2014 United States Grand Prix team radio transcript

2014 United States Grand Prix

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The third United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas was the most challenging so far for strategists as drivers made at least two visits to the pits – four in Sebastian Vettel’s case.

Vettel’s team radio messages shed light both on Red Bull’s daring strategy at the end of the race – making an extra pit stop with seven laps to go – and Vettel’s frustrations with his car’s balance, which he expressed after his recovery to seventh place.

As usual other expressions of frustration were vented on the radios. A doleful Adrian Sutil reported he’d been taken out by Sergio Perez – who suspected there had been something wrong with his car’s brakes – and Romain Grojean accused Jean-Eric Vergne of playing bumper cars.

Although the restrictions on team radio introduced four races ago have had little effect on the volume of messages being broadcast, teams have become more cautious about exactly what they tell their drivers. In some case, rather than give an instruction to do something, engineers point out a piece of information a driver might have overlooked and invite them to draw an obvious conclusion.

Examples of this include Bottas being told “think about what I’m saying” after he was told about his power unit’s temperature and state of charge. Similarly Hamilton was told he was running in a qualifying map but – perhaps significantly – not told whether he should change it.

Among the messages engineers are no longer allowed to give their drivers are “car set-up parameters for specific corners” and advice on gear selection, rate of braking and throttle application.

Here are all the team radio messages that were broadcast during the United States Grand Prix coverage.

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2014 United States Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*FromToMessage
PRJean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarThe car seems quite a bit different from Friday. Obviously the wind changed a little bit in sector one, having more understeer in turn six, but turn seven I think being a little bit of a headwind I do have some oversteer. Turn 17, 18 it is quite on the oversteering side, it seems that the front is strong. But then once again when you come into turn 19 it is a little bit more of understeer.
PRMarco SchupbachAdrian Sutil17 minutes to go, 17. Drivers should go slowly to the front of the grid.
PRUnknownOn Grosjean’s radio.
Driver procedure: The first start he did was fine. After that he went a little bit further on the throttle to try and lift the pre-start revs up. |It’s better to have the pre-start revs a little bit lower. They’re not quite reaching the target but it’s better if they’re below the target, don’t go further on throttle. And his going on throttle at the end of the clutch phase was OK, he was just a little bit early the last time on the last time which caused the wheelspin. And switch settings will be toruqe three, clutch five.
PRLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonJust so you know also I’m in EB… sorry I’m in bite point find six.
PRTony RossNico RosbergNico just to confirm in terms of wind, still very gusty, same direction.
PRNico RosbergTony RossWhere am I on the answer to use the engine brake magic?
PRTony RossNico RosbergAffirm Nico. Just a reminder your brakes are stone cold at the moment.
PRSimon RennieDaniel RicciardoIf you can try to sync all gears before you get to turn two. We’ll get another opportunity after turn 12, similar method for that.
PRGianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezAnother weather update. Wind in two/three has increased up to levels of 20kph at this stage. Direction similar to the reconnassance laps. Tailwind into turn two, headwind through seventeen.
FLNico RosbergTony RossCan you confirm that the camber on the start/finish is exactly the same as the pit exit? Seems to drop down to the left.
FLTony RossNico RosbergIt drops ever so slightly to the left on the start/finish, Nico.
FLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonCan we have some feedback on the start please Lewis?
FLLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonDidn’t feel like it engaged enough, the rpm’s too low.
FLBernadette CollinsJenson ButtonBrakes are good. We need you to learn eighth gear and purple C2 position nine.
FLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAnd let’s turn the brake warming off, please. Get your brake balance where you want it for the first corner.
FLBernadette CollinsJenson ButtonLaunch map on, bite point find and four long burn-outs on the start/finish straight.
2Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo there’s debris exit 16 so stay to the inside of the track through 15 and 16.
3Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilPerez crashed into Sutil at turn 15, putting both out of the race and bringing out the Safety Car.
Can you continue Adrian?
3Adrian SutilMarco SchupbachNo. [Censored by FOM] Perez just kicked me off the track. OK.
3Jenson ButtonTom StallardDid you see any debris on the car? I ran over some of the debris. I didn’t get a chance to tell you.
3Tom StallardJenson ButtonWe didn’t see anything with the car in the pit stop. Nothing obvious. So that’s good.
4Sergio PerezGianpiero Lambiase[Unclear] on the whole lap. I don’t know if there was an issue with the brakes. And then I tried to overtake Sutil. I went on the inside and then the car just… I couldn’t stop it.
4Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatPriority now is good warm-up on the front tyres.
4Tom StallardJenson ButtonOK Jenson Vettel has pitted twice. He pitted once to put the [soft] on and pitted again to put the [medium] on. He’s in the same race as us.
5Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoRicciardo passed Alonso at the restart, moving him up to fifth behind the two Williams drivers.
OK nice job mate. Let’s get up to those Willies.
7Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYou are safe on fuel.
7Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatMagnussen behind currently on new [medium]. Grosjean in front new [soft].
9Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK Rocky what’s the pace?
9Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelThe leaders on [softs] are in md-44s. And the train you’re in, Kvyat in the lead, 46.3.
9Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoHow are the tyres? Any deg?
9Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieYeah rears started weak and stayed like that. Front left didn’t start great but it’s getting a little bit worse.
10Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergHow is the balance now, Nico? How’s the balance?
10Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceReasonable. Quite low grip overall but a lot of high-speed understeer, really.
11Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK the car’s really struggling, sliding a lot, I have very little grip. I’m struggling a lot with the wind.
11Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasNot so much a ‘coded’ message but definitely a ‘read between the lines’ message.
Try to get some air in the right-hand sidepod for temps. State of charge is good. Think about what I’m saying.
11Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsTyres are OK, just a small deg lap by lap. I feel like I have a little bit more pace than the car in front. It’s a little bit difficult to follow in the high speed.
12Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoFernando the pace is still good on the traffic, so we are doing well, carry on like this.
12Pastor MaldonadoMark SladeWe are losing the rear tyre now.
12Mark SladePastor MaldonadoUnderstood.
13Nico RosbergTony RossFront left is finished.
13Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK pace is still good we are not far away to get Vettel at the stop. Maybe a couple of laps.
13Jenson ButtonTom StallardI feel liek I’m overheating the rears with the brake bias.
15Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYou’re doing a great job here Lewis, just keep the pressure on. Give us a balance check, balance check when you can.
15Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelSo the leaders are coming in, Massa and Ricciardo, they willl come out in front of you.
15Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsI think we need to stop soon.
16Tom StallardJenson ButtonBlue B5. [Soft] runners have started pitting.
16Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoRicciardo jumped ahead of Bottas when they made their first pit stops.
Massa ahead is on [soft] tyres. Bottas behind also [soft] tyres.
17Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonHamilton decides to go with his pre-planned front wing adjustment when switching from the soft to medium tyres, despite feeling his car’s balance is towards oversteer.
OK Lewis standard adjust will be down two turns, Let us know if you want two more. Box, box.
17Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonCar’s a little bit oversteery. But I’ll take the two turns.
17Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergSix from now so push now, push.
18Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelDouble yellow ahead. Entry to turn 11 and exit turn 11. The car is stopped off-track.
19Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel you’re doing a good job. The more you hold up Bottas the better for our race.
20Tom StallardJenson ButtonWe’re fuel zero to the end.
20Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK I mean we are dog slow. The whole weekend we are doing 45s, blind 44s, and now I am struggling to do 46s.
21Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarThe main straight is under yellow flags as Hulkenberg’s car has stopped.
Why we don’t have the DRS on the main straight, that’s stupid?
21Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK Jev still yellow flag, the DRS problem is bcause of the yellow flag.
21Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceNo power, loss of power.
21Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergStop the car. Pull the car up and stop the car. And watch how you jump out of the car, assume a problem.
21Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceCopy. Smell oil.
23Tom StallardJenson ButtonWhite H7 position five, that’s more power.
25Tom StallardJenson ButtonCar behind now Vettel, same age tyre as you.
26Tom StallardJenson ButtonGreen F2, look after the rear tyres.
26Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelTyre feedback OK Sebastian. We need a few more laps if you can.
27Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoDaniel how are the tyres and how is the balance?
27Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieTyres are pretty up and down. Some laps feels like there’s deg, then they come back a bit. Think I could live with a bit more frotn wing. So a bit of understeer through six in particular.
27Tom StallardJenson ButtonButton was initially told to pit, then told to stay out. Magnussen came in on the lap Button would originally have pitted on.
We’re box this lap, push now, yellow G4.
27Tom StallardJenson ButtonAre you happy with the front wing angle?
27Jenson ButtonTom StallardYes.
28Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson stay out. Stay out this lap, stay out. Stay out, confirm. Jenson stay out this lap, please confirm.
29Jenson ButtonTom StallardNice call guys, nice call.
29Tom StallardJenson ButtonOK Jenson we are box this lap, we will box this lap.
29Jenson ButtonTom StallardAre you sure on that one, are you sure? Anyone else [unclear]?
29Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK Button in, should be ahead.
30Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsI think I can still do this and maybe next lap with reasonable pace, then the tyres start to drop.
31Tom StallardJenson ButtonAll these cars are fitting [medium] tyres. Opportunities will come at the end of the race if we can make this set last.
32Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaOK Felipe box, box this lap.
32Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoBox Daniel, box this lap.
32Mark TempleKevin MagnussenLast lap nine-tenths faster than Alonso, let’s keep this pace going.
32Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinDid you go down minus four with the front wing?
32Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelNegative, we kept the front wing where it was.
33Mark TempleKevin MagnussenAlonso’s picked up his pace, last lap he was four-tenths faster than us. He’s still just outside the pit gap.
33Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonHamilton says his tyres are strong enough for him to be able to stay out longer, but with Ricciardo just having pitted and gained on him and Rosberg by nine-tenths of a second, Mercedes decide to bring both their drivers in, starting with Hamilton.
Push on now, it’s Hammertime.
33Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonTyres are still good.
33Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK so box, box. We’re covering the field.
34Tony RossNico RosbergSo one more lap, push hard.
34Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneWe are catching the guys ahead. We will need good tyres for the end of the race.
34Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoMassa behind is on [medium] tyres. The leaders behind are just stopping, Rosberg will be about three seconds ahead of you when he stops.
35Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezPace is good, keep it up, and ignition five.
35Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAnother ‘read between the lines’ message.
So information Lewis we are in diff init six and that’s the quali map.
36Tony RossNico RosbergSo 21 laps remaining at the end of this lap. Gap to Lewis four seconds, gap to Ricciardo is four seconds. Everybody will be vulnerable at the end of the race with tyre wear.
36Jenson ButtonTom StallardHave I got damage in the rear? In the diffuser?
36Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson all aero loads look good.
36Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonKeep me up-to-date with pace.
36Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis, gap is at 2.7, Nico pushing hard.
38Nico RosbergTony RossI think I hit the front-left on a kerb, check the load.
38Tony RossNico RosbergCopy that, we’ll do that Nico. Gap to Lewis is now 2.6. As we say tyre wear does look good at the moment, better than expected.
38Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarWhat do you think of the chance of a Safety Car at the end? There is the carpet exit of the turn before the last corner which is going away a lot.
38Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneUnderstood: Yes, we are aware.
39Tony RossNico RosbergSo fuel is completely OK to the end, Nico.
40Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelJust so you know, Sebastian, Magnussen ahead is in the same position as you. He stopped just one lap later than you.
41Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoMercedes are quicker than us at the moment. But they did have worse deg before. They might start racing, so it might get messy.
42Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneMaldonado behind has got a penalty.
42Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarWhat penalty?
42Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneIt’s for Maldonado, not for you.
42Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarI understood but what is it?
42Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneIt’s five seconds.
43Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson we are in the window, in the window.
43Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelGood job Sebastian. The objective is to pull a bit of a gap so we can take the undercut if we need it. But after that try to make it to the end.
44Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAlonso in the pits. He’ll come out close to you and he’ll have fresh tyres. Possibly [softs]. Don’t fight him.
44Jenson ButtonTom StallardAm I overheating the rears or are they too cold?
44Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson they are too cold.
45Mark TempleKevin MagnussenKevin for info behind you have Jenson, Grosjean and Vergne, they’re all on similar age tyres to you. There are cars behind them on newer tyres, I’ll let you know if they become a threat.
46Jenson ButtonTom StallardReally struggling, really struggling on the rears. I tried what you said before but doesn’t seem to help.
46Tom StallardJenson ButtonUnderstood.
46Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson recommend try again to increase bulk temperature. Increase bulk temperature if possible.
46Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo just be careful with the Astroturf, exit turn 19.
47Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK Romain last two laps you were five-tenths quicker than the car in front.
48Jenson ButtonTom StallardEvery downshift, yeah, is locking the rears.
48Tom StallardJenson ButtonJenson we’re looking at that now.
48Antonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenButton in front is [unclear] grip he will slow the other people up. It’s still nine laps after this one so we can do something.
49Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinRed Bull decided to pit Vettel with seven laps to go for soft tyres.
I get quite a lot of vibrations now. I think the rears are pretty worn.
49Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelBox, torque map one and box.
49Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinI mean it depends in which shape the McLarens are in. If they are the ones that we are fighting.
49Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelExactly the same as us. Pitted one lap and two laps later respectively.
50Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaOK Felipe try and close the gap to Ricciardo, he may have an issue.
51Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneVergne passed Grosjean at turn one, making contact with the Lotus.
Good job there, keep your head down.
51Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuWhat was that?
52Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaI cannot see and I cannot steer.
52Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK we box this lap. OK Dany, stay cool, you have done a very good race at the moment.
53Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK Romain Charlie is looking at the incident.
53Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuYeah [unclear].
54Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinWhy is there no DRS?
54Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelWe’ll look into it mate, we’ll look into it. You were not within range at the time.
55Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK behind Maldonado now we’ve got Vettel on fresh tyres, Vettel coming very fast. Big push now, three laps to go.
55Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton caught a train of cars including the McLaren, Lotuses, Vergne and Vettel.
Blue flags.
55Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYeah roger that Lewis we’re on it. These guys are all battling so just be careful with them.
55Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuThere is a problem on the brake system I don’t know what’s going on.
55Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK understood we’re looking.
56Mark SladePastor MaldonadoOK Pastor once Vettel’s passed Vergne, that’s your chance to get Vergne.
56Mark TempleKevin MagnussenKevin, Vettel is now the car behind, he’s on seven-lap-old [softs]. He’s two seconds faster than us last lap. We are racing him.
56Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelGood job, Sebastian. Alonso next.
VLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonGet in there Lewis, get in there mate. Epic drive.
VLPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis so most successful British racing driver.
VLLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonThanks guys! All the hard work, you all back at the factory, I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m so grateful for all the efforts you put in, thank you.
VLPaddy LoweLewis HamiltonWell done yourself, Lewis, fantastic drive, very very good.
VLNico RosbergTony RossSorry guys, didn’t work out.
VLDaniel RicciardoSimon RennieCheers boys, good day.
VLSimon RennieDaniel RicciardoGreat job.
VLChristian HornerDaniel RicciardoGood job, well done.
VLDaniel RicciardoSimon RennieThanks for helping me out with the strategy.
VLChristian HornerDaniel RicciardoYeah, it was fantastic. Really well done. Be good to see that moustache on the podium.
VLDaniel RicciardoSimon RennieYee-ha!
VLChristian HornerSebastian VettelGood job Seb, good recovery. Really good overtaking at the end there, well done.
VLSebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinYeah first stint was an absolute joke which to me I don’t understand. Towards the end I was getting a bit better, but still all race very, very nervous.
VLXevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneP10 now. We’ll see what happens with the penalty. So at the moment P10, if Maldonado gets a penalty, then P9.
VLJean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarWhat do you mean ‘if’ Maldonado gets a penalty? You told me he had the penalty.
VLXevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneYes, he has got it, we need to see on our side what happens. Anyway Jev that was a good drive, bit difficult the last stint with the tyres.
VLAndrew MurdochFelipe MassaOK Felipe good job, good job from your side. Shame we lost out against Ricciardo in the pit stop.
VLFelipe MassaAndrew MurdochThanks guys, good points. Yeah I’m sorry to lose [unclear] in the pit stop, really really sorry for that because the podium was [unclear]. But anyway good points for the team.
VLJonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasP5, good jpb. The start cost us today, sorry about that.
VLMark SladePastor MaldonadoOK Pastor. Good job, mate. So we finish P9 on the road but I’m afraid we got a five-second penalty for speeding coming in the pit lane on that last stop. And unfortunately that’s going to drop us out of the points. Sorry mate. Sorry mate, it’s going to be P10, sorry Pastor P10, so one point. OK additional news apparently Vergne is under investigation so despite all that we might still end up with P9!
VLPastor MaldonadoMark SladeOK. Tough race at the beginning.
VLMark SladePastor MaldonadoYeah it was a tough race but it was good to actually be competing. So that’s a good thing, Pastor, well done mate.
VLAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK Romain we finished P11.
VLRomain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuYeah but come on that Vergne thing that was stunt, it’s not bumping cars.
VLAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanWe saw on TV and that’s investigated after the race.
VLRomain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuYeah but I lost a place.
VLAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanSure.
VLRomain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuAnd I couldn’t go back.. It won’t change anything to me, it’s just a shame.
VLAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanYeah it’s a shame, yeah.
VLTom StallardJenson ButtonSorry about that, that got pretty tough. So we finished P12.
VLJenson ButtonTom StallardYeah I think we should have maybe followed Vettel in. They seemed to be pretty good at getting it right.
VLTom StallardJenson ButtonYeah he was certainly pretty quick on that [soft] at the end. We’ll have a look at that afterwards.
VLJenson ButtonTom StallardFrom the word go we felt really weak at the rear. Massive understeer in the car. But still ver yweak at the rear. I did get a tap in turn one so I don’t know if that is it but you said it’s not so obivously it isn’t.

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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United States Grand Prix data

Image © COTA/Rizzo

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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13 comments on “2014 United States Grand Prix team radio transcript”

  1. I can’t say I’ve been looking at the same Jenson I’ve known for fourteen years these pasts few races, his head has definitely been down, and the sarcasm in this transcript is so uncharacteristic. I don’t think we can be particularly surprised though, because of the three McLaren candidates: Magnussen, Alonso and Button, Jenson is probably the least likely to be driving next year. Don’t believe the weird and wonderful rumours you hear about Fernando, his career is a litany of protracted contractual negotiations, and his one year preference is an obvious sticking point.

    1. There is literally no reason other than age to chose Magnussen over Button. Magnussen really didn´t look any better than Perez last year when compared to JB, finishing ahead in only 3 out of 17 races.

      1. @Sven. I think you are a bit off regarding K. Magnussens performance compared to S. Perez last year:
        First, Perez was not a rookie last year, but an experienced driver with 50+ grand prix’es under his belt. As a rookie, Magnussen sees (many of) the tracks he is racing outside Europe for the first time.
        Second, Perez only scored 49 points last year (in 19 races) while Magnussen has scored 54 so far this season with two races remaining.
        Third, Perez have had many accidents and unfortunate incidents and he don’t seam to learn from them. Kevin Magnussen have also made a couple of mistakes but not so serious and I bet he will never make the same mistake twice.

        Besides all this, I would prefer McLaren to sign both Button and Magnussen for next year. It is like their co-corporation and mutual respect is groving.

      2. I’d bet that Jenson’s salary is several times more than Kevin’s, and that Jenson is far less likely to accept being number two to Alonso.
        If I were running a team and had the opportunity to sign Alonso I’d much rather keep the younger and cheaper driver to pair him with.

      3. @crammond – Boullier has made it clear on several occasions that they are looking for longevity in their line up as of next year. And whilst KMag has scarcely been an improvement on Perez, they are apples and oranges, a third-year driver with his big break and a rookie parachuted in from FR3.5 are hardly comparable. And yet, Magnussen’s race showing against Button have been nearly as good as Checo’s, and his qualifying performances have been better.

        He has certainly earned a second season, and surely McLaren would want to maximize the investment they made in Kevin through his junior career (A DAMS FR3.5 seat is a significant investment, and so is Fernando Alonso, so by keeping KMag over Button, as @beneboy says, McLaren should cut the loss they’ll make on the Spaniard’s salary) by giving him a proper chance. Yes, he perhaps doesn’t have a Ricciardo-grade future ahead of him, but I doubt that is of concern to McLaren when they have De Vries and particularly Stoffel Vandoorne on their books.

        1. Ricciardo didn’t have a “Ricciardo-grade future” ahead of him until this year, so I think it’s a bit too early to rule out Magnussens future.
          As a rookie he has been mighty impressive against a 15-year-veteran with a WDC on his resume. Only Hamilton was more impresssive in his rookie year. There isn’t many other who has posted a podium in their rookie race against 5 world champions.

          1. @kroonracing – You are certainly right about Ricciardo, that I can’t deny, but I would perhaps say that the MP4-29 that Kevin has had has been a better platform for his talent than the Toro Rossos and HRTs were for Daniel. What I am trying to say is talent tends only to be fully realized if it occurs higher up the grid with a headline name to cross-reference with, because a terrible car can mask the efforts of even the most fabulous racing driver. That is why unpicking the performances of a midfield driver in search of promise is such a minefield, albeit it is less so if Hulkenberg puts a Williams on pole or Vettel wins in a Toro Rosso!

            I am not at all ruling out a long career for Kevin, in fact quite the opposite since I am arguing that he deserves a second year, but merely pointing out that he must remain on his toes to deny the advances of a driver as excellent as Stoffel Vandoorne. Vandoorne, seemingly destined to remain in GP2 for 2015 (although links between him and Marussia were hinted at), will be an obvious replacement if KMag fails to develop adequately in 2015. Personally, since McLaren’s test team tend to take about a week to stop raving about him after he’s left the cockpit, I do feel there is an air of inevitability surrounding Vandoorne and a McLaren race role, although that is just a gut feeling I have.

  2. This is my favorite part after the F1 weekend. Thank you for your hard work you put into this!

    1. @xusso You’re welcome!

      1. @keithcollantine – Do you consider Jenson message on lap 23 and Lewis message on lap 35 driver coaching?

  3. I know this takes a long time to compile but worth the wait.

    I note here that Rosberg wanted some brake magic, just as Hamilton got in Sochi. I’m dying to know what that is. Do the sporting regs ban sorcery?

  4. In Adrian Sutil’s comment there is a very dirty term: Censored by FOM. :D

  5. So good to read that finally Pirelli have the tyres right and they are not hampering the drivers efforts to race.

    Not.

Comments are closed.