Zhang Yifei's refusal so simply was unexpected by Lauda, you must know that Zhang Yifei's current results are just to win the Renault championship.

Inviting him to become a development driver of the Jaguar team is equivalent to helping him skip the F3 level event, which is something that many junior formula drivers can encounter but cannot seek, Zhang Yifei actually refused so simply?

Lauda doesn't have Ghosn's strength, after all, he is a race car driver and knows how jumping a level can help newcomers.

And he is very optimistic about Zhang Yifei, feeling that although this kid is from China, his strength is not weaker than European players of the same age, and talents are rare.

"Fei, don't you really think about it?"

"No, I'm sorry Mr. Lauda."

Zhang Yifei is actually a direct person, and he told Ghosn before that he would think about it, which has made him regret it a little, and now he will definitely not promise Lauda to think about it again, even if it is mentioned by the other party.

Faced with Zhang Yifei's resolute attitude, Lauda's face showed a disappointed expression, he looked at Zhang Yifei and said, "Can you tell me the reason, to be honest, I don't understand very much." ”

For a Chinese newcomer, being able to work directly from Formula Renault as a development driver for the Jaguar team is definitely a leap forward.

Why did Zhang Yifei refuse, is it because of Korcel, McLaren Racing wants to sign him?

"Actually, the reason is very simple, I am very ambitious, I want to be a test driver or a full-time driver."

Zhang Yifei didn't hide anything, he really wants to become an official F1 driver, even if it is an arrogant ambition at present.

But dreams always have to come true, what if one day they come true?

Test driver or full driver? This idea was a bit difficult for Lauda to accept, and although he admired the Chinese newcomer, Zhang Yifei did not show the absolute crushing of Renault, which is different from Kimi Raikkonen before.

Sometimes young people are too ambitious, which is not necessarily a good thing.

Formal drivers are certainly impossible, and although the Jaguar team has just been established, it is not one of those private small teams, behind which is the world-class car manufacturer Ford, in terms of strength, not lagging behind the giants of the current F1 paddock.

As a test driver, according to Lauda's character, he would be willing to give the young man a chance to see how he performs on the Formula 1 circuit.

But the problem is that Lauda, the CEO of Jaguar, is not a decisive boss, but a professional manager.

The decision on the future direction of the team needs to be approved by Ford's board of directors, and it is not his own decision.

Moreover, the current management of the Jaguar team is very confused, thinking that the American faction led by Ford and the Germanic faction, which is mainly left behind by the Stewart team, want to control the absolute control of the team.

It is precisely because of the fierce factional struggle within the team that Ford invited Lauda to be the CEO of the team, hoping to use such a "respectable" veteran F1 legend driver to calm the field.

But unfortunately, Lauda may be a top driver on the F1 track, he is not good at commercial battles, and even his own creation of Lauda Airlines ended up in bankruptcy.

So he doesn't have absolute control over the Jaguar team, and it's very difficult to make an exception like this, and there will be a lot of resistance.

"If you can win the European Cup with Renault, I can give you a test driver contract."

Lauda has stated his current bottom line, and only when Zhang Yifei wins the Renault Euro 2000 championship can he have the confidence to convince the rest of the team's management.

"Then thank you Mr. Lauda for your attention."

Zhang Yifei replied with a smile, not very excited and enthusiastic in his tone. If he wins the Renault European Cup, he will not need a Jaguar contract at all, and there will be a lot more options than he does now.

Even if the Jaguar is now backed by Ford, there is still a gap between it and the giant teams on the track, such as Ferrari, Williams, and McLaren.

If you can only get the status of a test driver, Zhang Yifei is of course more willing to choose a big team under the same conditions, after all, F1 is a game of technology and capital, and the big team is much ahead in this regard.

With that said, there was nothing more to say, and Lauda got up and returned to the crowd in the hall.

He is also just coming out of the mountain, and he needs to get acquainted with the management of other teams, which is also good for the future development of the team.

It was at this time that Cosell walked back, and the juice in his hand turned into a glass of whiskey.

He put down the cup and said, "How did Lauda come here?" ”

"I went to the New North Circuit for a lap before, and Lauda happened to be in the Jaguar building in New North and saw me running New North in the process."

"Lauda has a good eye for people, so did he come here to invite you to join the Jaguar team?"

"Yes, he offered to give me a seat for the Jaguars team to develop drivers, but I refused."

Korsell nodded after hearing it, Zhang Yifei refused the invitation of the Renault team to develop drivers, even if the Jaguar team has Ford behind it, it is far inferior to the current Renault-Nissan Alliance.

"But he said if I could win the European Championship for Renault, I could consider being a test driver for the Jaguars."

"And you agreed?"

"No, but there is no refusal, who can say this kind of future thing now?"

After hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Cosell's face, he picked up the wine glass on the table, shook the whiskey in the glass slightly, and then said lightly.

"You don't need to think about it anymore, because I've already negotiated with Prost to take pole position and win the Manicour Championship, and he'll give you an official F1 driver's seat next season."

"What?"

Zhang Yifei stood up in surprise at this time, but fortunately, the music in the banquet hall and the sound of talking did not have a great impact.

He looked at Cosell with disbelief, isn't this old German man and Prost old rivals, how can they even negotiate the official seats of the F1 drivers, what happened just now.

"Don't be surprised, the current state of operation of the Prost team has to choose to give it a go, and they don't have many options."

"But that's too much of an exaggeration, don't you have a bad relationship with Prost because of a conflict of ideas, why would he agree to such a crazy choice?"

"Senna and he can reconcile with Prost, so what is this conflict of ideas between me and him?"

After finishing speaking, Korsell drank the wine glass in his hand and said in an emotional tone: "He and I are both old, after all, when we were young, we used to fight together for the highest honor. Maybe he's more willing to trust me than others. ”

Listening to Coser's emotional words, Zhang Yifei didn't speak, this old German man appeared for the first time with such a sentimental look.

Maybe time has passed, grievances and grievances have passed, and what people are most likely to remember is the eventful years when they struggled together.

"Kossel, I won't let you down, and I won't regret myself. The pole position and the championship in Manicul, no one can take it from me! ”

This is Zhang Yifei's promise to Cosell, he is bound to complete a great miracle!

"Let's talk about grades."

Korsell ignored Zhang Yifei's rhetoric, but stood up directly and walked towards the outside of the banquet hall.

For him, the goal of helping Zhang Yifei find the F1 team today has been achieved, and there is no need to stay.

Just as Zhang Yifei thought before, the old German man is indeed not sociable.

Korsell left, and Zhang Yifei did not leave with him, because he still had to express his attitude to Ghosn.

At the center of the banquet at this moment, Ghosn was talking to several F1 team bigwigs, and Zhang Yifei did not bother, but stood quietly and waited.

Ghosn was having a good time chatting with several F1 bigwigs, after all, today's announcement of the acquisition of Benetton Racing was a good day for Renault to return to the F1 paddock after 15 years.

However, he still saw Zhang Yifei standing aside, and when he saw this Chinese kid looking at him, Ghosn knew that he had something to find him.

So Ghosn said goodbye, came to Zhang Yifei with a wine glass, and asked with a condescending attitude: "What, have you thought it through?" ”

"Well, think about it, I don't join the Renault Athletic Academy and I don't want to be a Renault development driver."

Zhang Yifei is very unhappy with this condescending attitude, even if the other party does belong to the superior in terms of identity and status.

Hearing this, the expression on Ghosn's face was a little indifferent, Zhang Yifei not only refused to be a Renault development driver, but also refused to join the Renault Sports Academy, which was simply faceless, and even lived up to his good intentions today.

"Good."

Ghosn spat out these two words in an unkind tone, then turned straight back into the crowd, without saying a word.

For a president of Ghosn's level, whether Zhang Yifei agrees or refuses, it will not have any impact on him.

But today Zhang Yifei chose to refuse, so long is equivalent to drawing a clear line with Renault Group, and it is almost impossible for Zhang Yifei to cooperate with Renault in the future.

Unless Zhang Yifei's identity changes dramatically, it can bring enough benefits to Renault, because businessmen have no position, they only look at interests.

Ghosn's attitude was expected by Zhang Yifei, and he simply turned around and left the banquet hall. The so-called driver's representative identity has no meaning for him now.

Coming to the hotel parking lot, Korsell was sitting in the car waiting for Zhang Yifei, he glanced at his watch and nodded.

"It's about the same time as I predicted, and I didn't grind and chirp like a girl."

"I just want to grind, Ghosn is he interested in talking to me?"

"There is no best."

After saying that, Korsell started the car and drove in the direction of the hotel.

And at this moment, Zhang Yifei also put aside the distracting thoughts in his mind, and the Manikul track will become the track that will determine his future fate.