2014 Spanish GP qualifying team radio transcript

2014 Spanish Grand Prix

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Sergio Perez missed out on a place in Q3 after his old team mate Jenson Button pulled a fast one on him at the chicane. Force India were not too pleased about that.

But Williams were very happy with Valtteri Bottas after he put his car on the second row of the grid. “Took a bit of work but you got there,” remarked his race engineer following their struggles in practice.

But it was Mercedes who locked out the front row again. Lewis Hamilton took his fourth pole position despite describing his car as a “nightmare” to drive early in the session.

Here’s what was said on the team radio during qualifying.

2014 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying team radio transcript

PhaseTimeFromToMessage
Q117:34Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezSo Esteban it’s one timed lap on [hard], I’ll guide you with the temperatures.
Q116:10Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezWe would expect Sutil ahead to attack on the first timed lap which means we will encounter him as he slows down after that first lap, OK? So we just need to build ourselves enough of a margin during this second lap.
Q113:31Tony RossNico RosbergMaldonado has crashed at turn three.
So red flag, red flag, box box box, we’ll be changing tyres to set 15.
Q113:31Pastor MaldonadoMark SladeI lost the car.
Q1Mark SladePastor MaldonadoOK Pastor. OK we see it. OK.
Q113:31Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanObviously it’s a red flag and we’ve got less time. We suggest one timed on the [hard] and then stay on the [hard] for the second run. What do you think?
Q1Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuOkeydoke
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanWe already change tyre set, obviously save tyre but we just fit the new one, OK.
Q1Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuI think I might have a little bit too much aero balance
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK. Well I think we should do it now if you think you’ve got too much aero balance. We’re going to struggle to do an aero balance change in two minutes, I know it sounds [unclear] but that’s the reality,
Q113:31Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezWe’re just working out what to do now with the remaining tome. Looks like we will get out again on this set. With the time reamining it looks tight to be able to run two laps on the [hard] and then allow sufficient time for three on the medium. Wouldn’t give us much margin at all at that rate.
Q113:31Tony RossNico RosbergCaterham is just going down there so no… just going straight out.
Q112:59Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoSo keep up the pace on the out-lap. If you need to make space to the car ahead, try and do it in the low speed. Make space in the low speed. Suggest turn 10, or turn 14.
Q110:39Max ChiltonGary GannonI think I need to fail those sensors.
Q1Gary GannonMax ChiltonCorrect, Max, Multi Fail 81, Fail 82.
Q19:12Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuReally struggling with the front for some reason.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanYou do not have front end or do you have too much front end?
Q1Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuNo, do not have front end, locking everywhere for some reason.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK, understood.
Q17:50Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieSo we still struggle for a bit of rear grip at the end of a lap. Front still pretty weak mid-corner but the initial response to the car is better. So it’s still just a bit disconnected, really. Slightly better turn-in than the morning, the rest is unchanged.
Q1Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, understood. Swing around, we’ll go straight back in the garage.
Q16:40Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo currently P2, and it’s about half a second to Nico P1, it’s mainly exit turn seven and turn ten.
Q16:17Jenson ButtonDave RobsonStruggling to get the fronts working.
Q15:00Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilOK P15 at the moment, we need to go again.
Q1Adrian SutilMarco SchupbachThere’s something wrong with the car. There’s really something wrong with the car. It’s all over the place.
Q13:21Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonOK Marcus the tyre temperature management in [turn nine] was good and this helped you in the first sector. We’re going to go for set one for a small pressure adjustment and then we’ll refuel again. Any comments? Anything that we can help you?
Q1Marcus EricssonAngel BaenaI have for the first push a little bit of entry understeer in general.
Q12:48Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonNot quite sure how but we’ve made the car worse. It’s a nightmare to drive at the moment,
Q11:30Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezSo Checo Gutierrez in the Sauber one-and-a-a-half tenths up on us. We believe we will need to beat him, OK.
Q10:23Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceGame over, no chance.
Q1Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergOK pits this lap and watch out for traffic behind starting their laps.
Q10:00Adrian SutilMarco SchupbachIt was a bit better in the first sector but a disaster in the last sector. So it looks like it’s still overheating or something.
Q10:00Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonYou are P20, two-tenths behind Bianchi and six-hundredths in front of Kamui. Good lap.
Q10:00Gary GannonMax ChiltonGreat job, Max, great job.
Q1Max ChiltonGary Gannon[Unclear] guys. Bring on tomorrow!
Q10:00Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilEr, we missed it by a tenth to Grosjean.
Q1Adrian SutilMarco SchupbachYeah, disappointing.
Q10:00Mark TempleKevin MagnussenWe are safely through in P14. Looks like the areas, sector three looks strong, looks like we need to find a tenth in sector one and a tenth and a half in sector two relative to Jenson.
Q10:00Jenson ButtonDave RobsonHow close were we to being out if we didn’t run?
Q1Dave RobsonJenson ButtonJenson we would have been out. So Sutil did a 28.5. So we were correct to run and we are P10.
Q1Jenson ButtonDave RobsonGood job.
Q28:05Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK the only thing you need now to open your timed lap is charge ten.
Q27:43Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergHow was that, Nico?
Q2Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceWell pretty much the same. I think a little bit less aero balance helps to calm the rear down in some places. Therefore quite a bit of understeer in other places. But I think it’s the best compromise. I don’t really want to touch it, to be honest.
Q26:33Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo that’s P2, just over a tenth to Nico, P1. You’re purple sector one, it’s half a tenth in second sector, the rest in final sector.
Q24:23Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuVery strange feeling in turn ten under braking, the car completely pulled to the left.
Q2Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanCopy that, we’ll have a look.
Q24:00Jenson ButtonDave RobsonBraking into mid-speed I have oversteer. Low-speed apex is very understeery.
Q2Dave RobsonJenson ButtonJB that lap put you P12 and you were the only [hard] runner.
Q2Jenson ButtonDave RobsonBernie, can you have Bernie to have a look at the diff entry and apex to see if we can do anything?
Q22:57Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoWe are not going to run again.
Q22:27Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasKeep the revs up when we leave, Valtteri, get the revs up. Now, yeah, that’s it.
Q20:07Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaOK Felipe good lap. Switch override on. P4 at the minute, just watch Grosjean coming behind on a timed lap.
Q20:00Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergI can’t really let you know where you are yet, mate, there’s too many cars to complete their laps, I’m afraid.
Q20:00Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseI’m going too slow, man.
Q2Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezBox and pit confirm.
Q20:00Kevin MagnussenMark TempleAre we going to be able to run again?
Q2Mark TempleKevin MagnussenNo Kevin, I’m afraid our session is over.
Q20:00Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezSo Esteban that looks about the maximum we could have achieved today. There’s two-and-a-ahlf tenths to Kvyat in front.
Q20:00Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezPerez was overtaken by Button just before he started his flying lap.
First question, Checo: Why did Jenson get by? On the out-lap?
Q2Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseHe went into the chicane, into 13 and… I was opening the gap to Raikkonen and he just tried to overtook. (Unclear) I lost too much front temperature.
Q2Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezOK so then no grip in turn one, two, three. Is that what you’re saying?
Q2Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseThere was no grip.
Q2Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezRight. Well we have to learn from it, mate. OK?
Q20:00Dave RobsonJenson ButtonAnd good job JB. We’re through. That’s P9 and we’re through to Q3.
Q2Jenson ButtonDave RobsonI think the diff switch changes we made helped but also felt like I could use more rear grip and a little bit more front grip as well. The only corner that’s really limiting us in front end is turn three but I think we can try a bit more.
Q39:50Tony RossNico RosbergSo brake balance currently not forward. Cancel RS.
Q39:30Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasTrack clear, good track position.
Q38:10Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinVettel discovered he can’t select a gear as he leaves the pits.
I have a problem, I can’t get second gear. I’ll try again. Second gea’s broken, only got third. So I haven’t got second gear.
Q38:10Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinAnd as he joins the track the problem gets worse.
I have no drive, I’m sorry, I have no drive.
Q38:10Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinI have to stop. Exit of turn two, entry of three.
Q38:10Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis so red flag, red flag.
Q38:10Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton makes sure Charlie Whiting knows he was held up by Vettel.
I got held up by the Red Bull there. Think that should definitely be mentioned. At turn two.
Q38:10Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinAnd Vettel makes sure Charlie Whiting knows it was because he had a problem with his car.
I’m sorry for Lewis but I had all kind of lights flashing so… Yeah. Anyways there was a red flag.
Q3Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelYeah it’s you mate.
Q3Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinSorry.
Q36:33Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoCheck brake balance, you are one click forwards from the last run.
Q3Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieYep, just done it for the out-lap.
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, understood.
Q33:53Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis, start mode one, full throttle, charge the battery. That’s currently P1.
Q3Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonGive me my sector updates.
Q3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSector one was zero, you were faster sector two by eight hundredths and sector three… it’s two tenths in the last sector you were faster.
Q32:48Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoSo we already improved compared the time in Q2 with a used set so should be OK with a new set. We are P4 at the moment, Mercedes and Ricciardo in front of us.
Q31:15Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo tyres 120 front, 100 rear, You’ve got plenty of space behind to Alonso, seven seconds.
Q30:43Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoRemember, think about the tyres. Think about the tyres on this timed lap.
Q30:00Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonNice work Lewis, nice work, that’s P1.
Q30:00Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK fuel two.
Q3Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuI’ve got a problem with the KERS. I think the SOC [state of charge] was not high enough.
Q3Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanYeah, copy that.
Q30:00Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasMega job, Valtteri. P4 you line up for tomorrow. Great lap.
Q3Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsThank you guys, so much. Let’s get a good start tomorrow. Got there in the end huh?
Q3Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasCopy that, took a bit of work but you got there. Well done.
Q30:00Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK mate finished P3, good job. Vettel was…
Q3Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieThanks boys!
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoVettel stopped turn two on the out-lap, I’m sure you saw he had some problems. Remember what Charlie said about the photo. Remember what Charlie said about the photo.
Q3Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieUnderstood.
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoNice job, mate.
Q3Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieCheers guys, thank you.

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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Keith Collantine
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16 comments on “2014 Spanish GP qualifying team radio transcript”

  1. Wait, what was Daniel supposed to do in the photo? I’m pretty sure he was already planning on smiling.

    1. Haha, who knows, maybe wave? remove the cap? That was weird

    2. Haha yes of course he would be planning on smiling! Maybe Charlie said he smiles too much in photos? Makes the others look miserable?

    3. Listen to Charlie guys, smile and wave, smile and wave!

    4. Was still bugging me so Googled it! found this:

      Q: (Dan Knutson – Auto Action and National Speedsport News) Daniel, at the end of the session, the team sent you a message on the radio saying something about ‘remember what Charlie said about the photo.’ What was that about?

      Ricciardo: He didn’t want us running away, the top three guys, after qualifying, he didn’t want us running away out of the scene, to do the group photo. I think last time I was hiding for a little bit too long, so just a reminder from the team, nothing technical, just outside dramas.

      http://www.grandprix.com/race/r902satpc.html

      Is that any clearer?!? Not sure. He was hiding last time…what?!

  2. WHAT PHOTO??? i am curious about this. unless he measns the top 3 drivers photo?

  3. Stephen Craig
    10th May 2014, 23:24

    Anyone know what the deal is with the Charlie and photo comment to Ricciardo at the end of qualifying?

  4. Wow, Vettel seems extremely apologetic for a problem that couldn’t possibly have been his fault – I’m impressed. Most other drivers would just be complaining to their teams; I guess Vettel knows the meaning of teamwork.

    1. If anything, this season has shown Vettel more humane and I’m starting to like him even more. I might be wrong but I haven’t seen any driver helping marshals when there car has stopped on track. This has not been the case in this race only but Vettel has been helping marshals since the winter test begun. I’m quite optimistic that his perception is goin to be changed in mind’s of many people after this season and that too in a better way.

  5. LH: I got held up by the Red Bull there. Think that should definitely be mentioned. At turn two.
    SV: I’m sorry for Lewis but I had all kind of lights flashing so… Yeah. Anyways there was a red flag.
    RBR to SV: Yeah it’s you mate.
    SV: Sorry.

    This is a cracker… I saw this on the live F1F feed last night and was having a chuckle, but its funny how Seb just says “Sorry” at the end.
    These radio transmissions aren’t exactly normal team speak type communications, they’re more public relations statements these days aimed at dobbing people in to the headmaster. But good to see some personality come out in them from time to time.

  6. Maldonado…”I lost the car”. Ya think?! I have since read that, once again, he has stated that the accident was no fault of his own. I’m not claiming to be an expert, but it looked to me like that lap started going pear shaped a couple of corners before he ultimately stuffed his car into the wall, and he could/should have backed out of it. The guy is a loose cannon. A very well funded one, unfortunately.

    1. Sudha (@cbesudha)
      11th May 2014, 3:54

      Is Maldonado making sure Lotus use every penny they are paid by his sponsors on his car? E22 has shown some major improvement over the last few races. Grosjean is showing the car’s potential now.
      Pastor will be costing the team pts and money with his crashes. Something this team can ill-afford

    2. @schooner I’m not sure if you’ve read the autosport article before making this comment, but the 4 words alone of “I lost the car” isn’t enough to suggest he was claiming it wasn’t his fault. However, given his excuses as posted on Autosport’s site, it suggests that is his attitude. Again, another demonstration of his skill, thankfully he wasn’t injured and no one else was involved.

      source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113888

  7. Seemed like vettel was saying sorry for being in the way of a timed lap, even if it wasnt his fault. Even ruthless competitors can be sporting from time to time

  8. @keithcollantine

    I was looking for the transcript for the race but it doesn’t seem to exist? Any idea why I can’t find it?

  9. Keith, how do I get the transcripts for Spanish Race 2014

Comments are closed.