2013 Singapore Grand Prix team radio transcript

2013 Singapore Grand Prix

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While Sebastian Vettel scorched to victory in Singapore by over half-a-minute his rivals were preoccupied with getting their strategies right after an awkward mid-race Safety Car interruption.

In some cases they made false assumptions about what their opponents were doing – particularly in the case of Mercedes. Even with ten laps to go they still believed Fernando Alonso was about to make another pit stop, when he was in fact able to stay out until the end.

Vettel’s getaway was inadvertently aided by Nico Rosberg having tyre debris stuck in his front wing. That left him lapping so slowly Force India thought it was a deliberate tactic to look after his tyres.

At the back of the field Marussia found themselves with a team orders row on their hands. Jules Bianchi lost time early in the race when he had to have his steering wheel replaced. The Safety Car brought him back onto the tail of team mate Max Chilton.

It seems Bianchi then complained Chilton was holding him up and Marussia told Chilton to let Bianchi through. Chilton does not appear to have complied.

Bianchi’s tyres began to go off while he was stuck behind Chilton and he dropped back, then pitted, and Chilton also made a pit stop which kept him in front of Bianchi until the end.

After the grand prix had finished Lewis Hamilton complained he hadn’t been aware what position he was running in – which might have had something to do with his pre-race advice to his team on how to hold the pit board so he could see it.

Here are all the radio messages from Sunday’s race.

2013 Singapore Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*FromToMessage
PRBrad JoyceAdrian SutilWe will need to heat the brakes, try and get some temperature in those front tyres and also the rears.
PRLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonCan you please ask whoever’s on the pit board to hold it out at 45 degrees so it’s, you know, not 90 degrees from the wall. Just a little bit angled out.
PRPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAffirm. We’ve not quite got the engine temperatures down to where we’d really like them so just thinking about as much engine cooling as you can straight away. When we go just a reminder your KERS schedule for the race is on the left in your cockpit. But obviously you’re flexible to use it as you need.
PRSimon RennieMark WebberJust a reminder on that start you were a bit hard on the throttle before so a little bit less on the throttle and keep it constant until you drop the second paddle, please. Normal procedures.
PRSimon RennieMark WebberApparently Sutil is the only car on [mediums]
FLSimon RennieMark WebberRemember hold the clutch for four seconds before first gear and sync all gears early.
FLJuan Pablo RamirezGiedo van der GardeUse all gears.
FLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAll the brakes are cold at the moment so use them where you can.
FLGuillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelEngine is on target, KERS is good, no more KERS. We need sync in gear seven.
FLSimon RennieMark WebberAt the start do not go on throttle early.
FLTony RossNico RosbergA little bit more working the front-left. [110.5C] front left, [110C] the other tyres.
1Gary GannonMax ChiltonTorque three for running
1Dave RobsonJenson ButtonHPB to mid, Jenson.
2Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonHamilton went off at turn seven while trying to stay ahead of Massa on the first lap.
We’ve been instructed to give the place back to Massa.
2Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonOK
2Kimi RaikkonenMark Slade[Distorted] …corner I overtook.
2Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenUnderstood, Kimi.
2Tony RossNico RosbergFuel is very good so go back to mix two. Just think about looking after that traction and light braking.
3Tony RossNico RosbergGap to Vettel ahead four seconds, gap to Alonso behind 1.4, out of your DRS.
3Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaDRS is enabled, you have the DRS, Hamilton has the DRS behind you.
4Simon RennieMark WebberWhen it settles down, monitor the gap to Alonso, Look after the tyres, monitor the gap to Alonso.
4Tony RossNico RosbergTyre temperature stabilised, all fine.
5Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelRemember there are Safety Cars out there.Save your tyres.
5Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachThis is full pace, this is no saving.
5Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergOK like that Nico, understood. You have shift three, you have special two if you need.
5Jules BianchiPaul DavisonFrom early in the race several drivers were advised to look after their tyres.
I’m struggling now with the rears, I’m struggling a lot.
5Paul DavisonJules BianchiYou can try torque three for less engine braking.
6Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaOK mate go grip P9 please when you can and just start really thinking about the tyres, come on.
6Simon RennieMark WebberWe suggest a two-second gap to Alonso to look after the tyres.
6Mark TempleSergio PerezOK Checo great opening laps, let’s use the the diff switches and brake balance to protect the rear tyres.
7Tony RossNico RosbergTry taking an earlier apex in turn 20 for a better exit.
7Phil CharlesJean-Eric VergneYou’re doing a good job looking after the tyres, keep doing the same, keep them cool.
7Tony RossNico RosbergInstead of describing the status of their tyres over the radio where they might be heard, some teams have steering wheel switches allowing drivers to communicate the information.
Let us know how the tyres are on the deg switch, 3.4 second gap to Alonso.
8Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAlonso P3 is holding the pack up. Nico P2 is doing mid-53s in free air.
8Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonIf you can update your wear switch, traction metrics at 1,500.
8Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaMassa given advice on how to look after his tyres.
Corner 13 easier throttle management.
9Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsBottas was stuck behind 18th-placed Van der Garde.
There’s no way past, we need to change the strategy.
9Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasConfirm, we’re not going to make our planned strategy work, you want to switch strategy.
9Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergRelease 12, degradation at the moment looks good for strategy two.
9Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachYeah copy that, feels a bit better now.
9Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergOK, OK.
10Francesco NenciEsteban GutierrezEsteban we are missing on traction. And now Di Reta is closing gap, watch Di Resta.
10Jean-Eric VergnePhil CharlesI’m really struggling with the tyres.
10Phil CharlesJean-Eric VergneUnderstood, push as much as you can, we are changing strategy to plan B.
11Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenBox this lap Kimi, clutch ten, please confirm.
11Mark TempleSergio PerezLast lap three-tenths sower than Jenson, all in sector one.
11Kimi RaikkonenMark SladeRaikkonen had difficulty seeing the lights during his pit stop.
Can you move the traffic lights more forward? I have to move up because I can’t see them.
12Francesco NenciEsteban GutierrezNo response played.
Box, Esteban. Front wing, question?
13Paul DavisonJules BianchiOK Jules we’re not changing tyres, just the steering wheel. Stop in the box.
13Mark WebberSimon RennieTrouble with the rears, mate.
13Simon RennieMark WebberBox Mark, box this lap.
14Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanPush Romain, push as much as possible, please.
14Mark TempleSergio PerezPerez came in on the lap after Hulkenberg and stayed behind him.
Hulkenberg is pitting, let’s really push now, give it everything we’ve got. Let’s have toggle down.
14Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHow’s my pace?
14Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAt this stage, Lewis, pace is good, just keep doing what you’re doing.
15Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasWater recharge, so water [distorted] two.
15Tony RossNico RosbergNico are you OK for one more lap? Let us know.
15Nico RosbergTony RossAffirm, OK.
15Tony RossNico RosbergThis message was not played immediaely after the preceding one.
Box, box.
16Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonBox, pit confirm.
16Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenBattery charge is dropping, we need to reduce the use of the paddle or go to KERS recovery six and two clicks forwards on balance.
16Andrew MurdochPastor MaldonadoPush now, Pastor.
17Tony RossNico RosbergTarget 20 at the end of this lap so you need to drive to that. Target 20 on [medium] tyres.
17Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelWe’re monitoring the gaps, Sebastian. Traffic ahead: Chilton.
17Paul DavisonJules BianchiGood job Jules, two more laps, clear air like this.
17Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelBox, torque map one and box.
18Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis you’re going to be going four laps longer on this tyre, it is the [medium]. Grosjean ahead is on the [super-soft] tyre, we’re going to start applying the pressure in ten laps’ time. So just need to close up to him.
19Phil CharlesJean-Eric VergneYou’ve got the two Saubers ahead of you, fighting with Perez. So if you get good laps in you can actually catch them. Behind you, you’ve got Sutil, who’s on the other tyre, he is closing on you a little bit. Get these good laps and you’ll ease away from him.
19Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergHulkenberg went off at turn seven while trying to stay ahead of Perez.
Nico you have to give the place back to Perez, race control.
19Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachWhat? For what?
19Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergFor leaving the track, Nico.
19Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachI’m going to do that now. Which corner do you suggest?
19Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergThis message was not played immediaely after the preceding one.
I know Nico keep pushing, can still be a good race, come on, keep pushing.
20Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelTyres more important than gap. Gap is plenty.
20Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonThese tyres are terrible.
20Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonMessage understood Lewis. Pace looks good, though.
21Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonDi Resta is bunching the cars ahead up. So he’s going to stop soon, he’s still running out there on used [super-soft] tyres. You’ve got Grosjean, Webber and Alonso in front.
21Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaOK with the degradation that we have we’re still looking good for Plan A. Plan A still looks very good.
22Francesco NenciEsteban GutierrezHow is the tyres? This pace is OK for the tyres. How does it look?
22Esteban GutierrezFrancesco NenciYes this pace is OK.
22Mark TempleSergio PerezLast lap you closed up on the cars in front by nine-tenths. This is really good, let’s keep going.
23Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenOK Kimi we understand that you’re feeling a problem but unfortuantely we cannot see anything in the data so we can’t give you any info at the moment.
23Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYou’re doing a great job so just look after these tyres and we can do work at the end of the stint.
23GianPiero LambiasePaul di RestaDi Resta made a late first pit stop and came out in a position to stay ahead of Alonso when the Ferrari pitted again. But the eventual Safety Car put paid to that.
We are in Alonso’s pit window. He is in P3 and potentially on a three stop.
24Tony RossNico RosbergJust remember to drink.
24Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelSebastian you need to use more KERS early. 75% before last corner.
24Sergio PerezMark TempleHow is the pace?
24Mark TempleSergio PerezPace is good, you gained four-tenths on Jenson last lap. We’re still on Plan A looking to go to target minus one.
25Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonRemember to drink.
25Simon RennieMark WebberThe Safety Car was deployed after Ricciardo crashed at turn 18.
We are staying out. Watch the delta. You need to be just positive at Safety Car line one. Remember it will get back to racing speed 200 metres before the Safety Car line and we are racing between the lines.
26Daniel RicciardoMarco MatassaWent into the barrier
26Marco MatassaDaniel RicciardoDaniel, are you OK?
26Daniel RicciardoMarco MatassaYep
26Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelNow when you’re warming your tyres, be careful. There’s loads of marbles off-line. Off-line is very dirty. At that speed you’re going to struggle to clean up your tyres so stay on-line and use brakes.
27Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachI still don’t understand why I had to let Perez past. He was inside, I had to go on the kerb, then the car bottomed, and it pulled me to the right. But I was in front before the corner and I was in front after, so what’s the problem?
27Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergOK Nico, that’s understood. We focus now on the race. We discuss after, can be still OK.
27Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoAlonso is reminded to ensure his Safety Car delta time is positive – i.e., he’s not lapping too quickly.
Fernando I see still negative so go positive please. I see now you are recovering. I don’t know how slow you’re going, if your sector times are correct, but make sure you read positive. OK.
27Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAt some stage two cars will unlap themselves. Two cars, backmarkers, will come through.
27Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinUnderstood
27Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachWhat position am I now, and where was Ricciardo when he crashed?
27Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergWe are now P12, Nico, and in front of you there’s still four cars who haven’t stopped, which is the top three plus Di Resta. Ricciardo I’ll have to check.
28Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelYou can use the fuel. We have more fuel than we need.
28Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYou can start working those brakes now, especially the fronts.
28Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenRaikkonen made his second and final pit stop during the Safety Car period.
This is looking reasonable for us at the moment. Five of the cars in front are probably going to have to make another stop. So that may help us out.
28Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaOK so just while we’re sat behind the Safety Car and the lapped cars are coming through – I think they’ve all actually come through now, they’re going to catch up at the back – then the worst corners for tyre energy are corners five and seven. Exit five, the usual one, and exit seven. Easy on the throttle. No message yet so keep working on the tyres.
29Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelThe Safety Car period was extended while the Marussia drivers were allowed to unlap themselves and then catch the tail of the field.
Charlie [Whiting’s] waiting for the backmarkers to rejoin. The last one which is Bianchi is only in turn nine ahead of you and the train is on the start/finish line.
29Simon RennieMark WebberTry and use the brakes to get temperature into the front tyres.
29Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenRomain has slightly less wear than you.
30Tony RossNico RosbergRepeat your radio message if important.
30Nico RosbergTony RossI’m not going to talk any more because the radio fails when I talk. You go ahead.
30Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenYou might need to warm your tyres up, remember these are [mediums] not [super-softs] and the rears in particular are quite low now.
30Simon RennieMark WebberWe need to be quick but watch your slip.
30Tony RossNico RosbergOnly thing at the moment is the left-rear disc temperature is working but slightly cold at the moment.
31Dave RobsonJenson ButtonAll temperatures are good so for the restart it’s yellow G1, we can go there now, and then green F4.
31Andrew MurdochPastor MaldonadoYou can overtake from Safety Car one.
31Tony RossNico RosbergFront tyres are still cold, you are in your Safety Car window.
31Rob SmedleyFelipe Massa40% KERS remaining, come on.
32Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelUse your tyres, open up the gap.
32Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonKeep an eye on my tyres pressures, feel like I’ve gone over debris.
32Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK, copy that message.
32Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonFront-right.
32Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK, front-right looks good.
33Tony RossNico RosbergTyre temperatures are all good now. Webber has DRS this lap.
34Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanAfter having the air topped up in the pits Grosjean had to retire his car, which also had several faults during practice.
We have a problem with air consumption on the engine so we need to box this lap, please.
34Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuNo!
34Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanWe need to top up the air bottle in the pit stop so it’s going to be about 40 seconds pit stop.
34Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuWhat is wrong with this car…
35GianPiero LambiasePaul di RestaForce India believed Rosberg had slowed the pace down on purpose.
This looks like pace management from Rosberg to get to the end, Paul. We need to attack if you can.
35Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaNot really sure why Grosjean stopped, for brakes or something like that. Anyway, there you go, so we are now in seventh position.
35Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelRosberg 52.6, he’s bunching up the pack behind you, that’s good.
35Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelFocus on braking, clean exits.
36Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasWe won’t stay on this tyre for that long so just push if you can.
36Andrew MurdochPastor MaldonadoLook after the tyres exit turn 12, exit 14.
36Phil CharlesJean-Eric VergneRelease five Jev, come on, good laps.
37Paul DavisonJules BianchiHaving caught back up with his team mate during the Safety Car period, Bianchi was keen to get past.
Stand by Jules, we’re discussing. You are quicker than Max, overtake him. We are telling Max.
37Gary GannonMax ChiltonFrom the lap charts there is no indication Chilton let Bianchi through.
Max, Jules is eight-tenths quicker, please do not hold him up.
38Tony RossNico RosbergRosberg was actually lapping slowly as rubber debris had caught in his front wing, causing a handling imbalance. It was removed during his final pit stop on lap
We believe you have rubber in the front wing which is losing you front downforce at the moment.
38Tony RossNico RosbergNico you could use engine braking and diff to help the understeer from lack of front if you wanted to, may affect rear.
39Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelMate, you’re doing exactly what we need. Good job.
39Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonTarget plus nine. Current lap 38. Do you think that’s possible? It depends on our tyre choice.
39Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonI don’t know. How many more laps is that?
39Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe think at least seven laps.
39Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonI don’t know if my rears willl last.
40Paul DavisonJules BianchiThere is no advantage to coming in now we need at least five more laps.
40Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYou’re doing a good job, that’s a great middle sector.
40Brad JoyceAdrian SutilPits this lap, pit confirm.
41Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaWe’ve already done 12 laps on these tyres, there’s 23 laps to go, 35 laps on the tyres is too much. So we’re just thinking about what to do now, trying to put you in a nice window.
41Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonPush, push: it’s all starting to happen now.
42Tony RossNico RosbergBox, boost to zero.
42Juan Pablo RamirezGiedo van der GardeVergne came out of the pits behind the Caterhams.
Toro Rosso coming from behind, do not lose too much time.
42Dave RobsonJenson ButtonAll the cars in front are starting to pit. If we can make Plan B work then we could be in really good shape.
43Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaBox this lap. Push onto the back of Di Resta now.
43Tony RossNico RosbergPush hard now Nico, you have 20 laps remaining.
43Nico RosbergTony RossWhy do I have to push?
43Tony RossNico RosbergBecause other cars have not stopped yet.
43Tony RossNico RosbergThis message was not played immediaely after the preceding one.
Nico at the moment Alonso doesn’t need to stop again necessarily, he is in front.
43Nico RosbergTony RossWant to push more than I have to, huh?
43Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonBox, pit confirm, boost to zero exit turn 13.
44Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelBox, torque map one and box.
44Tim WrightCharles PicStay out, you will need to manage the tyres.
44Francesco NenciEsteban GutierrezWebber is coming on fresh tyres, and Rosberg, I think we will lose some positions.
45Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenAll the cars that were going to stop behind you are now stopped and behind you. So we’re racing to the end from this position.
45Tony RossNico RosbergMercedes expected Alonso would need to pit again.
At the moment we believe Alonso is going long so he can swap to [super-soft] and be quicker at the end so we do need put the buffer to him.
45Nico RosbergTony RossNo I just need to be in front, I need to save my tyres now.
45Tony RossNico RosbergSo torque two, diff entry four, you can drop back one-and-a-half seconds only. Alonso is pushing hard, you can only drop back one second. You are now getting, he is getting very close to your window.
45Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelSebastian it’s all about looking after the car, the tyres, and being ready for a Safety Car. That’s all there is.
46Mark TempleSergio PerezOther cars have done over 30 laps on their [mediums] so we can definitely do this, you’re doing a really good job, keep the pace up, we can get to the end.
46Tony RossNico RosbergLewis on [medium] tyre.
46Tony RossNico RosbergListen for the DRS beeps.
46Jules BianchiPaul DavisonOK, I’m quicker but I’ll back off because I’m killing my tyres.
47Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelSebastian look after the brakes: vibrations.
47Simon RennieMark WebberGutierrez ahead starting to struggle.
47Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe need to get past Webber, Nico’s had the same message.
48Dave RobsonJenson ButtonDoing a superb job, 14 more laps to go.
48Felipe MassaRob SmedleyHow far we are behind this car?
48Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaWe are 1.2 seconds behind him.
49Francesco NenciEsteban GutierrezWebber, Rosberg, Hamilton, Massa and Di Resta caught Gutierrez and were all past him within two laps,
You’re racing all cars behind.
49Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonCool the car right-hand side where you can.
49GianPiero LambiasePaul di RestaGutierrez ahead will be very slow, we will need to clear him very quickly.
50Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelGood job Sebastian, very disciplined.
51Tony RossNico RosbergWith ten laps to go, Mercedes were still expecting Alonso to pit again.
Alonso is outside your window at the moment but if you lose another second he’ll be past you at the stops.
51Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergNico do not use recovery button otherwise undercharged.
51GianPiero LambiasePaul di RestaLooks like we will catch the train with three laps to go, Paul.
52Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelBrakes vibrations are increasing, concentrate on looking after that.
52Simon RennieMark WebberCars ahead starting to struggle, cars ahead now doing 53s.
53Simon RennieMark WebberPodium now eight seconds ahead. Cars ahead are struggling.
53Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonKeep me up-to-date on my traction metrics please, and how many laps I’ve got left.
53Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonTen laps remaining.
53Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonHamilton was catching Hulkenberg, Perez, Raikkonen, Button and Alonso.
There’s a group of five cars ahead on 27-lap old [medium] tyres. You’re going to be on top them very soon: three laps, estimated.
53Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergNine laps to go, nine. Keep pushing, you’re doing good, Nico.
54Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelTransfer oil.
54Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaButton now in third position going very slow. We are more than three seconds faster than him. Looking very tight at the end of the race.
55Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergHulkenberg was passed by Webber, then Rosberg and Hamilton, followedby Massa.
After the Mercedes there’s a Force India, this one we have to hold them back.
55Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachMaybe it’s better to let them past, get some small points. If I fight now I’m dead in a few laps.
55Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergOK, Nico. Try your best otherwise Di Resta’s going to be all over us.
56Brad JoyceAdrian SutilKeep pushing Adrian, we need one more place for a point.
57Simon RennieMark WebberWebber’s engine had a water leak.
We need to try and short-shift. Short-shift if you can.
57Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelStill yellow ahead, respect the flags.
58Simon RennieMark WebberShort-shift all gears please. Earlier than that, you need to be short-shifting earlier.
58Simon RennieMark WebberTry using higher gears in the corners, we need to keep the revs low, try and keep the revs low. Rosberg the next car behind you, six seconds behind.
58Simon RennieMark WebberThis is about getting the car to the finish now. We need low revs.
59Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoThey are reminding [Webber] to use the short-shift so manage the pace, 15 seconds to Raikkonen.
59Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenWebber is backing off more now, he’s slowing right down.
60Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaWebber going very slow now, we’ll catch him by the end of the race. Need to keep pushing, now.
60Andrea StellaFernando Alonso[Two] laps to go.
60Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWebber having to short-shift, he may be slow on the straights.
61Mark WebberSimon RennieWebber pulled off on the final lap, the back of his car on fire.
In trouble, mate.
61Simon RennieMark WebberUnderstood.
61Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaWebber is the car in front, he’s six seconds in front now. He’s going very slowly so we should get him towards the end of the race I think.
VLChristian HornerSebastian VettelWell done, Seb. Great drive, well done.
VLSebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinYes! Yes, boys. That’s what I call ‘in control’. Thank you. The car was absoilutely fantastic. It’s a team effort. This doesn’t happen just like this, it’s an absolute team effort. Every single one. Yes! I’m loving it.
VLGuillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelThat was a very disciplined drive, Sebastian. Quick where we wanted, patient where you needed to be. Nice.
VLJenson ButtonDave RobsonMikey can you make sure there’s a nice cold, cold drink ready and waiting for me? Cheers mate.
VLJenson ButtonDave RobsonA good haul of points for the team, though, which is positive.
VLDave RobsonJenson ButtonYeah absolutely. It’s not too bad, it’s just frustrating. We took a chance, it didn’t pay off, which is always a bit of a shame. Made for a bit of a miserable last ten laps definitely for you and for me here watching. But never mind, a good few points and I think yesterday particularly went very well. Plenty to build on.
VLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonThat’s P5, Nico obviously P4. Vettel P1, Alonso and Raikkonen second and third, they hung it out on the [medium] tyre.
VLLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonThis whole time you haven’t given me any information. I thought I was racing with Perez.
VLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWere Hamilton’s pre-race remarks about his pit board not acted on?
OK sorry about that, Lewis. Guess you can’t see your pit board then.

Lap: Refers to lap message was broadcast on. There may be a delay between messages being said and being broadcast. PR = pre-race; FL = formation lap; VL = victory lap.
Message: Repetitive or irrelevant messages omitted. Notes in italics. Highlights in bold.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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41 comments on “2013 Singapore Grand Prix team radio transcript”

  1. how many races already Kimi had Kers issues??

    I dont think renault engine gonna be good in 2014 when they had so many kers issues with rbr and Lotus

  2. I imagine Mark drives an automatic off the track.

    1. Ha.. Nice one

    2. Actually he has a 997 GT2 RS

  3. Peter Bonnington “Target plus nine. Current lap 38. Do you think that’s possible? It depends on our tyre choice.”
    Lewis “I don’t know. How many more laps is that?”
    PB “We think at least seven laps.”

    Makes a bit of a mockery of not actually giving the target number of laps out over the radio really

    1. @hawkii Yeah that didn’t work so well!

  4. Looks like we will catch the train with three laps to go, Paul.

    Is that the early train out of Singapore?

    And compare the service at Mercedes (“Remember to drink”, to both drivers) with McLaren: “Remember to make me a drink”.

    1. LOL . Jenson wants his juice cold and ready after the frustration.

    2. I don’t think it was a fruit juice Jenson wanted cooled so bad.

  5. I had a smile at this bit

    Instead of describing the status of their tyres over the radio where they might be heard, some teams have steering wheel switches allowing drivers to communicate the information.

    And I wondered which team would think about putting a full qwerty keyboard on the steering wheel!

    1. That would be entertaining!

      It is actually referring to the turn dials though – they select one which beams the information to the team but not over the radio, so other teams can’t intercept it.

    2. Or perhaps some Enigma type radio coding device

  6. Grosjean should at least imitate Darth Vader’s “NO!” from Revenge of the Sith

    1. Even better was if he imitated Luke Skywalker in “The Empire Strikes Back” when he is told that Vader is his father. That would be cool: “Nooooooooo !!!!!!”

  7. Looks like Vettel wasn’t really pushing before the safety car. Was asked to look after the tyres.

  8. I hope we will hear more of “Use your tyres, open up the gap.” than “We suggest a two-second gap to Alonso to look after the tyres.” in the future.

    1. @mike-dee That must have been heavenly to Vettel’s ears .

      1. @hamilfan if it weren’t for the hemelt, we’d have seena beaming smile like one of the big kid he is at heart :P

  9. Rosberg was surprisingly narky on the radio, i always consider him one of the more laid back drivers. Wonder what he was annoyed about, he was having a decent race and kept in front of his team mate.

    1. @keithedin He did not have a decent race . Alonso, Kimi beat him to it and also the tone of his voice was because of the radio transmission being immediately after Webber jumped him in the pits which he did not like one bit . I know you will ask why didn’t he push harder. Obviously the target lap time given to him must have been higher.

    2. Clearly, the team were not keeping him updated on his net race position. Hamilton said the same thing after the race.

    3. From one of his comments it appears that a lot of what he was transmitting wasn’t getting to the team (and I’d assume therefore a lot of the transmissions he attempted to make also aren’t in the transcript). I could imagine that would be pretty frustrating.

      Second race one of the Merc drivers has had this issue, maybe they need to take a look into it.

  10. it seems chilton knows he will never finish ahead of bianchi on merit, so he had to resort to ignoring team orders. poor form.

    1. He’s one of the most the most flaccid and uninspiring drivers ever. All the of the drivers on the grid have shown speed and beaten their team mate on merit at least once this year, apart from the Daddy’s boy Chilton.

      1. … and Webber.

  11. “which might have had something to do with his pre-race advice to his team on how to hold the pit board so he could see it”

    To what incident does this refer? Sounds funny.

    1. @chaddy Please look at radio message #2 in the PR transmissions

      1. Thanks. Funny how non-sophisticated the signs are compared to everything else about the cars.

        Are there any regs limiting helmet HUDs?

        1. Yes, I wonder why F1 teams don’t use electronic pit boards like at Le Mans – particularly in a night race. Plus they could show live information, rather than the lap before.

        2. @chaddy HUDS would be cool :-) But I doubt there is enough space in the visor . Plus it may be difficult in the rain and turn on and off . I think it is considered as a driver aid , so we don’t have it . Any regulation experts here ?

  12. Oops , Mercedes made some strategic errors there .

    1) they did not manage the pitstop for Nico with Webber getting ahead

    2) Lesser communication towards the end . Maybe they were scratching their head themselves when they saw Alonso was not pitting . ( Alonso had a radio transmission which said something along the lines ” push . supersofts , di resta behind ” which the merc guys misunderstood as him pushing to get the supersofts when they actually meant Di resta was on supersofts and was faster than him behind; this I read somewhere in F1.com )

    3) Obviously the pit board , they reminded him to drink but forgot what he reminded them to do ;-) .

    4) Lauda had said they should have brought one car in during SC , but I don’t know how that would have panned out ( any strategists here ? )

    But , Mercedes will doubtless learn from this and improve I hope :)

    1. every team has an italian guy now to translate these messages – what they don’t know is that Ferrari thought they will do this so they started talking in Italian and the translators at other teams are just spies. (disclaimer for some – that’s meant to be a joke)

  13. “OK, Nico. Try your best otherwise di Resta’s going to be all over us”.
    *di Resta goes into the barrier moments later*

    1. That was the hilarious moment of the race for me. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing as Di Resta slid casually into the tecpro barrier immediately after that radio transmission was broadcast.

    2. Even as a fan of Di Resta, I found that very funny in hindsight!

      1. I agree guys, I had to laugh about it as well. It was just the timing of it. Brilliant!

  14. Sorry but I LOLed at this:

    20 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Tyres more important than gap. Gap is plenty.
    20 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington These tyres are terrible.

    1. What I found funny wasn’t shown here (I got it from FOM’s race edit)

      When the safety car came out Rocquelin said to Vettel “Ricciardo’s out. Usual place. Turn 16”, and he sounded very angry!!

  15. I think the problem with Mclaren is that there isnt enough drive from the likes of Jenson. I agree that it is card to decipher exact emotions via transcript, but it just seems like they were happy to accept the position they finished, happy to have scored a few points. This doesnt sit right.

    They need somebody to push them hard, hence the reason for Whitmarsh suggesting the Alonso link, because thats the kind of driver they need. Somebody who will not accept a car that is slow. Button seems to keel over quite easily…he seems content to do a job with the car thats been given to him.

  16. Andrea Stella to Alo: Fernando just remember to drink
    Alo: ok, understood..its so hot today i just need to catch a red bull now…

  17. I know it’s way too late but for future reference,
    * VL) Hamilton to Bonnington: “This whole time you haven’t given me any information. I thought I was racing for third.”
    Due to the confusion over ALO & RAI’s strategy, it appears that Hamilton was thinking Webber was 2nd, Rosberg 3rd and he was fighting for the podium place.

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