Nico Hulkenberg was especially satisfied to out-qualify both the McLaren drivers in Singapore. Here’s what he and the others had to say on the radio during qualifying.
Q1
To Hamilton: “So biggest was just grabbing a wheel into 16 and losing time through 17.”
Grosjean: “OK just check the rear-right.”
“We’re checking it now. You can use K2 plus and spark one for the next lap. Loads suspension OK so that was OK on that touch. We’re watching the pressures.”
Grosjean: “I don’t know why but car felt pretty good.”
Massa: “Hit the wall, I have a puncture.”
Massa: “Oh my god I got a complete oversteer in the last corner, [censored by FOM].”
“Yep.”
To Alonso: “We’re safely through that lap. P3. We did definitely need that, the previous lap wouldn’t have got us through.”
“How is the balance, Esteban?”
Ocon: “Balance is about the same as before. A bit improved.”
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Q2
Neither Force India driver made it through Q2 and Jolyon Palmer also dropped out.
To Ocon: “If you want to go past Sainz go past him, don’t get any crap on the tyres.”
To Verstappen: “B bal [brake balance] map three, focus on rear brake temps.”
Perez: “Oh my God what did you guys do with the tyres? I have no grip at all.”
“Keep pushing, Checo.”
To Ricciardo: “It’s going to be B-bal two and mode nine.”
Palmer: “Completely lost the rear at the end of the lap,”
“Understood. Think you’d’ve got P10 otherwise.”
Palmer: “Yeah.”
Q3
Sebastian Vettel was happiest of all but Nico Hulkenberg drew particular satisfaction from his qualifying performance.
To Alonso: “Just wait at the red lights, I’ll count down for you.”
To Ricciardo: “All the cars ahead of you are spread by about five seconds so it won’t be quite as busy the next run.”
Hamilton: “Tyre temps all over the place.”
“I wouldn’t trust the sensors at the moment, we have no confidence in them.”
Hamilton: “Should I reset them?”
“Negative.”
Sainz: “A lot of oversteer. Not a lot of confidence.”
“Raikkonen: “I struggled a little bit more with the front.”
“We saw that set wasn’t as good a temperature, the next set should be better.”
To Hulkenberg: “So situation is the two McLarens have followed you out of the pit lane. Alonso is eight seconds behind.”
To Ricciardo: “So do your own thing, focus on your tyres.”
“P1 Sebastian, pole position, well done.”
Vettel: “Woohoo! Yes yes yes. Oh I touched the wall badly out of 19 but I had to go for it! Grazie! Grande lavoro. Grazie.”
To Verstappen: “P2 mate. [Censored by FOM] close. Unlucky mate. And another good session.”
Verstappen: “Shame, the last lap, I don’t know why, the car’s sensitive to the front wing I think.”
Hulkenberg: “Did we beat the McLaren or not?”
“You’re in front of both McLarens.”
Hulkenberg: “[Censored by FOM] yeah baby, in your face!”
Vandoorne: “Shame we couldn’t find a little bit of time in Q3. Good to get both cars in Q3.”
“Yep, the points come tomorrow, we can race well from here.”
Cris
16th September 2017, 23:39
Hulkenberg: “[Censored by FOM] yeah baby, ( K-Mag’s Balls ) in your face!”