2014 Malaysian GP qualifying team radio transcript

2014 Malaysian Grand Prix

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For the second race event of the season, the heavens opened at the worst possible time for the drivers ahead of qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix

While the rain led to a flurry of on-track activity, the activity over the radio waves was just as frantic, with tempers sometimes running as hot as Pirelli’s wet rubber.

Both drivers and their engineers agonised over which of the two wet compounds to use during each of the three qualifying segments, with teams reacting to their rivals as well as to the conditions on the track.

This year’s rookies had to contend with their second successive wet qualifying and all three had at least one heart-stopping moment during the session. Daniil Kvyat provided some of the more colourful radio moments of the afternoon.

But it was Lewis Hamilton who prevailed in the tricky conditions, as he did in Melbourne, as as the Mercedes driver struggled to see the track and his rivals as conditions deteriorated.

See how the session unfolded after the Malaysian monsoon via the team radio broadcasts.

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2014 Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying team radio transcript

PhaseTimeFromToMessage
Q118:00Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoWe’ve got nine timed laps worth of fuel in the car.
Q118:00Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK Jev, so looking at the Safety Car, the weather and also from your feedback I’ve got from Ollie, we’ll go for Inter tyre.
Q118:00Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaRadio check, radio check.
Q1Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK, radio check. Multifunction, rain position two. Position two, for tyre compound. Is it clear which one? OK, be ready to go out straight away. Three minutes and a half until green light.
Q118:00Tony RossNico RosbergCars are queueing at pit exit
So, you need to work the Inters. None of the gears are learnt at the moment.
Q1Nico RosbergTony RossShould we do a start?
Q1Tony RossNico RosbergNico, do one if possible. But…
Q1Nico RosbergTony RossWith a bite-point find?
Q1Tony RossNico RosbergAfirm, but we’ll call them when we want to do them, Nico.
Q118:00Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonShould I do a bite-point? Let me know.
Q1Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis, we do expect rain in the session. So make the early laps representative.
Q116:50Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonEricsson is stranded at pit exit
We have a problem on the car, raise your hands. Raise your hands so they know and turn the car off. Turn the car off, OK? So raise your hands so everybody knows.
Q1Marcus EricssonAngel BaenaWhat’s happening?
Q1Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonHold on a second. We have the [?] in error, we will have to power cycle the car in the box. Raise your hands so everybody knows.
Q1Marcus EricssonAngel BaenaOK Marcus. So, we saw an error. We’re going to reboot the car. It should be ready to go.
Q115:43Mark SladePastor MaldonadoHow is the track, Pastor? How is the track? Is it suitable for dries, or full wets?
Q1Pastor MaldonadoMark SladeI think it’s OK for Inters at the moment.
Q1Mark SladePastor MaldonadoRoger that.
Q115:07Dave RobsonJenson ButtonMcLaren initially send both their cars out on full wet tyres
OK Jenson, these are good conditions for this tyre. Let’s set a time on this tyre and then get ready for Intermediates. So just keep warming the brakes, and it’s Yellow G3. Yellow G3.
Q113:45Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, we think Inters are the right tyre. So box this lap. Box this lap, confirm.
Q111:31Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelBox, Sebastian. Box. Issue with car. Box please. Currently… P7. And careful of Daniel [Ricciardo] behind you.
Q1Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinIs there anything I can do now?
Q1Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelNegative. Bring the car back please.
Q110:54Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK, watch out for Daniel. There’s a decent gap behind Daniel. We need to reset the car basically, Sebastian. So back in the garage, please. We’ll reset the car. Are the tyres still holding up? Can I keep them? Or do you want new tyres?
Q1Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinKeep the tyres. Tyres are OK.
Q1Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAll right.
Q110:24Tony RossNico RosbergBrake temperatures are coming up now. Tyre temperatures are… nine all round. Good.
Q110:02Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK, rain is getting heavier. Rain is getting heavier.
Q19:38Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK Sebastian, we’ve got an issue with the energy store. We think a reset might fix it. We’re working on it. Do you want to change the front wing, possibly?
Q18:44Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieIs this still a cool down lap? I feel like the fronts are getting a little bit hurt.
Q1Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoTorque five. Torque five. Charge 14. Charge one-four. You’ve got 15 seconds behind to Raikkonen. We expect the weather to stay the same Daniel. We expect the weather to stay the same until the end of the session.
Q18:08Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK Sebastian, the pace is currently low 59s. The track is improving.
Q13:11Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieYeah, second sector’s raining quite a bit more.
Q1Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, box this lap please. Box this lap.
Q12:23Box, box, Sebastian. We’re safe.
Q10:35Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatEricsson has crashed, prompting the session to be red flagged and, ultimately, ended
OK for the next session, Daniil.
Q1Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaOK, the balance was very poor. I don’t know how much we’re missing but the rear is all over the place.
Q1Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK, understood.
Q10:35Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, remember – between the bollards at pit entry. Pit entry will be slippery, so be careful.
Q215:00Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK Daniil, we are fitting new Inters on the car. So give me one second and we’ll come back to you. So, regarding standing water – some comment, please.
Q215:00Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK, we reckon that this level of rain will stay for a while.
Q215:00Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneJev – when you came in, do you still think it was Inter conditions?
Q2Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarYes I think so. Yes.
Q2Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK, copy that. Set two-three. Set two-three, to the car.
Q215:00Tony RossNico RosbergJust checking there’s nothing major I’m doing wrong with low revs out on track?
Q213:55Mark TempleKevin MagnussenMagnussen again begins the session on full wet tyres
Ferrari in front [Raikkonen] is on Inter. We think that is the wrong tyre for these conditions. So try and get in front of him if you can.
Q213:11Kimi RaikkonenAntonio SpagnoloI’m aquaplaning when there’s even a little bit of water, so box to change to the other tyres.
Q2Antonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenSession has been red flagged following Kvyat and Alonso’s collision
OK, OK. Box, box.
Q212:46Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaI touched with Alonso. Err… check my rear wing – my front wing.
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK.
Q2Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaI feel like I can carry on.
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK, carry on.
Q2Daniil KvyatMarco Matassa…no. Need a new wing. Need a new wing.
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK, copy.
Q2Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaOr maybe I could try one lap? I think should be fine… Red flag, red flag, red flag!
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatRed flag? OK, Daniil. Box, box, box – box, box.
Q2Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaOK, check front wing. Suspension… suspension is OK. Just the front wing. I saw one piece flying away.
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK, no problem. We check everything. We are looking into the data, no worries mate. No worries.
Q212:46Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK, you’ve confirmed the suspension is broken? Try to come in, try to come in, red flag, try to come in. No overtaking. Yeah, we saw the images. We saw somebody just entering… ignorance… inside.
Q2Fernando AlonsoAndrea StellaYeah, it’s unbelievable. I mean, how long with these conditions? It’s unbelievable.
Q2Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK, try to make it. Try to make it. It’s red flag.
Q2Fernando AlonsoAndrea StellaI’m in the pitlane, so.
Q212:20Tony RossNico RosbergSession has resumed
So, straight away, just warming the brakes up again.
Q211:07Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK, good job on the brake temperatures. It’s coming up. All switches are OK for timed lap.
Q210:37Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico, expecting six timed. Lewis will back off from Gutierrez, so just be aware of that.
Q210:07Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaOK, go engine mode position one. Engine mode position one. And we need to “dog” learn eighth gear. “Dog” learn eighth gear.
Q29:40Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, fail 21, fail. Fail 21, fail. Torque four and charge six. Torque four, charge six.
Q28:58Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoRemember, downshift early and quick. Downshift early and quick.
Q28:44Tony RossNico RosbergUse overtake out of 14 now, and out of 15.
Q28:30Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK Romain, boost-two. Boost-two.
Q28:15Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOpen the gap, open the gap. Get space. Daniil will stay behind.
Q27:54Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatDo not overtake Jev, Daniil. Do not overtake Jev.
Q27:42Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaYou’re completely confusing me! I was on my fast lap!
Q27:00Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis. We can back off and control the pace for one lap. Let’s cool it down a bit.
Q26:03Esteban GutierrezCraig GardinerWe box for Inter.
Q2Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezCopy. We’ll do one timed.
Q2Esteban GutierrezCraig GardinerAnd two front wing.
Q24:59Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsHow are we looking?
Q2Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasSlow at the moment, Valtteri. We are slow. Massa has pitted for Inters. Rain is expected to stay until the end of the session.
Q2Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsCan we still lap with the wets?
Q2Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasIf we pit in this lap, we’ll have one timed lap available to us.
Q2Let’s try that while I’m with the wet.
Q24:02Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson, we’ve got three more timed laps. Three more laps.
Q23:35Kevin MagnussenMark TempleMagnussen runs onto the gravel at the final corner
I’ve come off.
Q2Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, we’ll stop you for a tyre change in the pit lane… and switch the engine off. Switch the engine off.
Q20:28Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieCensored by FOM
Get this ******* Williams out of my way!
Q2Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK mate understood keep up the pace we’re going to get one more timed lap
Q311:37Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarDue to audio quality problems some messages from the end of Q2 were omitted. The messages included Grosjean complaining that Rosberg held him up.
Try and get me out in space, I don’t want anyone in front of me. Now it’s Q3, it should be possible.
Q310:13Mark TempleKevin MagnussenThe two McLarens have begun Q3 on Intermediate tyres
OK Kevin. Other cars are on wet tyres. What are the track conditions like?
Q3Kevin MagnussenMark TempleIt’s too wet. It’s too wet.
Q3Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, it’s still too wet for Inters?
Q3Kevin MagnussenMark TempleYes, it’s too wet.
Q3Mark TempleKevin MagnussenUnderstood. Box this lap for wet tyres.
Q3Kevin MagnussenMark TempleUnderstood.
Q39:20Jenson ButtonDave Robson[Distorted]
Q3Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK, another new Inter. Another new Inter?
Q3Jenson ButtonDave RobsonYeah, Inter.
Q36:40Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson, you can keep warming the brakes. Keep the temperature in these tyres and we’ll be in good shape at the end of the session. Let’s make this one count.
Q36:24Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAnd strat mode four. Strat mode four. Keep pushing. Keep pushing, and use overtake.
Q35:45Fernando AlonsoAndrea StellaIt seems much better that we stay out and see what others are doing.
Q3Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoItalian?
OK, OK, we are [?]
Q34:38Kimi RaikkonenAntonio SpagnoloThe traction is so bad, it’s unbelieveable! So how many laps we have left?
Q3Antonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenFour left. Four left, but keep pushing, keep pushing.
Q3Kimi RaikkonenAntonio SpagnoloYeah, but we have to change tyres. These tyres are gone from the rear. I have no traction anymore.
Q3Antonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenOK, OK, understood. I come back to you in one second.
Q34:00Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, your pace was good until you got traffic.
Q33:28Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo, Nico thinking Inter tyre. Nico is thinking Inter tyre. What do you think?
Q3Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonFrom what I can see, it looks like it’s raining more. That’s what I can see.
Q3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe agree, Lewis. We agree.
Q32:28Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo Lewis, we’re going to go to the extreme wet tyre. Do you agree?
Q3Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonFrom what I can see, yes. It looks like it should be ex-wets.
Q3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe agree, Lewis. It’ll be the ex-wet we’ll be fitting.
Q3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonHamilton has pitted
So we’re going to hold. We will hold, and it’ll be a normal pull away. We will hold… go, go, go.
Q30:57Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieWill I get another lap? Got traffic.
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoYeah, we’ll get another lap. We’ve got a ten second margin to get one more lap. So you need to keep up the pace, you will get one more timed lap.
Q30:13Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonI can’t see anything out of my mirrors. I can’t see where anyone is.
Q30:00Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonGuys, you’ve got to give me a gap. I can’t see anything.
Q30:00Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelVettel has crossed the line after the chequered flag is shown
OK Sebastian, you’re currently P2. Some people are recording green sectors. I don’t know which way the track is going.
Q30:00Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAll cars have finished their final timed laps
OK Lewis, so box in the end of this lap. Box in the end of this lap.

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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Author information

Will Wood
Will has been a RaceFans contributor since 2012 during which time he has covered F1 test sessions, launch events and interviewed drivers. He mainly...

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13 comments on “2014 Malaysian GP qualifying team radio transcript”

  1. Love this insight. Cheers Will.

  2. Get this ******* Williams out of my way!

    I like how that has the correct number of * :)

  3. great fun. thank you Will, and thank you Keith for a great website. FIA should pay you for keeping F1 interesting. You’re doing a better job then Bernie:-)

  4. Riccardos developing ‘Vettel syndrome’ where he think hes can swear at the engineers to move other cars out of their way ;]

    1. i don’t think so. vettel is vettel and ricciardo is his own man. if you look at the revised grid you will see just what daniel was referring to. bottas ruined ricciardo’s lap!

      1. Stop making Vettel look bad.

        No driver on the track when faced with such situation will look like an angel. This goes for all 22 drivers on track and not only Vettel.

  5. McLaren initially send both their cars out on full wet tyres

    Q1 Dave Robson -> Jenson Button
    OK Jenson, these are good conditions for this tyre. Let’s set a time on this tyre and then get ready for Intermediates. So just keep warming the brakes, and it’s Yellow G3. Yellow G3.

    Q1 Mark Temple -> Kevin Magnussen
    OK Kevin, we think Inters are the right tyre. So box this lap. Box this lap, confirm.

    …..

  6. Aditya (@adityafakhri)
    30th March 2014, 5:07

    it seems like:
    – Matassa and Kvyat, Spagnolo and Raikkonen were not blend together yet
    – McLaren is rather inexperienced with inters/wet condition
    – worries still on Vettel, he and Rocquelin a bit panicking especially in Q1

    1. Shreyas Mohanty
      30th March 2014, 5:51

      Are you being serious? McLaren do not have ENOUGH wet experience? They have been racing since ’66, that is 48 years – almost half a century!

  7. Have you tried turning it off and on again?

    I don’t think cars should run Microsoft Windows.

  8. Ditto. Great insight. Thank you for posting.

  9. Slackbladder
    30th March 2014, 8:25

    For the first time Ever I am not watching a race in protest of the absurd rule changes this year!
    Sorry Advertisers I missed All your Ads, not going to buy one thing you make, produce, hawk or represent!
    Until Formula One repeals the silly rules in place this season I won’t be watching or supporting the advertisers.
    and this one post is worth 1,000 other’s who feel the same but won’t post!

Comments are closed.