How Did I Become an F1 Driver?

Chapter 1349: Chapter 508: Beginning Contract Negotiations

As the month quickly drew to a close, Qin Miao was preparing to return to Europe to get ready for the 23-season.

Regarding work, Qin Miao’s contract with Mercedes was set to expire at the end of the year, which meant that before his contract was officially finalized, almost every team, whether or not they had a driver vacancy, would have staff responsible for driver contracts reach out to him. Alternatively, team leaders or bosses would personally message Qin Miao to inquire if he had any intention to switch teams, and he could propose any conditions.

As long as you come!

He’s going to be busy!

Qin Miao stayed home until early February before returning to Europe.

After returning to Europe, Qin Miao hung out with Leclerc and the others. This time, Norris didn’t come. It was just Leclerc, Qin Miao, Piastri, and Leclerc’s brother Arthur.

The four of them didn’t talk about work stuff, just normal friend chit-chat and jokes.

After resting in Monaco for two days, Qin Miao returned to his home in Brackley, UK.

At this time, most of the staff at Mercedes had returned to their original posts.

The team’s research and development department had started their work, preparing for the new season’s car tests.

Meanwhile, the design of the new season’s car, W14, was nearing completion, with final finishing touches underway.

The engine department was also finalizing the engine adaptation, with everything organized and waiting for the final tests.

It was Qin Miao’s first day back at work in Brackley.

Qin Miao wanted to train with the team’s simulators and get a feel for them.

In a few days, he planned to drive the W11 at Silverstone for some fun.

Although he had played around a bit with Zhou Guanyu back home, the driving feel and G-force of the 488GTB were not as extreme as an F1 car.

And the W11 was famously a track car, so getting some thrills while finding the feel was perfectly fine for Qin Miao.

But Qin Miao hadn’t finished work yet, still testing the new W14 on the simulator, when Toto called him.

"Hello, boss, what’s up?"

"Qin Miao, come over for dinner at my place tonight. Suzy’s already preparing the meal."

"Today?"

"Do you have plans after work?"

Qin Miao couldn’t exactly say he had plans to play COD with Leclerc after work, right?

So Qin Miao just nodded and agreed, "Okay, should I go directly, or wait for you?"

"You go ahead."

...

After hanging up, Qin Miao scratched his head.

Is this what they mean by being close to the big tree to enjoy the shade?

Qin Miao knew precisely why Toto made this call, undoubtedly about his contract.

You could say the closer the contract deadline came, the more anxious Toto became.

And at this point, Qin Miao indeed had no further excuses to dodge Toto.

Plus, since his contract was ending this year, it was time to enter new contract negotiations.

But these matters are just business operations and don’t really concern Qin Miao. He’s not very savvy about them.

When it came to his new contract, Qin Miao’s request was quite simple.

He wouldn’t participate in any team sponsor activities or commercial events, whether or not he was paid for them. If he didn’t want to participate, he couldn’t be forced.

To other drivers, Qin Miao’s request seemed like a fantasy.

Anyone seeing this contract clause would slowly type a question mark and ask, "Dude, how do you dare?"

Qin Miao’s contract clause was essentially him rubbing his commercial value into the ground.

You’re not going to attend these events, so how are you going to monetize your commercial value? You really are just here to race, aren’t you!

But this truly reflected Qin Miao’s most genuine inner portrayal.

Compared to making money, Qin Miao genuinely preferred a comfortable, more liberating life in the paddock, because money is endless.

After all, Qin Miao knew that as long as he didn’t squander money recklessly, just the earnings during these past couple of years in the paddock could ensure a lifetime of economic security for him and even his descendants and their descendants as well.

Thus, his desire and demand for money significantly decreased.

That evening, Qin Miao naturally went to Toto’s house, meeting Toto’s wife Suzy and, of course, Toto’s children.

After a happy meal, Qin Miao went with Toto to his study, as Toto clumsily tried to brew tea for Qin Miao while discussing the contract matter.

Knowing he couldn’t avoid it, Qin Miao agreed to Toto’s request and directly called his agency in front of Toto to kick off the contract negotiation process with Mercedes.

After Qin Miao did all this, Toto’s smile blossomed directly, as vivid as flowers.

Simultaneously, Qin Miao also let his agency release the news that he had officially started contract negotiations, urging anyone interested to act quickly.

Because in some ways, drivers are like commodities, and indeed it’s necessary to shop around.

In the days that followed, Qin Miao’s life became more regular.

Regular training, starting to test the simulator data for the new car W14 in the team.

And getting to know more about other teams that had reached out to him.

Among these teams, Ferrari showed the most sincerity.

They essentially agreed to all conditions Qin Miao proposed.

Isn’t it just another Kimi? Ferrari has the heritage, we have the experience, just come and join us!

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