How Did I Become an F1 Driver?

Chapter 1330: Chapter 501: Changes at Home (6K, Extra Update 3/14)_2

Qin Miao nodded.

After all, being a world champion, one must have a grand entrance.

This year, the FIA arranged for Qin Miao to make his entrance by walking out with his race car from backstage.

So Qin Miao got up and went backstage.

Where he saw his W13B.

Of course, this is the real car itself, the one Qin Miao was driving on the track just weeks ago, transported from the Brackley Factory this afternoon, and his chief technician Reyes is guarding it right now.

After all, it is a genuine Mercedes car, so they must guard against other teams coming to survey the car’s data, as well as some guests attending the party.

Qin Miao approached and shook hands with Reyes, and just after their hands met, Qin Miao instinctively wanted to pull Reyes in for a hug.

This is a habit Qin Miao has developed over three years in the paddock.

But Reyes stopped him.

"You have to go on stage later, we might wrinkle your clothes if we hug, and it wouldn’t look good. A world champion must go receive their trophy in the best condition. This trophy is a part of us too, you being glorious gives us face as well."

Upon hearing this, Qin Miao altered his handshake, shaking hands solemnly and saying, "Since you say so, let’s skip it. But I want to thank everyone for their support throughout the year, giving me a car free of mechanical failures."

Reyes was amused by Qin Miao’s serious demeanor.

He patted Qin Miao’s hand: "As the backstage team, we only need to perform our job well. You have a lot more to think about on the track."

Qin Miao’s mouth twitched slightly.

At this moment, the FIA official overseeing the award ceremony started signaling to Qin Miao to go on stage.

Five people responsible for pushing the car approached his race car, ready to go.

As this is an evening event, the FIA wouldn’t allow Qin Miao to drive the car on stage. Though today’s F1 cars use V6 engines, which are less appealing in sound compared to V8 and V12 engines, the noise when starting is just as loud as those.

Thus, the FIA chose to have the car pushed onto the stage by manpower.

As Horner descended after receiving this year’s Constructors’ Championship trophy, Qin Miao, dressed in a suit, walked out from backstage, smiling warmly and waving at the audience greeting him.

Behind him, his racing beast followed, like a slumbering giant.

The champion driver and champion car arrived in the center of the stage.

Standing there, Qin Miao shook hands with the two hosts, followed by gentle hugs with Ben Sulayem and Domenicali.

By now Qin Miao’s car had also settled in the stage’s center.

Just like last year, there was a 360-degree rotating platform at the stage’s center, so after the car was positioned, it turned a complete 360-degree under motor control.

Once the platform halted, Qin Miao stood by his race car, Ben Sulayem personally handed him the familiar Drivers’ Championship trophy.

The tactile feel was as gratifying as ever.

Qin Miao took the trophy, shook hands with Ben Sulayem, and then lowered his head to carefully examine the trophy.

He found his signature in its usual spot, and behind it, one more signature of his, the two signatures now connected.

In front of his two signatures were plenty of his teammate Hamilton’s signatures.

He merely glanced over these, focusing mainly on his own two signatures.

Having seen what he wanted, Qin Miao withdrew his gaze from the trophy and raised the trophy high above towards the audience.

The venue erupted in thunderous applause for the double champion.

The interviewer responsible for Qin Miao today was Ben Sulayem.

The connection between them was recognized but not frequently engaged.

Ben Sulayem, as the FIA’s president, undoubtedly has more to manage than just F1, including WRC, endurance races, FE, etc.

Thus, his time in the F1 paddock is inevitably limited.

Yet, he often conducts drivers’ meetings before races, making him rather familiar to Qin Miao.

Comparatively, Ben Sulayem and Qin Miao’s relationship is akin to knowing but not frequently talking with a classmate from school days.

"Qin Miao, you deserve this championship trophy; you and your team deserve it!" Ben Sulayem said while handing over the trophy to Qin Miao.

Receiving the microphone handed over by Ben Sulayem, Qin Miao said, "This year has been challenging. Our performance wasn’t ideal as we transitioned into the ground effect era. There was a time when my team and I thought we had lost the chance to contend for the championship with the team, but as I’m sure everyone saw, with unified perseverance and effort, the team advanced from behind, regaining our usual competitiveness by mid-season. I truly appreciate all the efforts and sweat everyone in the team has put forth this year."

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