2017 Chinese Grand Prix team radio transcript

2017 Chinese Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen was distinctly unhappy with the lack of help he was getting from blue flags as he tried to lap Romain Grosjean at the end of the Chinese Grand Prix.

2017 Chinese Grand Prix in pictures
With team mate Daniel Ricciardo hunting him down in their battle for third position, Verstappen grew ever more insistent that his team urge race director Charlie Whiting to have blue flags shown for the Haas. The problem for Verstappen, as his engineer pointed out, was that he couldn’t get close enough to trigger the flags which would have told Grosjean to move aside.

The pre-race event notes state the drivers who are about to be lapped will receive “a pre-warning when the faster car is within 3.0s of the car about to be lapped”. Then “when the faster car is within one second of the car about to be lapped blue flags will be shown to the slower car (in addition to blue light panels, blue cockpit lights and a message on the timing monitors) and the driver must allow the following driver to overtake at the first available opportunity.”

Verstappen’s inability to get this close to a car which he was a lap ahead of could be a sign of how difficult cars can find it to overtake in some situations. However that hadn’t stopped Verstappen from passing other cars earlier in the race.

Another driver who was clearly unhappy with his race was Kimi Raikkonen, who repeatedly complained about Ferrari’s decision to postpone his second pit stop. The team believed that leaving him out on the track was his only chance of finishing on the podium ahead of the Red Bull drivers.

Given the time they later lost stuck behind Grosjean, it’s a shame this scenario didn’t get a chance to play out. However Raikkonen was vociferous in demanding the team bring him in for fresh tyres.

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2017 Chinese Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*FromToMessage
PRMax VerstappenI got an error next to my gear. I don’t know what it means.
PRMax VerstappenOK we’ll take a look, Max.
PRDaniel RiccairdoDaniel we will wait for feedback until you are on the grid. Give me fedback when we are on the grid.
PRSergio PerezI think the track is very close for slicks tyres.
PRSergio PerezUnderstood.
PRSergio PerezI would like to try slicks.
PRSergio PerezCheco you’ve got to be sure because it gives other people information. Are you sure?
PRFernando AlonsoFernando be careful in turn 11 some are reporting there might be oil there from their laps to the grid. So correction Fernandio it’s grid position 11 that has oil.
PRFernando AlonsoThe car reset itself. It’s on again but it switched on and off by itself.
PRFernando AlonsoUnderstood.
PRFernando AlonsoEveryone on inters except for Sainz. He is on a new option [super-soft].
FLLewis HamiltonThe important thing that we get through to that transition point, the inter-to-dry-point. We suspect that will be lap six. It will go because lifting a lot of water.
FLMarcus EricssonSo the latest weather forecast is no rain expected. A few drops might be possibe but no rain expected.
FLSebastian VettelIt has dried up quite a bit compared to previous.
FLFernando AlonsoIt is more dry than the laps to the grid so get ready quite soon.
FLJolyon PalmerI’m going to stay out.
FLJolyon PalmerIf you want to come in, come in.
FLJolyon PalmerOK, box, box.
FLJolyon PalmerBox, box
2Sergio PerezPotential front-right puncture, caution front-right.
2Max VerstappenGreat first lap Max. Stunning first lap mate.
2Max VerstappenIt’s still too early for slicks but keep me updated the guys on slicks.
2Max VerstappenWill do.
3Fernando AlonsoYeah I think we come in mate.
3Fernando AlonsoConfirm that. Box this lap.
3Lance Stroll[Censored by FOM] I got hit. Out of the race.
3Nico HulkenbergAre you in the pit lane Nico?
3Nico HulkenbergNo, but I spun. Not in the pit lane. I’m losing all the temperature now on these. Going so slow. Like ice.
3Nico HulkenbergOK, Nico, understood.
5Fernando AlonsoAnd drinks.
5Fernando AlonsoI don’t need [censored by FOM] drinks! There is just enough concentration to keep the car on the track, you know? Forget all the [censored by FOM] drinks.
5Max VerstappenThat was a Sauber that’s crashed on the start/finish line mate.
5Max VerstappenSlick tyres?
5Max VerstappenGiovinazzi, slick tyres, soft compound. What is it Max, we’re thinking of coming in?
5Max VerstappenWhere will I drop back?
5Max VerstappenIt could be a long Safety Car.
5Felipe MassaTyres is really tricky now.
7Lewis HamiltonIt’s very hard to keep these temperatures up. The Safety Car has to pick up the pace.
7Stoffel VandoorneStoffel we’ve not seen any damage with the chassis. The rims were damaged on that set but the chassis looks OK.
7Stoffel VandoorneYeah it’s the tyres thaty are worrying me. But it looks like everyone is struggling.
7Kimi RaikkonenIs it very wet on the main straight?
8Stoffel VandoorneOK Stoff some cars are clearly struggling with tyre temperatures. This should get interesting at the restart.
8Kimi RaikkonenI don’t know what happened with my engine. I have zero torque.
9Valtteri BottasOK so we’re going to fight back through this field. Let’s just get our head down.
9Lewis HamiltonRicciardo on super-soft, 48 laps remaining, he won’t get to the end on that tyre.
11Felipe MassaGrip level very low.
11Max VerstappenOK nice job Max. Push up to Lewis.
12Fernando AlonsoFernando for reference Sainz is quickest on track.
12Fernando AlonsoI’m quickest on track on the corners.
12Fernando AlonsoAnd we are P7. Perez behind +4.5.
12Fernando AlonsoYeah we need more rain now.
13Lewis HamiltonSo Vergne now the car behind. Correction, that’s Verstappen behind!
13Sergio PerezLast lap you were nine-tenths quicker than Alonso ahead on softs.
14Esteban OconKvyat is holding me up at the moment.
14Esteban OconCopy that. We’re going to need to pass him, then.
15Daniel RicciardoStruggling with understeer for now.
15Nico HulkenbergQuite a bit of understeer in the car now, right-handers.
17Kimi RaikkonenWhat the hell is happening on exit of 12? I have no power if I don’t push the K1.
17Kimi RaikkonenUnderstood, I’ll check.
17Marcus EricssonOK Marcus for info Hulkenberg got a ten-second penalty for overtaking you under Safety Car.
18Stoffel VandoorneI think we need to do the power cycle again.
18Stoffel VandoorneOK Stoffel we have a fuel problem, back off, we’ll box this lap.
19Max VerstappenAlright Max we’re losing around three tenths in sector two at the moment. Just give up turn seven a little bit for a faster eight-nine-ten combo.
20Marcus EricssonOK undestood. Keep pushing at the moment your lap time is good. With the info we have we think we can make it to the end. We’ll keep you up to date.
21Lewis HamiltonWe’re going to go to the end on this tyre, right? It’s quite harsh on this front-left tyre.
21Lewis HamiltonCopy, we’re flexible.
21Lewis Hamilton37 laps remaining. What do you think about going to the end?
21Lewis HamiltonCurrently I think I can do it.
23Sebastian VettelGood move. And push now.
23Romain GrosjeanHalf a percent rearward on brake balance is our only tool right now.
23Romain GrosjeanThey’re really going to box or not? If not we have to do something. My tyres are just going away.
23Daniil KvyatFailure, what should I do?
23Daniil KvyatOK keep going, we are looking.
23Daniil KvyatOK
23Daniil KvyatAnd no upshift.
23Daniil KvyatOK. Stop in a safe place. We need to stop the car in a safe place. Hydraulic failure Danny, sorry for that.
25Kimi RaikkonenDo we really think that the tyres will last to the end of the race? Because it doesn’t feel like it. Like I’m sliding because I’m close to the car. If we have to stop we probably should stop soon.
26Max VerstappenOK so Sebastian last lap 37.5. It was a struggle for them to pass Daniel. Took them a fairly long time. You are 4kph faster in a straight line as well. So you’re more difficult for them.
26Fernando AlonsoHas Bottas some car damage? Or he’s running his normal pace?
26Fernando AlonsoNo damage that we’re aware of. Our pace is a little bit better than we expected.
26Fernando AlonsoHow he can be behind us? Unbelievable.
28Jolyon PalmerSurprised we’re not boxing. I’ve really got a problem in the left-front.
28Jolyon PalmerUnderstood Jolyon. Think staying out’s the best bet at the moment. Keep managing that left-front.
28Lewis HamiltonThese tyres are starting to slide around a lot more.
29Max VerstappenMax do you need to box?
29Max VerstappenNo I can continue but the left-front is not good.
30Fernando AlonsoThe people behind us they have softer tyres than we have so we pit when they pit. Don’t hurry too much.
30Daniel RicciardoIf Max has problems with his tyres just don’t let me fall into Kimi.
30Daniel RicciardoUnderstood.
32Lewis HamiltonPace has gone down. Tyres don’t feel great.
33Romain Grosjean0.7 quicker than Hulkenberg that lap, good job.
33Kimi RaikkonenAgain the front is [censored by FOM] suffering quite a bit. The left-front is getting very cold and shuddering.
34Valtteri BottasYeah it’s just consistent deg all through the race. Front-left is limited.
34Valtteri BottasCopy that.
35Max VerstappenNice job. Tyre wear was not the limitation last stint, it was cold front tyres.
35Fernando AlonsoSorry guys. I lost a bit of time. On braking I didn’t know where to go.
35Fernando AlonsoYep no problem.
35Fernando AlonsoDriveshaft problem.
35Fernando AlonsoOK Fernando stop the car and switch off completely, please.
36Lewis HamiltonWe should probably pit. Don’t know how far these tyres are willing to go. Can probably make it, maybe not.
36Lewis HamiltonCopy that. Stand by.
36Lewis HamiltonOK it’ll be a maximum of two laps. Just want ot get Kimi well and truly out of our window, make sure we don’t have any fuss at the stop. OK box, box, pit window is clear.
38Daniel RicciardoOK Daniel so update. Hamilton has now stopped as well. That leaves Raikkonen as the only one-stopper. He will lose a few positions if he stops, so he’s likely going to go to the end. You probably will catch him in about ten laps.
38Valtteri BottasFastest lap of the race, good job.
39Kimi RaikkonenWhy didn’t you stop when I asked you? Then if we know that we’re going to stop two times probably everybody else apart from me.
39Kimi RaikkonenWe think this is the best chance is to go to the end. Copy on your message though.
39Kimi RaikkonenI have so poor front end [censored by FOM] they’re just going to catch me so easy. I cannot push in the front. So where are we going to finish? I have no front end and it’s 20 laps to go. So…
39Kimi RaikkonenUnderstood, Kimi. Our current prediction is P3 if we don’t stop. We think Seb’s going to come through but the others will be behind.
40Kimi RaikkonenHow much faster the guys are behind?
40Kimi RaikkonenSo Vettel did 36.9.
40Kimi RaikkonenWe’re almost three seconds slower and you still think it’s good to stay out? It’s only going to get more worse.
40Kimi RaikkonenUnderstood. Verstappen 37.6 and Ricciardo 37.6.
40Kimi RaikkonenIt’s still 18 laps to go and the front is already really bad. Really bad on the left front.
40Kimi RaikkonenUnderstood Kimi, understood.
40Kimi RaikkonenBecause somebody else behind even the Red Bulls will pass us if we don’t stop. Come on.
40Kimi RaikkonenBox this lap, Kimi, box this lap.
41Lewis HamiltonVettel picking up the pace now.
42Lewis HamiltonHow’s the gap come down from 12 to 8?
42Lewis HamiltonThere’s two laps of undercut, we were just waiting for Kimi to get out of our window. It’s all good now. Vettel is pushing but you’re doing good lap times.
43Kevin MagnussenVery, very well done. Come on, you have another job to do.
43Sebastian VettelVery good lap, Sebastian, keep your head down.
43Sebastian VettelI think he can react.
43Sebastian VettelLet’s keep it there.
43Sebastian VettelWhat do we need to average to catch him five laps to go?
43Sebastian Vettel0.7 per lap. Let’s keep it there.
46Max VerstappenThey just don’t move out of the way.
46Max VerstappenCopy Max. You’re going to have to put some energy into the front tyres, try and help keep them alive.
47Valtteri BottasSo we still have potential for P4 here, Nico, er, Valtteri, so just keep pushing.
47Felipe MassaCorner two, it’s just terrible.
48Max VerstappenUpdate on the blue flags in front of me. Because at the moment it’s ridiculous.
48Kimi RaikkonenSo Red Bulls are coming across blue flags in front. They are suffering with their fronts.
49Nico HulkenbergMassa in big trouble, 40.3 last lap in clear air.
49Max VerstappenCome on, move out of the way.
50Carlos Sainz JnrThis is good, Carlos, this is good. Oil transfer, please.
50Kevin MagnussenPerez tyres are dying so he shouldn’t be a threat.
50Sergio PerezBox this lap, pit confirm. Use everything from the tyre. Our pit window is clear.
51Max VerstappenTell Grosjean to move out of the way, please, he just stays in front.
51Max VerstappenCopy Max we’ll get on it. Six laps to go.
52Felipe MassaCheck if everything is right on the rear-left. The car is completely oversteer to the right-hand-side corners. So just check if everything is OK. The car is pulling to the left, also.
52Max VerstappenI’m getting understeer because of it.
52Max VerstappenYeah I know mate. I think we keep getting told we need to be within a second. It’s basically what’s been agreed. I’ll do my best.
53Daniel RicciardoOK Daniel so five laps to go. If you didn’t know already Max is P3 and we are P4.
53Max VerstappenIt’s ridiculous, mate, I’m losing grip.
53Max VerstappenWe’ve done everything we can this end, Max.
54Max VerstappenCan you please keep telling Charlie this is really ridiculous.
54Max VerstappenUnderstood.
56Felipe MassaI don’t understand why I have blue flags.
56Felipe MassaYou just unlapped yourself from Sainz.
56Felipe MassaWhat’s the problem?
56Felipe MassaNo problem, it’s fine.
56Max VerstappenOK Max. As you’re aware I’m just you are racing. Just keep it clean. Just use your overtake…
56Max VerstappenYeah, yeah, don’t talk, please.
VLLewis HamiltonGet in there, Lewis. That’s a great race mate. Absolute masterclass. Really well managed mate. really good job..
VLLewis HamiltonWell managed from you too man. Thank you so much for all your efforts, guys. Everyone has really worked hard for this. Got to keep pushing.
VLSebastian VettelP2 Sebastian. Well done, solid race. Nice moves out there.
VLSebastian VettelYeah I enjoyed that one. Grazie a tutti. Grande lavoro. That was a bit unlucky. I think we did the right thing but obviously there was the Safety Car straight away. But I think in the mixed conditions it felt like we were the quicker. We were the quicker, man, we were the quicker! But we couldn’t prove that one. Next time we will. Grazie.
VLSebastian VettelBravo Sebastian, bravo bravo bravo
VLMax VerstappenWell done mate, good job.
VLMax VerstappenThank you very much! Not a bad race, not a bad race.
VLMax VerstappenNice job, podium at the end mate. Think you did pretty well. Not a lot of front tyre temp at all.
VLMax VerstappenYeah we missed qualifying so I didn’t really know what to expect from the car. It was a bit difficult. Still quite a good result from 16th.
VLMax VerstappenYeah it was a cracking first lap, nice job.
VLMax VerstappenWell done Max. Where you came from on the grid, your first stint on the inters was blistering.
VLValtteri BottasGood try there, Valtteri, good effort.
VLValtteri BottasReally disappointing. I’m so sorry guys for the amateur mistake. I know it doesn’t help but I will make it up in the next races.
VLValtteri BottasCopy that, Valtteri.
VLRomain GrosjeanGood drive, man. It’s our old friend 11th.
VLRomain GrosjeanI’m thinking ‘how much damage have we got?’ and on top of just got [unclear] everywhere. Impossible to overtake Palmer. Lost so much time there. One-and-a-half seconds a lap.
VLRomain GrosjeanYep you didn’t catch any luck but you did a good drive, good passes.
VLNico HulkenbergPretty unlucky with the Virtual Safety Car on lap one. That really screwed us. Could have been a great move.
VLNico HulkenbergYeah. There you go. It didn’t work. Anyway, try again next weekend.
VLKevin MagnussenVery good job. Eighth position. This is just the beginning. Good job.
VLKevin MagnussenGood job guys. Really good startegy. Good call to go onto super-soft. Just massive good job guys. Can’t wait until the next one.
VLKevin MagnussenYeah give us a bit of rest, eh?
VLFelipe MassaOK tough race mate, really tough.
VLFelipe MassaYeah it was a terrible race, man. Everything happened so… Try the next one but quite disappointed.
VLFelipe MassaYep I agree very tough. But we go to Bahrain next, should be OK.
VLDaniel RicciardoWell done Daniel you drove a great reace there, gave it everything, well done.
VLDaniel RicciardoThanks guys.
VLDaniel RicciardoDon’t worry, stronger weekends to come. A very good race, particularly the second half, very strong.
VLDaniel RicciardoYeah. Once I got close it became tricky.
VLCarlos Sainz JnrWell done mate. We have taken six points in the bag. Not much more we could have done. Fantastic. Well done, mate.
VLCarlos Sainz JnrYes. Wow. Great race, guys. Sdometimes it’s worth taking a risk, eh? Haha.
VLCarlos Sainz JnrYeah super big-ball call, matre. Well doen moonshine.
VLCarlos Sainz JnrIncredible also to fight with the Ferraris and the Red Bull at the beginning.

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. Only messages which were broadcast during the coverage of the race are included.

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Chinese Grand Prix data

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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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    17 comments on “2017 Chinese Grand Prix team radio transcript”

    1. Let’s hope VER stops “vetteling”. Maybe the first part he had a point but defending to RIC he lost his pace and the gap with the Haas increased. Moaning will not win cups..

      1. Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
        14th April 2017, 11:10

        I thought there was nothing wrong at all with what Grosjean was doing towards the end of the race. He will have had to cost himself a huge amount of time if he was to slow right down to allow Verstappen through. I’m pleased that a lot of the time, Grosjean didn’t get blue flagged. I sometimes hate those rules. I don’t get why lapped drivers should have to cost themselves so much time as they are still in a race themselves. Verstappen moaned far too much towards the end of this race! As you say, it is like Vettel last year. Vettel seems to have got over it now though and passed it onto Verstappen :D

        1. @thegianthogweed, it also has to be said that, even in free air, the rate at which Verstappen was catching Grosjean was diminishing from lap 42 onwards – he was a fraction faster, but only by a few tenths of a second per lap. Even if Grosjean wasn’t there, I don’t think that Verstappen could have gone that much faster anyway.

      2. Maybe we should give drivers a slack in what they say in the heat of the moment. Same goes for Vettel, Raikkonen and Hamilton in the past. Emotions are high, adrenaline pumping. I may say some things I regret myself in a situation like that.

        1. Fully agree!

      3. What the hell means “vetteling” ?? Do you have more examples to prove it???
        Hahahahaha

    2. Bottas has some damage to repair with his team. Alonso had a good view on it…

      26 Fernando Alonso Has Bottas some car damage? Or he’s running his normal pace?
      26 Fernando Alonso No damage that we’re aware of. Our pace is a little bit better than we expected.
      26 Fernando Alonso How he can be behind us? Unbelievable.

      And he knows it..

      L Valtteri Bottas Good try there, Valtteri, good effort.
      VL Valtteri Bottas Really disappointing. I’m so sorry guys for the amateur mistake. I know it doesn’t help but I will make it up in the next races.
      VL Valtteri Bottas Copy that, Valtteri.

    3. That Kimi’s and his Ferrari’s radio communication is really intereresting. What were the strategists thinking? Surely it wasn’t Kimi’s best performance by any means but that poor strategy didn’t help. Think they threw a podium away there.

      1. @huhhii If they threw it away, they did it by listening to Raikkonen. Their only chance of keeping him ahead of the Red Bulls was keeping him out. He wasn’t fast enough to do it by pitting again.

        1. @keithcollantine Kimi’s pace was going to slow even more if they would have stayed with that rubber until the end. Even Bottas would’ve easily passed him if they’d do one-stopper. With fresher rubber and earlier pit he could’ve beat Red Bulls.

      2. @huhhii Raikkonen was behind Verstappen and Ricciardo the whole race. He was in Ricciardo’s dirty air from lap 10 to 32, without being able to overtake. If Ferrari had copied Red Bull’s pitstop strategy, Kimi had to overtake Ricciardo AND Verstappen to finish on the podium. That’s not realistic.

    4. @keithcollantine Probably easy enough to judge whether the messages are ‘from’ or ‘to’, but the column headings seem to have gone a bit awry…

    5. Keith Crossley
      14th April 2017, 14:01

      Curious that both Verstappen and Vettel demonstrated it is possible to pass equally fast cars; and then Verstappen couldn’t catch to pass a slower Haas.

    6. WRT to VER complaining about Grojean, I like that even Brundle said “well, RIC isn’t having problems staying right behind Max.”

      It’s good Whiting didn’t have Grojean pull over, but I wouldn’t be too hard on Max (or VET or HAM who’ve I heard “whinge” about back markers). Often they are just venting frustration, but it doesn’t impact their driving.

      1. or more bluntly, how many of us have prattled on at any given time on the motorway when some bloke in front of us cuts us off or is going too slow in the passing lane and so on?

      2. digitalrurouni
        14th April 2017, 15:46

        Really? Doesn’t impact their driving? Did you miss that lockup under braking Verstappen did when ‘under pressure’?

    7. Pleased to see Vergne back. Well deserved.

    Comments are closed.