How did I become an F1 driver?

Qin Miao was not in a hurry, because after a while, the security guards hired by the organizers of the Monaco Grand Prix drove away the reporters and escorted Qin Miao into the paddock.

After entering the paddock, Qin Miao and Barber both breathed a sigh of relief.

"These tabloid reporters are really crazy."

Qin Miao also wiped the sweat from his forehead: "It's really a bit unexpected."

"The impact of this sudden announcement is really too great. We can't help it. I guess it will take a few more games for the heat to die down." Looking at the time, Barber said, "It's almost time. Let's go to the press conference. I'm sure the reporters in the paddock can't wait any longer."

Qin Miao sighed. Before the news was released, Qin Miao had already guessed that he would not have an easy time this Grand Prix weekend. However, it turned out that Qin Miao seemed to have thought too simply.

After tidying up his clothes, Qin Miao nodded: "Okay, I'll go over and take a look first."

Soon, Qin Miao went to the interview location of the press conference.

After all, Monaco is not like other circuits. Without much space, this week's pre-race press conference interview took place opposite the team's P room, in a conference room on the second floor of a hotel.

When Qin Miao arrived, other drivers had already arrived, namely Russell, Zhou Guanyu, Gasly and Kakuta.

They are all colleagues, and when they saw Qin Miao coming, they all greeted him with a smile.

Zhou Guanyu came up and gave Qin Miao a hug. "I was planning to go to your house for a meal before the game on Tuesday afternoon. When I arrived downstairs, it was crowded with fans wearing Mercedes team uniforms. I also saw Ferrari fans in the distance."

Qin Miao shook his head helplessly: "I've thought about it recently. I have to find a chance to sell that house. I can't live here anymore."

Zhou Guanyu also nodded: "You should really consider selling it. You should be more careful. By the way, how much is your house worth now?"

Qin Miao thought for a moment and said, "When I first bought this house, it seemed to be 800 million US dollars, and the renovation cost more than 30 US dollars. In addition, the house price has increased again recently. It should be close to 1000 million now, right? To be honest, I'm not sure."

Zhou Guanyu didn’t think the price of Qin Miao’s house was outrageous. After all, this was Monaco, where every inch of land was worth a lot of money.

Even if the person who wants to buy Qin Miao's house is a fan of Qin Miao's cars, the price of the house will be even higher.

"Actually, I don't want to move either. It's too troublesome." Qin Miao spread his hands. "On the other hand, the interior decoration of this house was designed by Qiu Meng, and I have a lot of memories here. It feels a bit of a pity to sell it."

Zhou Guanyu glanced at Qin Miao and said, "Who can you blame for this? It's just your own carelessness."

Qin Miao knew it was his own fault, but he still said stubbornly: "I don't believe you can resist the urge to go and see someone driving an excavator downstairs."

Zhou Guanyu was silent.

This, it seems to attract a little bit of attention...

After a brief chat with Zhou Guanyu, Qin Miao chatted with the other three drivers.

Of course, the topic naturally revolved around Qin Miao. After all, the news that a two-time world champion suddenly joined Ferrari was indeed explosive and sudden.

More than ten minutes later, the host came backstage to inform the drivers: "Okay, gentlemen, the pre-race press conference is about to begin. Are you ready?"

Several drivers who were chatting in groups of three or four said that they were ready.

When the time came, the drivers went to the interview location under the guidance of the host.

It is worth mentioning that there are many more reporters present at the scene today than in the past, and it is obvious that these people are here for Qin Miao.

After all, this Grand Prix weekend, Qin Miao was the only one making a big noise in the paddock.

As soon as Qin Miao entered the recording site, the reporters and photographers on the scene turned on all the equipment in their hands.

After the five drivers sat down in a chair arranged in advance, today's pre-race press conference began.

In fact, normally, reporters ask questions from left to right to the drivers sitting in the interview seat.

But today was obviously different. Although Qin Miao was sitting in the middle seat, the first question the Sky Sports reporter asked after picking up the microphone was to Qin Miao.

"Qin Miao, would you mind talking to us about where you're going next season? After all, as you know, this matter has caused a lot of controversy in the paddock, and no one has been able to get a clear response from you yet."

Although the Sky Sports reporters asked the same questions as the tabloid reporters outside the paddock, it was obvious that the questions asked by the Sky Sports reporters sounded much more pleasant than those asked by the tabloid reporters outside.

Qin Miao looked at the other drivers and saw that they had no objections. They were even looking at him curiously. Qin Miao then picked up the microphone next to his seat and put it to his mouth.

"I have spent two years at Mercedes, and this year is my third year. To be honest, I am very grateful to Toto for giving me the opportunity to join Mercedes. Since then, Mercedes has become a part of my life. I have worked and raced with my colleagues at Mercedes, leaving many good memories. It is also here that I won two world championships. So it is undeniable that leaving Mercedes is a very difficult decision, but I think now is the time for me to take this step.

I will always be grateful to Mercedes for its support and dedication to me over the years, especially to Toto for discovering and training me. I think we can bring our cooperation with Mercedes to a successful conclusion this season.

We will focus on the 2024 race and bring you a great season.

As for Ferrari... It is undeniable that there have been some not very pleasant memories between Ferrari and me, but these are already in the past tense, and people have to learn to look forward.

Ferrari showed me their sincerity, and my contract with Mercedes-Benz expires this year." Qin Miao paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Just like Vettel said, everyone is a Ferrari fan, even if they say they are not, they are still Ferrari fans.

So I am very happy that, as a Ferrari fan, I have the opportunity to return to Maranello and drive for the team that I have loved since I was a child."

After answering this question, another reporter asked: "Qin Miao, you will be teammates with Leclerc next season. We all know that you and Charles have a good relationship in private. Will becoming teammates affect your friendship?"

"No, I talked about this issue with Charles a few days ago when we were having dinner together. In the end, we both agreed that the racetrack is the racetrack, and life is life. As professional drivers, we should keep the two things separate."

However, Qin Miao saw that the next reporter still wanted to catch him to ask questions, so Qin Miao picked up the microphone and interrupted the next reporter's spell.

"Okay, journalist friends, this is the pre-race press conference, not my press conference with Ferrari, so please leave some shots and questions to other drivers."

After hearing what Qin Miao said, almost all the reporters looked at Qin Miao with some resentment. Don't they know that this is a pre-race press conference? Don't they know that all drivers should be treated equally at this time?
But the key point is that you, a birdman, didn’t even hold a press conference to let us ask questions about such a big thing, and you were completely nowhere to be seen during the period before the game week.

I couldn't even catch him for an interview.

If I want to ask you a few questions, isn't the only way to do it the pre-match press conference?

But since Qin Miao had already said this, the reporters couldn't keep asking Qin Miao questions, so they also asked a lot of questions to other drivers.

Of course, any driver who has a good relationship with Qin Miao will be asked by reporters what they think about Qin Miao going to Ferrari.

For example, Zhou Guanyu.

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

Zhou Guanyu glanced at Qin Miao, then shook his head and said, "No, let me correct you. Ever since Qin Miao didn't tell me about this in advance, he and I have severed our relationship. Now we are just ordinary colleagues."

Qin Miao crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

The other drivers were also happy.

After making a harmless little joke, Zhou Guanyu returned to normal and said directly: "With Qin Miao's ability, his going to Ferrari is a two-way rush. I hope everything goes well for him after he goes to Ferrari.

As for my opinion, I am looking forward to Qin Miao's eye-catching performance at Ferrari. Maybe after he goes to Ferrari, he can really help Ferrari bring back the long-lost driver's championship?
After all, you all know that I have always believed in Qin Miao's ability."

……

Before the pre-match press conference ended, reporters at the scene still caught Qin Miao and asked him a lot of questions.

Qin Miao accepted everyone who came and practiced Tai Chi with them.

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

The reporters were a little reluctant to leave, after all, Qin Miao's sudden transfer to Ferrari had generated so much buzz that it was impossible to digest it all in such a short period of time.

When leaving the interview area, Zhou Guanyu came over.

Although Zhou Guanyu clearly expressed during the interview that he was looking forward to Qin Miao's performance in Ferrari, to be honest, that was just what he said during the interview. In fact, Zhou Guanyu was still a little worried about Qin Miao.

"Given Ferrari's form this season, are you not afraid that you will lose your competitiveness in the championship if you go to Ferrari?"

Qin Miao glanced at the R&D capability bonus for his team in his system.

To be honest, with Ferrari's foundation, as long as I stay there for two years, Ferrari will definitely buy me a Mars rover.

At least it's a rover that's 0.3 seconds faster per lap.

But Qin Miao couldn't say it clearly, so Qin Miao thought about it and said: "I believe in Wasser, he still has something.

Besides, you have been with Vassell much longer than I have, so you should know Vassell's abilities better than I do, right? "

"I don't deny Vasseur's leadership, but you have to remember that this is Ferrari.

Ferrari has many problems that cannot be completely reversed by a capable leader."

Qin Miao scratched his face and said directly: "At least, Ferrari treats me well. I just need to perform better than the second driver on the track, right?"

Zhou Guanyu's mouth twitched after hearing Qin Miao's words. You haven't even gone to Ferrari yet, and you've already labeled Leclerc as the No. 2 driver?
I just don’t know what Leclerc will think when he knows about this.

The two chatted as they returned to the paddock.

After all, today is not an official race day, so there are few fans in the paddock.

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

This is the first time Qin Miao has returned to the Mercedes team's P room after the news that Qin Miao will leave Mercedes next season was made public.

But unlike what Qin Miao expected, everyone did not show much emotional fluctuation after seeing Qin Miao.

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

Of course, those of them who were temporarily free would stop to talk to Qin Miao about his ideas, and be curious about what conditions Ferrari offered, but Qin Miao did not find anyone who seemed overly regretful or reluctant to leave.

Qin Miao was indeed puzzled at the time, but when Qin Miao returned to the team's home and met Hamilton in the lounge and talked about this with him, the old man smiled and patted Qin Miao on the shoulder and said, "It's nothing, it's not like we'll never see each other again. We all work in the same paddock. It's possible that you just announced your departure from Mercedes this season, and you'll meet your Mercedes crew members at Ferrari next season. After all, the mobility of team technicians is quite high, and for them, the constant replacement of drivers is also a very common thing.

Don't think they have no feelings for you, they are just used to it."

Qin Miao shook his head. "Although what you said makes sense, it's still a little too counterintuitive for me. But that's good. It saves me from having to explain it to everyone. Almost everyone has been asking me about Ferrari lately, and I'm a little overwhelmed."

Hamilton laughed and said: "It is inevitable. If the driver who went to Ferrari was not you but me, I believe you would grab me and ask questions about this after seeing me."

Qin Miao scratched his face: "I shouldn't be so ignorant."

Hamilton shrugged, but gave Qin Miao a smile that showed you understand.

After a brief chat with Hamilton, Barber walked to the second floor of the team house and said to Qin Miao: "Qin Miao, the scooter is fully charged, and we can go to the track."

After nodding to Barber, Qin Miao looked at the old man and said, "Lewis, I'm going to the track. See you later."

ps. Dads, monthly votes! (End of this chapter)