Red. A magnificent, sprawling, endless ocean of red completely saturated every single corner of their vision. It surged out from the ground level, stretched out to the absolute limits of the horizon, and seemed to bleed directly up into the sky.
The entirety of the Shanghai International Circuit was swallowed whole. The crowd violently broke free from their designated grandstands, pouring out over the barricades and completely swamping the podium area from every conceivable angle. A blinding, spectacular waterfall of scarlet cascaded downward.
It was vivid, deafening, and violently alive. It effortlessly resurrected the iconic memories of Monza. Here, on the complete opposite side of the Eurasian continent, that exact same legendary sea of red had been miraculously reborn.
And it wasn't just limited to the circuit. The entire city of Shanghai had been sucked into the hurricane.
Out on the streets, people could be seen suddenly bursting out of doors. In bars, in coffee shops, in residential apartments, and in massive corporate towers. Across vastly different locations, individuals wearing red Number 22 Ferrari shirts suddenly lost their battle with their boiling adrenaline. They clenched their fists, leaped into the air, and roared with pure passion.
A second later, reality set in. It was incredibly awkward.
There was absolutely no response. They stood there completely alone. The pedestrians passing by had absolutely no idea what had just happened. They shot them weird, confused glances, looking at them as if they had suddenly lost their minds.
But mostly... they were simply ignored. The city kept moving, kept bustling. No one even bothered to spare them a second glance. Absolutely no one cared about what had just occurred.
Ultimately, Formula 1 was not the World Cup. At least, not yet in mainland China.
Who realistically spent their Sunday afternoons watching motorsport? And even if they did, they were usually sitting alone in their living rooms. It lacked the massive, communal viewing culture of football or basketball. Trying to spontaneously find a random stranger on the street to high-five and celebrate with at this exact moment was practically impossible.
Everyone understood this reality, but the sheer, overwhelming joy of witnessing the victory had temporarily completely vaporized their logic, leading them to do something incredibly embarrassing.
So, what now?
Just as they were about to die of embarrassment, a response finally arrived.
"KAI AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
It was just a single, echoed response, but it was more than enough to instantly ignite their boiling blood. Even if it was only two people, it was enough. Despite being total strangers, they could viscerally feel the shared joy. Across the street, from an open window in an apartment building, or from a pedestrian who had been rushing by while glued to the live stream on their phone... they broke into massive smiles and joined the cheering.
Motorsport was still undeniably a niche interest in mainland China. That was an indisputable fact.
But the tectonic plates were slowly shifting. From the explosive World Championship victory last season, to the massive, viral Fan Festival earlier this week. Each successive event had shattered boundaries and generated massive mainstream heat. And now, as Kai finally secured the ultimate victory at the Shanghai Grand Prix, all that accumulated, dormant passion was completely, violently detonated.
And then, bit by bit, like single sparks catching in dry grass, it began to spread through the streets and alleys of the massive metropolis.
A rolling, boiling heat wave converged from every corner of the globe. Even if they were physically standing alone in the real world, those tiny television and computer screens successfully gathered people from vastly different time zones and cities, binding them tightly together, allowing them to walk side-by-side.
A single spark, gathering the terrifying momentum required to ignite a massive prairie fire.
All of it converged directly above the Shanghai circuit. It violently tore apart the heavy, overcast clouds, allowing the golden sunlight to finally break through. That brilliant sunlight seemed to be dyed a brilliant, spectacular shade of scarlet as it cascaded down upon the track.
"...An unbelievably grueling, hard-fought race! An absolutely incomprehensible, spectacular display! A race that undeniably deserves to be immortalized in the history books!"
"Ferrari, a team that has faced massive, severe challenges ever since Free Practice on Friday, managed to formulate an audaciously bold strategy in the face of massive adversity. With phenomenal courage and absolute decisiveness, they executed a flawless strategic layout. They placed the entire, crushing weight of that strategy squarely onto the shoulders of their two young drivers, maintaining absolute faith in their abilities and their sheer willpower."
"And exactly as expected, they did not betray that immense trust. The flawless, impeccable cooperation between Kai and Leclerc violently overturned the board, carving a microscopic sliver of possibility out of an impossible scenario."
"We are witnessing a genuine miracle!"
As she spoke, Shi Yiying genuinely hadn't anticipated her own reaction. Hot tears welled up in her eyes. Before she could even attempt to wipe them away, they broke containment, leaving burning trails down her cheeks.
However, her slightly trembling voice remained filled with overwhelming, roaring passion. She absolutely refused to stop here.
Today wasn't just a monumental day for her. For every single person in mainland China who truly loved motorsport, who supported it, who followed it, and who actively dedicated their lives to promoting it... this was an unforgettable, historic day.
They had finally, violently kicked down the door!
"After an agonizing wait spanning one thousand Grand Prix! After the relentless, unyielding efforts of generation after generation of drivers... we have finally witnessed this historic, monumental moment!"
"For the very first time in history, a Chinese driver has claimed the ultimate victory at their home race, the Shanghai Grand Prix!"
"The nineteen-year-old phenom from Shanghai, Kai, has authored a new chapter in history! Returning to his hometown as the reigning World Champion, stepping onto the stage of the Shanghai International Circuit once again."
"Last season, Kai was agonizingly, heartbreakingly close to this exact victory. It was right there at his fingertips, only to slip away at the very last second, leaving countless fans violently beating their chests in frustration. However, destiny clearly had its own grand design. Last year's bitter regret was merely a required pause at the crossroads of a new era. Now, at the monumentally significant 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix, he has finally achieved this spectacular breakthrough, pulling off an absolute miracle amidst a massively difficult race."
"At this exact time. At this exact moment."
"Language is simply too pale, too inadequate. Let us bear witness together—"
Her tear-choked voice was instantly drowned out by the earth-shattering, tsunami-like roar of the crowd. Kai, having completed the mandatory post-race procedures and donned the official Ferrari cap, stepped back out onto the stage.
Down in the crushing crowd, a single figure was jumping and cheering wildly, frantically waving his arms, desperately trying to catch Kai's attention.
He succeeded.
"Doctor!"
Kai immediately broke into a light jog, rushing toward him. It wasn't just Song Bo. Lu Cheng, Zhang Qiaomu, and the rest of the original crew were all there. Not a single one was missing. They instantly swarmed him, locking him in a massive, tight circle.
Song Bo completely forgot himself, violently slapping Kai on the shoulders. "Boss! BOSS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He was practically overflowing with hot-blooded passion, completely unable to articulate it. He just wanted to tear his chest open and hand his entire heart directly to Kai.
This specific race... it had been too agonizingly difficult. It was vastly more difficult than any single race they had endured last season.
However, precisely because of that brutal struggle, the sheer joy of the victory was magnified exponentially. The bitter, agonizing sadness of last year's defeat came rushing back, only to be completely washed away.
The 1000th F1 Grand Prix. The Shanghai Grand Prix. The Champion, Kai. Everything was officially carved into the history books. All the regrets, all the agonizing hardships... it had all been for this exact moment.
Song Bo completely lost his battle for composure, standing there furiously wiping away a mess of snot and tears.
"Haha! HAHAHAHA!" Kai showed absolutely zero mercy, loudly and publicly mocking him.
When Kai turned his head, he immediately spotted Jiang Mo. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. Completely unexpectedly, Kai felt his own dry eyes begin to sting.
"Mom. We got the championship."
It was a light, simple sentence, but only they truly understood the agonizingly difficult journey it had taken to get here, and the sheer, crushing weight of this specific victory.
This time, there were no regrets left behind.
Jiang Mo nodded heavily. "The Championship!"
A massive, brilliant smile bloomed across her face. She patted Kai firmly on the shoulder, signaling for him to turn around and acknowledge the massive, screaming crowd that had exhausted their voices supporting him. She watched his back as he turned away. It was strong and perfectly straight, radiating a brilliant, dazzling light under the sun. Her tears finally broke containment and fell, but they weren't born of sadness. It was pure, overwhelming happiness.
Lu Cheng raised both hands high into the air, using every ounce of strength in his body to roar: "CHAMPION!"
The crowd completely stopped trying to suppress their fanaticism. The tiny bubbles of air trapped in their lungs violently ruptured, one after another, as the massive, heavy knot of emotion sitting in their chests was completely unleashed.
"CHAMPION!"
Li Lingyu screamed. Wild, reckless, completely uninhibited. Stripped of all her heavy emotional baggage, completely free of any constraints. She unleashed her passion with absolute zero hesitation.
"CHAMPION!"
The massive, boundless, unbroken ocean of red fused into a single, unified entity. It was like a raging sea. The earth-shattering roar of the tsunami condensed into a single, massive sonic boom that pierced straight through the clouds.
They screamed with everything they had, until their throats were completely shredded, until their chests burned.
And then, Li Lingyu heard a distinct voice. She turned her head and spotted the source amidst the chaotic crowd. It was Su Tong, usually so cold and aloof. She had her chin raised high, her eyes locked completely onto the figure standing on the podium, screaming with absolute, unwavering resolve.
First came Bottas. Next was Hamilton.
Li Lingyu perfectly understood. She immediately joined Su Tong's specific chant. Su Tong seemed to notice. The two women exchanged a brief, knowing glance, and instinctively began chanting in perfect synchronization. Their voices bled into the massive red ocean, and finally, the exact moment Kai stepped onto the top step of the podium, it violently detonated, blasting straight into the stratosphere.
"CAPTAIN!"
Once. And then, again!
Screams, cheers; smiles, tears; the deafening noise, the rolling heatwaves... The entire world began spinning at a terrifying speed, exactly like a kaleidoscope, violently blurring into a spectacular, blinding collage of light and shadow.
The Shanghai Grand Prix had officially concluded a full two hours ago, but the air remained completely saturated with boiling energy. The massive crowds lingering on the circuit to celebrate still stretched out as far as the eye could see. Even through the concrete walls of the paddock, you could vividly, tangibly feel the pure, unhinged madness. Everywhere you looked, every single face was split into a massive, ecstatic smile.
"...You really ought to thank me! It was your turn this time, but next year, it's definitely my turn again!"
Grinning wildly, flashing a mouthful of perfectly straight, blindingly white teeth, Ricciardo playfully, carelessly bumped his shoulder against Kai's, cracking a joke.
Kai wasn't bothered in the slightest, immediately firing back. "Well, considering how things turned out this year, maybe you should just be a good guy and keep letting me win next year too."
Ricciardo's eyes went wide. He vigorously shook his head. "Oh, naughty boy! Very naughty!"
Still shaking his head in mock disapproval, he turned and pushed open the door to the adjacent room. Even after he disappeared inside, his loud, wildly infectious laughter continued echoing down the hallway.
Kai also pushed open the door to his designated room. He was immediately greeted by a massive, chaotic crowd of people arranged in a semi-circle around the entrance. They all burst into applause, cheering and whistling loudly. Everywhere he looked, he saw crew members wielding massive cameras, entirely focused on him. A quick scan revealed at least five separate rigs.
It was the Netflix crew.
It wasn't just Kai. Every single driver and Team Principal was required to remain at the circuit long after the checkered flag to conduct their post-race interviews for the 'Drive to Survive' production team.
Last season, both Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz had completely boycotted the production. This season, they had finally joined the circus. The post-race media obligations were now entirely unified across the grid.
Rees stepped out from the crowd, clapping enthusiastically. "Congratulations! A massive victory at your home race! At this point, you've essentially conquered every single 'home race' on the calendar!"
Kai paused, genuinely confused. "Every 'home race'? Besides Shanghai and Monza, where exactly else is my home race?"
Seeing Kai—who was notoriously quick-witted—momentarily fail to catch the joke, a bright smile lit up Rees's eyes. He started counting on his fingers. "Australia. Singapore. Brazil. Oh, and Monaco, obviously! How could we possibly forget Monaco?"
"When they call you 'Mr. Worldwide,' it's absolutely not just a meaningless nickname."
Rees threw his arms wide open, as if attempting to embrace the entire globe. "It's not just the fans. Inside the paddock itself, Mr. Worldwide has successfully won the deep affection of every single driver on the grid."
After the race concluded today, as Kai was crowned champion, driver after driver had actively sought him out to offer their genuine congratulations. Norris, Sainz, Hulkenberg, and Ricciardo—who had just been bantering with him in the hallway. No exceptions. But the truly surprising element was the Red Bull duo. Both Verstappen and Albon had genuinely expressed their happiness for Kai. It was a picture of perfect, harmonious camaraderie.
"I've practically bankrupted myself taking them out to dinner every other week specifically for this exact moment. So, what do you think? Does my superficial PR campaign look like it's paying off?" Kai offered a light shrug, delivering the joke with an incredibly serious, deadpan expression.
The smile in Rees's eyes and at the corners of his mouth slowly expanded. "No wonder Daniel said his undisputed crown as the 'Most Popular Handsome Guy in the Paddock' is in severe jeopardy."
Kai tilted his head, carefully studying Rees. "Daniel? Did you bother asking for Kimi's official opinion on that?"
Kimi Raikkonen? The most notoriously social, outgoing social butterfly in the entire paddock?
Rees completely lost his composure, bursting into a loud bark of laughter. He wasn't surprised in the slightest. In merely a single year, Kai had perfectly, seamlessly integrated himself into the chaotic fabric of the paddock.
Looking past Rees's shoulder, Kai subtly tilted his chin toward the massive, densely packed cluster of production crew behind him. "So, starting from Season 2, does the filming officially begin the exact second we walk through the door?"
In 'Drive to Survive,' the formal interviews typically began with the subjects already seated in front of the camera.
But clearly, the setup here was slightly different. In the expansive space to his right, he could see the meticulously arranged cameras, the professional lighting rigs, and the boom mics. Yet, despite the formal setup, several operators were still actively roaming the room with their cameras shouldered, entirely focused on Kai. They seemed entirely unconcerned with accidentally capturing the messy, behind-the-scenes reality of the set in their shots.
Rees's eyes instantly lit up. "So, you actually watched Season 1?"
Kai looked Rees dead in the eye, speaking in a half-joking tone. "Pierre and the guys claimed they were completely out of bonus money, so they forced me to register for a Netflix account. Currently, our entire 2018 rookie class shares my single profile. If you happen to look at my viewing history and see something weird... please don't misunderstand. It absolutely wasn't me."
Haha! HAHAHA!
The entire room erupted into a massive fit of laughter.
Kai had indeed watched the first season of 'Drive to Survive.' It had provided him with a fundamental understanding of Netflix's operational playbook.
First: It was undeniably, incredibly entertaining. The paddock wasn't solely defined by the 'Big Three.' The midfield and backmarker teams had their own fascinating, chaotic narratives. Whether you categorized it as a high-end documentary or pure reality television, there was no denying that Netflix had successfully captured the raw, visceral passion of the sport.
Second: Netflix was absolutely not there to simply passively record existing stories. They were there to actively manufacture them. They continuously agitated conflicts, constantly fabricated drama, and aggressively amplified the tension.
Their fundamental storytelling matrix required a designated villain. Even if the drivers and Team Principals provided perfectly normal, reasonable answers during their interviews, the infamous "demon editing" could completely alter reality. They would ruthlessly take quotes out of context, arbitrarily splice audio together, attribute quotes to the wrong people, and deliberately misrepresent facts—actively fanning the flames of controversy! They constantly magnified internal team friction and actively provoked driver rivalries. What should have been technical, racing-focused explanations mutated entirely into pure, emotionally manipulative narratives designed explicitly to generate viral traffic.
It was an undeniable reality: the show absolutely required explosive drama to survive. Without sensational hooks, they couldn't hook the mainstream audience. The critical question was: exactly how far was Netflix willing to cross the line to get it?
The massive, unprecedented success of Season 1 acted as both a massive incentive and a powerful catalyst. The production team would undoubtedly push the boundaries even further in the upcoming season, desperately trying to eclipse their initial triumph.
Therefore, in the overarching narrative of Season 2, who exactly was being positioned as the ultimate villain?
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.
Entering the 2019 season, Kai was already fully mentally prepared for this exact scenario. On every conceivable front.
Rees kept his gaze locked entirely on Kai. "Judging purely by your tone... you don't like it?"
Kai offered a light, careless shrug. "Am I supposed to like it?"
He threw the rhetorical question right back. No one took it seriously; they simply assumed Kai was making another joke. Another wave of laughter rippled through the room.
A deeply profound, calculating look flashed through Rees's eyes. He knew right from the start that Kai was going to be an incredibly thorny, difficult subject to wrangle. He was absolutely never going to be a compliant, obedient actor for their manufactured drama.
However, that was exactly what made him so incredibly compelling. It was also the exact reason Rees harbored such massive ambitions for Kai's standalone documentary project.
"Although we are all technically operating under the massive umbrella of Box to Box Films and Netflix, there are actually two entirely separate production crews in this room right now. The crew standing directly behind me is the team specifically assigned to shoot your personal documentary." Rees proactively clarified the situation. "They will be documenting every single aspect of your life in the paddock, which naturally includes capturing the moments when you are actively filming 'Drive to Survive' for Netflix."
Ah. That explained it.
"Oh." Kai dragged out the vowel, offering a soft sigh of realization. "So, are they purely documenting the behind-the-scenes process of the show being filmed, or are they recording... something more?"
For example, the brutal truth behind the 'Drive to Survive' demon editing?
Rees instantly decoded the lethal subtext hidden within the question, but he wasn't bothered in the slightest. His smile only widened. "I honestly assumed that after surviving such an agonizingly difficult, physically brutal race, you would be completely exhausted by now. But clearly, I was entirely wrong. I massively underestimated the sheer stamina of a World Champion. You're still remarkably sharp and full of energy."
Kai shook his head. "No, it's just age. The sheer, undeniable power of youth. If this were Fernando, he'd definitely be passed out in his driver's room right now."
Alonso: ?
Rees completely failed to suppress his laughter. He gestured politely toward the staging area. The entire camera crew moved in perfect synchronization with Kai, escorting him into the meticulously pre-lit interview set. They waited until Kai was comfortably seated in front of the primary camera before the sound technicians finally stepped forward to rig his lavalier mic.
Rees positioned himself strategically behind the main camera and the director's monitor, holding his own microphone. "So, how are you feeling right now? Securing the ultimate victory at your home Grand Prix? Especially after enduring such an incredibly difficult, insanely tense race?"
"Obviously, the entire Shanghai circuit has officially shifted into absolute carnival mode. At this exact moment, the massive crowds outside are still going completely wild celebrating. This is undeniably a monumental victory that will be remembered for decades. Furthermore, it's the 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix, which undeniably adds massive historic weight to the occasion. Did you feel any extra, external motivation heading into this weekend?"
On the surface, it was perfectly normal. A calm, standard, deeply professional opening question to ease into the interview. There were absolutely no obvious traps.
However, upon closer inspection, the subtle manipulation of the atmosphere became glaringly obvious.
Rees had delivered the question slightly too quickly. Kai was still in the middle of being mic'd up. Even if he answered immediately, and everyone in the room could hear him, the primary cameras wouldn't capture clean audio. The sound technician was actively gesturing for Kai to hold his response.
This artificially created a brief, pregnant pause of dead air. During that silence, the massive, chaotic roar of the crowds outside subtly filtered into the room, sounding as though it were physically shaking the foundations of the building.
Exactly as Rees had stated. An absolute carnival.
Combine that with the massive, orchestrated welcome he had received upon entering the room. Scanning his memories of last season, Kai couldn't recall a single instance where the Netflix crew had specifically orchestrated a massive celebration for any driver. Whether they had won a championship or achieved a massive career milestone, the production team had always rigidly maintained an aura of objective, detached observation.
Synthesizing all these microscopic details, it was obvious: Rees was actively, aggressively stacking the pressure. He was trying to artificially manufacture a sense of overwhelming expectation and crushing responsibility.
However, Kai hypothesized that this specific pressure was merely a tactical tool. The true objective wasn't actually the question he had just asked. It was entirely about setting the stage, laying the groundwork to eventually agitate conflicts and manufacture a massive, viral controversy later in the interview.
"Rivals." Every single competitive sport requires rivals. But a true rivalry isn't just about on-track battles; it requires continuous, aggressive off-track narratives to truly capture the public's imagination.
If everything proceeded according to the standard playbook, the "focal points" Netflix was currently desperately trying to exploit were likely "Mercedes-Benz vs. Ferrari," "Hamilton vs. Kai," or "Kai vs. Leclerc." So, who was being cast as the villain?
Honestly, Kai was actually looking forward to it.
In this day and age, who actually wanted to be the boring, perfect hero? Playing the villain was infinitely more entertaining.
However, that absolutely did not mean Kai was willing to be a passive puppet dancing on Netflix's strings. He fully intended to keep the ultimate initiative firmly in his own hands.
The corners of his mouth subtly curved upward. Kai waited patiently until the audio tech gave him the thumbs up. He even dramatically tilted his head, pretending to actively listen to the roaring crowd outside.
"It certainly sounds like there's a massive party going on out there. Daniel must be absolutely losing his mind trying to get out there." After delivering the quick, lighthearted joke, his tone shifted. "From my perspective, a victory is a victory. That is the only detail that truly matters."
"Do you personally remember who won the 300th Formula 1 Grand Prix? What about the 700th?"
Kai paused, his eyes bright and piercing as he stared directly at Rees. He deliberately left the dead air hanging, forcing Rees to answer the question.
Rees froze. He had completely failed to anticipate Kai immediately launching a counter-attack. For a brief second, his brain short-circuited, entirely unable to match Kai's rhythm.
It wasn't just Rees. The operators from both separate production crews all momentarily froze, completely shocked that Kai had so casually, ruthlessly broken from the standard script.
Wasn't he supposed to deliver a polite, humble victory speech? Wasn't he supposed to express his overwhelming excitement at etching his name into the history books? That would have allowed Netflix to seamlessly edit him into the narrative as the heroic figure carrying the banner for the entire sport, portraying him as the lone, brilliant hero standing against the evil Mercedes-Benz empire.
What the hell was this response?
The room plunged into absolute silence.
At that exact moment, the chaotic roar of the crowd outside bled into the room again, but the atmosphere felt entirely different now.
Then, acting entirely as though he hadn't noticed the massive shift in the room's energy, Kai smoothly continued.
"Without a shadow of a doubt, this was an incredibly challenging race. I am profoundly happy that our strategy functioned exactly as planned, and that we successfully secured a highly valuable victory."
"In the context of our overall championship campaign, it is undeniably a massively important result."
Rees was a seasoned veteran. He instantly, sharply decoded Kai's underlying intention. He immediately yanked the narrative directly back on track. "However, this is Shanghai."
"That fundamentally changes the context. Especially after enduring the bitter regrets you experienced on this exact circuit last year. Achieving redemption here today—"
Ha!
Before Rees could even finish the sentence, Kai let out a sharp, audible laugh. Rees instinctively stopped talking and looked at him.
Only then did Kai continue. "Of course, Shanghai is undeniably special. Incredibly, profoundly special. My parents and all my close friends were in the grandstands today, along with countless fans who were experiencing motorsport for the very first time. Winning a race under those circumstances will always feel unique. But I absolutely would not classify it as 'redemption'."
"Redemption." It was a heavily loaded word, carrying massive emotional implications.
Rees leaned in. "Oh? Then how exactly would you describe it?"
Kai replied smoothly, "Growth."
"Last year, I undeniably experienced profound regret here. But I would absolutely never call it a failure. I fought with everything I had until the absolute final corner; Daniel simply performed slightly better on the day. The exact same principle applies this year. Right up until we crossed the finish line, absolutely everything was possible. I held nothing back, fought until the bitter end, and successfully concluded the race."
"It's about the racing. It's about the team."
A brilliant, sharp light flashed in Rees's eyes. He was thoroughly intrigued. "Indeed. It is entirely about the racing."
"The entire world has witnessed Ferrari's massive transformation this season. It's as if you are an entirely different team compared to last year. Your strategic execution today was absolutely phenomenal. Particularly during the final stint. When both Mercedes-Benz cars simultaneously began aggressively elevating their pace, you stubbornly, flawlessly maintained your own rhythm. Was that your own strategic calculation? Are you actively utilizing your own unique methodology to challenge Mercedes-Benz?"
This was exactly what they were desperately hunting for.
Conflict.
Rebellion.
The Hero's Journey.
It wasn't just about hyping up Ferrari vs. Mercedes-Benz; Rees was simultaneously actively probing the internal dynamics at Ferrari. He was heavily implying that Ferrari's recent strategic brilliance was entirely orchestrated by Kai himself.
If that specific narrative leaked, they wouldn't even need to wait for Season 2 of 'Drive to Survive' to air. The Ferrari strategy department would likely launch an immediate, furious protest. The massive internal conflict with the technical department hadn't even been fully resolved yet. If a massive feud with the strategy team suddenly erupted into the public eye, Ferrari would be plunged into absolute, catastrophic chaos.
Rees stared intently at Kai, eagerly anticipating his response.
However, Kai didn't project an ounce of panic or anxiety. He stared unblinkingly back at Rees, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his relaxed lips.
"Excuse me, but are you actively attempting to conduct corporate espionage regarding Ferrari's internal operations?"
He didn't answer the question directly, nor did he try to awkwardly pivot. He simply flat-out refused to answer, entirely rejecting the bait.
Kai tilted his head slightly.
"I specifically remember that Red Bull's highly confidential internal operations weren't leaked to the public last season. So, has the production officially decided to change its editorial direction for Season 2?"
The lighthearted, teasing jab instantly instantly vaporized the suffocating tension in the room.
Rees looked at Kai with an expression of profound, helpless amusement. A faint smile touched his lips. "Please don't worry about us. We are exceptionally skilled at filming highly uncooperative drivers. So, I assume your response means this is highly classified team data?"
Kai shook his head. "My response means that this is a brand-new season filled with brand-new possibilities. Every single team on the grid is starting from the exact same baseline, entirely focused on launching a massive assault on the championship."
He didn't use the phrase "challenging Mercedes-Benz," even though every single person in the paddock knew it was the undeniable truth. Kai was aggressively asserting a specific posture: they were all equal combatants.
Rees wasn't buying the PR spin. "Including Williams?"
If Kai wasn't incredibly careful, he was going to massively offend the Williams organization. One absolutely should not underestimate the legacy team; their global fanbase was just as massive and fiercely loyal as the 'Big Three.'
But surprisingly, Kai didn't hesitate for a microsecond. "Absolutely."
This time, it was Rees who froze.
The room plunged into silence for the second time.
Kai immediately fired back. "What? Do you seriously not believe me?" Was he actively transitioning from defense to offense? "Inside this paddock, absolutely anything is possible. We are all pushing to our absolute limits. A single, crucial aerodynamic upgrade, or a series of microscopic detail refinements... it could completely violently shatter the established hierarchy of the grid. Until the final checkered flag of the season waves, the ultimate suspense remains entirely alive."
"Furthermore, I explicitly confirmed it myself earlier today. George and Checo were undeniably racing on the exact same circuit, at the exact same time as the rest of us. I'm fairly certain they haven't been magically transported to an alternate, parallel dimension."
Pfft—
The crew members in the room all simultaneously averted their gaze, using every ounce of their willpower to suppress a massive fit of laughter.
He was incredibly slippery. Completely impossible to pin down.
No, it was more than that. Kai was actively, aggressively returning fire, launching a full-scale assault that left Netflix completely stranded.
Rees was no exception.
It was glaringly obvious. Several crew members in the room were subtly, secretly shooting sideways glances at Rees, trying to gauge his reaction to repeatedly smashing his head against a brick wall.
Unfortunately for them, Rees's expression remained perfectly calm and composed. He didn't reveal a single crack in his armor.
Rees fundamentally didn't have the luxury of paying attention to the side-glances. He was entirely, obsessively focused on handling Kai. He absolutely had to maintain 200% concentration. His eyes remained locked on his subject, refusing to miss even the most microscopic detail.
Rees... wasn't actually angry at all.
Why would he be angry? To be brutally honest, this was exactly the Kai he had desperately hoped to encounter.
It was precisely because he had identified this specific, rebellious aura in Kai—this utterly unpredictable, uncontrollable energy—that Rees had fought so fiercely to greenlight the standalone documentary project. He firmly believed he was looking at a truly unique, once-in-a-generation figure. An uncut diamond that simply did not exist anywhere else in the current paddock.
Regardless of how the 2019 season ultimately concluded... whether Kai successfully defended his title or managed to drag Ferrari back to the summit... it fundamentally didn't matter. Rees implicitly believed this specific season was essential to document, because absolutely no one could predict what was going to happen next. Every single variable was entirely unknown.
What Rees desperately wanted to capture was Kai violently shattering the established order of the paddock. Not just Mercedes-Benz, but Ferrari's own internal structure, and ultimately, even Netflix's manufactured narratives.
And now, that exact scenario was playing out right in front of him.
In fact, not only was he not angry, he was secretly thrilled. Because the second production crew was standing right there, actively recording Kai ruthlessly dismantling Netflix's manipulative interview tactics.
Rees was already practically foaming at the mouth, anticipating the massive, viral explosion the standalone documentary was going to trigger upon release.
THIS was what a true, era-defining superstar looked like!
Even Hamilton, even Vettel... neither of them possessed this highly specific, lethal trait. Perhaps Verstappen had the potential to develop it eventually.
Watching Kai effortlessly sidestep the trap yet again, Rees didn't show any frustration. He didn't continue stubbornly hammering the same point. Instead, he abruptly shifted his angle of attack. "What is your perspective on Lewis's critical errors today? The contact at Turn 4 was the first mistake, and the massive lockup at Turn 14 was the second. Those two moments directly, conclusively cost Mercedes-Benz the victory."
—Kai vs. Hamilton. The narrative had finally arrived at the main event.
A bright, genuine smile bloomed in Kai's eyes. "No. I absolutely do not consider those to be errors."
Rees: ?
Seeing the look of absolute, profound shock plastered across Rees's face, Kai's smile grew even wider. "Those were simply inevitable, unavoidable micro-deviations occurring within the span of a thousandth of a second."
"Formula 1 is a sport entirely dedicated to exploring the absolute, theoretical limits of human capability. We are required to process massive, terrifying volumes of information, execute flawless tactical judgments, and translate them into physical inputs, all within the span of a microsecond. You surely don't believe we're actual artificial intelligence programs, do you? After all, we aren't driving Cyber Formula machines."
Rees froze. "What?"
Clearly, Rees had just encountered a term he had absolutely never heard before in his life.
But Kai had absolutely zero intention of explaining it. He simply smiled brightly and waved his hand, casually signaling for Rees to continue with his questions.
Rees felt the air violently knocked from his lungs. This was exactly what it felt like to spar with Kai. Even though he continuously, desperately tried to dictate the flow of the conversation, the exact second he let his guard down, he was violently shoved back onto the defensive. "Kai, we really want to know... are you actively aware that you are fundamentally changing Formula 1? Many people firmly believe you have successfully dragged the focus of the sport away from the engineers and back onto the drivers."
"Today's race was a perfect example of that. Engaging in absolute, limit-shattering combat, where the driver's raw skill ultimately dictated the final result."
The bait was quietly, seamlessly dropped into the water.
If Kai simply nodded in agreement, the overarching narrative spine for Season 2 of 'Drive to Survive' was instantly locked in. The brilliant, lone genius fighting against the cold, calculated corporate machine. Kai single-handedly resurrecting the golden age of motorsport through sheer willpower. Kai cast simultaneously as the ultimate villain and the ultimate hero. A highly contradictory, wildly explosive character arc that would anchor the entire season.
This was exactly what made Rees so incredibly dangerous. Even while appearing completely disorganized and constantly forced onto the back foot, he always managed to ruthlessly identify the critical pressure points, never losing sight of his ultimate objective.
Haha!
Kai laughed. A loud, sharp, completely unbothered bark of laughter. "I'm definitely going to need to check my pay stubs when I get back to the hotel. Because as far as I'm aware, I am absolutely not the person currently fulfilling that specific role within the paddock."
The answer he was heavily implying was undeniably Lewis Hamilton!
During the recent off-season, it wasn't just Ferrari dropping massive bombs regarding Kai's contract extension. Mercedes-Benz had also finalized a massive new deal with Hamilton.
They had locked him in through the 2020 season. Hamilton's annual salary had astronomically skyrocketed to $57 million. With Vettel taking a massive pay cut after joining Racing Point, Hamilton was now the undisputed, tyrannical king of the paddock in terms of compensation. Combined with his massive portfolio of external sponsorships and high-profile fashion events, Hamilton was undeniably the true anomaly disrupting the traditional Formula 1 ecosystem. The sport had never, in its entire history, been so intimately, aggressively entangled with the global entertainment industry.
After delivering the lighthearted, deflecting joke, Kai smoothly pivoted the conversation back. "I completely understand that this was an incredibly spectacular race. But I didn't realize it was quite that spectacular. I will absolutely make sure that the second we return to Maranello, everyone sits down and obsessively re-watches the broadcast a hundred times to ensure we properly memorize this historic weekend."
The sarcasm, the teasing banter, the thinly veiled mockery bleeding through his words... it was genuinely hilarious.
Rees knew perfectly well that he could isolate that specific audio clip, pair it with a screenshot, and instantly turn it into a viral meme. It would definitely generate a wave of online discussion. But its actual explosive potential was severely limited. Kai simply hadn't left him a genuine vulnerability to exploit.
The tension around Rees's mouth finally relaxed, curving upward into a genuine smile in sync with Kai's banter. "You mentioned earlier that this was a massively important race. A true turning point for the season. Do you genuinely believe that, starting from this exact moment, Ferrari can completely reverse their current trajectory?"
"It's a hope." Kai remained perfectly calm and unhurried. "I sincerely hope this will be viewed as the definitive turning point of our season. However, it's impossible to know for sure until the final checkered flag falls in Abu Dhabi. We can only truly identify the turning point in hindsight. Perhaps it actually happened much earlier, in Melbourne or Bahrain. Or perhaps we won't see it until we get to Interlagos."
"But, yes. When the season is finally over, I genuinely hope we can look back at the entire, agonizing journey and realize, 'Oh, Shanghai was the moment everything changed. From that point forward, absolutely no one could stop Ferrari. We pulled completely away from the pack, aggressively extinguished all suspense early on, and successfully claimed both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships.'"
"You have my official permission to use that exact quote in the Season 2 trailer."
Maintaining a perfect, brilliant smile, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
At this exact moment, if every single crew member in the room hadn't explicitly realized that Kai had completely, flawlessly seen through their entire manipulative strategy—and had actively, ruthlessly turned the tables to mock them—then they were absolute idiots.
It was glaringly obvious. Kai knew exactly what Netflix was desperately hunting for, and he deliberately, aggressively refused to play their game, boldly leaving them completely stranded.
The truly incredible part was... despite being entirely outplayed, no one felt depressed or frustrated. Quite the opposite. They completely failed to control their amusement, bursting into a massive, collective fit of laughter.
Including Rees.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that Rees was laughing louder than anyone else in the room. He genuinely loved this version of Kai. He implicitly trusted that the global Netflix audience would love it just as much.
Before Rees could ask another question, Kai was already standing up. He casually gestured toward the door. "Am I officially dismissed? Or do you guys urgently need to capture some B-roll of me doing something profound?"
Amidst the roaring laughter, Kai smoothly, unhurriedly adjusted his jacket before finally turning and walking toward the exit.
Rees immediately shot a sharp, commanding glance to his side. Even amidst the chaos, he never lost sight of his professional responsibilities. Simultaneously managing two massive, highly complex production projects while maintaining absolute clarity and rationality. Sitting firmly in the producer's chair, Rees felt a massive surge of renewed motivation. His fighting spirit was burning brighter than ever.
The dedicated crew assigned to Kai's personal documentary instantly decoded the signal. They moved as a single, unified entity, scrambling out the door directly behind Kai. In a matter of seconds, they completely jammed the narrow hallway.
Kai stopped walking and turned around to look at them. "This footprint is way too massive. Do you guys want to quickly conference and figure this out? Maybe half of you go grab a coffee, and just leave a skeleton crew to follow me. Because right now, if anyone looks down the hallway, they're going to see a massive, terrifying storm cloud rolling toward them. It's going to make it completely impossible for me to sneak around and spy on our rivals' highly classified setups."
Pfft!
A wave of suppressed giggles rippled through the production crew.
They all knew the golden rule: they were absolutely not supposed to speak. Breaking the fourth wall and destroying the audience's immersion was strictly forbidden. But standing under the full weight of Kai's intensely charismatic gaze, someone simply couldn't resist.
"Just ignore us. Pretend we literally do not exist. If we happen to accidentally record something highly classified... we'll just quietly hold onto the footage as blackmail."
Kai actually paused, adopting an expression of profound, serious contemplation. "So, you're officially suggesting I strap on a giant, fluffy squirrel tail and actively attempt to infiltrate the Mercedes-Benz garage to conduct corporate espionage?"
He continued joking as he started walking again.
And then, under the stunned, unblinking gaze of the entire crew, Kai actually started looking left and right, adopting a comically exaggerated, stealthy posture as if he were genuinely searching for a target. Finally, he stopped abruptly in front of a specific door. He simply sat down on the floor of the hallway, crossing his legs.
The entire production crew was completely dumbfounded. Their smiles froze on their faces as they exchanged wild, bewildered glances. Surely not... was Kai actually, seriously going to play a game of corporate espionage?
So, what exactly were they supposed to do now? Were they supposed to sprint down the hallway and hide around the corner?!