Monaco has always been known as a "tax haven." Since there is no personal income tax, the wealthy of Europe have flocked here.
In the F1 world, 15 of the 20 active drivers reside in Monaco. The convenience of travel is one factor, but the tax benefits are the main draw. It's not just racing drivers; top athletes from other sports, especially high-earners like tennis players, also call it home.
Novak Djokovic, despite being a national hero of Serbia, has lived in Monaco for years.
However, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal do not. They live in their respective home countries. Nadal, in particular, has always lived on the island of Mallorca, where he was born and raised.
When the media asked Nadal if he had ever considered moving to Monaco, the Spaniard replied, "I am very happy to contribute to my country's tax revenue. I love my hometown, I love the sea, the people, and the food there. I am very happy to continue being a resident of Mallorca."
Nevertheless, countless tycoons and celebrities still choose Monaco.
Lorenzo chuckled beside him. "Would you believe that just across the street is France, but the rent there is only a third of what it is here?"
Kai smiled. "I believe in the conservation of energy. Paying three times the rent must yield something in return. Besides a lifestyle, pride, dignity, and showing off on social media, there must be something else, right?"
"Haha." Lorenzo laughed heartily at Kai's cynical take. "I guess so. Opportunity. The chance to show yourself and break through class barriers."
"Like I said, this place is teeming with billionaires, celebrities, and aristocrats. Your next-door neighbor might be a Fortune 500 CEO. The guy you bump into at the convenience store might be a pop star. The man in flip-flops at the café might be closing a fifty-billion-dollar deal."
"Opportunities are always here, but only for those who are prepared."
Lorenzo turned to look at Kai. "That's why I invited you here."
Kai was surprised. "I thought I was here to watch the race."
It was the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, featuring F1 and F2 races.
Monaco is a classic street circuit. Unlike purpose-built tracks, the surface, layout, and run-off areas are completely different, with a much higher danger level. Therefore, the FIA explicitly forbids GP3 and F3 European Series cars from racing here.
Monaco is special. It's crowded with celebrities. Every year during the F1 weekend, it's packed to the gills. Accommodation and food prices skyrocket, and even the VIP boxes in the paddock are overflowing. Just getting here to watch the race is a challenge.
So, when Lorenzo invited him, Kai naturally assumed it was just for a race weekend.
Lorenzo shrugged lightly. "Yes, watching the race is one part. Finding a sugar daddy is the other."
"We all know formula racing is a world of money. Without sponsorship, you can't move an inch. So, I thought, why not help out?"
Kai was stunned.
Lorenzo didn't even turn his head, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Super moved, right? I can't help it, I'm just so kind and loyal. Italians always look after their friends, right?"
Kai laughed. "Northern-style care, or Southern-style?"
Lorenzo burst out laughing. "Haha, looks like you learned some bad habits in Maranello."
Finally, Lorenzo turned to face Kai. "Don't worry too much. This is an investment. I'm not Mother Teresa; I don't do charity for free."
"I see your talent, I believe in your ability, and I think you have a future in the racing world. In that case, I need to invest early."
"Right now, people are still watching and waiting. A single GP3 double-header win might not be enough weight for some. But this is where vision comes in. Only the truly smart people can seize the opportunity for a high-reward gamble, right?"
"But, there are no guarantees. I'm just making the introduction. Whether you can convince them to invest is up to you."
After the initial shock, Kai regained his composure. Thoughts raced through his mind, but he seized on the key point.
"Who is it? Do I need to prepare anything?"
Lorenzo: "No, I don't think you need to prepare. Just be yourself. I believe they've been keeping a close eye on young drivers."
He paused, then dropped the bomb. "Richard Mille."
Richard Mille, a Swiss watch brand founded in 2001. Theoretically, watchmaking is a trade that values heritage and history; the older the brand, the more valuable it is. But this company had grown into one of the world's top luxury watch brands in less than twenty years.
The reasons were complex, but the core lay in its unique selling points.
First, the concept.
Unlike the traditional watch industry, Richard Mille focused on comfort, shock resistance, durability, precision, and lightness. Generally, watches are delicate instruments that need careful handling; water and dust are enemies, let alone impacts. But Richard Mille was completely different. One of its main selling points was that it could be worn during sports, withstanding violent impacts while being light as a feather.
The watch Richard Mille custom-made for Rafael Nadal weighed less than 30 grams. In other words, you could barely feel it on your wrist.
This earned them the title of "Formula 1 on the wrist."
Second, brand positioning.
Young, fashionable, high-tech. Richard Mille mainly targeted high-end sports like tennis, racing, golf, sailing, and cycling.
Traditional watch enthusiasts generally scoffed at Richard Mille. But in reality, Richard Mille, understanding marketing and precise positioning, had long since deeply bound itself to billionaires, and even beat other watch brands to the punch by associating itself with the image of F1 racing.
Now, a Richard Mille watch easily cost $100,000, with limited editions reaching millions.
Without a doubt, they knew what they wanted and how to get it, which helped them reach the top of the industry and secure a place for themselves.
Currently, Rolex was still the official timekeeping partner of F1, but Richard Mille was encroaching step by step. They had signed sponsorship deals with McLaren and Haas, and partnered with drivers like Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso. But they also knew that breaking the existing order of the paddock was not easy, so they aimed at young drivers, investing in the future.
Charles Leclerc was the first young driver sponsored by Richard Mille.
But clearly, Richard Mille was not satisfied with just that.
Although Kai didn't know how Lorenzo had made the connection, convincing Richard Mille to meet was undoubtedly a targeted move.
Before Kai could meet the Richard Mille representative, however, he ran into Leclerc at the hotel.
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