America's Road to Wealth

Except what Alan Baker said.

Later, Abel also received some F1 information compiled for him by the advisory group.

In the information, Alan Baker listed the expenses of the eleven F1 teams last year.

In 2000, the top-ranked Ferrari team had annual expenses of approximately US$160 million (excluding engine expenses).

With Schumacher's Ferrari team, it can be said to be a standard top three team.

It was also the team with the highest expenses last year.

The Williams team, which ranks ninth, spent US$85.5 million last year.

In addition, Ferrari driver Schumacher's salary is currently the highest among F1 drivers, with an annual salary of approximately US$35 million.

The lowest salary among F1 drivers is the Toyota racing driver, which is US$500,000.

In addition to these daily expenses.

There are also more expensive vehicle maintenance, vehicle research and development, and F1 vehicle production money.

A F1 Ferrari racing car costs almost 1 million pounds.

Among them, the engine, gearbox, body and electronic systems are the most expensive.

Another F1 car requires 21 people to complete a race.

It usually takes 6 to 12 seconds to refuel the car and change tires. At the level of the F-1 team, through teamwork, a tire can be changed and 60 liters of gasoline can be filled within 7 seconds.

The consumption of these personnel and accessories is also staggering.

After a race, the cost of tires alone can sometimes reach tens of thousands of dollars.

Finally, there is the most expensive thing to play with the F1 racing team.

That is the research and development of racing cars, and the investment here is even more exaggerated.

For example, in 1998, McLaren's racing car research and development expenses alone reached 75 million US dollars.

A team participates in 20 races a year.

If the cost of research and development is included, the cost of building an F1 racing car will be even more exaggerated.

This is also the reason why racing teams with large car companies behind them will become more and more mainstream in the future.

Because with the development of technology, the previous small workshop-style racing research and development can no longer support the advancement of racing technology.

Only with the support of major car companies and stronger scientific research capabilities can racing cars be more advanced and have more advantages on the track.

This is also the reason why Ferrari has been at the forefront of F1 competitions for a long time.

In addition to having money and daring to spend money, the mechanical technology of its racing cars is indeed very strong.

No matter what people say, it is the best-selling supercar on the planet and the number one sports car in the minds of most people.

Forget about the Bugatti Veyron.

In the eyes of many people, it is a luxury and ultra-luxury car-type toy.

In terms of influence, sales, or other aspects, it cannot compare with Ferrari or Lamborghini.

It can only rely on Volkswagen's technical strength and the two titles of "most expensive" and "fastest" to mix among sports cars.

After reading this information. Abel also has a rough idea of ​​the cost of raising an F1 racing team.

Excluding R\u0026D expenses, the annual cost of an F1 team is about US$100 million to US$150 million.

This does not include R\u0026D expenses. If R\u0026D expenses are included, there is no upper limit.

Thinking of this, Abel knew that he would probably set up a racing research laboratory.

This is relatively simple. There are many ready-made personnel and experts in Europe.

R\u0026D teams like Feijian Racing Team and Prost can come over directly.

Even if they are a little behind, they still have a certain foundation and can save basic research and development.

In terms of engines, the technical content of F1 car design is higher.

But because mass production and cost are not considered.

The difficulty of producing an F1 racing car is much lower than building an ordinary car from start to finish that can sell well in the market.

Because when producing ordinary cars, what we consider is how to produce cars that look the most beautiful, are best to drive, and have the most functions at the lowest price.

In addition to the necessary driver's life-support equipment, the only thing that needs to be considered in an F1 car is speed.

Acridine's car doesn't even have an air conditioner on its body, and even its engine is almost a disposable consumable.

Studying them, as long as you are willing to spend money, you can get results in a very short time.

There are also domestic car companies in the United States.

General Motors and Ford Motor Group still have strong engine technology.

Abel’s idea is to bring Prost and the scientific research team of Feijian Racing Team directly to the United States.

Then find a way to find some experts who specialize in engines in the two automobile groups in the United States.

Eventually formed his own F1 formula scientific research team.

This scientific research team may not be used this year.

This year's F1 US station is about to be held in half a month.

This one will definitely not catch up.

This season this year, if the entire team can buy it, there is a high probability that it will be ruined.

Whether we can get a ranking or not is already a matter of next year.

Abel had already thought about it in his mind.

If we can successfully buy these two teams.

He will name one of them "Tesla Racing Team."

This fleet is directly maintained by Tesla.

Strive to get a good ranking within a few years and gain a certain reputation around the world.

In that case, wait until Tesla's electric cars are launched in the future.

You can also add more "F1 bloodline" and "Formula racing DNA" in the advertising slogan.

When the electric car formula appears in the future, the Tesla team can directly lead the trend and become the most beautiful guy in F1.

As for the other team, he is going to name it "MGM."

Mainly among Abel's companies, these two companies need the most visibility and publicity.

An entertainment giant with his own F1 team will be particularly proud in Hollywood if he says so.

And presumably those Hollywood stars are also willing to take advantage of the popularity of Formula 1 racing.

On the other hand, FIA officials are probably willing to have a relationship with Hollywood.

Hollywood and F1 are both things that need popularity and exposure.

Acquiring an F1 team will have its own advisory group busy.

Abel's attention returned to USD/NOK.

Smith Building.

In the trading hall on the fourth floor.

May 22nd.

A week has passed since Smith Capital entered the market.

The USD/NOK exchange rate has been fluctuating between 7.6050-7.6100.

In other words, a week has passed.

The Norwegian krone, which had been rising, had its upward trend abruptly suppressed.

This currency exchange, which was originally not a very large market, has become increasingly large in terms of capital as the bulls and bears are in a stalemate.

At this time, Smith Capital and Neon Capital are definitely not the only institutions facing gambling here.

"This market is very abnormal." In the office, David said to Abel:

"I think there must be other institutions coming in."

Abel nodded and said:

"You're right. It's true. Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns, at least three of them have entered the market."

"Are you so sure?" David was curious.

If David was not in the safe house, he would have been able to detect similar information based on his channels and connections.

David is now in a safe house and has no way to contact the outside world, so he has no way to help Abel with intelligence.

Abel smiled: "Don't forget, I am now a director of four of the five major investment banks."

"Oh~" David suddenly realized. "Okay, then someone among them should have revealed this information to you. Then it seems that this information is indeed true."

Abel smiled and did not respond, but in fact it was not someone from the four major investment banks where he was a director who disclosed this information to him.

The person who told Abel this information was actually Goldman Sachs CEO Paulson.

Paulson quietly called Abel and told him to be careful about these three investment banks.

At the same time, it was made clear that Goldman Sachs would not trade USD/JPY last time or USD/NOK this time.

Goldman Sachs did not join.

When he finally hung up the phone, Paulson said only a vague word: "Say hello to Texas for me."

Although the information disclosed by Paulson in this phone call may be false, it may be to cover up Goldman Sachs' subsequent entry.

But Abel believes that at least Paulson did not lie to himself about the entry of three other investment banks.

Tell Abel about the entry of these three investment banks.

Under normal circumstances, Abel would obviously put most of his vigilance on these three companies.

That way, if Goldman Sachs really wants to enter the market halfway, it will have some advantages.

Analyzing from all aspects, at least this part of what Paulson disclosed should be true.

While chatting with David, Abel also told these things.

However, he did not say that it was Paulson who said it, but blamed it on his status as a director of the four major investment banks.

David thought for a while and said calmly:

"Boss, I think this is the situation now. There may be more than just these three investment banks entering the market, and there must be more institutions entering the market. There are currently more than 1.2 million USD/NOK short contracts on the market. With such a large amount of funds, there will definitely not be less than ten institutions entering the market.”

Abel agreed with David's judgment.

Genius had told Abel about this speculation long before David expressed it.

The difference is that David makes this judgment based on experience and knowledge.

Abel did it through talent.

"Boss, what's our next strategy? Or ten thousand moves a day?" David said.

Smith Capital currently holds a total of 180,000 USD/NOK long orders.

"Forget it." Abel shook his head, "Stop building positions. Currently, I only hold this number of positions. Wait for my order."

After thinking about it, Abel added: "By the way, by the way, the safe house status will be lifted. You can go home and have a rest. In the short term, USD/NOK will not change much."

David was startled by Abel's next command.

"Unlock safe house status?" David wanted to confirm again.

You must know that this is the first time that Smith Capital ended the financial safe house status before the investment was completed.

In the past, every time I entered and exited the safe house, it was only after harvesting leeks.

"That's right. Since we have stopped building positions, there is no need to continue to maintain them."

"This is my order." Abel said calmly.

David didn't have much idea, he just wanted to confirm.

"Understood," said David, "my king, we will only follow your will."

This guy, Abel, wants to ask David Mellon if he has been reading too many Neon Chuuni comics recently.

Abel felt that David was getting more and more average.

May 23rd.

USD/NOK is stuck in a weird spot.

It has been maintaining the fluctuation of 7.6050-7.6100.

There are more and more funds piled on the plate, and the number of hands is getting larger and larger.

Yesterday, there were still 1.2 million lots, with a capital of about 120 billion US dollars.

At noon today, the number of hands has reached about 1.5 million.

The amount of funds is about US$150 billion.

This strange situation made the Norwegian government and banks, which had been sitting on the sidelines, panic a bit.

If the amount of funds and contracts continues to pile up, it will reach an amount that Norway and the Norwegian krone cannot bear.

Once it collapses, the consequences will be very unfavorable to Norway in every aspect.

The Norwegian government and Norges Bank wanted to take action, but the market looked turbulent and they did not dare to take action.

Just continue to wait and see.

In this strange state of affairs USD/NOK.

Abel was in the Brandy Restaurant where he had dinner with little Laura and Li Xinyu last time.

Abel received a guest from China.

This Chinese guest is very tall, as much as 2.26 meters.

The Chinese guest was wearing a suit that fit him well but looked weird because it was too big. He sat opposite Abel and acted a little reserved.

"Hi, yaoming, right?" Abel looked at the young Chinese giant in front of him and greeted with a smile: "How about I just call you Yao from now on?"

"Of course." The little giant opposite said cautiously and politely: "You can call me whatever you want, I will accept it."

"Your English is very good." Abel smiled.

"Thanks."

The 2.26-meter-tall giant saw that the ghost in front of him spoke so kindly and had such a gentle attitude.

The little giant felt relieved.

The little giant is a Chinese and is twenty-one years old this year.

As early as 1998, he was selected for China's basketball national team.

Little Giant participated in the 1999-2000 Chinese Men's Basketball League A, and his team won second place.

He personally won three individual awards for rebounds, dunks and blocks in the China League A in the 1999-2000 season.

In September last year, the little giant participated in the men's basketball competition of the 27th Olympic Games held in Sydney and cooperated with his teammates to finish tenth.

It was probably around that time that Little Giant began to think about developing in the NBA.

He started to make preparations, such as starting to learn English.

According to the Little Giant's thinking, it may take two or three years before he can hope to try out for the NBA.

The little giant never expected that someone would come to him at the beginning of this year.

At first, Giant Yao didn't believe it at all and thought he was a liar.

Thinking about the giant Yao, how could the NBA notice him so quickly.

But then the other party found some big shots, and under the guarantee of the big shots, Giant Yao learned of the other party's sincerity.

Then in March of this year, he officially received an invitation to this year's NBA draft.

This lets giant Yao know that he can really go to the NBA to develop.

Then he took care of domestic affairs with the help of important people.

This year's NBA draft is only one month away.

He flew over in advance to adapt to the climate and time difference here.

Only after arriving here did the giant Yao know that he could come to the NBA early.

It was because a big shot in the United States knew of his existence and asked him to come here by name.

After knowing this, the giant Yao, who was already good at English, secretly checked the information of this big shot.

It's okay not to check, but this check surprised the giant Yao.

It turns out that the big man who invited me here is actually so famous in the United States, and he is extremely rich.

He is even the owner of an NBA team!

The other party just wanted him to play on his team, so he got him here in advance.

This made Giant Yao feel uneasy in his heart.

The little giant with a good-natured personality is a little worried that he has failed the big shot, and is also worried that he will not be able to join the big shot's team.

He simply thought that since this big shot brought him here, he wanted to help him play.

Then I should help this big man play well.

Today this big shot invited the giant Yao over for dinner.

Giant Yao saw this big man in person for the first time.

After seeing the appearance of this big man himself, Giant Yao's first impression was——

Damn it, this ghost guy is so handsome, he looks even prettier than DiCaprio!

The second impression is——

This ghost guy looks really young, even younger than in the newspaper. Is he really that rich and powerful?

In his restraint and curiosity, Giant Yao started the conversation with the other party.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Giant Yao found that the big man was surprisingly gentle, which made Yao feel much less restrained and nervous.

In fact, according to NBA regulations, team owners are not allowed to contact any rookie players before the draft.

Dayao has decided to participate in this year's NBA draft, and there is only one month left.

Logically speaking, you cannot meet Abel.

But Abel didn't care. The worst he could do was to be fined.

Can David Stern guarantee that other team owners and teams will never contact rookies before the draft?

In addition, it is obvious that Abel Smith joins the NBA, which will definitely bring greater attention to the NBA.

This is good for the NBA.

If it wasn't really unreasonable, David Stern might have agreed to Abel's idea of ​​buying two teams.

So such a small thing, let alone Abel, doesn't matter.

Even if it is really leaked, David Stern will definitely cover up for Abel.

Dayao also knew this rule.

But in Dayao's view, the big shot was kind to him.

Besides, it’s impossible for NBA officials to find out if it’s done secretly.

In addition, Dayao's financial contract was also signed with CAA. Once Dayao was encouraged by his agent, he was no longer afraid of the NBA's small ban.

CAA’s agent has said, it’s just a small problem, don’t be afraid!

This led to the scene where the two met today.

After the pleasantries, the two officially started the conversation.