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yin wrote:i'm always wondering why race driver need a manager,and what they do for the driver????
Managers are people with connections and experience in reaching best conditions and contracts for driver. At least it should be like that... I mean Massa's manager is Jean Todt's son Nicolas Todt which denies "connections and experience". In a way JT is manager of his own son and he managed to manage him to be Massa's manager which brings him nice %.
Driver can be more relaxed during the season as his manager deals with contracts, sponsors and similar stuff.
One day, in mid ‘90s, a certain F1 team owner attended a race of ITC championship to meet a young driver who was at the time racing for Alfa Romeo. The team owner was absolutely impressed by the ability of the driver and was looking at his career since a bit of time already. When they met the team owner said something like : “I need a driver for my team next year, what do you think ?”
I think everybody around here agrees that in a similar situation a driver should start to jump up and down and answer something like “just give me a minute to take couple of bags...”. Instead of that the id... err... driver, said : “hmmm, I should talk with my manager”.
The team owner, understandably, said “goodbye”.
Since it’s apparently period of games, I let you guess the driver and the team owner, although isn’t particularly difficult.
BTW, I heard it from a team member of Alfa Romeo at the time so it’s absolutely real story.