Todt, being a smart man, understood immediately. "You mean, Sebastian is no longer in your blueprint for a champion."
Marchionne appeared exceptionally calm and lucid.
It was the same when he poached Vettel from Red Bull, and it was the same now trying to replace him. It was never personal; it was always about the big picture.
"Seb... he gets trapped by himself too easily."
Marchionne saw everything. He might not know the technical details of a car, but he knew people.
"Under pressure, he lacks belief in himself. He overthinks, makes mistakes, and gets blinded by small things."
"His race, from start to finish, is only about himself. It has nothing to do with Kai. Right now, all the resources and trust in Ferrari are on him. He just needs to focus on himself. The second driver isn't his threat, but he can't see that. He's distracted, questioning himself."
"Kai has always tried to help the team, thinking of the team's interests, not deliberately targeting Seb's championship. But Seb can't swallow his pride. He's been antagonistic, maybe since we replaced Kimi last year. If he continues to ignore the team's big picture, abandoning him is only a matter of time."
Todt interjected, "Not because of Kai?"
Straight to the point.
Marchionne answered crisply, "Because of Kai. Kai is the key to leading the team to a championship, and Seb is holding us back."
"We now have a more suitable core for a champion."
The murderous intent in Marchionne's eyes faded, replaced by a hint of relaxation.
"Jean, you saw that kid just now, right?"
"Initially, we just wanted to use him as a whetstone, a trial. No loss if it failed. But now, that original intention has vanished without a trace. Unknowingly, he has grown into a leader. He is conquering us."
The rawness faded, revealing the temperament of a champion.
Todt admired this internally. The race at the Red Bull Ring truly showed shadows of Schumacher. Give Kai some time, and he would continue to surprise.
Todt understood Marchionne's feelings but didn't show it, instead teasing, "You. Just you. Not me. Not us."
Seeing Todt draw a line, Marchionne laughed heartily, cracking a rare joke. "Mr. President, you should watch more races live. You'll join me then."
Marchionne paused, bringing the topic back.
"Of course, it's not just that."
"If Seb woke up and focused on himself, given our team's current status, supporting him for the championship would be wise. Kai as the second driver—we have everything built around Seb, just waiting for him to deliver."
"No matter how good Kai is, he must wait. Next year. Next year belongs to him."
"However, Seb keeps drilling into a dead end, fixating on Kai, even ruining our races."
"To him, the Driver's Championship is more important; but to us, the Constructors' Championship is paramount. He needs to prioritize. Maurizio can't change his mind. He is destroying our hope from the inside, so we must be decisive and cut our losses."
"Even if the cost is chaos and sacrifice this season, we should plan for next season and the future."
"Leading the Constructors' means nothing. Look at last season—we led until the summer break, then collapsed in the second half. We became clowns."
"It's the same now. Hesitation leads to disaster. If we want to grasp the future, we can't be trapped by the present."
Cutting off a limb to save the body. Marchionne spoke lightly, without blinking. A true tycoon.
Todt admired Marchionne for this. Their positions, vision, and scope were different.
If it were Todt, he wouldn't act during the summer break. He would wait until the season ended. As a team principal who suffered alongside the technical team, he knew how hard it was to build a competitive car around a No. 1 driver. Especially now, with Ferrari just reclaiming the lead in the Constructors'.
To Todt, Marchionne was too radical.
But that was their difference. Ultimately, Marchionne was the helmsman.
Todt paused, thoughts churning, but didn't continue on this topic. It wasn't about right or wrong, but a clash of philosophies.
Todt changed the subject. "Why Charles Leclerc?"
Charles Leclerc. The Prince of the FDA. A genius driver.
From karting to GP3 to F2, he won championships all the way. His halo was no less bright than Verstappen's. He was seen as a future world champion early on. In F1, he was proving it.
Most importantly, Leclerc had proven himself at Sauber. Experience, accumulation, resume—everything was ready.
Under normal circumstances, Leclerc joining Ferrari would be logical and unquestioned.
If Kai didn't exist.
Kai was full of holes, each one a potential target. For Ferrari, this was already an extreme choice. Marchionne bore immense pressure from the board, shareholders, Tifosi, and executives.
One Kai was hard enough to handle. Now add a Leclerc?
The fatal point: replacing Vettel with Leclerc.
Replacing a World Champion with a rookie, to partner with another rookie?
Just imagining it was terrifying.
Todt knew Ferrari's culture. He was almost 100% sure the board would reject it. Marchionne would face unprecedented resistance.
Replacing Vettel was already huge. Choosing Hamilton, Alonso, or even Verstappen would be persuasive. But choosing Leclerc was adding fuel to the fire. Marchionne was roasting himself.
Like a naughty child who thought the chaos wasn't enough.
Facing Todt's doubt, Marchionne showed no panic. "Why not Charles Leclerc?"
"Or let me put it this way: Do you think there is a more suitable choice than Charles Leclerc?"
"Young and aggressive, representing the future. Talented, representing brilliance. Tested by Sauber and the feeder series ladder, representing experience. A rookie trained entirely within the Ferrari system, loyal to us, willing to give everything, Tifosi to the bone."
"Also, he is Jules Bianchi's godson. Jules should have joined Ferrari. He remains a regret for countless Tifosi. Now Charles inherits Jules' legacy to join Ferrari, fighting alongside our future leader. A perfect picture."
Frank, direct, firm.
Marchionne was serious. He believed Leclerc was the perfect choice.
Todt remembered the morning he took Kai to Maranello for testing. He tried to persuade Marchionne to take a bold risk.
Did Marchionne not understand the logic? No, he knew it all. That was why Todt's risk was calculated.
Now, the roles were reversed. Todt questioned, but had Marchionne not thought it through? Was it just childish nonsense?
Todt took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
Yes, he could list reasons against it. No need to replace Vettel mid-season. No need to choose Leclerc. Ferrari, usually averse to youth, had already shocked the world with Kai. No need for another earthquake.
But—he understood Marchionne.
Destruction before construction.
With Kai paving the way, Leclerc was a crazy but rational choice.
If you look at the future, don't hesitate. Like a gamble, put all hope on the youth.
Now was the best time. Not earlier, not later. Ferrari had reignited championship hope and had young blood rising. If Marchionne wanted to thoroughly change Ferrari's blood, inject youth, it had to be now.
Waiting until the end of the season might mean a different landscape. It might be too late to lay out the next few years.
Marchionne wasn't impulsive. This was a deliberate move, showing the capability of a man at the top.
Todt sighed, admitting inferiority. That was why he was just a little old man, while the old guy in the hospital bed controlled the fate of two conglomerates.
However—
"How will you handle the competition between two young men? Don't forget Lewis and Nico were best friends who wore the same pants, but tearing each other apart as teammates turned them into enemies."
The bloody lesson was right there.
Marchionne had his strengths; Todt had his insights. He grabbed the key hidden danger.
Marchionne wasn't worried. He smiled. "I was wondering when you'd bring that up."
"Leave it to them."
"I mean, Kai is Number 1, Charles is Number 2. We'll say what needs to be said, center the team on the No. 1. But if Charles can fight for a spot, like Kai has done this year, I'll allow them to compete."
"I know the Lewis and Nico lesson. But I also believe Kai and Charles are different. Competition will make them stronger."
Marchionne paused, mentioning another thing.
"Jean, did you notice Kai and Max?"
"After France, Kai praised Max. At the Red Bull Ring, Kai gave Max a thumbs up on the cool-down lap."
Todt raised an eyebrow. "Thumbs up? Are you sure it wasn't a middle finger?"
"Haha." Marchionne laughed. "Maybe. Maybe my eyes are bad."
"But my point is, win or lose, Kai faces it calmly. He dares to fight for his position, but even if he fails, he stays clear-headed and beats the opponent on track again."
"Not just Max. Daniel too. Those who beat Kai won't crush him; they'll make him stronger."
"Including Sebastian."
Todt froze. So, this was why Marchionne favored Kai over Vettel without hesitation?
Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Todt's head. He looked up, unable to hide his shock.
"Is Charles also part of your plan? To sharpen Kai, inspire Kai, make him a true leader to guide Ferrari back to the top?"
Kai had always been a catfish, a whetstone, a touchstone. Never the focus, just a tool. The FDA, the team, the grand vision were the goals.
But now, Kai had escaped the tool trap and become the core of Marchionne's strategy.
Todt couldn't believe his judgment.
He wanted to deny it, but saw Marchionne smile. "As for whether Charles can seize the opportunity to grow and transform, that depends on his fortune."
He admitted it.
Todt: "...You lunatic."
Marchionne looked calm. "Remember our discussion? Charles is excellent, the best seedling in our system."
"But a genius trained by the system has a clear floor and a clear ceiling. I hope he can break that ceiling, or he'll never be Michael."
"Kai... I can't see his floor or his ceiling. He always brings surprises, and I expect more."
"Jean, you told me to take risks."
Todt laughed/cried. "I told you to take risks, not go crazy and drag Maranello with you."
Marchionne shrugged. "Essentially, we are gamblers. The difference is, we don't believe in blind luck. We calculate, improve odds, then bet on a sliver of opportunity. If we lose, we lose everything. But what if we win?"
Todt stared at Marchionne, then chuckled. "Hehe." Then laughed harder. "Haha."
He exhaled. "You're just acting confident in front of me, right? It's all a facade."
Marchionne grinned. "As expected of Jean Todt."
Todt rolled his eyes. "Cut the flattery. You know how crazy this is. The old guys in Maranello won't let you off. So you drag me down. I have nothing to do with Ferrari anymore, please."
Indeed, that was Marchionne's goal.
Although Todt left Ferrari years ago, his resources and connections were powerful. He couldn't help in the shareholder meeting, but a private party with some old board members? No problem.
Marchionne needed Todt. "Don't forget, the source of all plans is you."
Todt was speechless. "So I dug my own grave?" He swore in French, then calmed down. "Alright, how can this old bag of bones help?"
Silverstone, UK.
After Austria, F1 moved immediately to the birthplace of the sport for the annual carnival.
The UK is the base camp. McLaren, Force India, and others are headquartered near Silverstone. Rumors flow through the streets of London. It's the second F1 coordinate after Monaco.
This year was no exception.
When the paddock arrived, whispers spread: Marchionne was hospitalized!
Serious business.
The news was sealed tight. No one knew the Ferrari boss was ill, let alone having surgery!
So how did it leak?
Before the surgery, Marchionne held a small board conference call. No one knew the content, but the meeting was explosive. The exchanges between board members were fierce.
That's how the surgery news leaked.
Also, a few knew Arrivabene visited Marchionne in Milan.
A closed-door meeting. Arrivabene said nothing, but his dark expression was bad news.
Was he worried about Marchionne's health, or the content of their talk?
More importantly, Ferrari board members appeared at Silverstone, asking questions, holding closed-door meetings.
Even amidst the fog, the tension of a coming storm spread. Other teams started probing.
The tension between Vettel and Kai wasn't a secret, but no one cared much. Teammate rivalry is common. No one thought it would alarm Ferrari's top brass.
So, what was it?
Was Marchionne's condition critical? Would Ferrari change leadership? What did this mean for the F1 team?
Speculation ran wild.
After all, it was Ferrari.
Everyone knew: Ferrari has no small matters. Anything involving them becomes huge.
However, the truly absurd thing happened next. Ferrari's rumors didn't hold the heat for long. The focus shifted unbelievably.
Who could steal the spotlight from Ferrari?
—Force India!
Wait, who?
Force India had performed well recently, competitive in the midfield. Perez brought Mexican backing, earning support in Latin America. Their pink livery ("Pink Panther") went viral among young fans.
But stealing Ferrari's thunder? At Silverstone?
Was this a prank?
Outside the garage, it was confirmed. The Force India hospitality was besieged by reporters. Staff fled from the flashbulbs.
Rumors spread like a virus.
It all stemmed from Vijay Mallya.
The "King of Good Times." Private jets, yachts, Bollywood stars, lavish spending. A business empire built on gold.
Mallya's empire started with beer, expanded to whisky, airlines, and F1. But in 2012, it collapsed.
Kingfisher Airlines lost $900 million, owed $1.2 billion, and unpaid staff wages for months.
Investigations revealed Mallya had moved assets to the British Virgin Islands.
In 2016, India charged him with fraud and embezzlement totaling $1.4 billion. Mallya fled to London, passport revoked, tweeting, "I'm not a fugitive, just need fresh air."
Two years later, India formally requested extradition. It exploded after Austria.
Force India's financial crisis was exposed.
Rumors: Mallya selling shares. Yacht seized. London mansion frozen.
The team was teetering.
Ten years ago, small teams folded often. But now, the grid was stable.
Williams and McLaren had issues, but nothing like this.
If Mallya's empire collapsed, what would happen to Force India? Would it be bought? Would Perez and Ocon lose their jobs?
The whole paddock was dragged in.
Storm brewing. Marchionne's surgery, Ferrari board meetings, Force India's bankruptcy crisis.
Silverstone was the eye of the storm. Auto companies, VC firms, billionaires flocked there.
Then, Mallya appeared.
Trapped in London by extradition laws, Silverstone was the only track he could visit. He refused to hide, facing the cameras to prove he was fine. Force India was fine.
Naturally, no one wanted to miss the show.
Compared to Force India's imminent collapse, Ferrari's vague rumors faded.
The 2018 British Grand Prix began amidst this chaos.
And it delivered.
Qualifying: Hamilton, the King of Silverstone, defended his title.
Since 2007, Hamilton had dominated Silverstone. Five wins, four in a row since 2014.
He unleashed 200% power here.
Mercedes dominated practice. But in qualifying, Bottas struggled. Hamilton, pushed to the limit by Ferrari, delivered a perfect lap to take pole by 0.044 seconds.
Vettel P2. Kai P3. Bottas P4. Red Bulls on the third row.
Silverstone erupted. Fans hoped for a fifth consecutive win.
Sunday was sunny. Good news for Hamilton.
But at the start... Hamilton choked!
Reaction time: Slow!
Rare. Hamilton messed up the start.
Vettel reacted perfectly, eating Hamilton alive on the straight to take the lead.
Bottas and Kai also reacted better.
Bottas (P4) tucked into Vettel's slipstream, passing Kai and Hamilton.
Kai (P3) became the victim of Hamilton's error.
Hamilton was slow, but his instinct to chop right blocked Kai's path up the middle. If Kai didn't brake, they'd crash.
Kai lifted, avoiding the crash but losing momentum. Stuck behind Hamilton into Turn 1.
Vettel and Bottas were gone (P1, P2).
Kai didn't give up.
Turn 4 (The Loop). Hamilton lacked grip, leaving the inside open.
Decisive. Kai cut inside. His front left was ahead of Hamilton's rear right. He braked late, claiming the apex.
By rules, the corner was Kai's.
However!
Hamilton refused to yield. He tightened his steering, turning into Kai.
Bang!
Contact. Kai's front left hit Hamilton's front right.
Wheels locked! Debris flew!
Both lost control. Max and Ricciardo sailed past.
Hamilton spun off track. Kai locked up, went wide over the kerb, but caught the slide. He rejoined quickly, glued to Ricciardo.
The crowd gasped!
Chaos unfolded behind them too.
For Kai, he had the line. Hamilton's defense was unnecessary.
Clearly, Hamilton was tense from the start.
But Kai had no time to dwell on it. He chased Ricciardo.
His calm paid off. At the end of Lap 1 (Club/Vale), Kai found a chance on the outside.
Ricciardo defended the inside, learning from Austria. But Kai committed to the outside.
Despite the dirty line, Kai found rhythm. He exited slightly behind but carried more speed onto the straight.
Throttle pinned!
No slipstream needed. The #22 Ferrari engine powered past the #3 Red Bull on the main straight.
Ricciardo was helpless. He thought he had blocked the move.
He watched Kai pass on his left before Turn 1.
Kai was bullying him. On a rhythm track like Silverstone, abusing the Red Bull engine deficit.