[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 210

“Um… I kind of know, but it’s something that happened before I joined Ferrari, and I’ve only heard bits and pieces here and there, so I don’t know the details…”

When I asked Leclerc what the story was between Toto Wolff and Minoto, he looked awkward. Given his demeanor as if facing something uncomfortable, it seemed there was indeed something that happened between the two.

Leclerc hesitated for a long time, wondering whether he should say this, but after much contemplation, he began to speak.

“Do you know what Toto Wolff was before he became the director at Mercedes?”

“What was he? He must have been an engineer at Mercedes.”

“No. Until then, Toto Wolff was the chief engineer at Ferrari. Exactly eight years ago when Ferrari started to decline.”

“What…? He was an engineer at Ferrari, not at Mercedes? And a chief engineer at that?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

What on earth does this mean? There’s a limit to how twisted the world can be; Toto Wolff was the chief engineer at Ferrari?

“Ah, haha…”

I couldn’t help but let out a resigned laugh at this unbelievable news.

Now, the fact that Toto Wolff, who leads Mercedes in its prime, was an engineer at Ferrari was as shocking to me as it could be.

What’s shocking is… the fact that he was part of Ferrari is shocking, and the fact that he had a deep relationship with the current Ferrari director, Minoto, since he held the title of chief engineer is also shocking.

Toto Wolff and Minoto, like gears that do not mesh, do not seem to fit together at all.

“So?”

I felt like I needed to hear more of this nonsensical story.

“So… it means that Toto Wolff and Director Minoto must know each other better than anyone else. One was once Ferrari’s chief engineer, and the other is currently the director of Ferrari.”

As Leclerc mentioned, it’s highly likely that the two were very close. Given Toto Wolff’s past position and Minoto’s current role, this is pretty much a fact. Although their timelines are different, considering the crucial positions they hold in leading Ferrari’s present and future, their relationship must have existed long before eight years ago.

Of course, judging by how they seem to throw daggers at each other now, it seems that their once close relationship has been completely severed.

And I thought that the cause of that severance was highly likely to be Toto Wolff.

“There’s usually something wrong with the one who leaves.”

Earlier, when I looked at Minoto, his gaze seemed outwardly mocking, but on closer inspection, even someone dense would have to notice the hatred beneath it.

Vengeance, perhaps… natural feelings developed as competition, but without a doubt, a deep-rooted emotion that can only arise from enduring grievances.

“Something must have happened between the two. Eight years ago…”

“And just to add… eight years ago was when I joined, and it was when Director Minoto became the head. It was also when Toto Wolff became the director at Mercedes.”

Up until eight years ago, Toto Wolff was leading Ferrari’s golden age as the chief engineer. Minoto, who was influential enough to surpass him and become Ferrari’s director.

To put it simply, Ferrari once had two talents who could have become directors…

“There can’t be two suns in the same sky.”

Although he is currently seen as the villain of Ferrari, one must admit that Toto Wolff possesses qualities befitting a director.

If Minoto leads the team with the characteristic of embracing everyone and cherishing every opinion, then Toto Wolff leads from the front with cold, extraordinary ability and charisma. This isn’t a matter of who is better; both are capable leaders, and it just depends on personal preference regarding the type of leader one favors.

“If I remember my time as Jin Hyun-woo, I would have preferred Toto Wolff.”

Even I, in the past life of Jin Hyun-woo, walked my own path without caring for my teammates. I abandoned those who fell behind, urged those who ran alongside, and praised those who were ahead. I was heartless, deciding how to treat my teammates solely based on their abilities and usefulness.

To say it kindly, I was heartless; in reality, I was nothing but trash.

“Still, I survived in F1 for several years just based on my driving skills.”

What made that possible was the overwhelming performance that didn’t dare let any complaints arise in the team despite my outrageous meritocracy. From the very beginning of my debut season, I achieved the championship for three consecutive years. Who could say anything against me?

Even the gentle Minoto never interfered with me beyond saying, “Just try to think kindly a little.”

Yeah. At one time, I thought that was the only answer on the path to the top. I thought that flaunting innate talent and skill made ascending to the peak an insignificant feat.

I made Ferrari into what it was and, even now, while achieving the rank that can be reached at Ferrari, I was demonstrating the truth of those words myself.

But…

“What on earth was at that peak I climbed…?”

At the peak, where I looked down on people and valued utility, what was really there, and what meaning did it have? I could have anything I wanted, and the world was busy praising me as the hero of Ferrari, no, F1.

Yet what I felt was always emptiness. I had everything but lost everything. I didn’t know what it meant to have no one to share with, despite having it all.

I lived drenched in terrible loneliness and sadness. It wasn’t that there was no one around, but the relationship I had with them wasn’t human; it was solely based on their abilities, which made me feel disgusted with myself. I thought the beginning and end of the relationships lay in my hands, but that was an illusion.

In the end, everything rested in their hands.

Ultimately, I gained enlightenment through my life, and while it was late, I received a miraculous second chance. Now I am living as Mr. Yooihyun. I declared to walk a completely different path from Jin Hyun-woo and abandoned him. I chose another “me,” and I vowed not to walk alone this time.

Whether that is the answer to becoming a champion or not, I wanted to live that way. Not a life measured by efficiency, but a life that could leave meaning and connections with people.

I cannot argue about what is more valuable, but at least I know what I need now.

That’s how I wanted to live.

“And Toto Wolff became the director at Mercedes only after Minoto became the director. So, I think there might have been some power struggle between them.”

“A power struggle…?”

“As you know, their tendencies are completely opposite. Toto Wolff is the type to decisively cut out what needs to be cut, while Director Minoto is the type to embrace everything.”

Just by observing how the members of Mercedes treated their director earlier, it was easy to guess how he leads his team, and it’s needless to say the same for Minoto. The talk of completely revamping F1 Ferrari was almost confirmed as it was circulating in articles, yet the team was maintained without anyone being cut, which means Minoto must have fought tooth and nail.

“Perhaps after a protracted disagreement, when it was time to elect a new director eight years ago, Ferrari must have raised the director’s hand. Knowing Director Minoto’s personality, he would have likely refused, but there is no way the chairman’s command would be revoked.”

Leclerc said this, gesturing alternately between himself and me, and cautiously continued his words.

“Just like you and me. Even if we don’t want it, power moves, and factions divide…”

“……”

The First Driver. Just like the chairman’s choice that broke the tradition of Ferrari and old customs, which might also shatter the relationship of F1 Ferrari.

“I wonder if it was the same with Director Minoto and Toto Wolff. Of course, they weren’t like us. The director likely refused the position, but given Toto Wolff’s fiery temper, he must have coveted the director position immensely.”

“Besides, he was the one who led Ferrari’s golden age as the chief engineer?”

“Exactly. The director’s position must have felt like a compensation for the achievements he had earned up to that point.”

“So he must have felt betrayed when Minoto rose as director, thinking he was betrayed after all his efforts and time spent at Ferrari.”

“I’m not sure, but based on the situation, that’s how it seems. And perhaps because of that, my honest feelings are that I can’t completely hate Toto Wolff.”

I gradually began to understand why Toto Wolff was revealing his animosity toward Ferrari so openly. At first, when it was said that he was once part of Ferrari, I wondered if there was really a need for him to act like that about the team he once belonged to. But maybe that’s why he expressed even more hostility.

The betrayal of being abandoned after giving his all. The anger and inferiority he must have felt at not being chosen compared to the weak Minoto. All that hatred must have turned into an uncontrollable surge of emotions.

As I reached this thought, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and could envision Toto Wolff standing alone at the peak.

“If Toto Wolff too…”

If that were the case, was Toto Wolff trying to walk a path similar to mine?

Was he trying to walk that lonely, desolate, and solitary road?

Knowing that at the peak he climbed, there was no one and nothing?

It has already been seven years since he reached the peak.

Perhaps he wasn’t fighting Ferrari at all. Maybe he was fighting himself…

“……”

I saw Minoto, who was slumping low and silently drinking champagne like a sinner.

A sharp pain.

I couldn’t tell if the ache in my chest was because of Minoto or Toto Wolff.