F1 development drivers, in fact, are not officially members of F1 teams. Because the test rider is already the lowest level, there is no lower.

However, getting the status of a manufacturer F1 development driver means that you are qualified to go to the team's headquarters and participate in the tasks of driving simulation and car development, which can be regarded as early access to Formula 1.

In addition, F1 development drivers can also be regarded as the team's youth drivers, once they can run in the secondary events, it will be easier to enter the selection list of F1 teams and get the opportunity to try.

It can be said that becoming an F1 development driver is equivalent to stepping into the door of F1 with one foot, not the previous layman.

To be honest, this news had a great impact on Zhang Yifei, who had never thought that he could become a development driver for the Renault team.

If his memory is correct, the historical Renault Sport Academy was not opened until 2016, much later than the driver academies of old teams such as Ferrari.

And the first Chinese driver to join the Renault Sport Academy and serve as a development driver for the F1 team will be won by the potential teenager Zhou Guanyu in 2019.

Now, 20 years earlier, I have the opportunity to become a F1 driver for Renault, and history has changed so much.

"Fly, it's definitely a great opportunity for young riders, and if I were you wouldn't think about it again."

Ghosn saw that Zhang Yifei did not reply, so he reminded him.

To know the standards of other teams' F1 driver development, they must at least win a race championship at F3 level, or even an overall championship.

But now, Ghosn has given the opportunity to Zhang Yifei, a driver who has only won the Formula Junior race, which is definitely an exceptional improvement.

If it weren't for the fact that Renault Racing and Sports Academy had just been established, they would have developed their own echelon of drivers. In addition, Zhang Yifei was recommended by Toshio Suzuki, and Nissan urgently needed to open the Chinese market to turn losses into profits.

Otherwise, Zhang Yifei would not have been able to get this place, let alone be personally received by Ghosn.

"Can you give me a day to think about it, I'm going to discuss it with my teammates."

After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Yifei gave his own reply.

Truth be told, this spot is a huge temptation for the vast majority of junior Formula drivers.

Because it is equivalent to skipping the F3 level and taking a shortcut to the field of F1.

And F1 drivers are not just a name, although they are not officially members of the F1 team, they are trained by the team in the same way.

You can also train in an F1 car or simulator, participate in the development and tuning of the car, and so on. These things are definitely a rare learning opportunity for a junior Formula driver, and they can greatly improve their driving skills.

But once he joined the Renault Athletic Academy and became their F1 development driver, Zhang Yifei was equivalent to being labeled as Renault's "reserve".

It is impossible to go from Formula Junior to copy Kimi's miracle and complete the "triple jump" into the F1 team. This is a difficult thing for Zhang Yifei, who is currently ambitious, to give up.

That's why Zhang Yifei is so hesitant, choosing to serve as a Renault F1 development driver and skip the F3 level steadily.

Or take the risk and take a chance to become an F1 driver, even if it's just a chance to test the driver.

Ghosn heard Zhang Yifei's hesitant answer, and his face was full of disappointment.

He still admired Zhang Yifei before, this little guy has a sharp spirit that a young driver should have, and his strength is also passable, and he has the talent and foundation to become a talented driver.

But with such an opportunity in front of Zhang Yifei, he chose to consider it and went back to discuss it with his teammates, which was probably the answer Ghosn was most unwilling to hear.

Even if Zhang Yifei directly refused, no matter what the reason, Ghosn admired the courage and courage of this young man. Now this kind of indecisive performance is in stark contrast to the previous sharpness, Ghosn doesn't understand what Zhang Yifei is hesitating about?

Ghosn may never have imagined that Zhang Yifei's ambition is so inflated that he does not regard the development of F1 drivers as his development goal at all.

What he wants to do is to officially join the F1 team and use his strength to become China's first professional F1 driver 20 years ahead of schedule.

If Zhang Yifei had been allowed to decide for himself, it is estimated that he would have refused directly. Because he once said that he was a gambler, and it was not in line with his gambler to become an F1 development driver and then go to F3000 Formula Racing.

But the problem is that many times people can't only think about themselves, Zhang Yifei is still behind Junko Takeda, Ukyo Yamamoto, and Ah Hu.

Their decisive refusal means that they are taking risks together, after all, the hope of becoming an F1 driver is too slim.

When the time comes, there is no turning back to become an F1 development driver, and it is another journey to climb up from F3 to an unknown distance.

Zhang Yifei is not so selfish, even if he will let Ghosn look down on him because of his hesitation, he still chooses to inform the team.

"Then you can go back and think about it first."

Ghosn said in a very indifferent tone, and then waved his hand to signal that Zhang Yifei could leave.

Zhang Yifei has nothing to say about Ghosn's change in attitude. Because in the hearts of this kind of "superior", you should take advantage of the opportunity to become a Renault F1 development driver.

Once you disobey their minds, you don't need to take into account the feelings of the lower levels, to put it mildly, if it weren't for various special circumstances and coincidences, Zhang Yifei wouldn't even be qualified to sit opposite Ghosn and talk.

Walking out of the room, Zhang Yifei's mentality was not affected much, and when he returned to the lounge, Cosell was leisurely reading the newspaper, not showing any worry and nervousness because of Zhang Yifei's departure.

Looking at his leisurely posture, Zhang Yifei said angrily: "Cosell, you are also my race engineer, so you don't worry about what happens to me when I go out, and I won't go back?" ”

"Renault is a car manufacturer, not a gangster, and won't do anything to you."

After finishing speaking, Korsell put down the newspaper in his hand, looked at Zhang Yifei and said, "Say, what did Ghosn talk to you about." ”

"Renault bought the Benetton team, but also set up its own driver academy and also trained reserve drivers."

"Ghosn wanted me to join the Renault Sport Academy and be a driver for their F1 team."

Zhang Yifei explained what happened in a few short sentences, and Cosell replied casually after hearing it: "You refused?" ”

"Why do you think that, instead of thinking I said yes?"

Zhang Yifei asked curiously, the old German man guessed accurately, if it weren't for the team, he would have refused.

"Because you have big ambitions and don't settle for a development driver."

"You know me so well."

Zhang Yifei replied with a smile, indeed he felt that his ambition was getting bigger and bigger.

At the beginning, being able to get on the podium of Renault once was the biggest goal of Zhang Yifei to participate in the Renault event.

As a result, now, even the F1 development drivers are not satisfied, and they are really floating.

Korsell also smiled, Zhang Yifei was definitely the least Chinese he had ever seen that was not like Chinese.

From the beginning, he was a pure newcomer, who dared to advance the championship and play white strips to make himself his game engineer, which has shown his different character.

Later, he rejected the invitation of the Adenauer team, and for the first time, Zhang Yifei's ambition was directly exposed. So it's no surprise that today he would turn down Ghosn's offer to develop a driver.

Of course, there is also a credit to Kossel for this change, after all, when the Adenauer team invited him, he first expressed his refusal.

"I wanted to say no, but considering Ukyo's expectations and wanting to see my success as soon as possible, I told Ghosn to give me a day to think about it."

"There's no need to discuss it with Youjing, and after today's party, you can directly refuse to Ghosn face to face."

"What?"

Zhang Yifei wondered if he had heard it wrong, Korcel actually gave him such a sentence, did he help him make a decision with Youjing?

"Because of your hesitation, it has ruined Ghosn's impression of you, he is a very strong president, even if he agrees to be a development driver, and the Renault F1 team will not give priority to you in the future."

Domineering president?

Zhang Yifei suddenly came up with this word in his mind, but think about it, after Ghosn became the CEO of Nissan, it took only two years to make Nissan turn a profit.

And in 2005, Ghosn was promoted to CEO of Renault Group, becoming a rare double CEO. And it is not a small company that is in control, but a world-class automobile giant manufacturer such as Renault and Nissan.

It can also be seen from the resume that he does have a strong personality and a tough wrist, and Zhang Yifei's hesitation has cut off his chance.

"That's good, otherwise I'm really worried that Youkyo will persuade me to agree, and I'll be in a dilemma when the time comes."

Zhang Yifei is relieved, Yamamoto Ukyo is different from himself and Koser, he is a typical Japanese conservative. Obeying authority and following the rules may really persuade you to agree to Ghosn's invitation.

It is estimated that Junko Takeda doesn't want to take too much risk, if the two of them join forces and agree, Zhang Yifei will be in a dilemma.

After all, he can get to this point, and Junko Takeda and Ukyo Yamamoto have half of the credit.

"Now that you have your own goals, go to the end."

After Cosell finished speaking, he glanced at the time on his watch and continued to Zhang Yifei: "There is still about half an hour, that is, when the Renault party begins, with the current influence of Formula Renault, and today it was officially announced that the Renault F1 team will return to the paddock, so basically all the senior executives of the F1 team will be present at night." ”

"When the time comes, I will find a way to introduce you to a few teams, and it is up to you whether you can seize this opportunity."