Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Spa-Francorchamps, 2019

Leclerc maintained radio silence on way to Belgian GP win

2019 Belgian Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc revealed he stayed virtually silent throughout his drive to victory in yesterday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver only made a single remark to his race engineer throughout the 44-lap race following the early Safety Car period.

Leclerc revealed he did not ask the team to tell Sebastian Vettel to let him past when he caught his team mate after his pit stop.

“I don’t think I’ve spoken on the radio from the first lap to the last lap,” said Leclerc in yesterday’s post-race press conference. “So no, I haven’t asked anything.”

The only comment Leclerc made to his race engineer during the green-flag running came when he was asked if he would like his front wing flap adjusted at his first pit stop. “Minus one,” was his reply.

Leclerc didn’t speak again until he crossed the line to score his first grand prix victory, when he described the emotions of winning the day after his friend Anthoine Hubert had been killed in a support race crash.

“Congratulations, yes,” said Leclerc. “First victory in F1. This is is a hard one. It feels good but difficult to enjoy on a weekend like this. But thanks for everything guys. You’re the best. A dream some true, anyway.”

“Thanks guys,” he added. “Thank you so much.”

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Leclerc’s team radio from the end of the Safety Car period

After the Safety Car period, Leclerc only spoke once before the end of the race.

To Leclerc:You can fire up the engine.
To Leclerc:Last car is on the grid.
To Leclerc:K2 off, K2 off.
To Leclerc:Safety Car deployed. Slow button on. Stay out.
To Leclerc:SOC 6.
To Leclerc:Verstappen crashed at Eau Rouge but everything is fine, he got out of the car.
Leclerc:Good. I mean, good to hear that he is out of the car.
To Leclerc:Understood. Stay out, stay out.
To Leclerc:Try to work all four tyres.
Leclerc:Let me know about the brakes because I’ve got no information.
To Leclerc:Brake temperatures are OK.
Leclerc:Let me know if we are over what we want.
To Leclerc:All good for the moment, brake and tyres.
To Leclerc:Work especially front tyres, brake temperatures are OK. Everything is fine.
To Leclerc:Tyre pressures and brake temperatures are OK, you are doing a good job.
To Leclerc:Safety Car in this lap. K2 on. Tyres and brakes are OK.
Leclerc:Yes. Remind me later in the lap for the K2 on.
To Leclerc:Will do.
To Leclerc:K2 on, reminder.
To Leclerc:Safety Car deployed, so Safety Car is staying out. Stay positive. One car is stuck at pit entry.
To Leclerc:Seconday WG position nine. Safety Car staying out.
To Leclerc:Tyre pressures, brake temperatures are OK, you are doing a good job.
To Leclerc:Safety Car in this lap. K2 reminder, K2 on.
To Leclerc:Safety Car in the pit lane.
To Leclerc:K2 off.

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Keith Collantine
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12 comments on “Leclerc maintained radio silence on way to Belgian GP win”

  1. What does K2 mean? Safety car restarts?

  2. This doesn’t look like a complete radio transcript – we heard on the broadcast Leclerc’s engineer telling him that Vettel would let him past. It looks like the snapshot above is only the first few laps (to when the safety car came in).

  3. Transcripts say a different story. But yes it was mostly red mist, head down and race against Hamilton. Vettel just moved out of the incoming train.

    I have little doubt with some DRS he would get Vettel in 2-3 laps.

    1. Not really, since the claim is he only spoke once after the safety car period. The transcript is before and during.

      1. Leclerc maintained radio silence on way to Belgian GP win.

        ….Charles Leclerc revealed he stayed virtually silent throughout his drive to victory in yesterday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

        Not really, but it does not matter.

        1. The only comment Leclerc made to his race engineer during the green-flag running

          Sure it doesn’t matter, but like you, I can’t help myself.

  4. Nothing to do with this article but nobody has said anything about how well Albon did in his first race for the team in comparison to Gasly. I hope Albon will stay at Red Bull next year as long as he keeps delivering.

    1. Comparison aside …. Albon did a great job.
      Don’t consider it as 5th, but rather as best of the rest of the field.
      Yes it required a McLaren to encounter problems, but even 6th would have been a great result.
      Ya gotta be in it to win it, and he was.
      Some credit to Gasly and Kvyat, both cars in the points. Fantastic for the Team.

  5. Rádio exchange and complaining does not help you race faster. That’s my understanding at least.

    Leclerc did what everybody expect from a future Champion: he drove the car in the best way possible.

    Is It time for the new generation to take over?

    Norris drove an incredible race. Verstappen is still in his win-or-wall phase, but proved his talent already.
    Leclerc is up to sign a multi million contract soon.
    Can’t say much about Russel yet.
    Albon sank his teeth in and I don’t think he will let go.

    Just feel bad for Ricciardo. Got caught in the middle of It and seems to be going nowhere.

  6. To Leclerc: Verstappen crashed at Eau Rouge but everything is fine, he got out of the car.
    Leclerc: Good. I mean, good to hear that he is out of the car.

    Good of his race engineer to add – unprompted – that Max was fine, he knew where Leclerc’s head was at on Sunday. A small example of how a good RE/driver pair communicate without words.

    A small chuckle at Leclerc’s clarification. He’s smart, he knows the world is likely listening.

  7. what is ‘K2’?

    1. @v-i-s – From when it is being turned on and off, I think it is an engine mode for the race start/restart.

      The first “K2 off” is likely after the start. You can then see that when the SC is coming in (towards the end of the transcript), Leclerc is reminded to turn K2 on, and presumably after the restart he’s been reminded to turn it off.

      I’d wager that with K2 on, two things would happen: Firstly, a higher fuel flow rate to allow for more power, and secondly, electrical energy deployment will happen earlier – both of these are to try and get the car away from other following cars to safeguard track position.

      With K2 off (i.e. under normal race conditions), on the other hand, energy deployment will happen at times when ICE output is lower (e.g. turbo spooling up) so as to give a more consistent and predictable performance curve (i.e. torque hole filling), and fuel flow will be normalized to a sustainable level.

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