2014 Singapore Grand Prix team radio transcript

2014 Singapore Grand Prix

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The Singapore Grand Prix weekend was supposed to be the scene for a far-reaching clamp-down on team radio messages by the FIA. However shortly before the first practice session they drastically reduced the scope of their plans.

Even so questions were raised over whether all the messages teams gave their drivers during the race complied with the new restrictions. Daniel Ricciardo, for example, was given driving instructions during the race, but his Red Bull team were careful to link it to a problem he was managing on the car and the FIA took no action.

Other teams appeared to be preparing for future restrictions from the FIA. During the Safety Car period it appeared that Lewis Hamilton was keeping an eye on his front brake temperatures using his car’s display, something drivers may have to do without radio assistance soon.

But those who were hoping the new restrictions would mean an end to drivers being told not to fight for position were disappointed. When Hamilton appeared in Sebastian Vettel’s mirrors, Red Bull were quick to advise their driver not to get involved in a fight with him.

Singapore is a gruelling race at the best of times but it got a lot worse for Daniil Kvyat moments before the race when Toro Rosso discovered his drinks system had malfunctioned. It’s clear from his desperate messages late in the race, even within a few miles of the chequered flag, how much he suffered in the heat.

The new rules restrictions ended up having little effect on the amount of radio traffic we heard. Almost 250 messages were played throughout the race, more than three times as many as there were two weeks ago in the (considerably shorter) Italian Grand Prix.

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2014 Singapore Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*FromToMessage
PRAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanAll looks good so going to the grid now please, going to the grid.
PRRomain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuOK going to the grid.
PRLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonStart was good. Bogs down a little bit initially.
PRPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK. Good bit of information.
PRDaniel RicciardoSimon RennieNo issues I’ll just do another mirror adjustment on the grid. Everything seems to be working fine. We’ll talk about balance when I get out. Think we’re close enough.
PRPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonBrake temps are looking good, proceeding to the back of the grid. Stop and switch to P0.
PRDaniil KvyatMarco MatassaWas badly affecting my braking. I couldn’t push on entries. Felt a little strange, I have no bite on the brakes and the deceleration is very poor as well. So it’s not great. For the rest I really don’t know, really. I mean the tyre was cold, everything was cold. Just got to think of anything. Already a bit of sliding in the exits. On the entries everything feels OK. Flap… I think flap is fine.
PRUnknownUnknownOn Rosberg’s radio. No answer was broadcast. Rosberg’s steering wheel was changed prior to the start after an electrical problem was diagnosed.
And question, did we change steering column on grid, question?
PRUnknownUnknownOn Rosberg’s radio.
So Nathan can we go up two-turns on front wing please, up two turns on the front wing.
PRPhil CharlesPhil MitchellOn Vergne’s radio. Kvyat had to drive the race without a drinks bag.
Phil Mitchell it’s Phil Charles. We’ve got a leaky drinks bag on Dany’s car. Can you have Valchy run an assembky down to us by the side of the pit wall? I’ll meet you there between the cars. OK, we’re definitely changing. Phil can you please let Charlie know. We’re changing the whole assembly. [Pause] Dany car, Dany car, and yes we’re changing the whole assembly: drink bag, connector and the pipe.
PRPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonHamilton has already reduced his front wing angle by one turn on the grid, and on hearing Rosberg has gone down by two turns he decides to take another half-turn out.
Nico down one hole relative to your start position, they’ve made a change. So just have a think what you want, to take half out…
PRLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonYeah I think maybe we should do the half. And sure maybe we’ll balance that with the diff.
PRPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAffirm if you need to. So remember diff init coming backwards, five four three will make it globally looser on entry.
PRTony RossNico RosbergSo Nico obviously intermittent fault. If you have control of it just pull away manually. If you don’t we’re going to have to start from pit lane, and the same thing when you come round to start on the grid properly.
PRGuillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelVettel, who was directly behind Rosberg on the grid, was advised what to do if the Mercedes did not move.
If Rosberg has an obvious problem and he can’t go forwards, you’re allowed to overtake him. But just if he’s a little bit slow, don’t do that. Just make sure it’s obvious he’s got a problem. Rosberg might have some issues getting off his box so I don’t know what you want to do, try your start immediately or maybe pause a few seconds, see what’s happened.
FLBernadette CollinsJenson ButtonOK Jenson launch map off, warm the brakes. [Pause] OK Jenson brakes are good.
FLTony RossUnknownRosberg was unable to get away when the field began the formation lap and had to start from the pits.
Yes we will be pushing Nico in the start from the pit lane, OK, but you can’t get there now. [Brief pause seemingly in response to an unheard question] Marshals will need to I believe. Ronnie just confirm marshals will need to push Nico off the grid?
FLKamui KobayashiTim WrightKobayashi retired on the formation lap.
No brakes, I have no brakes, no brakes.
FLUnknownSebastian VettelAll systems are good.
1Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilPerformance has to be five and mix nine.
1Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceI had some contact on the front, check the front wing.
1Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergCopy that.
2Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezWe need to clear Gutierrez, come on.
2Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseI think I have front wing damage.
3Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico at the moment just keep trying the start. The only thing that is working on the dash is your gear shift paddles, OK?
3Tony RossNico Rosberg…OK. So Nico it’ll be Plan B, Plan B on the strategy. Pit stops will be difficult but we will be able to cope with it.
3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonGap to Vettel, constant at 1.6.
3Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezSo just settle into a rhythm, look after your rear tyre surface temperatures.
4Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoRear brakes are hot, rear brakes are hot. Brake balance two clicks forwards. Avoid the tow if you can. Avoid the tow if you can. So pull right if possible, pull right if possible.
5Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK Sebastian we’re looking at the dash message that you have right now. It’s not an issue, it’s not a problem. We’re looking into it.
5Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonPace is OK, yeah?
5Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYeah pace is good.
5Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonRear brake temps OK now?
5Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYeah rears have improved a little. Fronts are on the hot side so you just manage them as you see fit.
5Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsI think I can do either one, Plan A or Plan B. So let me know what to do with tyres. Or which route to go.
5Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasCopy that. Source one.
5Jules BianchiFrancesco NenciThis is a complete joke, I’m losing four-tenths on the straight.
6Francesco NenciJules BianchiUnderstood Jules, as soon as I can see the SOC [state of charge] is in a better place I will get you back into SOC 7.
6Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaKvyat appeared to have been ordered to let Vergne past, which he initially refused while he tried to pass Magnussen.
No way
6Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatJev is on a different strategy. Don’t worry, don’t worry.
6Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaI can pass him in next two laps.
6Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatDo it. OK Dany, attack Magnussen.
6Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneJev, Dany’s getting two laps to attack Magnussen.
7Francesco NenciJules BianchiJules, front brake temps are very high. If you can do a little bit of brake saving on every big braking stop.
7Jules BianchiFrancesco NenciYeah I do it on big brakes.
7Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelYou’re doing a good job on fuel and good pace.
8Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarVergne pointed out Kvyat had still not been able to pass Magnussen. The pair later changed places, most likely under instructions from the team.
What are we waiting for? He’s never going to pass him, he’s losing ground.
9Gary GannonMax ChiltonSutil’s just pitted from 18th, he’ll be coming up behind you on used [super-softs].
10Jules BianchiFrancesco NenciAre we safe compared to Ericsson and Max?
10Francesco NenciJules BianchiYou are still over a second a lap quicker. Let’s try and make Plan A work on tyre deg.
10Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatThink about flap adjust next set.
10Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaDown, down.
10Tony RossNico RosbergFor information pit lane limiter won’t work so in first gear you can’t go higher than 6,500rpm.
11Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaOK Felipe box this lap, box, go engine mode position five.
11Felipe MassaAndrew MurdochOK.
12Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezCome on Checo. Mode two.
12Tony RossNico RosbergMercedes explain to Rosberg how his pit stop will be carried out given his problems.
At the pit stop you’ll need to stall the car so come in in first gear…
12Nico RosbergTony RossDo you hear me?
12Tony RossNico Rosberg[Louder] Yep, yep I can hear you. Go strat three. Talk to us Nico, we can hear you.
12Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico confirm you’re happy, you know what you’re doing in the pit stop, yeah? So we’ll be changing steering wheel and we’ll drop you off the jacks because the clutch won’t work, so you’ll just select first gear and we’ll drop you off the jacks.
12Nico RosbergTony RossHow do I know what 6,500rpm is? Give me another indiction.
12Tony RossNico RosbergJust keep it below the red lights, Nico. So Nico the red lights on the dash in first gear, you need to have no red lights. No red LEDs.
13Mark TempleKevin MagnussenAnd Kevin last lap, same pace as Jenson.
13Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonBox, box.
13Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson all these cars are fitting [super-soft], we stick to the plan, target plus one.
13Gary GannonMax ChiltonEricsson has pitted, Ericsson is in so let’s push now.
14Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelRed Bull advised Vettel to save his tyres instead of trying to attack Hamilton.
Sebastian you’re not going to undercut Hamilton so save tyres and fuel. Stand down, save tyres and fuel. Alonso and Ricciardo pitted behind you, you’re in front of them.
14Tony RossNico RosbergDespite Rosberg’s encouragements, Mercedes were unable to get him back out into the race.
Box, box. Remember first gear, no red LEDs. We’ll stall the car in the box, change the tyres, change the steering wheel, fire it up and drop it off the jacks. You’ll need to use revs to get it going and then no red LEDs in first gear again leaving the pit lane.
15Tony RossNico RosbergPull the jack up, lift the car. Nico select first gear. High rpm Nico, select first gear with the paddle. OK just select first gear try and select first gear otherwise we’ll need to plug in and put the driver defaults in. [Pause] OK let’s park it. Stop, stop, stop. Switch off.
15Nico RosbergTony RossNo put the defaults in, plug in put the defaults in.
15Tony RossNico RosbergOK.
15Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasAnother good move so we’ve stayed ahead of the McLarens as well. Push on to Raikkonen.
16Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonTyre temps OK?
16Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonEverything’s under control Lewis, you’ve got it all under control so well managed. So we’ll be running a couple of laps longer on these tyres so just manage them.
16Gary GannonMax ChiltonJules pitted onto [super-softs]. We’re going to be in now Max, in now.
17Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson Vergne behind on [super-soft], Bottas in front also on [super-soft].
17Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHow’s the pace?
17Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYeah we’re just discussing that, Lewis. We think we need low 53s, let’s pick it up to low 53s. That gap’s at seven seconds.
17Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHow are my brakes looking?
17Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonBrakes are looking good Lewis. Any problems to report?
17Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonNo.
18Gianpiero LambiaseSergio Perez[Soft] tyre looking competitive for Button.
20Gary GannonMax ChiltonIn now Max, in now, we have a front-right puncture. In now.
20Jenson ButtonTom StallardHow long has Vergne been on this tyre for?
20Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson eight laps, eight laps.
21Francesco NenciJules BianchiDeg is very similar to the first stint, Jules, what you’re doing is correct.
21Gary GannonMax ChiltonYou’re on [softs] so we’ll stretch them as long as we can.
22Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelRed Bull were alert to the threat posed by Alonso but the Ferrari driver came into the pits not long after this message giving Vettel little time to respond.
Sebastian open the gap to Alonso, ignore the beeps. Open the gap.
22Tom StallardJenson ButtonGap to Vergne two seconds.
22Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarI’ve lost my [unclear] tyres, do I need to pass him?
22Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergIf we can push up to Vergne and Magnussen we should be able to get them in the pit stop.
23Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonDegradation is looking better than the first stint. Looks like we picked up a bit of debris in the front wing, may have lost a bit of front balance. It happened a couple of laps ago so let us know what you feel.
23Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonFeels OK still.
23Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK copy that, we’ll not panic.
24Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAt this point it appears Red Bull had realised Alonso was going to ‘undercut’ Vettel and get ahead, so they chose to switch to the soft tyre (which is why Vettel turned his front wing down so much) to have a chance to attack the Ferrari at the end of the race.
Good job Sebastian, hang in there. Front wing feedback when you can.
24Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinMinus four.
24Antonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenPush now, push now. So we stay out and we push as much as we can.
24Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel how’s the balance, how’s the balance?
24Daniel RicciardoSimon RenniePretty similar to first stint. Just got to watch that I don’t lock the front. Then after that yeah maybe tip in to a bit of understeer but then it’s all managing slip.
24Mark TempleKevin MagnussenThree-stop cars are starting to pit. We will be racing them at the end.
25Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonIt’s all going to kick off soon.
25Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonLet’s not save the engine?
25Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonEr no let’s just have it in strat three.
26Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis so they’ve left the pits. Push, push.
26Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton raised the possibility of switching to the soft tyres at the next stint.
Is it possible to consider Plan B?
26Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonBest thing to do Lewis is just shadow the other cars, we’ve got a healthy lead.
27Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK Ricciardo is staying out at the moment but is going very slow. Should be OK.
28Kevin MagnussenMark TempleThe seat is mega hot, it’s burning.
28Kevin MagnussenMark TempleIt appears the first part of the reply was not played.
…and Kevin we’re racing Vergne for points, try and get him if you can.
29Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergWill be full race distance for us Nico, full race distance. P11 at the moment.
29Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceWe’re not struggling for tyres at the end of the race?
29Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergNot on strategy L.
29Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieMessage appears to have been edited.
I think I lost the power. Just stops [cut] in some gears.
29Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK understood. We can see the issue.
30Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuGrosjean complained that Perez didn’t give him enough room when racing through turns seven and eight.
Not very fair from Perez.
30Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanYeah we saw it on TV. Come on, then,
30Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezBit, pit confirm Checo. Box and pit confirm. We’re changing strategy. Plus one click for the new super-soft?
30Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseYes.
30Tom StallardJenson ButtonMagnussen abandonded his attempt to run a two-stop strategy and switched to super-softs at his second pit stop.
The other car has converted to Plan B. We still think Plan A can work. Target [cut] lap.
30Jenson ButtonTom StallardMake sure there’s more to gain than more to lose.
30Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson we believe we can get two Williams if we make this work, there is more to gain.
31Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiasePerez and Sutil collided and the debris from Perez’s wing caused the Safety Car to be deployed.
I think I had contact with Sutil. I lost my front wing. Box, box.
31Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezBox, pit confirm.
32Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK so look for debris.
32Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonOK man that was a little bit late, I went over a lot of stuff there. Keep an eye on my pressures, won’t you? I got the message as I was going over the stuff.
32Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonCopy that Lewis, we are keeping an eye on them. All look OK at the moment.
32Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieAre me and Seb the only two on prime [soft]?
32Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoWilliams also on prime [soft] at the moment.
33Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonVettel on six-lap-old [soft] tyres, you are on five-lap [super-soft].
33Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonDid you say he is on the [soft]?
33Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonCopy. So brake temps are on the low side but you’re doing a good job there.
33Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinHow many laps did we do on the [super-softs], first two stints?
33Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelTwelve on average.
33Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK then try and let’s go as long as we can on [softs] and then do around that 12 laps on [super-softs].
33Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK, we’ll see, we’ll see.
33Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoWere Red Bull using the pretext of having a car problem to get around the new restrictions on offering driving advice?
OK Daniel avoiding exit kerbs may help your issue. Avoiding exit kerbs may help the problem with the car.
34Francesco NenciJules BianchiWhen you are allowed to overtake you will need to raise up the [unclear] temperature.
34Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo brake temps look OK, fronts just on the cold side, just do as much as you can, try and get some front tyre temp.
34Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonAlright to me it looks it says that they’re at 500, 600, so it’s a bit confusing. Can’t do any more.
34Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK well just keep doing what you’re doing.
34Mark TempleKevin MagnussenAnd Kevin remember to drink.
34Kevin MagnussenMark TempleIt’s too hot, I can’t drink it, it burns my mouth.
34Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK understood.
34Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoExpect one or two laps more Safety Car, that’s what we expect.
35Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergMagnussen ahead may have an issue with cramp.
35Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsFor your info, the steering feels a bit weird, a bit sticky, like the power steering.
35Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasCopy that. Is that just happened or has it been degrading during the race?
35Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsI don’t know, just noticed now. I’ll let you know if it gets worse.
35Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAhead Hamilton is on [super-softs] so he’ll have to stop again. Behind you there’s several cars, Alonso and two Williams, on [softs], probably trying to make it toward the end. So when it restarts we’ve got a 35-lap race of one-stoppers versus two-stoppers.
36Mark TempleKevin MagnussenWe think Vergne and Kvyat either side of you will be making one more stop like us. Other cars around us will be trying to go to the end on [softs].
36Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezSutil’s penalty was not for the incident with Perez, but Perez has not been told that.
Checo just for information Sutil has been given a five-second penalty.
36Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseNeeded more than that. He put me in the wall.
36Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilAnyway I have to tell you now that in the next stop we have a five seconds penalty because you left the track before. Anyway we keep pushing, can still be something here.
37Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsOK the steering is getting a bit worse. Just losing the power steering kind of slow. But I can drive to the end no problem. It’s just a bit more heavy.
37Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasThink it could be related to the presures? Obviously pressure’s on the low side. It’s going to be the same for everyone pressure-wise. For info hydraulic data looks OK from our side so we’ll see how it goes.
37Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsOK then it’s maybe a bearing in the steering or something. But we’ll stick with it.
37Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasCopy that.
37Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis you’ve got seven cars behind all on the [soft] tyre.
37Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonIs this going to be a problem for me?
37Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonNegative, you have a pace advantage.
38Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel we need to be pulling away from the cars behind. Don’t go crazy. Might be a long stint.
39Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasSo the only way we’re going to make today work now is to get this tyre to the end.
39Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHow many laps do I need to do on these?
39Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonHamilton’s stint was later extended to lap 52.
We think probably six or seven laps, Lewis, but it may change.
39Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuGuys, problem on the car.
39Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK what is the problem from your side?
39Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuI don’t have rear end.
39Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK nothing immediately obvious. Tyre pressures are still there. So far aero data looks OK.
40Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaMassa had to run the longest final stint, spending 38 laps on a set of soft tyres.
OK Felipe we want to try to take this tyre set to the end.
40Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonGap at 5.8. So target lap time mid-to-low 51s. So let’s look after these front brakes, don’t want to let them get too hot.
41Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelSebastian look after your tyres, we’ll try and make it to the end.
41Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinI don’t think that’s my plan.
41Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK. Sebastian that’s what Daniel is trying to do and it’s the same for both cars behind you. We think that if you have to pit you have to overtake too many cars.
41Gary GannonMax ChiltonSo we could think about going [super-soft] early and just trying to close the gap to them, just try and make more time on the [super-soft], what do you think?
41Max ChiltonGary GannonWell it’s too early because it’s the longest anyone’s gone but we’re not catching them sat here so we might as well.
42Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHow many laps left? Do you think they are going to do two stops?
42Peter BonningtonLewis Hamilton20 laps to go. We think one or two may try it but there’s a long way to go.
42Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonTherse tyres are good. I can do several more laps if I need to. If I need to pick up the pace I can.
42Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis this is good pace.
43Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe’re going to target another seven laps on this tyre, seven laps if we can.
43Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonJust a question but that sounds a bit risky. Another Safety Car… don’t we lose out then?
43Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonNope we’ll be straight in in that case, Lewis. So you’re doing a great job Lewis we just need to push everyone out of our Safety Car… out of our pit stop window.
43Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOn the previous stint your wear was similar to Daniel’s. You’re doing good.
44Kevin MagnussenMark TempleWe’ll be fast, we need to go onto the [super-softs].
44Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaKvyat continued to suffer with thirst.
Oh guys it’s really bad. I need to stop.
44Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatWe need you to stay out, Dany. Load five, Dany.
44Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaIt is a disaster.
44Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatUnderstood. Load five, load five
44Daniil KvyatMarco Matassa[Louder] We need to stop!
44Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatBox, box, box now, box now.
44Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaOh my god. Without the drink… I’m dying here.
44Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatYes Dany OK. Torque six.
45Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsThere’s absolutely zero steering feel. It’s really sticky and heavy. But I can drive, it’s OK, just with a lap time penalty I think.
45Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasCopy that. If you can keep doing what you’re doing that’ll be amazing. You’re doing a great job.
46Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezHaving regained the lap he lost under the Safety Car and joined the tail of the midfield queue, Force India pitted Perez with 16 laps tro go for a set of super-soft tyres.
We’re just trying to jump, get a pit stop window, get ahead of the pit stop window of the cars ahead and hope they deg off towards the end now, OK? Race to the end of the race.
48Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezAt this rate we think we could catch the Lotus in five laps. So perhaps think about your tyres but don’t take too much out of them because we need to maintain temperature, that’s the thing. Just don’t slide them. The cars ahead are three seconds a lap slower, Checo.
48Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoHold the overtake, hold the overtake next straight to fix the car problem.
48Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieNo reply broadcast.
On all the straights?
48Tom StallardJenson ButtonBottas has a power steering problem.
49Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonRears starting to drop off.
49Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK copy that Lewis. Probably need another two or three laps. The gap we’re looking for is 27. It’s now 21.1. Vettel 53.6.
49Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezOpportunity coming up with the Caterham, we’re lapping the Caterham so there’s an opportunity coming up.
49Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezNice stuff, come on let’s push.
50Jenson ButtonTom StallardButton caught the Williams of Bottas.
That thing is so fast in a straight line!
50Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson his tyres are nine laps older, you’ll get him by the end.
51Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton became more concerned about his tyres.
You guys need to box me soon, my tyres are going off. I told you already a lap before, cannot get to 27.
51Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis you can go strat mode five, you are still pulling the gap.
51Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonIt looks like Vettel’s dropping off the tyre, even more than you.
52Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezGame is very much on here Checo. We have a race on our hands potentially towards the end of this.
52Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonPreceding message not broadcast.
Copy that Lewis. Last lap time 52.7, great lap, if you can do a 53.5 next lap, we take it.
52Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonMy right-rear’s getting seriously worn. I’m not sure whether these things are going to explode or not.
52Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo still looking good from our numbers, Lewis. That gap’s at 25.2, if you can just eke it out a bit more, let us know if you can do one more lap.
52Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton’s warning about the dire state of his tyres had echoes of his truble during the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix.
There are some lines showing on the outside and the inside of the rear-right tyre.
52Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonCopy that Lewis so box, box.
53Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe think you’ll come out between Vettel and Ricciardo. You’ll have a big pace advantage. Cancel RS. Nine laps to go. Don’t take any risks. Think about brake balance and b-mig. Check the white line on exit.
54Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelVettel is told not to try to keep Hamilton behind.
OK Hamilton’s in front of Daniel. Just concentrate on your race, let him be.
54Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuYeah brake pedal is going.
54Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK we are looking at the data, we’ll get back to you. [Pause] OK Romain understood, we’ll keep an eye on it.
54Jenson ButtonTom StallardButton retired.
Shutdown, complete shutdown.
54Tom StallardJenson ButtonOK Jenson we’re looking at it.
54Jenson ButtonTom StallardThat’s game over.
54Tom StallardJenson ButtonYeah Jenson turn the car fully off.
55Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasKeep doing what you’re doing, great job. He hasn’t got the straight line speed on us.
55Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonCan I turn the engine down?
55Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe’re just discussing that Lewis, just turn the revs up. Go strat mode nine.
56Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergSo you’ve got to keep in the DRS of those cars ahead so you get DRS to defend.
57Francesco NenciJules BianchiYou can have SOC 3 to pass him but only for the straight.
57Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaValtteri is 12 seconds behind.
58Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasMode five in turn one, mode five more beans.
59Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneVergne was notified of his second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
OK Jev they have given us another five-second penalty so we really need to attack these guys ahead to get the points.
59Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarWhat the [censored by FOM].
59Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneKeep your head down, keep it cool, just push the guys ahead.
59Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergIt’s Magnussen behind. And take any advantage of what goes on ahead as well.
59Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatThree minutes to go, Dany, three minutes to go.
59Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaI can’t drive any more.
59Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatJust two minutes to go, Dany, I know it is difficult.
60Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonPlease have [unclear] meet me afterwards. Same problem as before I started the race.
VLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonNice work Lewis. Grat stuff. Just keep the revs up, go strat mode 12. Awesome job, pal.
VLPaddy LoweLewis HamiltonGreat job Lewis that was a really difficult race, well done.
VLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYou managed that beautifully mate, really well done on that Safey Car restart, managed everything perfectly.
VLLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonFantastic job this weekend guys, thank you so much for all your hard work. Starting to really pay off, thank you.
VLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAppreciate it mate, we’ll see you down there.
VLGuillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelGood man, good man,
VLChristian HornerSebastian VettelWell done Sebby, nice job. You made that stint incredibly long, well done.
VLSebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinThanks boys. Good job obviously the Safety Car [unclear] but still managed to get the maximum there was anyway. So great job and, yeah, I didn’t have any tyres left, I did everything I could.

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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Singapore Grand Prix data

Image © Pirelli/Hone

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

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33 comments on “2014 Singapore Grand Prix team radio transcript”

  1. Please have [unclear] meet me afterwards. Same problem as before I started the race.

    Wonder what problem is Lewis referring to

    1. I think in the message he said “felipe” but really not sure what it is and what about @keithcollantine

    2. Probably his physio, he was one of the only drivers not wearing knee/leg/ankle pads in qualifying. A very physical and brutal race!

  2. Isn’t “ignore the beeps” driving advice? I think so. Just “open the gap” would be fine, and Seb should then have to work out that he can use more of the revs.

    1. I think it’s more related to the state of the car, which has been allowed again.

      1. Is it? The beeps go when the driver should shift up. Isn’t telling a driver to ignore effectively telling them to shift later, and in this case it was in order to make the car go faster.

    2. There’s not a giant difference between Singapore and Italy. They’re still coaching drivers somehow.

  3. Poor Kvyat. Did they manage to give him a new drink bottle when he pitted? Sounded like he was in a bad way.

    1. I don’t think so. I have seen some people criticise him for whining, but driving the hottest race of the season without anything to drink, and still completing is very well done.

      Honourable mention to Magnussen for completing with burns to his backside and almost boiling water.

  4. I question that how a 4- time world champion needs that much information, plus beeps, plus feedback to get the 2nd place on podium . I dont understand why hamilton needs 40 plus messages. Riccardo has a handful and between Kimi / Alonso there’s a total (2) messages.

    I’m I missing something ? cause it sure hell seems like performance enhancing driver aids the way Vettel / Hamilton/ Rosberg are getting information

    1. I’m I missing something ?

      These are all the messages that were broadcast. However there will have been far more messages between each team and there driver that weren’t broadcast. There’s no reason to assume the total number of messages broadcast involving each driver reflects the total number that were communicated.

      I think I might have to put a disclaimer to this effect on future transcripts – I thought it was obvious but this has come up quite a few times now. More on it here:

      https://www.racefans.net/2014/09/17/monza-sounded-team-radio-ban/

    2. “I question that how a 4- time world champion needs that much information, plus beeps, plus feedback to get the 2nd place on podium.”

      Lionel Messi is being coached during a match, Roger Federer is being coached during a match, why is it strange that an F1-driver is being coached?

      1. Actually, Roger Federer is not. ATP don’t allow players to be coached during an ongoing match. Women’s circuit allows them though.

  5. Why so few messages from Ferrari? Anyone would think they get a special deal from the FIA …

    1. Maybe because they are in Italian/Spanish? However, having said that, I thought it was a requirement that all radio traffic had to be in English, or is a request that any team can choose to ignore?

    2. Certainly some of Alonso’s messages do include Italian sometimes, but they are also often wholly or partly in English. And Raikkonen’s have always been in English, and though he admits he talks less on the radio than other drivers I’m sure he had far more than one message. So I don’t think it’s entirely down to FOM worrying about the language barrier to the English-speaking audience.

      During the Singapore weekend Alonso said Ferrari don’t use the radio for “performance related reasons” – by which I suspect he was referring to messages about driving style – but do use it “to control temperatures, to talk about traffic and strategy”. And yet we rarely hear any of these messages either.

      It does strike me as odd we hear so few messages involving the team which is by far the most popular in the sport. To put it into perspective, here’s how many radio messages were broadcast involving each driver in Singapore:

      Lewis Hamilton – 69
      Sebastian Vettel – 21
      Daniil Kvyat – 18
      Jenson Button – 16
      Sergio Perez – 16
      Valtteri Bottas – 15
      Nico Rosberg – 14
      Daniel Ricciardo – 13
      Romain Grosjean – 10
      Kevin Magnussen – 9
      Nico Hulkenberg – 9
      Jules Bianchi – 9
      Max Chilton – 7
      Jean-Eric Vergne – 6
      Felipe Massa – 4
      Adrian Sutil – 2
      Fernando Alonso – 1
      Kimi Raikkonen – 1
      Kamui Kobayashi – 1
      Pastor Maldonado – 0
      Esteban Gutierrez – 0
      Marcus Ericsson – 0

      1. If I was feeling cynical, I’d suggest we hear so little of Ferrari’s messages because they’re the least likely to send the media into a frenzy of clickbait headlines.

        1. Me being cynical too, is that its rather FOM being friendly to Ferrari by not revealing as much about what they are doing on the radio rather than any potential or not for making headlines. Indeed in the past several Ferrari radio messages have made for great headlines and meme’s to live on for years @raceprouk

        2. @raceprouk I don’t follow you – there’s loads of interest in the Ferrari drivers and what little we’ve heard of their messages has often been of interest – whether it’s Massa being told “Fernando is faster than you” or Alonso criticising the “geniuses” on the pit wall after their botched attempt at slipstreaming at Monza last year.

          1. And both those messages generated plenty of headlines, the first due to being a coded breach of the ban on team orders, the second because it allowed the media to speculate on Alonso’s future due to some perceived ‘rift’ within the team, whether there was an actual rift or not.

            It’s harder to spin a headline from the more mundane messages like ‘Fuel mix 12; overtake available’ :)

          2. @raceprouk Of course FOM prefer to play more dramatic radio messages – like Grosjean complaining about his engine last weekend. But they also play a lot of more mundane ones. In that respect Ferrari is no different from any other team.

            So I don’t think this thing about headlines and ‘spin’ tells us anything about why we hear so few of Ferrari’s radio messages.

          3. Obviously, if it is true, it won’t be the only reason. As @bascb states, it could also be due to FOM just being kind to Ferrari.

  6. I would have liked to see Gutiérrez’s radio transcript. That guy was so angry when his Sauber stopped working (again).

  7. Kevin Magnussen said: “the seat is mega hot, it’s burning”.
    He should have reported ay what “Kelvin” it was burning.

  8. If there were disguised coaching messages at Singapore most of them would seem to be of the “slow-down” kind.

  9. where are Rosberg’s radio transmissions covering the period when he came into the pits for the last time before retiring. You only indicate Tony ross’ comments and not much from Rosberg apart from the word ok. Toto Wolff made it clear that he said a lot more than that

    1. so are the more juicier or controversial messages taken out of the transcripts that are published

      1. Read this.
        http://www.autoevolution.com/news/full-transcript-of-renault-s-2008-singapore-gp-11019.html

        That was in 2008 so just think how much more radio use each driver will be getting today.

        1. That’s mostly chatter between team members though.

  10. I noticed almost no difference during the race. Pointless rule change?

    Also, how ridiculous would it be to penalise a driver to the same standards as they would be subject to for a driving infraction for a radio message sent by an engineer? The sporting credibility aspect would be completely annihilated.

  11. The FOM race edit is up and includes two notable pieces of radio which weren’t broadcast at the time.

    Gutierrez being told to retire, followed by his partially censored response.

    And Perez being told: “Checo this could be the last lap… this is the last lap.”

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