[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 111
“Before you go, it would be good to check the values we’ve set.”
Automated manual. After finishing the conversation about the harem-style suspension, Enrique tried to hold onto me and Leclerc as I was about to leave, seeking advice on automation technology.
Most of the discussions were about priorities rather than technical aspects. What variables should be considered first in a given situation, or which ones should be discarded.
I thought our conversation would be brief, but as it gradually expanded beyond objective variables to touch upon the psychological aspects of the drivers, it seemed it would go on indefinitely.
We brought in chairs in an urgent manner since there was no suitable location, but it became clear that the screen was too small for four people, necessitating a move to a discussion room.
This was because the technology Enrique is developing is an “intelligent” automation system. While thinking and judging for oneself is something a human should naturally do, creating that is an entirely different matter.
It’s like giving a heart to a machine without one.
Ah, creation is perhaps an inviolable realm that humanity can never reach! This realization came close to the truth.
As the endless argument disguised as discussion became meaningless, I dismissed it.
“Um… wouldn’t it be better to proceed with development without the psychological variables for now? It would be nice to have, but we lack the technical skills for it… Moreover, I feel like we’re going to run out of time.”
Yes, the lack of time. What Ferrari is missing is not money or people, but time. Time is equitable to everyone, regardless of how much money one has.
Ferrari needed to use time wisely.
Realizing there was no progress in the conversation, Enrique agreed with me.
“That sounds good. Given that the objective figures have not yet been organized, it seems like it would be too tight on time to consider psychological factors. For now, let’s rearrange the priorities based on the drivers’ advice…”
“No, why not? We can do it!”
Just as the discussion was about to conclude productively, the young intern—no, Won-jin— reignited the dying flames of the debate.
“The team leader can handle the existing processes, and if I organize the psychological factors separately with Lee Hyun and Leclerc as advisors, it’ll be fine. I’ve done a lot of statistics at For One, so I can do it well.”
With a tone as if asking why we were giving up without even trying. But he completely missed the point.
Of course it could be done. It’s not that I doubted the ability of someone like Enrique, who has led this design despite being a rookie, or Won-jin, who came up with the hybrid suspension in less than a day. It’s just that we can’t find the time, which is an absolute necessity for technological development.
Although a great person can shorten time, they cannot create it.
“It’s not that we are giving up because we lack the ability; it’s that we don’t have enough time.”
“But…!”
“You know you haven’t even touched the engine yet, right? Ferrari has more than just this project. There’s aerodynamic work like air ducts and wing designs, and the most critical engine. There are dozens of problems that need to be solved.”
Right now, the focus of the conversation was on the suspension, so we were only discussing the suspension. How many projects do you think there are in Ferrari, which has hundreds of employees?
Enrique and Won-jin are not the only ones fighting for their lives in research. There are likely significant projects happening somewhere in the lab that even I do not know about.
Such high-level talents must be utilized efficiently in various ways. Therefore, it is self-evident that we have to avoid tying them down in one place for too long.
In short, it’s about maximizing efficiency with minimal usage. Sucking honey from one flower with a straw and flying to another.
And one more crucial point remains.
“And while it might not have been so at For One, this is a team. A team where everyone must move together with one heart and one mind.”
Even if there are differences in the engineers’ skills, the common desire to create a race car that will win the championship binds everyone together. To achieve that, cooperation must be prioritized.
I shared with Won-jin the truth of team sports that I had learned from my many years in F1.
“You’ll be needed more in the future. You might even be needed right now… the hybrid suspension. You designed it, right? You know what I mean?”
“Yes… I understand.”
Like the hybrid suspension designed by Won-jin, which fills the shortcomings of both humans and machines within a team, the team also approaches perfection by filling each other’s lacking areas.
When I presented that example, Won-jin finally nodded.
“… I haven’t given up! Once we finish the engine and other things, I’ll definitely do it again.”
“Sure. At that time, I, along with Leclerc, will cooperate.”
Seemingly eager to finish the project quickly, Won-jin returned to his seat and immediately began working.
Putting aside personal ambition and sacrificing for the team.
Unbeknownst to him, Won-jin was becoming a part of Ferrari.
“Okay, shall we also move on?”
If the young intern was working hard like that, I couldn’t just hang around doing nothing.
Leclerc and I stepped heavily toward the lab divided into dozens of sections by partitions.
There were numerous places to explore.
*
*
*
An talent development program jointly operated by the Seoul branch of Korea and F1.
Having obtained a senior engineer certification and passed the application for Ferrari, Jihyun Lee immediately packed her pre-prepared luggage upon hearing the news and headed for Incheon Airport with her parents.
“Mom, Dad. I’m off.”
Handing over two suitcases nearly her own size, Jihyun said goodbye to her parents before entering the boarding gate.
Even though she would have to be away for at least a year, her voice was filled with anticipation and excitement.
“Have a good trip, our beloved daughter. Please send my greetings to Hyun.”
“Sure. If you need anything, call me. Even if you don’t need anything, call me, okay, Jihyun?”
In contrast to the excited Jihyun, her parents tried hard to smile at her despite shedding tears of parting.
Is it a truth that the more you try not to cry, the more tears you have?
Once the wailing had begun, it showed no sign of stopping.
“Oh dear. Is my daughter going to d*e? What’s so sad about meeting friends and doing what you want? Both of you, please stop crying.”
In fact, the one leaving, Jihyun, was fine, but her mom and dad were the real trouble.
Jihyun hugged them and patted them on the back, finishing her last goodbyes before entering the boarding area. Although it wasn’t easy to leave her crying parents behind, she knew that when it was time to go, it was time to go.
Entering the boarding area without looking back, the dutiful daughter Jihyun quickly forgot the slight guilt she had moments ago and murmured as she looked at her plane ticket.
“19, 19, where is gate 19…”
Jihyun hurriedly moved to find the boarding gate for Italy, where Ferrari’s headquarters and her best friend Yooihyun was located.
There was plenty of time before departure, but perhaps due to her anxious heart, she wasn’t even noticing the duty-free shops and other things.
Despite having enough time, the gate was quite crowded. Most of the people were middle-aged, and occasionally, younger individuals could be seen seated, trying to catch up on sleep.
Perhaps they lacked the energy to shop or were simply feeling too lazy.
Jihyun moved to find an available seat. Fortunately, one seat remained. It was next to a middle-aged woman wearing a black fedora, and Jihyun thought she understood why the seat was empty.
Even with half of her face covered, the strange charisma radiating from the gap made it hard to approach her. Perhaps that’s why her side had remained vacant for a while.
However, in her current state of oblivion—where she wasn’t even aware of her parents—such factors didn’t register with Jihyun.
She quickly sat beside her and turned her backpack around, checking various documents.
Passport, senior engineer certification, application for the talent development program, acceptance notification from Ferrari, and so forth.
“Ah… I’ve got everything.”
Despite knowing she had double-checked multiple times and left nothing out, the anxiety of having it in her bag persisted.
Only after visually checking the documents once more could Jihyun let out a sigh of relief.
As she was neatly organizing the documents, she instinctively placed the Ferrari acceptance notice on top.
“Wow… this feels so good.”
She remembered how overjoyed she was when she received the notice from her advisor. Her best friend Yooihyun was a driver at Ferrari. Even apart from that, the fact that she would learn at Ferrari at her age, despite being just a trainee, was a huge deal.
Just seeing the notice made her heart flutter. It felt like her future ahead was going to be endlessly positive.
Setting off on a heart-racing adventure, facing obstacles and hardships, and ultimately winning a bright future!
“I have to make a champion and win the constructor’s championship as well.”
While Jihyun was chuckling at the happy thought of achieving both the championship and the constructor’s victory, someone spoke to her.
“Hehe… that won’t be easy, student.”
At the voice of the middle-aged woman that carried a sense of experience, Jihyun turned her head toward the source of the sound. The voice owner was that middle-aged woman wearing the black fedora.
“Uh, who are you to…”
She was about to snap back at someone interfering with her dream… but she couldn’t.
It felt inappropriate to do so.
“Oh, I’m sorry. If that sounded unpleasant, I apologize. Should I call you student or future junior?”
“Uh, um…”
The middle-aged woman slightly lifted her fedora and exchanged a nod, someone whose face every engineer would know.
The one and only engineer known as a meister. A master who led Ferrari’s golden era along with Shumi.
Shin Juhyun.