depends on Tost’s performance in the final years of this team.

Of course, the team formerly known as Toro Rosso has also been renamed; it’s no longer called Toro Rosso.

Given that it’s been acquired by Geely, it’s impossible to keep using the original name.

This name was decided by Geely after long deliberation.

And on the New Year’s day, when they announced their entry into F1, they also released the new team name:

Lynk & Co.- Lotus Saudi Aramco F1 Team. (Referred to as Lynk & Co. Team in the future)

Geely was never in for making money by purchasing an F1 team; it was all for promotion.

However, it is still significant that the team represents their own brand, showing prestige first, followed by capturing both passion and wealth.

The passion, naturally, is Lotus, a mouthful every old car enthusiast favors. If Geely brings Lotus along, the team initially has a certain fan base, making it easier to earn from merchandise sales then.

Money naturally comes from Saudi Aramco.

No need to explain this, the word "Saudi" inherently smells like money.

Now Lynk & Co has officially become Geely’s true crown prince.

Not only does it have a WTCR team, but also an F1 team; this is absolutely unparalleled among domestic car brands.

Meanwhile, Geely’s new car livery design was ready long ago.

Lynk & Co was initially going to use their WTCR blue as the main color for the livery, but found during adjustments that the blue paint was somewhat heavy, and if used, it could reduce lap time by about 0.05 seconds.

For a top-notch racing sport like F1, where even 0.001 seconds must be squeezed out of teeth gaps, a 0.05-second loss due to livery is nearly unacceptable.

Hence, Lynk & Co went with Lotus’s previous livery, black and gold.

However, to reduce weight, the black is the color of the racing car’s carbon fiber itself, with gold merely accentuating the body.

Meanwhile, the most central part of the racing car’s nose features Lynk & Co’s logo, followed by Lotus.

The reason Lynk & Co is meticulous about the racing car livery details is mainly due to the surplus of sponsors this season.

The team formerly known as Toro Rosso already had some sponsorship contracts not yet expired, and with Lynk & Co’s strong entry, more domestic sponsors rushed in.

Virtually every part of the car body capable of bearing sponsor stickers is filled.

Because of the existence of Qin Miao and Zhou Guanyu, the number of Chinese sponsors in the paddock has sharply increased over the past two years. Now, with a Chinese team, everyone is throwing money at Lynk & Co.

Meanwhile, Lynk & Co is still using its original driver lineup this season.

Yuki Tsunoda paired with De Vries.

The reason for retaining these two drivers is partly because time is too short for Lynk & Co to find new drivers.

Another reason is the contracts of the team formerly known as Toro Rosso with these two drivers; one hasn’t expired yet, the other has just been signed. Even if Lynk & Co wanted to back out, it’s too late, so they simply continue using them.

Of course, Red Bull Group holding these 10% shares means that Lynk & Co is still somewhat tied to Red Bull.

However, the relationship is slightly like McLaren with Mercedes.

Both do indeed have a relationship, but not like Haas with Ferrari, the team formerly known as Toro Rosso with Red Bull, or Williams with Mercedes, where it is nearly as if they are one.

More inclined towards a collaboration and win-win relationship.

Meanwhile, Lynk & Co’s car development, according to the contract, continues to use Red Bull’s wind tunnel.

And renting the wind tunnel also requires payment to Red Bull.

Similarly, Lynk & Co can recruit from Red Bull’s youth training system, but now Lynk & Co doesn’t function like the previous team formerly known as Toro Rosso, where Red Bull can decisively move drivers over to replace Red Bull’s No. 2 driver.

Moreover, the most surprising news for Qin Miao is Red Bull deciding to abandon Honda’s engines and plan to develop their own racing engines.

Initially, Red Bull contacted Ford, and while both were negotiating, Geely unexpectedly stabbed Ford in the back.

Nearly gouging out Ford’s eyeballs.

Red Bull’s side was proceeding smoothly, but then its second team was gone. Furious, they realized.

Well, Geely seems capable of building engines? Their WTCR car’s performance seems quite strong.

Along with their own team’s reserve talent in engine design, perhaps they can collaborate with Geely to create a promising F1 engine.

Then there wouldn’t be a need to endure Honda’s whims, force in the Japanese.

Plus, the inherent reliability of the Chinese—there’s potential here!

Red Bull wishes to rid their dependence on Honda, and Geely doesn’t want to be a customer team, so after negotiation, they formed an engine design company together.

Of course, Geely is the main player, but the location is set in the UK.

After all, only the UK has that many personnel engaged in racing engine design, and these personnel reside in the UK.

Easier recruitment.

Once the company was founded, Geely didn’t announce much externally; after all, when they’ll successfully produce a usable engine is completely uncertain.

Moreover, announcing plans to build an engine now might invite opposition from Honda.

Thus, Geely and Red Bull plan to focus on the task for two years, and assess the engine development progress then. If progress is promising, Geely and Red Bull will aim to replace the engine in or before 2026.

If development faces obstacles or the engineered engine falls short of expectations, they’ll continue with Honda’s engine.

In summary, this engine company resembles more like a strategic move.

As for why domestic media are so informed, Qin Miao is unsure.

Nonetheless, upon seeing this extensive news, Qin Miao can’t help but worry if Geely might be taking too big a step.

Of course, Qin Miao is just a mere racer, and isn’t familiar with team operations.

Qin Miao can only hope Geely doesn’t end up producing an engine that drivers scoff at as a GP2.

Geely’s entry is undoubtedly good news for the country, at least domestic car enthusiasts’ enthusiasm and traffic have found a channel for monetization.

But personally, it might not be joyful news.

Eventually, there will be momentum advocating for his joining Geely.

Estimated to be a headache for some time.

If those truly stubborn ones come to him directly, asking if he’ll join Lynk & Co, it’ll be daunting.

Definitely needs to think of a suitable general answer.

Of course, what truly worries Qin Miao is his friend Zhou Guanyu.

Because Zhou Guanyu, compared to himself, is more likely to join Lynk & Co.

And with Lynk & Co displaying such ambition, aiming perhaps for a podium frequenter position, with Zhou Guanyu’s capability, if he really joined Lynk & Co, fate might just land him as a No. 2 driver.

That can be quite a blow to his confidence.

Rubbing his brows worriedly, uncertain whether this matter is beneficial or not.

With these thoughts, Qin Miao promptly set his phone to silent mode.

Because Qin Miao has already anticipated how many would call and message him post Geely’s strong entry.

For the following few days, Qin Miao barely touched his phone, spending time at home with his wife and family.

Only when the incident gradually calmed down did Qin Miao start responding to messages.

Sure enough, Zhou Guanyu called Qin Miao.

The two chatted for nearly three hours, with Qin Miao discussing not drivers’ positions or Lynk & Co-related matters, just casual banter.

Before ending the call, Qin Miao said: "Don’t think too much, there’s an old Chinese saying, ’the car will naturally find its way when it reaches the mountain, the boat will naturally go straight when it reaches the bridge.’ Relax."

"Mm, got it..."