Romain Grosjean, Lotus, Korea International Circuit, 2013

2013 Korean Grand Prix team radio transcript

2013 Korean Grand Prix

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Romain Grosjean, Lotus, Korea International Circuit, 2013Managing the ferocious levels of degradation on the front-right tyres was the preoccupation of most of the teams during the Korean Grand Prix as dozens of messages from the team radio broadcast make clear.

Another major talking point from the team radio chatter was Romain Grosjean’s concerted effort to have Lotus order Kimi Raikkonen to let him past during their battle for second at the end of the race. Team principal Eric Boullier eventually intervened and after the race Grosjean was told in no uncertain terms not to make his displeasure visible once he got out of the car.

A couple of minor but interesting details emerged from Red Bull after the chequered flag. Sebastian Vettel revealed he’d driven the whole race without his drinks bottle working and his race engineer Rocquelin appeared to be encouraging him not to perform his usual post-race ‘finger’ celebration.

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

2013 Korean Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap* From To Message
PR Andrea Stella Fernando Alonso Alonso arrives at the grid.
Fernando charge zero, cool down the car.
PR Rob Smedley Felipe Massa OK do a short KERS boost for us please, just to unload a bit. OK that’s fine.
PR Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington You need to tell Pez that the starts were quite poor, we aren’t getting any grip.
PR Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Affirm, Lewis, copy that. We see the issue, it’ll be OK for the start.
PR Unknown Esteban Gutierrez 15 minutes to go, 15.
PR Unknown Nico Hulkenberg Ten minutes, ten to go.
PR Tony Ross Nico Rosberg We’re considering obviously with the path that we’ve gone on the tyre that you’re running had done two runs in quali so it’s going to be in worse condition. So just expect possibly initially some oversteer going to the front graining and then when the front cleans up it’ll go to oversteer again so we’ll need to be fairly active on the controls.
PR Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean Pit lane speed limiter off. Procedure is two static bite points and we’re going to release KERS from second gear so it’ll be a bit earlier. And then release all KERS during formation lap and hopefully we don’t have to cool the car much but if we have to I’ll have to tell you at the time to cool the car. And remember if you want to warm up the front tyres we have to be careful about graining as well so braking is the best way to get the temperature in. OK and the procedure for the race start is two rolling bite points and we have to do three burn-outs now.
PR Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez Two minutes to go
PR Simon Rennie Mark Webber Just a couple of reminders. Obviously you’ve got KERS at the start. We know how powerful it is at turn two but also at turn three. And just remember it’s a long race, you don’t need to do it all into turn one, OK?
FL Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Gearbox is good, KERS is good and engine on target. Remember no part throttle. And clutch four when you can.
FL Marco Matassa Daniel Ricciardo Track temperature is at 30. So minus ten compared to Friday. Weather forecast: the radar does not see any rain expectations. The wind is similar to Friday, the direction.
FL Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Warm up tyres and brakes, learn all gears.
FL Nico Hulkenberg Marco Schupbach Still not really a lot of torque.
FL Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel All systems are good. Feedback on start: hold throttle after first paddle.
FL Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Four good burn-outs, three seconds between them. Brake balance for turn one.
FL Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton And then you’re going to stop in your box, steering straight, the yellow line is on the right-hand side. You’re going to stop in your box for a bite point check, then neutral, then RS modes. Brake balance for turn one.
1 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton And cancel RS.
1 Paul Davison Jules Bianchi Massa spins at turn three.
Watch for a spinner turn three, someone in the middle of the track at turn three.
2 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Adrian does your front wing feel OK?
2 Adrian Sutil Brad Joyce I don’t know, I have to check now I think. I think I have to come into the pits.
2 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Adrian just feel it, see if it is an issue.
2 Adrian Sutil Brad Joyce The front wing is damaged, I’m losing downforce.
2 Andrew Murdoch Pastor Maldonado Pastor, everything OK with the car?
2 Pastor Maldonado Andrew Murdoch All OK.
2 Adrian Sutil Brad Joyce I can still follow the other cars.
2 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Copy that Adrian, keep going.
3 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel KERS map 12. Grosjean 46.9.
3 Gary Gannon Max Chilton Both cars are tyre-saving. Look after the front-right.
3 Tim Wright Charles Pic Charles you can go one click forward for brake balance for balance
3 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta Move the brake balance forward if you need it, Paul.
3 Jenson Button Dave Robson I think I’ve got a damaged front wing,
3 Dave Robson Jenson Button There is some front wing damage, we’re just looking at the data, it’s not a problem, just let us know how the balance is.
3 Jenson Button Dave Robson A bit of understeer.
3 Dave Robson Jenson Button OK, understood.
4 Dave Robson Jenson Button Button’s wing was damaged when Gutierrez swerved to avoid Alonso who in turn was dodging Massa.
Jenson we need to box this lap for a front wing. It’s affecting the brake temperatures.
4 Jenson Button Dave Robson Box this lap.
5 Jenson Button Dave Robson These tyres are very grained already.
5 Dave Robson Jenson Button OK Jenson understood. This could still work out well for us.
5 Jean-Eric Vergne Phil Charles I have big graining on the front right.
5 Phil Charles Jean-Eric Vergne OK, understood.
5 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Sutil pitted on lap three.
We could do with looking after these as they’ll have a longish stint. So front-right.
6 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton We could have low-level Charlie
6 Tim Wright Charles Pic Forwards for brake balance for temperature and balance. We think you should go forwards with brake balance please.
6 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta Paul, Plan A or Plan B?
6 Paul di Resta GianPiero Lambiase B. Er A, sorry.
6 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta Copy that, Plan A.
6 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Adrian these will need to last a long time these tyres.
7 Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez With the first pit stops rapidly approaching and most drivers switching from super-soft to medium tyres, Gutierrez is asked how he would like his front wing to be adjusted.
Front wing for [medium] question? Everybody’s degrading.
7 Esteban Gutierrez Francesco Nenci Plus two.
8 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta Paul box to overtake Perez. So if he comes in, stay out, and you think you can go faster, otherwise box this lap. Front wing adjust for the medium?
8 Paul di Resta GianPiero Lambiase [Distorted] standard.
8 Dave Robson Jenson Button Button is gaining on Chilton after his early pit stop.
That’s the back of the pack you’re coming up to, we need to clear these slow cars as quickly as we can.
8 Sergio Perez Mark Temple Do you still think Plan A?
8 Mark Temple Sergio Perez Yes Checo we’re still on Plan A but let’s pick up the place now we’ve got clear air. Let’s push now.
8 Sergio Perez Mark Temple I was pushing, I am pushing.
9 Paul Davison Jules Bianchi You’re doing well mate, KERS recovery five.
9 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Hamilton is told he’ll be pitting a lap early.
Target minus one so you can push, push.
9 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington You’re confusing the hell out of me, man.
9 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg The default flap adjustment for the [medium] tyre is going to be 0.5% aero balance down.
9 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Racing Bottas.
9 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Remember the fronts coming back only means the right-front is worn, so be careful.
10 Mark Temple Sergio Perez Perez pitted on lap ten.
Let’s keep pushing we’re still gapping the backmarkers.
10 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta Perez came out just in front of Di Resta after his pit stop.
So we’re still on the cusp of gapping Perez. His last lap 1’47.8.
11 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean This message would have been given to Grosjean as he came in for his lap ten pit stop.
Let’s concentrate stopping square.
11 Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen Next set of tyres is [mediums], should we reduce the front wing by more than one turn?
11 Kimi Raikkonen Mark Slade I have no idea how they will be.
11 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil How is the balance, Adrian?
11 Adrian Sutil Brad Joyce Oversteering.
11 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil OK watch the slip on the rears then. Just look after the rears a bit on traction phases.
12 Dave Robson Jenson Button This is good, this pace is good. Let’s use the free air ahead to look after the front tyres.
13 Gary Gannon Max Chilton In now, clutch eight, torque five. Sorry, correction, clutch seven, torque five.
13 Paul di Resta GianPiero Lambiase I can’t get these tyres to switch on.
13 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta OK keep plugging away they will clean up. Temperatures and pressures look good.
13 Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen Nice one you’re well ahead of him.
13 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa Massa is trying to pass Gutierrez who he’s been behind since lap eight.
Just for this lap try something. Save one light… OK I couldn’t tell you because I don’t think you could have heard me with of all the cars. What I wanted to say to you was try and save one light on one of the laps and then use one light to launch to get closer to him.
14 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton You are on your target lap. Current lap 14. So you need to look after your tyres and we can push at the end of this stint. This medium level Charlie looks good. You are currently in P3, the race is ahead of you.
14 Juan Pablo Ramirez Giedo van der Garde Diff entry four.
15 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel The gap is good, focus on stint length.
16 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean Let’s look after right-front tyre in sector two, please.
16 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil We need to push a bit more now. We need to catch up the cars in front.
16 Adrian Sutil Brad Joyce Message censored by FOM.
The car’s ******* slow. I can’t go faster. It’s a piece of ****.
16 Jenson Button Dave Robson Understeer, understeer.
16 Dave Robson Jenson Button OK Jenson understand. We need to decide Plan A or Plan B.
17 Simon Rennie Mark Webber Looks like Fernando ahead is struggling with right-front graining.
17 Mark Temple Sergio Perez We think it will be tight to reach the target lap so let’s make sure we look after the tyres. Jenson will struggle a lot more as we get closer to our target lap.
18 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel You’re quick in the middle sector, be careful not to abuse your tyres.
18 Tim Wright Charles Pic All tyres are just below the limt. Your deg and pace are good, Charles.
18 Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Lap time on target. Around 15. Doing good, Nico.
18 Simon Rennie Mark Webber Ricciardo was the only driver to start the race on medium tyres.
Your group of cars will catch Ricciardo, on old [mediums] in the next two laps.
19 Dave Robson Jenson Button This pace is very strong. We’re catching the group in front who are all being held up by Hulkenberg.
19 Jenson Button Dave Robson Button reports he’s gone through the graining phase.
My tyre is clean.
19 Dave Robson Jenson Button Understand, great news, let’s keep this up, use the free air, this is going pretty well.
19 Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen Oil transfer. KERS battery was not getting charged enough, that’s why we’ve gone to recovery five.
20 Tim Wright Charles Pic Charles at turn six concentrate more on the exit. You are too aggressive on the way in and you’re losing two-tenths.
20 Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Target 12 to 14.
20 Phil Charles Jean-Eric Vergne Release six, use KERS after turn one and two.
20 Andrew Murdoch Pastor Maldonado OK we need to seal the front tyres a bit more in turn 11.
21 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean Target minus five.
21 Nico Hulkenberg Marco Schupbach My tyres are not holding on.
21 Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Could be graining Nico. I think they will come back also. Nico, Ricciardo did 18 laps on the [medium] I think they will come back and we’ll be fine.
21 Mark Temple Sergio Perez Last lap you were eight-tenths faster than Jenson with similar tyre wear so that’s good. Let’s keep doing this.
22 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa Massa finally passed Gutierrez on lap 23. He ended up behind him again after the Safety Car periods and had to pass him a second time later on.
OK maybe try a lap where you save everything and then see if you can catch him through sector two and sector three. So save everything for one lap and use everything to launch at the last corner.
22 Mark Temple Sergio Perez You gained 1.2 seconds on Jenson last lap, I think he could be starting to struggle. Let’s make sure these tyres last to our target lap. This is good, you’re doinga good job.
22 Marco Matassa Daniel Ricciardo Release six for target. Come on Daniel, you can do it.
23 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta Shortly after this message Di Resta spun off, hit the wall and retired.
Paul we need another five laps to stay on plan, is that possible?
23 Paul di Resta GianPiero Lambiase I don’t think so.
23 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta OK, stay out for now.
23 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Be careful with backmarkers. If you have to go off-line it might take a lot of grip out of your tyres. Do what you do but think about what you need to do to compensate.
23 Mark Temple Sergio Perez Jenson’s had to come in because of the tyres. Let’s make sure we look after these. The best result would be to stick to Plan A. Let’s make sure we can get it to work.
24 Tim Wright Charles Pic If you need support with the rear tyres on exit you can use torque three throttle map.
24 Jenson Button Dave Robson Is everything OK because the red light came on?
24 Dave Robson Jenson Button Yes Jenson everything’s OK.
24 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Right-front is destroyed.
24 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Copy that Lewis. It looks like others have gone through the graining phase and it cleans up, but let us know how you get on.
24 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington I’ve been through the graining phase and it’s dead.
25 Andrew Murdoch Pastor Maldonado OK we need to look after this tyre set. Open this set easy.
25 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa People are already starting to stop, we should absolutely avoid that. Ricciardo five seconds in front. Keep the pace nice and steady like this. We need another seven laps.
25 Mark Temple Sergio Perez Let’s look after the front righ tyre a little bit more. We’ve got a 12-second gap in front to Webber and an eight-second behind to Ricciardo so we can afford to do more to ensure we reach our target lap.
27 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Am I under threat from people behind?
27 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Nico the car behind, 7.5 seconds.
27 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington That’s not what I asked. I asked am I under threat? Is he catching me?
27 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Nico 1.7 faster last lap, 7.5 seconds behind.
27 Sergio Perez Mark Temple How many laps we have done?
27 Mark Temple Sergio Perez We are on lap 26.
27 Paul di Resta GianPiero Lambiase Hit the wall.
27 GianPiero Lambiase Paul di Resta OK.
28 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Gap to Lewis in front is 3.7 seconds, you are catching him at 2.5 seconds a lap. He has Chilton and Van der Garde lapped traffic in front of him.
28 Felipe Massa Rob Smedley Front-right starting to go away.
28 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa If you can we need to extend, mate, it’s important.
28 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg A mounting pin on Rosberg’s front wing failed at the very moment he was passing his struggling team mate.
Front wing looks to have failed Nico. So we need you to box this lap.
28 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross Tell me the state. I need to know what I need to do. Do I keep pushing?
28 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg We need you to box this lap. Try and lose minimum amount of time. It looks like a pillar has failed. We’ll try and keep you advised on it. The front of the wing is sparking so you just need to get it back to the pits as quick as you can.
28 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross How fast do you think I can go?
28 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Speed looks OK at the moment.
29 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Meanwhile Hamilton, who was supposed to come in on that lap, was held up by his team mate and had to pit a lap later. Message censored by FOM.
When are you going to call me in, man? These tyres are *******.
29 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Copy that Lewis. We need to service Nico this lap, you’re next lap.
30 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Here’s our opportunity now, Adrian. We need to get a good couple of laps out, now.
30 Mark Temple Sergio Perez Raikkonen 1.5 seconds behind, he is on a different strategy, we are not racing him, let’s make sure we don’t damage our tyres and we get to our target lap.
31 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Most important thing is to look after the right-front. We have 26 laps remaining, you were down to 5% on the right-front.
31 Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Webber in pits, you will have to fight.
31 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton We just need to close the gap to Webber he is in our pit window by one second so we just need to find a little bit.
31 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Do you want me to manage the tyres or do you want me to push, which one?
31 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So just push for this out-lap.
32 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Perez’s front-right tyre exploded on lap 31, bringing out the Safety Car.
Perez ahead has a tyre failure. We’re going to have to manage this tyre to the end of the race we’ve got 25 laps remaining, Safety Car will help us.
32 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean Very good job last stint, let’s do the same.
32 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross Where exactly can we go full-speed again?
32 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Just on the exit of turn 17. 200m before the Safety Car line.
33 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Anything you can do to burn fuel will help. Remember those tyres are high working range, they need temperature in them, they’re pretty good right now.
33 Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen Do you think the tyres will make Plan A from this point?
33 Kimi Raikkonen Mark Slade How many laps do we have left?
33 Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen 24 laps to go at the end of this one.
33 Kimi Raikkonen Mark Slade I had a little bit of difficulty with the rear end but that was just when I was behind the McLaren, so maybe that was the issue.
34 Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Nico for your reference the front-right of the last set was at the end of its life so we have to do everything to protect the front-right. The rest looked OK.
34 Paul Davison Jules Bianchi We may now overtake so overtake the cars in front of you and the Safety Car and proceed round to catch the back of the train.
34 Esteban Gutierrez Francesco Nenci Ricciardo switched to the super-soft tyres when the Safety Car came out and faced a 22-lap final stint on them.
Ricciardo still needs to put a set of [super-softs], no?
34 Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez No he put the [super-softs] in Safety Car.
34 Esteban Gutierrez Francesco Nenci OK.
34 Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez But it will be hard for getting to the end, eh? He will be doing tyre management or whatever but in any case it will be hard for him.
34 Esteban Gutierrez Francesco Nenci For us is possible [distorted]
34 Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez Again?
34 Esteban Gutierrez Francesco Nenci How many laps we did in the last stint?
34 Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez We did 24.
34 Esteban Gutierrez Francesco Nenci Ok so we finish easy.
34 Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez He will try. If he doesn’t manage he will be out of the points. He’s P10 at the moment so he will try that. There’s also Maldonado in front. Maldonado is on used [mediums] and they pitted ten laps ago, almost, so he is on used tyres and for him it will be hard to go to the end.
34 Jenson Button Dave Robson How many laps did we do on the previous set?
34 Dave Robson Jenson Button At this stage McLaren planned to bring Button in for a third pit stop.
We did 18, Jenson, 18 total.
34 Jenson Button Dave Robson OK. Does that not tell you something?
34 Dave Robson Jenson Button Yep Jenson we are on Plan B but we will need to fit the [super-soft] tyre for the final stint.
34 Jenson Button Dave Robson Just out of interest, where would we have come out if we had stopped under the Safety Car.
34 Dave Robson Jenson Button We would have been P13.
35 Simon Rennie Mark Webber We’re in a tricky position. Plan is to go to the end.
35 Mark Webber Simon Rennie Why did we fit [super-soft]?
35 Simon Rennie Mark Webber We didn’t have any more [mediums], mate.
35 Mark Webber Simon Rennie But the Q1 set would have been better. Sorry, the… Anyway, yeah, whatever.
36 Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen Some information: Hamilton also stopped before the Safety Car but his laps are four laps younger than yours, he is also on [medium] tyres
36 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Just so you know on the previous stint the right-front tyre was gone, there was no margin. Don’t think you had anything on hand at the previous stint.
36 Simon Rennie Mark Webber Safety Car is in this lap. Keep working the tyres, there are 19 laps to go.
36 Tim Wright Charles Pic Front tyres are five degrees into the range. Safety Car in this lap.
38 Jenson Button Dave Robson The Safety Car came out a second time after Sutil crashed into Webber.
What do we think?
38 Dave Robson Jenson Button There are 17 laps to go, we’re going to fit a [super-soft] tyre. It’s a long stint, but I think it’s the best thing we can do from here.
38 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa A fire marshal’s car went out onto the track despite the Safety Car not having been deployed, though it was quickly summoned as the field bore down on the course vehicle.
Safety Car is deployed. This is quite bizarre, there was a car on the track, no message. Safety Car is now deployed. We stay out.
38 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil OK let’s see how the car is. See if you can continue.
38 Adrian Sutil Brad Joyce I don’t know what happened, just snapped the rear, I had no control.
38 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil Copy that, Adrian. Is the car still drive-able? Is it OK?
38 Adrian Sutil Brad Joyce The car is nervous at the rear.
38 Brad Joyce Adrian Sutil We might get anorther Safety Car yet, just hang on.
39 Simon Rennie Mark Webber For the second race in a row, Webber’s car caught fire.
Stop the car, there’s a fire, get out quickly.
39 Phil Charles Jean-Eric Vergne To look after the tyres you need to brake hard and not carry the speed into the corner. So brake late but slow the car down but the last part is under braking. You’re carrying too much speed into the turn-in. That’s how to look after the tyres, it’s the turning phase.
39 Jenson Button Dave Robson McLaren decided to gamble on not pitting Button again.
What’s the longest stint anyone’s done on [super-softs]? Obviously it’s the start of the race.
39 Dave Robson Jenson Button 12 laps was the maximum stint.
39 Jenson Button Dave Robson You guys think staying on this tyre is a good idea?
39 Dave Robson Jenson Button It’s a massive gamble Jenson, we could do it, your call.
39 Jenson Button Dave Robson How many laps left?
39 Dave Robson Jenson Button 17 laps left. We think we should stay out and give it a go, stay out and give it a go.
39 Jenson Button Dave Robson Staying out.
40 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Just be aware Lewis was over-stressing his front-right tyre in turn 11 which caused high wear.
40 Felipe Massa Rob Smedley Like Gutierrez, Massa has his eye on Ricciardo.
This guy in Toro Rosso has the super-soft, it’s a new super-soft they put under the Safety Car?
40 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa Yes it is, it’s a new super-soft they put under the Safety Car. He needs to do something like 17 laps on it plus he’s done two laps so it’s going to be like 20 laps in total that he needs to do on it.
40 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg We think diff magic is latched currently.
40 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross Keep an eye on them, it was not on purpose.
40 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Copy.
40 Jonathan Eddollls Valtteri Bottas This Safety Car will give us a good chance of getting to the end, there’ll be around 15 laps. Safety Car in this lap so push up. Go max six, six six. You’ve done that? Reset the KERS.
41 Giedo van der Garde Juan Pablo Ramirez I’ve a big flat spot on the left.
41 Juan Pablo Ramirez Giedo van der Garde OK, try to continue.
42 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Remember it’s all about stint length.
43 Jules Bianchi Paul Davison I need to save tyres. I’m pushing too much.
43 Paul Davison Jules Bianchi OK mate understood just do what you can, remember to back up in high speed.
43 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean Between the two Safety Car periods Raikkonen sprang a pass on his team mate who ran wide at turn 15.
We’ve got 14 laps to go.
43 Romain Grosjean Ayao Komatsu I’m stuck behind Kimi.
43 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean DRS is available.
43 Felipe Massa Rob Smedley Massa and Perez made contact at turn four. The stewards investigated it after the race and took no action.
He hit me.
43 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa Understood, just tell me clearly who hit you and what he did.
43 Felipe Massa Rob Smedley Perez. I was in the front and he hit my rear wheel.
43 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa OK understood Perez hit you from behind. We’ll check, make sure everything’s OK.
44 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton We suggest we take it easy in sector two so we can save it for the end of the race. There’s 12 laps remaining.
44 Romain Grosjean Ayao Komatsu Grosjean lobbied Lotus to have Raikkonen let him past.
Let me by Kimi.
44 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean OK Romain you are just racing him.
44 Romain Grosjean Ayao Komatsu [Distorted] …killing my front tyres.
45 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg So to turn four if you can, right hand side of the car in clean air. If you’re passing Button, no problem.
45 Jonathan Eddollls Valtteri Bottas Several cars in front on older tyres. Keep your head down and try to get to the end on this set, anything could happen.
45 Phil Charles Jean-Eric Vergne Your braking is much better now Jev.
46 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean Your deg is much better than Kimi’s.
46 Romain Grosjean Ayao Komatsu Yes but I am stuck behind Kimi. I cannot do anything in sector two.
46 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean If we want to do anything you need to overtake him.
47 Nico Hulkenberg Marco Schupbach Message censored by FOM.
**** that Mercedes has got some downforce. I just hope we don’t fall off like bananas at the end of the race. This is 110%.
47 Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Copy Nico ten laps to go. I mean that, you’re doing well.
48 Phil Charles Jean-Eric Vergne Come on Jev, eight laps to go after this one.
48 Rob Smedley Felipe Massa Pace is very, very quick. You should be in the DRS this lap.
49 Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez Seven laps to go, you’re closing half a second per lap.
50 Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean Team principal Eric Boullier firmly rejected Grosjean’s requests to be let through.
Romain you are quicker than Kimi, eight laps to go, you can overtake him, you will overtake him, OK?
50 Romain Grosjean Ayao Komatsu No I cannot I lose all downforce.
50 Eric Boullier Romain Grosjean Romain keep racing like it is.
50 Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Release nine and straight back to ten.
50 Nico Hulkenberg Marco Schupbach Do not copy. Don’t talk three centimetres from braking.
51 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Just so you know the front-right is still opening up. It was the same last year. There’s not a lot you can do just driving around does it. But for information it’s still opening up on the right-front.
51 Sebastian Vettel Guillaume Rocquelin I’m aware of the right-front.
51 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Understood mate. You’re doing a good job I just wanted to give you as much information as you can, as much as we have.
51 Mark Temple Sergio Perez Five laps to go. There’ll still be opportunities towards the end of the race. So let’s keep pushing, stay on the attack.
52 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Hamilton tried without success to pass Hulkenbrg for fourth.
It’s unreal how much traction he’s got.
52 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Copy that Lewis. I know this’ll be hard but cool the car right-hand side where you can.
52 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Fail 22 fail.
52 Sebastian Vettel Guillaume Rocquelin Confirm. 22 fail.
52 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Confirmed 22.
52 Paul Davison Jules Bianchi Front minus five, rear minus ten. The tyres look OK.
53 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Has anyone got any suggestions?
53 Phil Charles Jean-Eric Vergne Come on Jev, got to push now, three laps remaining.
53 Dave Robson Jenson Button Yellow G8, qualifying.
53 Jean-Eric Vergne Phil Charles Something weird happened on the car.
53 Phil Charles Jean-Eric Vergne OK Jev we’re looking.
54 Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen Romain will probably have DRS this lap.
54 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Be careful, OK? You already have fastest lap by some margin, we need to finish this race.
55 Marco Matassa Daniel Ricciardo We need to stop the car now. Sorry for that mate, hard luck, but very good effort, good job.
55 Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel It’s still yellow ahead, it’ll stay yellow until the end of the race.
VL Christian Horner Sebastian Vettel Well done Seb that was a very disciplined drive, well done. Tricky but very well done.
VL Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Good job. Very tidy.
VL Sebastian Vettel Guillaume Rocquelin Yes boys! Great race. Two phenomenal stops. Very smooth. Thank you guys!
VL Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Mark got harpooned by one of the Force Indias and because of that punctured the oil line and that was the end of that.
VL Christian Horner Sebastian Vettel Sebby Slim Tim is coming up to see you and collect the constructors’ trophy today so make sure you look after him.
VL Sebastian Vettel Christian Horner Yes! Thank you. Ah, I’m loving it, guys. But next time do me a favour: the drinks didn’t work so it would quite nice if it worked next time.
VL Christian Horner Sebastian Vettel I’m surprised you needed a drink the way you were needing to manage the pace.
VL Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Rocquelin suggesting Vettel refrain from waving his trademark finger?
OK Sebastian usual procedure: P1, P0. And er… I don’t know. Mexican Wave?
VL Sebastian Vettel Guillaume Rocquelin Finger!
VL Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Alright.
VL Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen OK mate absolutely superb job thank you very much. Absolutely fantastic.
VL Kimi Raikkonen Mark Slade Yeah thanks everybody. It wasn’t the most easydrive in the car because of the choices that we make.
VL Mark Slade Kimi Raikkonen I absolutely agree, Kimi, and I think you’ve made more than the most of it. That was absolutely superb. Thank you very, very much indeed.
VL ‘Pat’ Romain Grosjean Message censored by FOM.
Romain, Romain it’s Pat. We’ll talk about this in the office after the race of course but for now big ******* smile on the podium please, big ******* smile.
VL Eric Boullier Romain Grosjean Excellent job, Romain, excellent.
VL Ayao Komatsu Romain Grosjean OK Romain excellent job all weekend. Just one mistake, one mistake only.
VL Romain Grosjean Ayao Komatsu Good job guys and a good strategy. A bit unlucky with the Safety Car.
VL Marco Schupbach Nico Hulkenberg Well done Nico, Yes! Nico that was a masterpiece. Thank you.
VL Nico Hulkenberg Marco Schupbach Thank you guys.
VL Monisha Kaltenborn Nico Hulkenberg Congratulations, a fantastic job, great race, vielen dank, Nico.
VL Nico Hulkenberg Monisha Kaltenborn Danke!
VL Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So that’s P5.
VL Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Apologies for the nose, Nico, otherwise that would have been an easy podium. And just be aware there may be an issue with the clutch so no bite point find and just be cautious pulling up into parc ferme, clutch response may not be correct.
VL Dave Robson Jenson Button Thank you. That’s a great drive Jenson. I need to sit down and work out exactly what happened there but you drove extremely well, looked after those tyres very well. That’s P8 which given where we were after the first few laps is a really very good effort.
VL Jenson Button Dave Robson Yeah, couldn’t hold off Rosberg. The last five laps when the air temperature started cooling down was a big issue. Not just the front but the rear. Yeah a good one considering the front nose damage at the start of the race.
VL Dave Robson Jenson Button Yeah shame about Rosberg but not a bad result given where we were.
VL Jenson Button Dave Robson Yeah shame about Rosberg but as you could see as soon as I dropped out of the DRS zone you can see my true pace which wasn’t quick enough.
VL Dave Robson Jenson Button Yeah, you’re right, that was the true pace, but nonetheless it was a 33-lap old set of tyres that had been hot and cold a couple of times behind the Safety Car so I think nonetheless it was a really good effort, the pace at the end. And the pace when we fitted the first [medium] was really very, very good indeed.
VL Jenson Button Dave Robson 33 laps? Cor that is a few isn’t it? Mis-communication with the pit stop though we need to look at that, I got a red light, that’s why I went and stopped.
VL Dave Robson Jenson Button Yep sure we’ll take a look at that. No problem.
VL Mark Temple Sergio Perez That was some great driving. We were a bit unlucky there but you did a great job just to finish tenth in the points. I think if it hadn’t been for the timing of the Safety Cars we’d have definitely had another couple of places. Some of the cars in front only made it to the end on two stops because of the Safety Car. Well done, really good job today and yesterday.
VL Esteban Gutierrez Francesco Nenci Which position?
VL Francesco Nenci Esteban Gutierrez We are 11.
VL Jonathan Eddollls Valtteri Bottas P12 Valtteri. Good job, good start and turn one, very unfortunate in turn three which set the rest of the race for you, really. Good tyre management and a good drive.
VL Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddollls Thanks guys. Got a bit stuck in turn three. Nowhere to go so I lost a lot.
VL Andrew Murdoch Pastor Maldonado OK Pastor P13 in the end. Good job and good racing from your side.

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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Korean Grand Prix data

2013 Korean Grand Prix

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Author information

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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74 comments on “2013 Korean Grand Prix team radio transcript”

  1. Profile Photo

    TheBass (@)
    9th October 2013, 21:37

    Rocquelin suggesting Vettel refrain from waving his trademark finger?

    Interesting. It does rub some people in the wrong way, doesn’t it?

    1. Postreader
      9th October 2013, 21:53

      Finger!

    2. Profile Photo

      Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
      9th October 2013, 23:06

      That’s the sole point in it @silence ;)

      1. Profile Photo

        MNM101 (@mnm101)
        9th October 2013, 23:09

        @vettel1 Yup, I like the fact he is aware and doing it out of spite now :)

        1. Profile Photo

          celeste (@celeste)
          9th October 2013, 23:20

          :)

    3. Profile Photo

      Diego (@ironcito)
      9th October 2013, 23:12

      The finger is just another excuse that Vettel’s critics use to rationalize their hate. Malaysia, the finger, Newey’s car… Bottom line, they’re angry that he keeps winning, but they can’t just say it like that, so they make up excuses.

      1. Profile Photo

        Alex Brown (@splittimes)
        10th October 2013, 17:24

        I used to be angry that he kept winning, but I think I’m over it now. He’s gone through the graining phase.

        1. Profile Photo

          Sean Doyle (@spdoyle17)
          12th October 2013, 1:54

          Just saw this. Nice!

    4. Profile Photo

      TMF (@)
      10th October 2013, 8:29

      Watching F1 for 20+ years I’ve reached the point where I wanna see Seb win every race for the rest of the season and show the finger just to annoy the folks who still try to find excuses why he isn’t that good or why he’s unlikable.

    5. Profile Photo

      JCost (@jcost)
      10th October 2013, 11:11

      I’m surprised you needed a drink the way you were needing to manage the pace.

      Oh my.

    6. vjm
      10th October 2013, 13:36

      Seb used a lot of less finger that weekend than usual. Straight out of the car it was the fist, not the finger – both quali and race.

    7. Profile Photo

      Deb Luhi (@debeluhi)
      11th October 2013, 0:20

      He should start doing a Mexican Waive, just to stir a bit the finger critics.

  2. Profile Photo

    Zoltan Czibula (@ganajman)
    9th October 2013, 21:57

    lap 16 Sutil was a bit straightforward to say the least, wasn’t he? I guess eithr he has already lost the seat for next year, or he has just lost it because of this comment… Or maybe the team wil understand his frustration (nay they won’t probably).
    Anyway thanks for the script, was great to read!

    1. Profile Photo

      David Margono (@woshidavid95)
      10th October 2013, 10:06

      @ganajman
      Well considering Di Resta crashed out for 3 races in a row I’d say Sutil is definitely still in it

    2. Profile Photo

      JCost (@jcost)
      10th October 2013, 11:19

      My candidates for “Quote Of The Race” are:

      Adrian Sutil

      The car’s ******* slow. I can’t go faster. It’s a piece of ****.

      Lewis Hamilton

      Has anyone got any suggestions?

      Eric Boullier

      Romain you are quicker than Kimi, eight laps to go, you can overtake him, you will overtake him, OK?

      1. Profile Photo

        Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
        10th October 2013, 11:26

        @jcost The last one is from Komatsu, not Boullier.

        1. Profile Photo

          JCost (@jcost)
          10th October 2013, 13:10

          Thanks @keithcollantine

  3. Profile Photo

    Njack (@njack)
    9th October 2013, 22:03

    4AM Sunday – Epic rugby match between the All Blacks and Springboks featuring two teams playing at the limit of their physical and mental capabilities.

    7PM Sunday – Tyres tyres tyres.

    9:30PM Sunday – Epic NRL grand final between Manly Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters featuring two teams playing at the limit of their physical and mental capabilities.

    Thank you Pirellii/FIA for making me a part-time viewer of the”pinnacle of motorsport”.

    Hello 2014 USCR and WEC.

  4. Profile Photo

    mantresx (@mantresx)
    9th October 2013, 22:12

    I think Lewis is not getting on with his engineer, I guess it’s not the same he had at Mclaren.

    1. Profile Photo

      George (@george)
      9th October 2013, 23:34

      Yeah they seem to argue every race. It’s actually Button’s old engineer (and Schumi’s after).

    2. Profile Photo

      LexBlair (@lexblair)
      10th October 2013, 0:35

      Well, It’s not like he has gotten along that well with his old race engineer at McLaren…

    3. Profile Photo

      Mike Dee (@mike-dee)
      10th October 2013, 9:50

      @mantresx I didn’t find that message confusing at all. They told him he would come in a lap earlier so he could push now. Might seem counterintuitive but the choice of lap on which to pit might have been due to strategy.

      1. Profile Photo

        maarten.f1 (@)
        10th October 2013, 11:14

        @mike-dee Perhaps there has been more conversation that has not been aired on the pit lane feed/main feed. @keithcollantine Any idea what the percentage is of how many messages are broadcasted publicly compared to the actual number of messages?

        1. Profile Photo

          Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
          10th October 2013, 11:25

          @maarten-f1 A huge amount of chatter goes on not just between the driver and his team, but crew members at different levels and even going out to the teams’ factories where there are often more people working on strategy (in McLaren’s famous “mission control” room, for example, and their rivals’ equivalent departments).

          A large extract of Renault’s team radio from the notorious Crashgate episode in 2008 was published and gives a better idea of the true extent of communication going on. Part of it was recently published here:

          Crashgate’s shadow still lingers five years on

          And the full extract is available as a PDF here.

  5. Profile Photo

    lordhesketh (@lordhesketh)
    9th October 2013, 22:22

    Boy, Smedley sure drives that car for Massa, doesn’t he?

    1. Profile Photo

      Zoltan Czibula (@ganajman)
      9th October 2013, 22:34

      exact same thought i had when reading it.

    2. Profile Photo

      TheBass (@)
      9th October 2013, 22:40

      @lordhesketh eh? It doesn’t sound that much different of what we’ve seen from many other drivers before.

    3. Profile Photo

      bananarama (@bananarama)
      9th October 2013, 22:44

      I especially liked to hear so much from Alonso as well. I guess next season we won’t hear much at all from Ferrari, italian discussions won’t be broadcast and Raikkonen won’t become much more talkative either.

  6. Profile Photo

    Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
    9th October 2013, 23:01

    Mark Webber: But the Q1 set would have been better. Sorry, the… Anyway, yeah, whatever.

    He was already annoyed with Pirelli huh?

    Would be great to see a picture of Rocky and Simon together during the race. Everything from Rocky’s side is so calm and easy, yet Simon has it all tsunamis coming at him with problems everywhere !

    1. Profile Photo

      MNM101 (@mnm101)
      9th October 2013, 23:12

      LOL tsunamis, when I read that I just imagined a mini tsunami hitting Mark’s side of the garage in Suzuka, with the luck hes’ been having lately it’s not such a stretch

    2. Profile Photo

      kcarrey (@kcarrey)
      10th October 2013, 3:24

      Hopefully Michelin tyres will do him good in 2014.

    3. Profile Photo

      Mike Dee (@mike-dee)
      10th October 2013, 9:51

      @fer-no65 But why did they not use the medium set used in Q1? I questioned that as well.

    4. anon
      12th October 2013, 1:18

      I don’t think he was annoyed with Pirelli, I think it was his team that he was annoyed at.

  7. Profile Photo

    Chad (@chaddy)
    9th October 2013, 23:09

    I think the finger comment was to give Seb a hard time, sort of like how Seb said to reporters they had traction control. Just screwing with others’ dumb opinions.

    1. Profile Photo

      Mach1 (@mach1)
      10th October 2013, 2:09

      I would have been hilarious if he had said to Seb over the radio “don’t forget to turn the traction control off”

  8. Profile Photo

    celeste (@celeste)
    9th October 2013, 23:18

    Guillaume Rocquelin –Sebastian Vettel :Remember the fronts coming back only means the right-front is worn, so be careful.

    Describing how the tyres worked to perfection. Interesting RBR knew that in the way the tyres work it could cause the kind of accident that Checo had.

    Guillaume Rocquelin– Sebastian Vettel: Rocquelin suggesting Vettel refrain from waving his trademark finger?OK Sebastian usual procedure: P1, P0. And er.. Idon’t know. Mexican Wave?
    Sebastian Vettel– Guillaume Rocquelin: Finger!
    Guillaume Rocquelin Sebastian Vettel Alright.

    Keep doing the finger Seb… And sorry for Massa and Smedley, but I love me some Seb and Rocky show.

    1. Profile Photo

      Dave (@)
      9th October 2013, 23:58

      Seb and Rocky show

      Sounds like an 80s sitcom :-)

      1. Profile Photo

        celeste (@celeste)
        10th October 2013, 0:13

        @raceproul Here is the first episode

      2. Profile Photo

        celeste (@celeste)
        10th October 2013, 0:19

        Sorry @raceprouk

  9. Profile Photo

    d3v0 (@d3v0)
    10th October 2013, 0:37

    I like how the Hulk was commenting on the downforce of the Merc (given how hard lewis rode him in sector 2) and busted his engineers balls for giving instructions “3cm from braking” haha. Dude is a star. I could hear how nervous he was “this is 110%, #$%% that mercedes has a lot of downforce” makes me think of david and goliath kind of thing :)

  10. PeterG
    10th October 2013, 1:08

    So much tyre management going on this year, Pirelli really have screwed up 2013.

    I get what they say they were asked to do but this year they have gone way over the top with how sensitive & fragile the tyres have been. We saw a fair bit early 2012 but this year its seemed 100x worse at just about every single race.

  11. Profile Photo

    Somethingwittyer (@somethingwittyer)
    10th October 2013, 2:02

    Lewis seemed a bit sassy with his comments over the radio, didn’t he? Seems par for the corse thought , every other race he says something quotable (“I can’t drive any slower” anyone?).

  12. Candice
    10th October 2013, 3:11

    Romain lied again when he claim the radio was bad.

    Just like german gp where he held up Kimi for 5 laps because he claim the radio is bad.

    Jeez, the real Romain beneath his all smiley face is creepy.

    1. Profile Photo

      celeste (@celeste)
      10th October 2013, 4:37

      Oh noes a driver that doesn´t like team orders when they are to the gain of his teammate, I have never seem this before…. ;)

      1. Profile Photo

        Chris (@tophercheese21)
        10th October 2013, 6:10

        Germany, yes. But Korea no. He made the mistake on the final corner and Kimi punished him for it.

        Romain’s engineer was telling him they were racing, so it’s far from a team order.

    2. Profile Photo

      David Margono (@woshidavid95)
      10th October 2013, 10:13

      Candice, it’s pretty obvious you’re either a Raikkonen fan and/or an avid Grosjean critic to put it mildly but tell me, what do you have to say about Webber ignoring team orders in Silverstone 2011 or worse still, 2012 Interlagos? Almost anyone would have pretty much done the same thing in Grosjean’s place, unless they’re as whipped as Massa so please, enough of the thinly-veiled insults towards Grosjean because they’re totally uncalled for and unjustified.

      1. purple
        10th October 2013, 10:21

        David, I think what Candice means is how Grosjean keeps on telling about team orders he hasn’t even obeyed. It’s one thing to say out loud that ‘I will not follow any team orders’ than bringing up them and pretending that he followed them.

        1. Profile Photo

          David Margono (@woshidavid95)
          10th October 2013, 16:02

          Purple, except that he obeyed them. Reluctantly, but duh, who wouldn’t be reluctant, unless you’re like Massa who’s so whipped.

          1. purple
            10th October 2013, 16:15

            David, take Kimi for example. He has never been told to give way to his teammates, yet he did it immediately in 2008 without any extra drama. But if RG was so reluctant to give way to Kimi in Germany, why was he so angry at the team for them hesitating with giving Kimi an order, because that’s what it sounded like. I just don’t think that RG is in a position to cry in public about how he has given way earlier, especially since KR always said that he would had passed RG with or without a team order. Anyway, this is not relevant anymore. Next season they are not in the same team anymore.

          2. Profile Photo

            David Margono (@woshidavid95)
            11th October 2013, 1:04

            Purple, that’s because Massa was a genuine WDC contender, you cannot compare their situations. Your line doesn’t exactly make sense, you say he’s angry at the team for hesitating to give Raikkonen an order but like hello, of course he would be considering they had no qualms with giving Grosjean orders twice before. He became angry and I can see where he’s coming from, especially when it’s a spur of the moment thing.

      2. Profile Photo

        Feuerdrache (@xenomorph91)
        10th October 2013, 10:27

        Additionally, he would have been clearly ahead of Räikkönen without any SCs in those races, so it’s a bit understandable to hear those frustrated comments.

  13. Profile Photo

    kcarrey (@kcarrey)
    10th October 2013, 3:21

    Hamilton: the tyre is dead
    Bonnington: do you need an autopsy on that tyre? or a funeral?

    1. Profile Photo

      Hamilfan (@hamilfan)
      10th October 2013, 11:25

      LOL

  14. Profile Photo

    Ed Marques (@edmarques)
    10th October 2013, 4:48

    Mercedes needs to work on their comunication.
    And their strategies.

  15. Profile Photo

    Mike Gibbins (@torort)
    10th October 2013, 5:37

    I just wan’t to add that I love these transcripts.
    Thanks @keithcollantine great job.

    M

    1. Profile Photo

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      10th October 2013, 5:54

      @torort You’re welcome :-)

      1. elpapo
        10th October 2013, 8:04

        F1 for me is in this sequence: Qualify, Race, Podium speec, rumors and THIS transcripts! Thanks!

  16. Profile Photo

    Hamilfan (@hamilfan)
    10th October 2013, 6:55

    The rapport between seb and rocky is scintillating !

    Meanwhile :

    Nico 1.7 faster last lap, 7.5 seconds behind.

    My dear Bonnington , it is difficult to do math at 300 Kmph . What Lewis expected was ‘ at this rate he will catch you in 4 laps ‘

    At the end :

    “we are P5 , Lewis ”

    Lewis :-|

    LOL

    1. Profile Photo

      Merv (@)
      10th October 2013, 9:46

      100% agree, his reply was so cryptic. Any driver needs clear concise replies leaving maximum concentration for actually driving.
      I could never imagine Rob Smedley being so difficult.

    2. Profile Photo

      Hotbottoms (@hotbottoms)
      10th October 2013, 11:36

      @hamilfan
      I don’t know about that. Bonnington’s first answer “Nico the car behind, 7.5 seconds” wasn’t good, because it doesn’t tell how fast Nico is catching Hamilton. But his second answer was in my opinion a lot more informative than your alternative.

      I could instantly say (without really calculating it) that Nico will catch Hamilton in 4 to 5 laps if Hamilton doesn’t speed up and I’m sure that Hamilton was able to do the same. The drivers deal with seconds and tenths all the time, so I’m sure they don’t have to use any effort to solve such an easy calculation.

      Bonnington’s second answer is also more informative than your alternative, because it tells Hamilton how many more laps he’ll have ahead Nico if he speeds up for instance 0.3 seconds or 0.7 seconds.

  17. Profile Photo

    andae23 (@andae23)
    10th October 2013, 7:14

    **** that Mercedes has got some downforce. I just hope we don’t fall off like bananas at the end of the race.

    Great radio message from the Hulk! :)

  18. Rambler
    10th October 2013, 10:12

    Just so you’re aware, he’s won race before last weekend :)

  19. Profile Photo

    Girts (@girts)
    10th October 2013, 10:16

    Slim Tim is coming up to see you and collect the constructors’ trophy today

    Who is this ‘Slim Tim’, what’s his real name?

    1. Profile Photo

      periwinkle (@shena)
      10th October 2013, 10:58

      Tim (actually not so slim) Malyon, ‘Seb’s performance engineer.

      1. Profile Photo

        Girts (@girts)
        10th October 2013, 11:08

        @Shena Thank you very much!

  20. Profile Photo

    Hotbottoms (@hotbottoms)
    10th October 2013, 12:46

    @keithcollantine
    These team radio transcript articles are getting famous – MTV3, which is the Finnish Formula One broadcaster is using this article as their source!
    http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/f1/uutiset.shtml/2013/10/1817585/nain-grosjean-pyysi-tallimaaraysta—lue-koko-keskustelu

    1. Profile Photo

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      10th October 2013, 14:04

      @hotbottoms Interesting how they’ve decided whatever censored word was being said to Grosjean begins with a ‘v’ in Finnish…

      1. Profile Photo

        Girts (@girts)
        10th October 2013, 14:42

        @KeithCollantine I think it’s the most popular Finnish swear word that can be used in many combinations. So no matter what exactly ‘Pat’ said to Romain, I’m pretty sure that the translation gives the gist :)

  21. Profile Photo

    timtoo (@timtoo)
    10th October 2013, 13:01

    Fascinating insight just searching through (Ctrl-F) Button’s transmissions, discussing the tiers and deciding on what to do (have not read through the others yet) – seems like they are willing to take some risks (they have to I suppose). Shame that Button hasn’t been able to shine this year as the rest of the field have developed their own tire management skills, up to and above what used to be his foray + his wet weather skills.

    I understand the principle that the best driver doesn’t have to be the fastest one, its a shame that he isn’t able to be the latter unless he has someone able to help him setup the car to a perfect level. When he is on form, he really is, its just a shame that he seems to have faded away without the right setup guidance from Lewis and Barrichello.

    I love reading through this, really look forward to it after a race as it offers so much insight. sometimes I leave reading them to the long gaps between race weekends. – perfect reading on the train!

    1. Profile Photo

      panache (@panache)
      10th October 2013, 13:26

      @timtoo The simple fact of the matter is that Buttons car isn’t good enough this season. Same goes for his teammate who also had very impressive tyre management skills last season but has struggled just as much if not more than Button with tyre lifespan this year.

      I don’t think there is any evidence to support your claim that Button can only perform well when he relies on teammates to help him with car setup, nor is there much to support the notion that Hamilton is gifted when it comes to setting up a car.

      1. Profile Photo

        timtoo (@timtoo)
        10th October 2013, 14:31

        @panache I think your point is correct. I would not say Hamilton is gifted in setting up the car, he just has the ability to drive around the setup, whereas Button appears to be more sensitive to car setup. Quite often we hear that Button is not happy with the setup for some reason, even if minor. The car has not been good this year which is true, as I really wish we could see a chance for Perez to shine. However I can’t help feeling that if Button can achieve a spot on setup, he could really show us what he is capable of. I know the car has a lot to do with it, but he has had some amazing wins in the past, and proved his skill and I am desperately hoping that he can pull of a podium by the end of the year, they need to go for broke

        1. Profile Photo

          panache (@panache)
          11th October 2013, 14:06

          @timtoo

          . I would not say Hamilton is gifted in setting up the car, he just has the ability to drive around the setup, whereas Button appears to be more sensitive to car setup.

          I think this is a far more accurate assessment. I agree that Hamilton has the ability to haggle performance out of a car by driving “around the setup” whilst Button is more sensitive to car setup in order to extract the maximum from his car.

          However I can’t help feeling that if Button can achieve a spot on setup, he could really show us what he is capable of.

          I think the 2011 season was actually an example of this. Button had a stronger 2nd half of the season than any other driver on the grid besides Vettel who had a dominant car.

          Except from Korea where Button finished 4th, he finished on the podium in every other race in the second half of the season including wins in Hungary and Japan and an impressive drive to 3rd place in the Abu Dhabi GP ahead of Webber despite a failed KERS system.

          His podium in Abu Dhabi was also the only podium in the second half of the year where rivals from a team other than Red Bull finished ahead of him (Hamilton 1st, Alonso in 2nd place).

          It therefore stands to reason that if Red Bull wasn’t so competitive in 2011, Button would have won the majority of the races in the second half of the season.

  22. Profile Photo

    Alan (@dogmop)
    10th October 2013, 14:11

    Was slightly confused when the transcript is headed with

    2013 Singapore Grand Prix team radio transcript rather than Korean

    Assuming some copying and pasting of the format? ;)

  23. anon
    12th October 2013, 1:29

    Is anyone else curious about the “Remember no part throttle” message to Vettel on the formation lap?

Comments are closed.