2014 Australian GP qualifying team radio transcript

2014 Australian Grand Prix

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With the new cars gving the tams so much to get on top of at the first race weekend of the year, rain was the last thing the teams wanted to see in qualifying.

But the Melbourne weather didn’t feel like being helpful, and doused the track with rain to give the drivers yet another challenging variable to contender with.

Unlike last year, when a downpour forced qualifying to be postponed until the following day, there were no interruptions in the running. But the drivers were visibly fighting to keep their cars under control.

The session produced stand-out performances from new Red Bul driver Daniel Ricciardo and rookies Kevin Magnussen and Daniil Kvyat. And of course Lewis Hamilton, who took pole position despite a lurid slide in the middle of his lap.

Here’s how the session unfolded as heard through the broadcast team radio chatter.

2014 Australian Grand Prix qualifying team radio transcript

PhaseTimeFromToMessage
Pre00:24Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis. We’ll do a start from where you’re sat, but don’t engage RS modes until late. I will give you a nod.
Pre00:02Tony RossNico RosbergSo you need to let Lewis go first.
Q117:11Tony RossNico RosbergAnd just lots of warming, because the tyres will be cold after that. Lots of warming, weaving and braking. We will tell you later whether we want you to go for the first or second timed lap.
Q116:57Tony RossNico RosbergNico, we will go for lap one. So temperatures are… eight, front and rear. So big braking, lots of weaving.
Q116:18Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, still looking at 20 minutes away for the rain. We expect a dry Q1.
Q115:00Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezEsteban, we can push a little bit more to keep up. The tyres are on the cold side.
Q114:35Mark SladePastor MaldonadoOK Pastor, we need to box this lap please. Box this lap. We have no ‘H’.
Q113:49Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK Romain, we need to stay on this switch setting for the next timed lap.
Q1Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuThe engine is still not working.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK, understood.
Q112:53Guillaume RocquelinSebastian Vettel…and hit reverse to start your timed lap at the last possible minute.
Q112:28Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoFernando, box. Box now, we put the soft.
Q111:32Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo, tyres are at 120 front to rear, so brake magic on.
Q110:40Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, we are just prepared to run again. I’ll keep you updated with what the plan is. Nice job there, mate.
Q19:56Dave RobsonJenson ButtonSo JB, that’s a good lap on a used tyre. We’re currently P4.
Q1Jenson ButtonDave RobsonErr, the cockpit’s getting very hot compared to normal.
Q18:48Max ChiltonGary Gannon(Not 100% clear)
Last lap was a lot better than the second lap. There’s still just a (distorted) apex understeer, which is making snap-oversteer at turn… err… whatever I’m at now. Seven. Er, nine.
Q1Gary GannonMax ChiltonOK Max, understood. We’ll put more tyre pressure in so they should come up quicker. We’ll go for one timed lap and we’ll put some flap on – half a turn of flap on.
Q17:17Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinLight rain begins to fall on the circuit
OK, there’s rain drops coming now.
Q1Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelUnderstood.
Q16:25Pastor MaldonadoMark SladeMaldonado spins at turn three on soft dry tyres on the now damp track
It’s raining
Q1Mark SladePastor MaldonadoYep. Understood
Q16:18Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK, there’s rain now. Rain around turn nine, ten.
Q15:50Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAll cars on circuit pit.
OK Lewis, so very slippery on track now. Exercise caution. Sector three very slippery.
Q14:14Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneGutierrez has rejoined the circuit
And we’ll get the car ready for Q2 now, because the track will not get any faster.
Q11:02Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezSo obvious be careful out there, Esteban. We use it only as a balance check for tomorrow.
Q10:47Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarSarcastic
This is fantastic. First time in the wet for qualifying with this kind of engine. Beautiful.
Q10:37Romain GrosjeanAyao Komatsu*sighs* I guess this is the end.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanYeah. Unfortunately, yes.
Q1Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuThose tyres are undriveable in those conditions. It’s dangerous. Plus, there’s problems on the downshift. It’s very messy.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanUnderstood.
Q10:00Olivier HelvigAlberto’Vergne’s channel
OK Alberto, on the front flap we go minus four. Minus four degrees.
Q1Jean-Eric VergneOlivier HelvigOlivier, can you give me a map for the braking, or at least tell me which brake shape I should use for a little bit less front power at the end of braking? I can see the Sauber struggling a lot of locking the front at the end of braking, even though he was really slow.
Q10:00Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK Jev, we’re going for set 2-1. So Inter.
Q10:00Tim WrightKamui KobayashiOK Kamui, so we’ve gone down two degrees. We’re on full wets and we’ve reset your brake balance. We have three minutes to go. And basically, in regards to fuelling, we should be able to do the whole session like this. And obviously we could come in and change to intermediates if conditions improve.
Q215:00Tim WrightKamui KobayashiOK Kamui, the rain’s definitely getting lighter here. I don’t think we have anything to lose by going out on full wet – at least seeing where it is.
Q2Kamui KobayashiTim WrightOK. I think it’s a predictable tyre. If track was getting really dry, it makes sense to go straight away with inter tyre. But in this condition, we start with understeer on the track. If rain is stopping, I prefer to go with inter tyre.
Q2Tim WrightKamui KobayashiOK Kamui. Yeah, obviously. When you previously went out on circuit it looked to you like it was very wet. The rain looks like it’s backed off a bit, but I don’t think track condition would’ve changed a lot. So we’ll go on the full wets and we’ll be ready for inters. It’s 15 minutes, Kamui, so we think that will be eight timed.
Q213:40Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonMassa runs onto gravel at turn nine
OK, so Massa off turn nine on the out lap.
Q213:01Mark TempleKevin MagnussenWe think Kvyat in front is on a full wet, everyone else is on inter. Keep warming the brakes.
Q212:51Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK, it could be that the rain increases into the session, so we open up the gap and we work properly from the very first run.
Q212:14Gianpiero LambiaseNico HulkenbergWe had a fuel pressure issue. There’s plenty of fuel in it, so don’t worry about that.
Q211:08Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatKvyat is on the full wet tyres
More rain expected, Daniil. More rain expected. Look after your tyres.
Q210:14Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSeven tenths to Nico, P1. So we can go again on the next lap.
Q210:08Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico, look after the tyres and push on lap three.
Q28:46Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasTry and keep temperature in all of the brakes. Front-right brake is on the cool side, so if there’s anything you can do to help with that.
Q28:13Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson, that’s a really good lap. Currently P3.
Q27:53Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK Sebastian, the pace is 1’45. 1’45.6. You’re currently P8.
Q26:33Adrian SutilMarco SchupbachThe track just gets better every lap.
Q25:56Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoRicciardo splits the two Mercedes at the top of the timesheets
Pace is very good at the moment. Pace is very good.
Q24:41Dave RobsonJenson ButtonButton goes quickest, only to be beaten by Ricciardo
Yellow G2, please. Yellow G2. Let’s have a hard in-lap please. Quick in-lap Jenson. We’re going to pit and fit a new inter, but you’re currently P1. P1.
Q22:28Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, we will get a single timed lap on this set of inters. Single timed lap. Be careful of Hamilton behind on a timed lap. Let’s get some brake warm-up and try and get ourselves a gap before the end of the lap.
Q20:53Tony RossNico RosbergJust complete this next timed lap. Going for this next timed lap.
Q20:00Kimi RaikkonenAntonio SpagnoloRaikkonen has crashed exiting turn three. Vettel is currently at risk of elimination
I had traffic and then… I hit the wall.
Q2Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoVettel completes his final lap but fails to advance into Q3
Very good job mate. P2. Three hundreths behind Rosberg. Good job mate.
Q2Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelEr, you’re currently P12.
Q2Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinYeah, I saw that…
Q2Dave RobsonJenson ButtonAll cars have now completed their final flying laps.
P10. P10. So we are through to Q3.
Q2Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson, I’m afraid I’ve got that wrong. We finished P11. P11.
Q2Jenson ButtonDave RobsonThat means a couple of cars went quite a bit… well, must have gone quicker in the… not in the yellow flag zone, but around that lap.
Q2Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaBoth Toro Rossos are through to Q3
… I’d also like a little bit more efficiency from the brakes. Probably… it could be a circuit where too much rearwards, or I never…
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatInterrupting
How was your braking? You felt confidence in that?
Q2Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaNot really. I would like a little bit more.
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK, we are looking into it. I will let you know.
Q2Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarThere is more rain on track now. It’s raining more.
Q2Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneCopy that, Jev.
Q2Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK, what do you think on the track condition and the tyres at the moment, Jev?
Q2Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarAt the moment, is still inters, for sure.
Q2Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneSo the plan is, we could do three timed, one timed, and that would be nil-nil. It’s more rain now, so set three-one to the car. We keep the inters in the garage.
Q311:37Tony RossNico RosbergAnd just cool the tyres around the lap, Nico. Let us know if you want to swap to inter.
Q310:45Tony RossNico RosbergSo all cars are on X-wet [full wet weather tyres]apart from inter on Alonso.
Q310:10Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK, we check the situation. If we pit, we’d still have time for four timed laps, so is not a big problem.
Q38:32Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasAlonso’s first timed lap is much slower than those on full wets
Alonso behind is on a timed on inters, but he’s not that quick.
Q37:55Tony RossNico RosbergRicciardo is currently second behind Rosberg on full wets
Pushing on this lap also. If we’re slower, we will box for another set of tyres.
Q37:20Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, still expect light rain until the end. Still expect light rain.
Q36:27Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoDiff six, diff six. What do you think about the conditions? Is it ready for inters?
Q3Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieI think it will be if we keep running, yep… Sorry, what I meant to say is I think it will be if the rain stops falling.
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, understood. Stay out, stay out.
Q35:45Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoIn Italian
OK, Rosberg has put on ‘extremes’ [full wet weather tyres]. Box now, box.
Q35:35Tony RossNico RosbergRosberg pits as Hamilton takes provisional pole
So, we are fitting wet tyres, Nico. X-wet tyres. No flap adjust – set 73.
Q34:50Gianpiero LambiaseNico HulkenbergRicciardo has also pitted for intermediates
Listen to me! You need to push now to get in the box and get the laps, because we should’ve pitted on the previous one. So get a move on.
Q34:05Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoNeed to get amongst it on the out lap. Put some work into these tyres on the out lap.
Q32:24Nico RosbergTony RossRosberg loses the rear and runs through the gravel at turn nine
I went off. Going for the next lap.
Q3Tony RossNico RosbergCopy, copy. Go strat one. Strat one.
Q30:17Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis, one more lap. One more lap. Use overtake.
Q30:00Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaKvyat loses the car on the turn to turn 11 and hits the inside barrier, off line
OK guys, I hit the wall. What should I do? I can get to the box, the wheels are fine. Well basically… Ahh, aquaplaning! Was a little bit too much for the inter.

Phase/time: Refers to point at which message was broadcast. There may be a delay between messages being said and being broadcast. PQ = pre-qualifying.
Message: Repetitive or irrelevant messages omitted. Notes in italics. Highlights in bold.

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Will Wood
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16 comments on “2014 Australian GP qualifying team radio transcript”

  1. Is there a rule that says the first driver at the end of the pit goes first?
    Because I’ve never heard of that before.

    1. It is a ‘rule’ for each team. Like we know of red bull that thay always let one driver go first in entire race weekend and the other one the next weekend.

    2. If I understand your question there is. Räikkönen got grid penalty last year at Montreal for breaking that rule, along with Ricciardo IIRC.

  2. Fantastic effort, guys!

    This is fantastic. First time in the wet for qualifying with this kind of engine. Beautiful.

    Wonderful comment from Vergne

    1. Agreed @andae23 although a little surprising. When the rain started falling I thought Vergne would be one of the happier ones, given that he is so good in the wet. I am sure by the end of Q3 he was quite pleased with the weather!

  3. My favorite comment was towards the end of Q1 when the rain was already quite heavy and Grosjean got a bit shouty after being told to go faster. I didn’t see it above, but heard it on the Sky broadcast. Something like:
    “OK Roman, you need to go fa…” “I CAN’T!”

    Love this feature guys.

    1. I heard it too and didn’t see it above. It was one of my favorite too.

    2. yes i heard it too. I seem to remember that the commentators immideately declared that it would be a classic meme.

  4. With the new cars gving the tams so much to get on top of at the first race weekend

    I think Mr. O’Shanter was restricted to reigning horses Keith!

  5. I love how excited Kvyat sounds. He’s like a little kid on Christmas. Even after he crashed out he sounded super excited on the radio.

  6. Glad to see some English transmissions between Stella & Alonso

  7. Pity about the lack of raving engine noise

  8. OK Jenson, I’m afraid I’ve got that wrong. We finished P11. P11.

    Tasty. :)

  9. Keith, to your knowledge, and before you started publishing these transcripts last year, did the teams assign someone to pore over other teams’ transmissions? And do they decode phrases like “brake magic” and “diff six” and the like? What percentage of these transmissions are edited out because they contain proprietary knowledge, or something that the FIA deems to be inappropriate? Thanks very much for compiling all this material — it’s a great feature.

  10. The Race radio transcript will be a great read. I wonder how many times fuel gets brought up

  11. NOt sure about that one from RAI:
    “I had traffic and then… I hit the wall.”

    It seemed to me him spinning had nothing to do with traffic…

Comments are closed.