2015 British Grand Prix team radio transcript

2015 British Grand Prix

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Gathering rain at the British Grand Prix gave us a great opportunity to see who stayed cool when faced with the possibility of staying on a wet track on slick tyres.

Drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel made bold calls which paid off. Others, like Valtteri Bottas, were talked out of making potentially disastrous decisions by their race engineers.

And other drivers slipped up. The most high-profile of which was Kimi Raikkonen, who ducked into the pits for a set of intermediate tyres after being passed by Vettel.

But the rain eased and just a few laps later Raikkonen was at a loss what to do next. “You make the call,” he told his race engineer, who later decided a second set of intermediates was the way to go.

The race also saw the first proper deployment of the Virtual Safety Car, which had previously been used in Monaco but on that occasion was quickly replaced by the real thing. Engineers were quick to remind their drivers to stick to their time limits and be prepared for the restart, and no one fell foul of the complex new rule.

Before that Williams had to handle a delicate situation between their two drivers. Having unexpectedly got their two cars into the lead of the race, Bottas was pressuring Felipe Massa for the lead but was not allowed to overtake his team mate to begin with. The team later rescinded that order, but by then Bottas felt his best chance to overtake had gone.

Hamilton clearly liked the idea of celebrating in front of his home crowd by performing a few doughnuts, but was quick to reassure his engineers afterwards he hadn’t done anything which might damage his car.

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2015 British Grand Prix team radio transcript

Here are all the radio messages from the British Grand Prix which were broadcast on television.

Lap* From To Message
PR Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel Push for balance check, track is clear.
PR Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK can hear you loud and clear, just short-shifting through the gears.
PR Romain Grosjean Julien Simon-Chautemps If anything there is a bit too much aero balance.
PR Julien Simon-Chautemps Romain Grosjean OK we can adjust on the grid.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner Nasr’s car broke down on the Hangar straight during his reconnaissance lap.
Do you want me to try neutral? I’m stuck in sixth gear.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr Negative. Trying releasing the release the clutch, and then try to down-shift. How about-up shift, can we-up shift?
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner Can we try neutral.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr Just waiting on feedback. You can try but we think it won’t work.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner Someone can push me then after.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr OK keep the engine running, and get back to you shortly.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner Yeah neutral doesn’t come in.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr OK we are going to power cycle the car and then fire up the MGU-K. Switch off procedure and try to power up the car. Keep P2 and then we try fire up with the K.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner So just high voltage off? High voltage off? Can you hear me Craig?
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr Keep high voltage on, just go P2, fire up the MGU-K. You should be able to hold up the crank button.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner It doesn’t go.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr OK just keep it there for now.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner It is better if someone start pushing me to go to the pit lane.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr OK we are going to try a full power cycle. So switch off completely the car and wait ten seconds and then power it up again and then try cranking on the engine again.
PR Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Still yellow yellow, double waved yellows for Nasr entry turn 15.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner I am still stuck in sixth gear.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr Try again neutral after the power cycle.
PR Felipe Nasr Craig Gardiner The guys are pushing me now, I think it’s the best way if we’re going to be back in the pit lane. I have to be back in the pit lane, the guys are helping me out now.
PR Craig Gardiner Felipe Nasr OK let’s switch off the engine. Switch off procedure and we’ll get the car back.
PR Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So just be aware marshals are on track.
PR Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK so just come to a halt and turn the car off electrically. P2 to off.
PR Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Grip feels quite good in the last corner, feels normal, better than the other day.
PR Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Just information on the clutch I guess was slipping as it was fully engaged. but it was moving forward, creeping forward the car.
PR Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Yes that will be a feature of the car just because of the temperature.
PR Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington On the balance, it is very neutral in the high speed, the way we have the car at the moment. a really good front end, I’d like to keep the mechanical balance the same, maybe taking half a hole out of the front.
PR Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So it is clouding over again, I will get another update on the wind.
PR Tom Stallard Jenson Button OK Jenson, the other car is happy with their data and balance, so we have come down on front wing as you suggested. Race is going to start dry, still saying 30% chance of rain for the session.
PR Mark Slade Pastor Maldonado OK, the pit lane speed limiter should be off.
PR Pastor Maldonado Mark Slade OK.
PR Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat As soon as you can reverse on, high rpm to charge the battery, and try and sync all your gears by turn two [Farm], but if not, definitely by turn six [Brooklands].
PR Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase OK.
PR Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat And always, work your brakes on your formation lap as always round here. It will give you an advantage around your first lap.
PR Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington I do feel like looking after the rears today is really quite important today as well.
PR Mark Slade Pastor Maldonado OK Pastor, pit lane limiter on.
PR Pastor Maldonado Mark Slade Pit lane limiter on.
PR Mark Slade Pastor Maldonado So pit lane limiter on and strat six please for the start.
PR Pastor Maldonado Mark Slade Copy, strat six.
PR Tim Wright Sergio Perez Start mode on, do two static bite points finders and clutch release
FL Nico Hulkenberg Brad Joyce Clutch a bit under-engaged in initial launch, not enough
FL Lewis Hamilton Unknown Pulling away was quite poor, lots of wheelspin at the pull-away. Initial part was too aggressive as well.
FL Unknown Lewis Hamilton Copy that Lewis. So tyres are 95 fronts and rear, keep working them.
FL Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Feedback on the start please.
FL Nico Rosberg Tony Ross Slightly under-engaged, the start.
FL Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK we are good for six burnouts, remember RS flicks before the start.
FL Unknown Lewis Hamilton Remember RS before stopping in the grid slot.
FL Lewis Hamilton Unknown Grip is really poor on the grid, pretty similar to the other day.
FL Unknown Lewis Hamilton Affirm. Go strat five, brake balance and b-mig for turn one. I’ll tell you when to do the bite point.
1 Romain Grosjean Julien Simon-Chautemps Yeah a Red Bull crashed into me.
1 Julien Simon-Chautemps Romain Grosjean OK Romain understood. Do you have a lot of damage? We don’t see anything.
1 Tom Stallard Jenson Button No response heard.
Jenson, are you OK?
1 Fernando Alonso Mark Temple I have front wing damage, maybe something more than that. I will box now and check it.
1 Mark Temple Fernando Alonso OK understood.
1 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So stay out, Safety Car, Safety Car. keep the delta positive.
2 Pastor Maldonado Mark Slade Switch the car off, Pastor, switch the car off.
2 Dave Robson Felipe Massa So yellow flags are at three, four, five, stuck in the gravel ahead of you so just watch out for that.
2 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Great start Felipe, temps and pressures all good, lets focus on the restart.
2 Mark Temple Fernando Alonso OK Fernando drive straight out, stay right of the white line. we still need to drive to the delta, the Safety Car is currently in turn eight.
3 Mark Temple Fernando Alonso OK Fernando let’s try and catch the safety car queue, dash delta must be positive still.
3 Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat Clearly we looked stronger than the Ferraris on the first lap, for whatever reason, they may have been struggling, so think about that on the restart.
3 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So Safety Car in this lap, remember we will be racing from Safety Car line one.
3 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK Felipe Safety Car is in this lap, remember we are racing from Safety Car one line, so racing from the pit entry. Blend flick to cold, please.
3 Tim Wright Sergio Perez Remember you can attack and defend from Safety Car line one.
3 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg So lights are out, Massa controlling the pace, no stop-starting, tyre temps 9.5, brakes are good for the restart.
4 Josh Peckett Will Stevens We have a slippery surface warning turn six and seven.
4 Josh Peckett Will Stevens And track clear, Will.
4 Xevi Pujolar Max Verstappen Verstappen spun off at Farm.
Try to reverse, we can recover the race.
4 Xevi Pujolar Max Verstappen Just let the revs to go down and try again.
4 Max Verstappen Xevi Pujolar The reverse is not working.
5 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Grip is incredibly poor today.
5 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Copy that, strat mode three when you can.
5 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Double yellow turns one, two, three – need a good lift.
5 Max Verstappen Xevi Pujolar It’s not doing anything.
5 Xevi Pujolar Max Verstappen OK kill the engine.
5 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK so tyres look OK at the moment, temps are 120 front, 113 rear, keeping an eye on it.
5 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Rears still coming up to temp, pressures look OK.
6 Carlos Sainz Jnr Marco Matassa Everyone is struggling with rear tyres.
6 Marco Matassa Carlos Sainz Jnr Understood, Ricciardo behind you.
6 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen OK right front is OK, try to cool left front.
6 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood I cannot start cooling brakes and try to hold the people.
6 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen OK understood. DRS is enabled.
7 Josh Peckett Will Stevens OK mate you are doing a great job, you are lapping quicker than the other car.
7 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Felipe this is good, very good. Just need to look after the front-left tyre.
7 Simon Rennie Daniel Ricciardo OK track is clear, how are the tyres.
7 Daniel Ricciardo Simon Rennie Really low overall grip at the moment, more so on the rear, but overall quite low.
7 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Gap to Nico 1.1, and to Bottas 1.3.
8 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Just looking after that left front, all metrics are good.
8 Felipe Massa Dave Robson Felipe this is good, very good, so just need to look after the front left tyre, the front left.
8 Nico Hulkenberg Brad Joyce Balance is very poor generally, but front left is getting very tired.
8 Tim Wright Sergio Perez Nico in clean air 40.2, take care with the front left.
9 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Currently target minus five.
9 Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat OK we have broken Perez’s DRS.
9 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK Felipe this is good. So we are not racing with your team mate let’s pull away together. We need to pull away together from the Mercs.
9 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Instruction: No racing your team mate for now.
9 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls I have more pace.
9 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Copy. No racing for now. We’ll keep you advised.
11 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls On lap ten Bottas drew alongside Massa on the entry to Stowe but dropped back behind him as they arrived at Club.
Can I overtake? I can do it in the back straight. Tell me.
11 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Yes.
11 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls Repeat.
11 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Yes, you can.
11 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls That was too late.
11 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas It has to be a very clean move,. And you need to pull away when you are in front. Clean move.
11 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls Copy.
11 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK Felipe so Valtteri is going to try and attack you on the back straight, he will try and attack you with DRS.
12 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington I can’t get close enough to these guys.
12 Sebastian Vettel Riccardo Adami I’m stuck in the train, balance difficult to judge because I am the last car in the train so for sure my balance is worst.
13 Marco Matassa Carlos Sainz Jnr Box Carlos, pit confirm and box.
13 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Felipe this is good, battery is still full, keep easing away.
13 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Clutch 7 for the stop.
13 Simon Rennie Daniel Ricciardo Use the battery as you wish.
13 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Give us a balance check when you can.
13 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Little bit oversteery.
14 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Box this lap for [hard] tyres.
14 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood OK.
14 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen 0.7 down for [hard], a bit less than normal. So concentrate on position, Kimi.
14 Sebastian Vettel Riccardo Adami First wing is difficult to judge, I am in traffic, think about staying out.
14 Sebastian Vettel Riccardo Adami Basically think about opposite Kvyat.
15 Sebastian Vettel Riccardo Adami Kvyat keeps leaving the track, the last four laps in a row, turn nine.
15 Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel OK, copy. Box, Sebastian, opposite to Kvyat. Grip five. Start switch down.
15 Fernando Alonso Mark Temple OK, because I don’t want to be too long with these tyres, I think it’s slower.
15 Mark Temple Fernando Alonso OK understood, we’ll look at the performance of other cars and work out what our target lap is.
15 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Just confirm still down 1% for the [hard].
15 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross No, 0.7.
15 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Copy.
16 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen We are on plan A still.
16 Tim Wright Sergio Perez Checo, how is the tyre?
16 Sergio Perez Tim Wright Yeah just fighting some overheating.
16 Tim Wright Sergio Perez We suggest one click rearwards on brake balance for balance.
17 Daniel Ricciardo Simon Rennie Total loss of power.
17 Simon Rennie Daniel Ricciardo Fail one fail.
17 Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat How much faster do you think you could go without Hulk ahead, Danny?
17 Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Three or four tenths per lap, at least.
18 Carlos Sainz Jnr Marco Matassa Balance OK now.
18 Dave Robson Felipe Massa How are the tyres?
18 Felipe Massa Dave Robson Starting to feel it a little bit more now.
18 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Understood, Felipe this is good.
18 Felipe Massa Dave Robson Start to feel more the rear than the front.
18 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK, copy that. So Felipe we’re looking for target lap. Keep doing what you’re doing. And battery is full.
19 Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Box box box.
19 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington The last lap was the closest I’ve been.
19 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK, copy.
19 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Starting to get warm tyres.
19 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK box box, pit confirm.
19 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Should I still do the opposite.
19 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Negative, box box regardless. And we’re going to go down two turns for the [hard] tyre. Box, box. RS modes. Slippery into the box. We need a hard out-lap.
20 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Hamilton picked up a penalty after crossing the pit lane exit line in the last race.
Cancel RS, check for the white line, it will be close with Perez on exit.
20 Tim Wright Sergio Perez Box this lap, push push. Checo confirm one click down for [hards], confirm default front wing change for primes.
20 Sergio Perez Tim Wright Confirm.
20 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Push really hard now Nico, really important.
20 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Box box box, pit confirm RS.
20 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Blend flick to hot, we are box this lap and we will be racing Hamilton at the exit.
21 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Both flicks on. First gear before you stop. Easy into the box, apply the brakes.
21 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK so Massa’s in now, all to play for.
21 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Massa left the pits alongside Rosberg and narrowly stayed ahead.
Take him we need everything here Felipe. Racing Hamilton.
21 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton You can go strat mode four, Massa now the car behind, three seconds behind him Nico.
21 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Before Bottas pitted Mercedes were so sure he would come out behind Hamilton they told him to back off to preserve his tyres for what they expected would be a run to the flag without a further pit stop.
We are clear to Bottas, so we are safe to Bottas, he is within our pit window, plenty of time so don’t push the tyres too hard now, got a long stint.
21 Dave Robson Felipe Massa We will be racing Valterri this time around at the pit exit.
22 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Bottas now the car behind, 1.5s.
22 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Keep me up to date with pace of the guys behind.
22 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Affirm Lewis, so we are going to the end.
22 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Massa now the car behind, 3.2s. Just remember how hard it is to overtake around here.
23 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Mercedes decide they will have to put Rosberg on a two-stop strategy to give him a chance of passing the Williams drivers, so he is told he no longer needs to conserve his tyres.
Nico we’re going to go to plan B, so push hard now.
23 Simon Rennie Daniel Ricciardo OK mate so P1 please. Sorry about that, we tried a lot of things, unfortunately it’s dead.
24 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK so this a straight fight to the end, we are racing all cars around us, including Valterri.
24 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas So we are definitely racing our team mate, but it needs to be clean, so we are racing until the end.
24 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Bottas dropped back from Massa when they were on the hard tyres.
OK Felipe this is good let’s use the free air, pull away from Valtteri, break his DRS.
25 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Let me know if I have to increase that gap any more.
25 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK the main thing is getting to the end now. There is a threat of rain in about 30 mins.
25 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton We were front-left limited on the last stint, so we need to look after that now, 30 laps remaining.
26 Will Stevens Josh Peckett Can you tell me if there is any rain in the area or not?
26 Josh Peckett Will Stevens Copy that, we expect rain in 30 mins, we will keep you updated.
26 Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel Update on car balance please when you can.
26 Sebastian Vettel Riccardo Adami As soon as I get closer, I struggle with the front.
27 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls There is still a bit of a pace difference, but I don’t want to destroy the tyres yet.
27 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Understood, you were better on tyres on that first stint, maybe you van get him later. You are racing.
27 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK, you are matching Hamilton’s pace and pulling away from Valtteri. Traffic ahead is both Manors.
27 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls You were better on your tyres that first stint, so maybe we can get him later, you are racing.
28 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Getting pretty dark.
28 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Copy that Lewis, something is on its way.
28 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Is it going to hit us before the end of the race?.
28 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Quite likely.
28 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Currently on lap 28, expecting rain 15 minutes.
29 Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel Rain is expected in 15 mins, just for an update on weather.
29 Tim Wright Sergio Perez Possibility of light rain in 15 mins, and harder rain in 30 mins.
30 Nico Hulkenberg Brad Joyce The Ferrari drivers jumped ahead of Hulkenberg by pitting several laps earlier.
For sure they are going to make it to the end, easy.
30 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So rain still on its way.
30 Marco Matassa Carlos Sainz Jnr Exit turn seven, Carlos, exit turn seven.
30 Fernando Alonso Mark Temple Fernando the rain looks to be about 15-20 minutes away, it will be quite heavy.
31 Marco Matassa Carlos Sainz Jnr Sainz was warned to obey the track limits at Copse.
Warning turn nine, last couple of laps, stay in the track.
31 Carlos Sainz Jnr Marco Matassa Copy copy.
32 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Give it everything, give it everything on your strat.
32 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Expecting rain in the next 6 to 9 laps.
32 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Rain possibly in 15 minutes’ time.
32 Felipe Massa Dave Robson OK.
32 Dave Robson Felipe Massa When it starts let us know where it is and how bad it is.
32 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Give it everything like quali.
33 Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat We are expecting some very light rain at this stage, it will be from turn 17 to one-two, that’s where you can expect the rain to hit the circuit first. So just caution at this stage.
33 Fernando Alonso Mark Temple And Fernando, rain looks to be about five minutes away, we think it will affect the pit part of the circuit first.
33 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton We have yellow yellow last corner, car on outside of track.
34 Marco Matassa Carlos Sainz Jnr OK safe, jump out.
34 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg The Virtual Safety Car was deployed.
Virtual Safety Car, VSC, stay out, strat 13, keep the delta positive all sectors.
34 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Virtual Safety Car, drive to the delta, mode 12.
34 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Default on, we are staying out, drive to the delta, default on.
34 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton So remember stay positive in every sector. Tyres 128 front, 120 rear.
35 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Talk to me about the weather.
35 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood Nothing is happening, there was just a few drops at corner nine.
35 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen That is the direction we expect it to come from, very light showers, stay out for now, stay positive in each sector.
35 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood Yeah but you check also what the others are doing in front of us.
35 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Yeah everybody has stayed out.
35 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood Yeah but now the end of the lap so…
35 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Yeah I’m watching them, don’t worry.
35 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood It is not really raining now.
35 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Copy, it’s not raining in the pits either. OK we expect only drops now at the minute Kimi. Remember the procedure on the Virtual Safety Car ending, will let you know when I see the message, and then it should be sub-ten seconds until you see the green panel.
35 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood Raining a little bit in two. Or one. Whatever it is.
35 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Understood, we have a little bit more rain here in the pits. I’m watching the leaders. OK Virtual Safety Car is ending, watch for the green panel, be positive in the green.
35 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls So as a reminder, we’ll get a notification when the virtual Safety Car is about to end. Then you need to look for the boards, look for the boards and they will tell you when you can start racing.
36 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Possible light rain, umbrellas going up. We will keep you advised.
36 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington I’m seeing drops on my visor, keep me up to date.
36 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK will do, seeing nothing in the pit lane at the moment. You just keep telling us. We think it will be inter first, that’s our default change, we will be ready any time.
36 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls There are drops everywhere, I think we need to stop.
36 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas We think too soon at the moment because it’s not getting any harder, but we need really good feedback. This is going to make or break our day.
36 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls Drops everywhere, it’s getting slower.
36 Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Very light rain I can see on the visor, very light.
37 Felipe Massa Dave Robson Yeah it is getting more.
37 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Understood, still very light in the pit lane.
37 Felipe Massa Dave Robson Yeah it’s more behind, here is less.
37 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Understood.
37 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington So far it has stopped.
37 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Nobody’s stopped yet.
37 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington No the rain has stopped.
37 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK keep us informed.
37 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington OK but you’ll be able to see more than me.
37 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas It’s nearly stopped at the start/finish.
37 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls It’s stopped at the back as well. Turn seven it is raining.
37 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Copy. Still not wet enough for an inter, stay out.
38 Felipe Massa Dave Robson Here is getting wet, on the back straight.
38 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK understood. Still dry, stay out.
38 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls Yeah there are drops everywhere, I think we need to stop.
38 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Cars going off at turns six and seven, think about brake balance. Slippy section six, seven.
38 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Caution turn six, it’s slippery, cars have gone off.
38 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Yes it’s wet up here, completely wet.
39 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Very slippery out of turn seven, but it’s still dry in the other part.
39 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK Lewis we can see half wet half dry. If we can stay out one more lap that is OK, but we’ll wait for your command.
39 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross Get my brake pressures up.
39 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg HPP four, to four.
39 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood OK Seb just overtook me, so box this lap.
39 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Box this lap, wet switch down.
39 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls Still not wet enough for an inter.
39 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton OK Lewis we think that rain shower has passed, next show in five minutes but it will be light.
39 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Some cars have switched to inters.
39 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls We need to pit.
39 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas The rest of the track is dry and it’s stopped raining here, we’ll kill the tyres if we pit.
40 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington It’s incredibly dangerous through turn seven. It’s really dangerous around that place but I can stay out.
40 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Copy that Lewis we think we would damage the inters if we put them on now so if you can stay out that’s good.
40 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Rain could get heavier in about five minutes.
40 Tim Wright Sergio Perez Nico 44.0. Dry is quicker than inters.
41 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington It’s dried up a bit in turn seven, now. I can see the clouds over Stowe, there’s more stuff coming.
41 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington The cars behind me quicker?
41 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Only Nico, 42.7 lap, you 43.7. HPP four position 4 when you can.
41 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Excellent job Nico, it will still be damp, expecting rain shortly.
41 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Just be aware the Manors in front are on inters.
41 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Expecting rain in the next minute or so, more rain.
42 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton We’ve got rain in the pit lane now.
42 Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat You are approaching Ericsson and Alonso who are on inters, and they are slow.
43 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood Now do we stop, or we wait and it rain because my tyres are gone anyhow at that point. For me you can make the call but it keeps raining all the time, so… If you see that it’s not going to get heavier then we stop. I don’t know, you make the call.
43 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen Understood. We are seeing a bit more rain in the pits. Just don’t know how bad your inters are now.
43 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood They are not good any more but I don’t know, if we stop for slicks we have to stop again.
43 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen If it rains properly and we need to put another set of inters that’s unfortunate but we stay out, Kimi, for now. Feeling more rain in the pits.
43 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Keep us advised on the tyres, we may go for inter.
43 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross It’s all good.
43 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Copy.
43 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington I’ve got no grip on these tyres, guys.
43 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Copy that, Lewis. So we are ready for…
43 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Box this lap, box this lap.
43 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Ready for you box box. Menu tyre position three, RS modes.
44 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg You need to let us know how it is, Lewis has pitted for inters.
44 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Look after these tyres on the dry sections, just cancel RS. Suggest entry 7 init 9.
44 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg We do expect it to go to inters Nico.
44 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross OK box this lap I think.
44 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Copy, box. Diff entry seven.
44 Nico Rosberg Tony Ross Keep me updated on the rain, what you think.
44 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Box box pit confirm. Heavy rain turn 15 and in the pit lane. Box box RS, heavy rain here just take it easy.
44 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Be slippery in pit lane and box.
45 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Slippery in the box, just caution.
45 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Cancel RS.
45 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Clear now, you are out behind Lewis.
45 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Gap to Nico, just over seven seconds.
45 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Expect this to be the worst of the heavy rain, then it will dry out.
45 Dave Robson Felipe Massa Default on, we’re racing Vettel for third position, that is Vettel ahead, we are racing him.
46 Felipe Massa Dave Robson The rain is getting heavier.
46 Dave Robson Felipe Massa OK it is not too bad in the pit lane. Quicker than Vettel, let’s chase down Vettel.
46 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Six laps remaining, we can still do something here.
46 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Expecting it to gradually dry, Perez lapped car in front.
47 Dave Robson Felipe Massa This is good, we are much quicker than Vettel in these conditions.
47 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood OK, it is getting a bit wet here. If we still have the chance maybe [unclear]. It’s is quite dry in the other places and the car is good.
47 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen It’s still an option Kimi, you can still stop if you want. Let me know if you’re stopping.
47 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton What was the time of Nico last lap?
47 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton 51.3, very similar.
48 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood I don’t have a front end on the car.
48 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen OK we have a free pit stop, I think we should come in, put a better set of inters on and try to pick up some pace. Yellow flag for Stevens there.
48 Josh Peckett Will Stevens OK we need to be in now Will, box this lap.
49 Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel Kimi boxing now for another set of inters.
49 David Greenwood Kimi Raikkonen We are in front of Perez, let’s try and make some progress.
49 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood The pick up is quite poor.
49 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Expecting further light rain in a couple of minutes.
49 Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Expecting a little bit more light rain before the end of the race.
50 Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel Forecast is for more rain coming.
50 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Rain intensity is increasing.
50 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls How many laps to go?
50 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Three.
51 Valtteri Bottas Jonathan Eddolls Tyre is just not working at all.
51 Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Copy that, we only have two-and-a-half laps left to go and the car behind is 10 seconds back, so if we can just continue at this pace we’ll finish where we are.
51 Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel You are fastest on track.
52 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton One more lap.
52 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Gap to Nico 11.7, 51.4.
VL Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Get in there Lewis, great race mate, fantastic win.
VL Paddy Lowe Lewis Hamilton Absolutely unbelievable drive, Lewis. Fantastic, well done.
VL Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington Great job, guys, I’m so happy with that. Thank you to all the fans for coming. That one was for you. Thank you.
VL Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton Great call on the pit stop there Lewis, that was exactly the right time.
VL Tony Ross Nico Rosberg Great job Nico, just one lap with the pit stop. But really good job especially in those damp conditions. So strat one.
VL Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel Yes yes, P3, master Vettel back to the podium.
VL Sebastian Vettel Riccardo Adami Nice one, grazie.
VL Maurizio Arrivabene Sebastian Vettel Grande Seb. Una grandissimo gara [A really great race]. Bravissimo.
VL Sebastian Vettel Riccardo Adami It is a lot of fun like that, especially when you come out doing the right things. As soon as the rain intensity picked up I decided to pit. Before it was always a bit of drizzle, only some corners. And then there was a lot of rain coming also from the clouds around the track. And then I thought ‘now we have to go’. Grazie.
VL Riccardo Adami Sebastian Vettel Was great. You keep it cool, we end up well. Great job. Great day to remember.
VL Unknown Lewis Hamilton Lovely job, enjoy the podium, look after the gearbox Lewis.
VL Lewis Hamilton Unknown No problem, I barely put any torque through there.
VL Unknown Lewis Hamilton Top job.
VL Jonathan Eddolls Valtteri Bottas Nice job today, P5, unlucky with the weather, we were just a lap too late. Finishing order: Hamilton won from Rosberg, Vettel, Massa, yourself in fifth, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Perez and Alonso.
VL Dave Robson Felipe Massa Nice job so P4. I know that’s a bit of a shame from where we qualified and where we were at the end of the first lap. But until that rain came it was a great drive, fantastic start, doing really well holding them off. Nice job, nice drive, P4 still good result, good points for us.
VL Felipe Massa Dave Robson OK So Hamilton won it?
VL Dave Robson Felipe Massa That’s right. Then Rosberg, Vettel P3, we’re fourth, Valtteri’s just finished fifth and then Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Perez ninth and Alonso’s picked up a point in tenth.
VL Felipe Massa Dave Robson OK guys we did a very good job. Unfortunately this rain [unclear] right time. But it was very close.
VL Dave Robson Felipe Massa It was. OK Felipe can we have multifunction B heat four.
VL Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Ah, one more lap.
VL Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat Yeah, OK. Well done Danny that was P6 mate.
VL Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Thanks guys. The car was rally good this weekend. Let’s keep pushing, it’s in the right direction. I guess you were not very bored on the pit wall there!
VL Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat Mode one, please. Yeah we’ll have a look into what we obviously could have done better. Following your spin maybe we should have boxed at that time. We’ll review it.
VL Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Yeah I understand.
VL Gianpiero Lambiase Daniil Kvyat Otherwise solid job all weekend, well done.
VL Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Yeah thanks again.
VL Christian Horner Daniil Kvyat Well driven Danny that was a good effort, good drive. Your pace was good throughout, really.
VL Daniil Kvyat Gianpiero Lambiase Yeah when it was really dry it felt good, thanks.

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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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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95 comments on “2015 British Grand Prix team radio transcript”

  1. Profile Photo

    Gigantor (@kbdavies)
    8th July 2015, 13:04

    Thankfully, this will put an end to the arguments s to if Lewis was just lucky, or he made a clear pit call because of rain. It also ends the speculation that Rosberg was catching him because he was either better in the changing condition, or because Lewis tires were shot.

    Lap 23. Tony Ross -> Nico Rosberg:

    Mercedes decide they will have to put Rosberg on a two-stop strategy to give him a chance of passing the Williams drivers, so he is told he no longer needs to conserve his tyres

    . Nico we’re going to go to plan B, so push hard now.

    Lap 25. Lewis Hamilton -> Peter Bonnington
    “Let me know if I have to increase that gap any more.”

    Lap 43. Lewis Hamilton -> Peter Bonnington
    “I’ve got no grip on these tyres, guys.” – No grip as it is now raining harder, and he makes a call to come in the next lap.

    Lap 43. Lewis Hamilton -> Peter Bonnington
    “Box this lap, box this lap.”

    1. Profile Photo

      Gigantor (@kbdavies)
      8th July 2015, 13:28

      *same lap

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        PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
        8th July 2015, 13:42

        @kbdavies I’m lost as to how you assume Plan B is a 2 stop? Surely drivers have several plans with the same amount of stops?

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          Gigantor (@kbdavies)
          8th July 2015, 13:46

          Errm…..this is the quote again. i didn’t make it –

          Mercedes decide they will have to put Rosberg on a two-stop strategy to give him a chance of passing the Williams drivers, so he is told he no longer needs to conserve his tyres

          1. Profile Photo

            Gigantor (@kbdavies)
            8th July 2015, 13:47

            This is in the radio transcripts.

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            sato113 (@sato113)
            8th July 2015, 23:26

            @kbdavies that bit of text is Keith’s opinion I believe. Not a fact from Mercedes themselves.

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            PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
            9th July 2015, 5:28

            @sato113, @kbdavies – You could well be right, but I was just wondering if Plan B always means a stop more or less? I’m especially wondering as they knew rain was coming and a two stop was significantly slower (with the longest pitstop on the calender) on raceday, which they also knew.

            @keithcollantine, perhaps you can enlighten us?

          4. Profile Photo

            Gigantor (@kbdavies)
            9th July 2015, 11:28

            @xtwl – No. It does not always mean a two stopper. But it always means an alternative strategy. Seeing as the Silverstone race was generally seen to be a single stopper – from the top teams perspectives, Plan B could only mean one thing – two stopper.

            If could also have meant something like a later stop, but we know this could not be the case – as a late stop means tyre preservation, and Rosberg’s pace suggested he was not looking at preservation. He was using the life in them up. Moreover, it was after the message that he significantly picked up the pace. All the evidence simply points to a two stopper “Plan B”.

    2. MarkM
      8th July 2015, 14:07

      may I remiind people “Vettel” made the same “god like” decision and benefited from it as well.

      1. Profile Photo

        Gigantor (@kbdavies)
        8th July 2015, 14:20

        Yes, but very few are saying Vettel’s decision was a result of luck. I wonder why they are saying that about Lewis? Oh well….

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          BasCB (@bascb)
          9th July 2015, 12:54

          Surely its not because by the time Hamilton was pitting, he was slow from not having heat in the tyres (the no grip he is referring to) but it was still quite dry, where a little bit later, when Vettel went in, it was already clearly raining ahead then @kbdavies.

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        Woody (@woodyd91)
        8th July 2015, 16:53

        “god like”

        Nobody with any credibility is saying anything like that, It was just a great call and a very big one considering the position at the time and being in the lead at his home race in the closing laps.

        Yes, but very few are saying Vettel’s decision was a result of luck. I wonder why they are saying that about Lewis? Oh well….

        Good point, I wonder why that is…

        It also wasn’t a call that ensured he won the race either.

      3. Profile Photo

        Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
        8th July 2015, 16:53

        “Vettel” made the same “god like” decision

        As it says in the article.

    3. ben
      8th July 2015, 16:14

      If anything it showed he didn’t have tyres left and had to pit. Not like he “chose” that lap to pit… But that doesn’t diminish anything from the result. He did a good job.

    4. rm
      8th July 2015, 16:48

      It also ends the speculation that Rosberg was catching him because he was either better in the changing condition, or because Lewis tires were shot.

      Eh? You’re seeing what you want to see. Rosberg WAS better in the changing conditions, and Hamilton uttered that fateful phrase “I’ve got no grip” for which Button is still mocked to this day.

      1. Profile Photo

        Gigantor (@kbdavies)
        8th July 2015, 18:11

        He uttered the statement and came in to change to inters. Surely, that should tell you why he had no grip. or maybe i overestimate you.

        Indeed, Rosberg, thinking Lewis had made a mistake, had to go round one more lap only to discover there was indeed no grip – due to the rain. How is this difficult to understand.
        You are the one seeing what you want to see.

        1. moran
          8th July 2015, 21:31

          Not many had problems with grip to the extent Hamilton did. And he was not the only one running in clean air. Him not having grip is his problem.

          1. Drg
            8th July 2015, 23:42

            If you think that you are spelling your name wrong! :)

            The lead in any changing conditions is at a disadvantage. You hit the bad stuff first and have to judge it correctly – those behind can see if you fell off the track or not and easily increase lap time as they have something to aim at.

            Try it sometime… It’s an acknowledged fact regarding racing in such conditions… Oh – actually looking at the comments on here by those that pretend to know… They all clearly never have!

        2. Profile Photo

          BasCB (@bascb)
          9th July 2015, 13:02

          I guess its no use arguing with you here, but I just can’t help myself in correcting you. You try to say that Hamilton was losing grip because it was getting wetter and that made him stop at exactly that moment.
          We all watched the race, and it was NOT getting wetter at all in those parts of the track where Hamilton had been losing time.
          Rosberg was catching him fast however, so it was clear to Hamilton that he was struggling with the conditions and grip more than Nico. (quite possibly in part due to Hamilton’s great storming outlap when he needed to make sure he had Massa covered to get ahead with the undercut his tyres were just used up more and therefore losing more heat).

          The rain started/intensified on the main straight and in the pitlane when Hamilton came to a stop. But its not as if Hamilton had been planning or expecting the rain like that just as he came to a standstill.

        3. Sam Sam
          9th July 2015, 21:19

          Rosberg didn’t stay out because he thought Lewis made a mistake. He did wonder whether or not Lewis might have made a mistake but he stayed out because he didn’t have another option. He wanted to try something different and was hoping that Lewis had made a mistake and track-grip would still be there. Rosberg would have to wait for Lewis in the pit-lane anyway so his only chance was to stay out and hope for less rain.

  2. John Well
    8th July 2015, 13:07

    Lap 41 -43 conversations between Ham and Peter show that it was not just luck. They clearly read the situation.

    Ham was not coming in to get another pair of Slick but intended to switch to inter.

    1. John Well
      8th July 2015, 13:20

      *laps* 41-43

      1. Profile Photo

        sato113 (@sato113)
        8th July 2015, 23:27

        thanks for clearing that up John… :)

    2. Profile Photo

      Gigantor (@kbdavies)
      8th July 2015, 13:27

      Exactly! this was what i have been pointing out to those who claim he was lucky, or it was because Rosberg was catching him The pit crew had inters ready – and they did not know he was coming in until he peeled off. Luck my foot!

      1. yogart
        8th July 2015, 16:17

        Probably because he saw Rosberg in the mirrors? They thought it was gonna rain more, his tyres were also shot, not a whole lot of choices to make there…

        1. John Well
          8th July 2015, 16:42

          If it was just about Rosberg, why didn’t he just take another set of slick?
          Reading the conversation from lap 41-43, it is clear that he was already preparing himself to switch to inter. He clearly saw the heavy rain coming.
          And to be honest, the only people who can really verify if his choice was a gamble or not are the people that were on track and saw what he was seeing.
          Because many people are basing their comments on what was said by certain commentators instead of the fact.
          Even the Massa-Botta situation which was clearly a non incident because I clearly heard the team telling Bottas that he could overtake as long as it was clean but no, they kept on spouting garbage and some people took the bait like little kids.

          1. yogart
            8th July 2015, 17:41

            I don’t care what some “certain commentators” say to be frank. They make mountains out of molehills.
            I clearly said “They thought it was gonna rain more”. I also think they could see the rain coming and they have spotters and they are tracking the clouds. So I don’t think it was surprising that he chose inters. Well, if you are not Sauber I guess…

          2. Profile Photo

            Gigantor (@kbdavies)
            8th July 2015, 18:15

            @John Well – it is pointless pointing out the obvious to people. Toto and Lauda have said why he came in. Lewis has said why he came in. The fans watching the race have confirmed what they said. The radio transcripts show it to be true. BUT some people still stubbornly refuse to accept it. this is in an insight into their mindset. These are the kind of people who refuse to accept the truth – even when it slaps them in the face. You should leave them to their delusions.

  3. Profile Photo

    LosD (@losd)
    8th July 2015, 13:16

    It’s a little weird that Massa is being told where Bottas will attack. Telling him that he will attack is of course fair, but not _where_

    I don’t think it mattered that much, as it is an obvious place, but still.

    1. AldoH
      8th July 2015, 14:08

      I thought the same. Obviously at that point Williams was in for a good amount of points and didn´t want to ruin everything with an accident.

  4. Profile Photo

    Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
    8th July 2015, 13:22

    By the way that’s 346 messages which I’m pretty sure makes this the longest transcript we’ve had so far.

    1. Profile Photo

      nmsi (@nmsi)
      8th July 2015, 13:26

      This was also one of the most interesting radio transcripts too, nice to see how people reacted to changeable weather.
      I wonder if the promised less drivers coaching means that the messages where it is slippery are bound to end too?

      1. Profile Photo

        IJW (@)
        8th July 2015, 13:30

        I think messages about slippery conditions would come under safety, which is always allowed.

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          PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
          8th July 2015, 13:39

          @ijw1 For me it isn’t. It’s just another condition on track. Oil however would be. Drivers can see it rains right? they should expect it is slippery.

          1. Drg
            8th July 2015, 19:23

            I have seen many of your comments over the months…

            You need to get out there and race in such conditions – particularly with slicks on a steadily getting wetter track!

            The skill you dismiss is absolutely the difference between good and great.

            That can be seen all the way down to the minor formula – and just think what it’s like on two wheels

          2. wert
            8th July 2015, 19:42

            What skill is he dismissing? If anything, he says drivers shouldn’t be coached and they should manage by themselves, which would highlight their skills in wet and their control over the cars as they try to make do on their own.

          3. Drg
            8th July 2015, 23:46

            He is dismissing the fact that the lead driver gets there first in any changing conditions. Those behind have a gifted target lap time. Like I said get out there and win a race in such and you will see what is being dismissed. Add that to the fact he was cruising and had no real tyre temp and it’s all so easy to dismiss the actual skill in such a call.

          4. Profile Photo

            PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
            9th July 2015, 5:24

            I think you are misinterpreting my comment, or I don’t understand yours. I’m saying drivers should not be informed about rain, as they can see the weather and can react to it themselves like Hamilton did for instance. I don’t think safety is a good enough reason for drivers to be coached during changing weather conditions.

            I have seen many of your comments over the months…

            Thanks for reading.

            You need to get out there and race in such conditions – particularly with slicks on a steadily getting wetter track!

            Who says I haven’t…

    2. Profile Photo

      Allan Wiese (@allanwiese)
      8th July 2015, 13:57

      And still, @keithcollantine, you first called it “team radio highlights”, just to change it latter to the propper name…

      Anyway, this is the post I look the most forward to read in the post GP week. Congratulations by the hard work you do here.

      1. Profile Photo

        Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
        8th July 2015, 14:00

        @allanwiese Yes it was ‘highlights’ earlier this year, hence the error, have retitled it now.

  5. AldoH
    8th July 2015, 14:05

    Enormously disappointed with Valtteri, and this is hard for me as I already wrote here that I saw a future champion in him.
    According to the radio transcript, Williams *did* let their drivers to race, and Valtteri received *several* messages authorizing him to attack Massa, and was unable to deliver. At one point Robson said to Massa to “pull away from Valtteri, break his DRS”, clearly indicating the main tool that Valtteri had at the time to support his claim of “better pace”. I have nothing against a driver that is ambitious and wants to win, but to complain on the radio that you have more pace and then failing to deliver is very depressing.

    1. Profile Photo

      Iestyn Davies (@fastiesty)
      8th July 2015, 17:08

      You’re not realising the decreasing life on the mediums makes it harder to overtake as a stint goes on, and also that Massa was faster on the hard tyres while Valtteri was faster on the mediums. F1 team engineers say he could have gotten 4 seconds in front of Massa, which would have kept Lewis behind him after the first stops. In a dry race that would give a win.

      1. pal
        8th July 2015, 17:45

        Yeah, the way tyres are made makes it harder for people to overtake into a stint. Which is way I find Mercedes trying to delay Rosberg’s attack on Hamilton hypocritical.
        By the way, people keep mocking Rosberg for some of the things he said, like in China, but in the end everyone started to repeat the same things and even the commentators are now aware of these issues…

      2. AldoH
        8th July 2015, 18:46

        I took the tyre degradation into account, but I don´t believe it’s the case here. In the same lap when Valtteri asked the pit for authorization to pass, he got the green light immediately but he replied it was too late, maybe because they were beyond the back straight, where he wanted to attack. But the messages show clearly that he needed the DRS to pass, and that’s why the asked to pass on the back straight. During those laps I had the impression that Valtteri was faster at the slower part of the tack and Massa was faster on the quick parts, so even with the DRS Valtteri was unable to pass.
        I like Bottas: he is very very fast, normally his races are errors-free, and he brings a lot of points to his team. But his constant complaining that he has more pace and the others need to get out of the way is becoming very annoying.
        Williams did the right thing: they put their two cars ahead of the Mercedes and tried to avoid an internal battle at that point. Five laps later they gave green light to their drivers to race, and from there Valtteri crumbled.

        1. versase1
          8th July 2015, 19:38

          +1

  6. The Skeptic
    8th July 2015, 14:09

    This highlights the depths of Kimi’s problems:

    1) He was overtaken by Vettel when they were both on slicks in damp conditions
    2) He panicked and pitted for intermediates prematurely.

    Item 1 (and the recent spins in races) shows that he simply does not have a great feel for the car (in comparison to Vettel). Item 2 shows that his racing judgement is questionable.

    The combination of these makes it likely that this will be his retirement season.

    1. The Skeptic
      8th July 2015, 14:12

      By the way – Bottas is not an automatic shoe in for Ferrari. He was faster than Massa on the softer tyres, but was slower on the hards, and was much slower on the intermediates in the wet.

      That’s not the mark of a world champion driver.

      Based on performance, I think Hulkenberg is a better bet for Ferrari (assuming that Ricciardo is locked into Red Bull).

      1. Profile Photo

        pxcmerc (@)
        8th July 2015, 14:38

        Massa also had an obstruction in his rear wing on the first stint.

      2. Profile Photo

        John H (@john-h)
        8th July 2015, 23:07

        Hulkenberg has been a better bet for Ferrari for the last 4 years but he won’t get the drive. It’s such a shame.

        1. moran
          8th July 2015, 23:18

          He’s the only driver you can be sure that would perform better than Raikkonen. Despite people claiming them to be “future world champions”, I don’t think you can say the same about Bottas or Ricciardo. I mean, sure, Raikkonen had some outrageous races or quails, but still…

        2. Profile Photo

          PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
          9th July 2015, 5:33

          @john-h Maybe we can see a return of Massa.

    2. The Skeptic
      8th July 2015, 14:16

      By the way, Hamilton & Rosberg both proved that they are top tier drivers, driving superbly on slicks in the damp conditions, with the the slightest of edges to Hamilton for his superior judgement on the switch to inters in this race.

      Ditto Vettel. He is much more likeable at Ferrari and is demonstrating superb skill.

      1. Profile Photo

        Markku Hänninen (@hmmh)
        8th July 2015, 15:20

        Both Hamilton and Kimi had problems on lap 38 when the rain fell first time and Vettel catched up Kimi. Hamiltons sector 2 (where the rain came) was 51.5 and Kimi had 51.7.

        Vettel, Kvyat and Hulkenberg were the fastest cars at the track at that time.

      2. Profile Photo

        Markku Hänninen (@hmmh)
        8th July 2015, 15:32

        Hamilton in damp conditions vs Kvyat:

        Lap 38 2.4s slower
        Lap 39 5.3s slower
        Lap 40 2.5s slower
        Lap 41 2.5s slower
        Lap 42 1.9s faster (track was almost dry)

        Vs Hulkenberg:

        Lap 38 0.9s slower
        Lap 39 5.9s slower
        Lap 40 2.5s slower
        Lap 41 3.7s slower
        Lap 42 1.4s faster

      3. Profile Photo

        ColdFly F1 (@)
        8th July 2015, 16:53

        Skeptic, which race were you watching?????
        Check the lap times during the damp, lap 38-43 (lap times link).
        Rosberg and others were way faster than Hamilton. Hamilton blamed it on cold tyres but I fail to see how this could have been different for the rest!

        1. Profile Photo

          Woody (@woodyd91)
          8th July 2015, 17:03

          @coldfly You fail to see why one driver could have different tyre temps at the same time as another driver?

          Track position (whether they are in traffic or on their own), temp & pressures before rain hit, engine modes, tyre age etc…

          For example, Rosberg who would have been using much of the same settings as Hamilton was battling with the Williams before his charge on Hamilton, battling for position & being being a car helps keep temps up, which in turn keeps the pressures up. Which in turns gives you more grip to help keep those temps up as much as possible. Hamilton on the other hand was out in the front so his temps dropped off and you’re not going to get them back in wet conditions.

          1. Profile Photo

            ColdFly F1 (@)
            8th July 2015, 17:25

            @woodyd91. No worries, I understand how tyres and tyre temperature works.

            I was just making the point that I do not agree with Skeptic saying that Hamilton was ‘driving superbly on slicks in the damp conditions’ when 5 other drivers were clearly faster than him during most of those damp laps.

          2. pal
            8th July 2015, 17:47

            He was not the only one in clean air.

          3. Profile Photo

            DaveW (@dmw)
            8th July 2015, 19:32

            Generally I don’t put much stock in these comparisons. Rain was coming and going and coming at different rates at different parts of the track at different times. If you were first into a shower you could lose maybe 10 seconds in a sector. If your position was relatively secure you would not be pushing it on slicks. It was a real melee when the rain started the second time and as shown by Hamilton and Vettel, the outcome had as much to do with instinct, guess, whatever, as anything. Vettel alone made up like half a lap due to the tire switch.

          4. Drg
            8th July 2015, 19:33

            +100000

            Clearly never led a wet race…

        2. The Skeptic
          9th July 2015, 15:50

          @coldfly Good pick up on Hamilton’s lap times in comparison to Hulkenberg and Kvyat on the slicks on the not quite wet track.

          I was referring to the fact that he clearly pulled away from Massa and Bottas during that time. There’s not a whole lot of value for the race leader in pushing hard in the rain to maintain a gap over P6 or P7!!

    3. jak
      8th July 2015, 16:38

      Raikkonen’s been always a very precise driver with a great car control. But nowadays he keeps spinning in straights and such. I agree with your points. Though I also think Ferrari might really have a somewhat irregular power delivery, and Vettel not spinning does not exactly eliminate that. He also has a great car control. I mean, did you see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oPCmf8v6sk He is clearly in control of that bucking bronco, sorry, prancing horse.

    4. Profile Photo

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      8th July 2015, 16:55

      With the best will in the world, Raikkonen’s handling of the tyre situation as revealed in these messages was unimpressive to say the least.

      Up until that point he was having a decent weekend, too.

  7. Profile Photo

    liongalahad (@liongalahad)
    8th July 2015, 15:30

    I thought that letting a driver know the laptime of his team-mate was forbidden by the new team radio rules… but I see that Lewis asked and got this info from his engineer at least 2 times.

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      IJW (@)
      8th July 2015, 16:08

      I think individual sector times are forbidden, but not overall lap times.

  8. peras
    8th July 2015, 16:23

    37 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington “So far it has stopped.”
    37 Peter Bonnington Lewis Hamilton “Nobody’s stopped yet.”
    37 Lewis Hamilton Peter Bonnington “No the rain has stopped.”

    LOL Bonnington must have had a Monaco flashback there! He was quick to correct “nobody’s stopped yet” though he misunderstood what Hamilton was saying.

    1. John Well
      8th July 2015, 16:29

      37 Peter Bonnington t0 Lewis Hamilton “Nobody’s stopped yet.”
      This reply should have been used in Monaco and they would have avoided the whole mess.

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        Iestyn Davies (@fastiesty)
        8th July 2015, 17:12

        At least they’re learning, even if they are applying it when mishearing :P

      2. joebloggs
        8th July 2015, 20:37

        @John Well: I find it interesting that no-one has brought up that if the virtual safety car had been used for the entire period in Monaco (instead of just the first lap or two) that Hamilton’s gap would have been preserved and he’d have come out still in the lead.
        Does anyone know why the VSC is used sometimes; sometimes it’s both; and sometimes it’s just the physical safety car?

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          lockup (@)
          8th July 2015, 22:27

          afaik they went to full SC in Monaco so they could deploy the medical car.

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            bosyber (@bosyber)
            9th July 2015, 10:15

            That’s also my understanding @lockup – the rules say medical car means SC for safety of all involved.

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    Malik (@)
    8th July 2015, 16:28

    43 Kimi Raikkonen David Greenwood Now do we stop, or we wait and it rain because my tyres are gone anyhow at that point. For me you can make the call but it keeps raining all the time, so… If you see that it’s not going to get heavier then we stop. I don’t know, you make the call.
    I don’t believe that Kimi said all that :D

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      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      8th July 2015, 16:56

      @malik He definitely did!

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        Malik (@)
        8th July 2015, 17:28

        @keithcollantine: I am just kidding :D
        By the way thanks a lot for the radio transcript and I do apologize for all Lewis Hamilton fans who misunderstood one of my comments :)

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          Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
          8th July 2015, 22:54

          @malik I know, it certainly was one of his more verbose comments!

          1. moran
            8th July 2015, 23:20

            He’s much more talkative these days. Actually, since he came back.

      2. IanBond
        8th July 2015, 18:53

        He was kidding :); that’s more than you would get from Kimi in a whole season.
        I just wish he could have a few event-less races in a row.

    2. Becken Lima
      9th July 2015, 0:57

      The guy who desperately wanted to see if Hamilton´s call were really true…

      Egg on face, it seems!

      lol

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    DaveW (@dmw)
    8th July 2015, 18:48

    These transcripts are invaluable. I find it ironic how unanimously keen we “fanatics” are for this information, as we should be, but at the same time how many among us decry the input of race engineers as corrupting “real racing.” Personally, I think the role of the engineers should be emphasized more in race coverage. In rally driving, we hail the co-pilot for his essential role. The race engineer is no less important in F1. Perhaps the cars should have two seats!

    1. richochet
      8th July 2015, 19:35

      Not two seats. But I agree with that.

  11. moran
    8th July 2015, 19:34

    “Master Vettel” – that gives you an idea on how things work inside that team lol.
    At least he’s not calling him “führer”.
    Kidding of course.

    1. MH
      8th July 2015, 21:35

      Yeah I think it might rather have been awe, because allthough the weekend so far wasn’t exactly perfect for VET, as soon as he saw an opening (the rain) he just went for it and left his teammate as well as the Williams out to dry! Pun intended ;)

    2. henry
      8th July 2015, 23:24

      Well I think he’s certainly one of the rain masters.

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    John H (@john-h)
    8th July 2015, 23:11

    I think the biggest success of the race was the virtual safety car. It worked great, and none of this waiting lap after lap for the safety car lights to go out 5 minutes after the incident is cleared and all the lapped car nonsense.

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      sato113 (@sato113)
      8th July 2015, 23:29

      agreed. Though Brundle mentioned that he thought a few cars had gained a few seconds on cars they were chasing during the VSC, yet no one was punished.

    2. EF1
      9th July 2015, 0:47

      The VSC was just another lucky Hamilton moment, they could have used it at the start of the race too, or used the safety car a 2nd time when they used the VSC, but if you look carefully at whom was in what positions at these times and add in where the race was held, well, its pretty obvious isn’t it. Oh well, the crowd got what they wanted. :-)

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        Karolis (@listas)
        9th July 2015, 9:17

        You have to be joking. This is simply laughable.

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        bosyber (@bosyber)
        9th July 2015, 10:22

        A full SC period would have taken longer EF1, quite possibly long for the rain to start – extending (as we have seen many times) the SC bc. a restart under such circumstances would have been considered dangerous, enough for the first bit of rain to ease.

        Result: no one would have pitted too early for intermediates; Hamilton wouldn’t have lost time to Rosberg in damp, bc. ROS would be stuck behind Massa,Bottas – and by the time they go racing again, everyone would be in the pits for inters at similar time – ie. ROS,VET,BOT would lose out to their teammates as they’d have to go a lap later. HAM still wins, but now with ROS 3rd (or lower). Would have increased his WDC lead.

        But you are right the VSC surely gave the crowd what they wanted in comparison ;-)

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    Adam Hardwick (@fluxsource)
    8th July 2015, 23:28

    Nice insight into the panic that a couple of drivers fell victim to…

    Loved the use of the VSC – kept the track safe, without (largely) affecting the outcome of the race. I know the VSC would have deprived us of the Bahrain battle last year, but it’s got to be a fairer, less disruptive system than the full safety car.

    1. EF1
      9th July 2015, 0:52

      Hated it, its not consistent in its use so some people at one part of the race get a safety car benefit yet others do not at a different time. So whom makes the distinction as to whether to use the virtual or real safety car? This is pretty open to manipulation as they theoretically could deploy or not deploy it depending on whom it will and won’t disadvantage.

      This needs to be consistent, either we ALWAYS have a VSC or we ALWAYS have a safety car, not just pick and choose.

      1. EF1
        9th July 2015, 0:54

        sorry its meant to read “safety car benefit or disadvantage yet…”

      2. Wooolfy
        9th July 2015, 5:33

        Your comment is downright nonsense. The VSC and SC calls are determined by the scale of the incident, the track, gaps, the corner, position of the car, damage to car(s), track protection compromises and the requirements to return the track to normal racing. There cannot be consistency in only using either. It’s a call that requires a lot of inputs and skills and we can only hope it goes well and is the right call. The VSC is good for racing.

  14. ben
    9th July 2015, 12:41

    Very interesting that Vettel is the one suggesting the strategy and the team agrees with him.

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      Becken Lima (@becken-lima)
      9th July 2015, 18:33

      Meanwhile, Kimi:

      “…I don’t know [what I’m doing?], you make the call…”

      1. ben
        9th July 2015, 19:24

        Yeah there’s that. But I actually meant the first pit stop. Second pit stop was already driver’s choice.

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