Sergio Perez missed out on a place in Q3 after his old team mate Jenson Button pulled a fast one on him at the chicane. Force India were not too pleased about that.
But Williams were very happy with Valtteri Bottas after he put his car on the second row of the grid. “Took a bit of work but you got there,” remarked his race engineer following their struggles in practice.
But it was Mercedes who locked out the front row again. Lewis Hamilton took his fourth pole position despite describing his car as a “nightmare” to drive early in the session.
Here’s what was said on the team radio during qualifying.
2014 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying team radio transcript
Phase | Time | From | To | Message |
---|---|---|---|---|
Q1 | 17:34 | Craig Gardiner | Esteban Gutierrez | So Esteban it’s one timed lap on [hard], I’ll guide you with the temperatures. |
Q1 | 16:10 | Gianpiero Lambiase | Sergio Perez | We would expect Sutil ahead to attack on the first timed lap which means we will encounter him as he slows down after that first lap, OK? So we just need to build ourselves enough of a margin during this second lap. |
Q1 | 13:31 | Tony Ross | Nico Rosberg | Maldonado has crashed at turn three. So red flag, red flag, box box box, we’ll be changing tyres to set 15. |
Q1 | 13:31 | Pastor Maldonado | Mark Slade | I lost the car. |
Q1 | Mark Slade | Pastor Maldonado | OK Pastor. OK we see it. OK. | |
Q1 | 13:31 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | Obviously it’s a red flag and we’ve got less time. We suggest one timed on the [hard] and then stay on the [hard] for the second run. What do you think? |
Q1 | Romain Grosjean | Ayao Komatsu | Okeydoke | |
Q1 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | We already change tyre set, obviously save tyre but we just fit the new one, OK. | |
Q1 | Romain Grosjean | Ayao Komatsu | I think I might have a little bit too much aero balance | |
Q1 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | OK. Well I think we should do it now if you think you’ve got too much aero balance. We’re going to struggle to do an aero balance change in two minutes, I know it sounds [unclear] but that’s the reality, | |
Q1 | 13:31 | Gianpiero Lambiase | Sergio Perez | We’re just working out what to do now with the remaining tome. Looks like we will get out again on this set. With the time reamining it looks tight to be able to run two laps on the [hard] and then allow sufficient time for three on the medium. Wouldn’t give us much margin at all at that rate. |
Q1 | 13:31 | Tony Ross | Nico Rosberg | Caterham is just going down there so no… just going straight out. |
Q1 | 12:59 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | So keep up the pace on the out-lap. If you need to make space to the car ahead, try and do it in the low speed. Make space in the low speed. Suggest turn 10, or turn 14. |
Q1 | 10:39 | Max Chilton | Gary Gannon | I think I need to fail those sensors. |
Q1 | Gary Gannon | Max Chilton | Correct, Max, Multi Fail 81, Fail 82. | |
Q1 | 9:12 | Romain Grosjean | Ayao Komatsu | Really struggling with the front for some reason. |
Q1 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | You do not have front end or do you have too much front end? | |
Q1 | Romain Grosjean | Ayao Komatsu | No, do not have front end, locking everywhere for some reason. | |
Q1 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | OK, understood. | |
Q1 | 7:50 | Daniel Ricciardo | Simon Rennie | So we still struggle for a bit of rear grip at the end of a lap. Front still pretty weak mid-corner but the initial response to the car is better. So it’s still just a bit disconnected, really. Slightly better turn-in than the morning, the rest is unchanged. |
Q1 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | OK, understood. Swing around, we’ll go straight back in the garage. | |
Q1 | 6:40 | Peter Bonnington | Lewis Hamilton | So currently P2, and it’s about half a second to Nico P1, it’s mainly exit turn seven and turn ten. |
Q1 | 6:17 | Jenson Button | Dave Robson | Struggling to get the fronts working. |
Q1 | 5:00 | Marco Schupbach | Adrian Sutil | OK P15 at the moment, we need to go again. |
Q1 | Adrian Sutil | Marco Schupbach | There’s something wrong with the car. There’s really something wrong with the car. It’s all over the place. | |
Q1 | 3:21 | Angel Baena | Marcus Ericsson | OK Marcus the tyre temperature management in [turn nine] was good and this helped you in the first sector. We’re going to go for set one for a small pressure adjustment and then we’ll refuel again. Any comments? Anything that we can help you? |
Q1 | Marcus Ericsson | Angel Baena | I have for the first push a little bit of entry understeer in general. | |
Q1 | 2:48 | Lewis Hamilton | Peter Bonnington | Not quite sure how but we’ve made the car worse. It’s a nightmare to drive at the moment, |
Q1 | 1:30 | Gianpiero Lambiase | Sergio Perez | So Checo Gutierrez in the Sauber one-and-a-a-half tenths up on us. We believe we will need to beat him, OK. |
Q1 | 0:23 | Nico Hulkenberg | Brad Joyce | Game over, no chance. |
Q1 | Brad Joyce | Nico Hulkenberg | OK pits this lap and watch out for traffic behind starting their laps. | |
Q1 | 0:00 | Adrian Sutil | Marco Schupbach | It was a bit better in the first sector but a disaster in the last sector. So it looks like it’s still overheating or something. |
Q1 | 0:00 | Angel Baena | Marcus Ericsson | You are P20, two-tenths behind Bianchi and six-hundredths in front of Kamui. Good lap. |
Q1 | 0:00 | Gary Gannon | Max Chilton | Great job, Max, great job. |
Q1 | Max Chilton | Gary Gannon | [Unclear] guys. Bring on tomorrow! | |
Q1 | 0:00 | Marco Schupbach | Adrian Sutil | Er, we missed it by a tenth to Grosjean. |
Q1 | Adrian Sutil | Marco Schupbach | Yeah, disappointing. | |
Q1 | 0:00 | Mark Temple | Kevin Magnussen | We are safely through in P14. Looks like the areas, sector three looks strong, looks like we need to find a tenth in sector one and a tenth and a half in sector two relative to Jenson. |
Q1 | 0:00 | Jenson Button | Dave Robson | How close were we to being out if we didn’t run? |
Q1 | Dave Robson | Jenson Button | Jenson we would have been out. So Sutil did a 28.5. So we were correct to run and we are P10. | |
Q1 | Jenson Button | Dave Robson | Good job. | |
Q2 | 8:05 | Guillaume Rocquelin | Sebastian Vettel | OK the only thing you need now to open your timed lap is charge ten. |
Q2 | 7:43 | Brad Joyce | Nico Hulkenberg | How was that, Nico? |
Q2 | Nico Hulkenberg | Brad Joyce | Well pretty much the same. I think a little bit less aero balance helps to calm the rear down in some places. Therefore quite a bit of understeer in other places. But I think it’s the best compromise. I don’t really want to touch it, to be honest. | |
Q2 | 6:33 | Peter Bonnington | Lewis Hamilton | So that’s P2, just over a tenth to Nico, P1. You’re purple sector one, it’s half a tenth in second sector, the rest in final sector. |
Q2 | 4:23 | Romain Grosjean | Ayao Komatsu | Very strange feeling in turn ten under braking, the car completely pulled to the left. |
Q2 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | Copy that, we’ll have a look. | |
Q2 | 4:00 | Jenson Button | Dave Robson | Braking into mid-speed I have oversteer. Low-speed apex is very understeery. |
Q2 | Dave Robson | Jenson Button | JB that lap put you P12 and you were the only [hard] runner. | |
Q2 | Jenson Button | Dave Robson | Bernie, can you have Bernie to have a look at the diff entry and apex to see if we can do anything? | |
Q2 | 2:57 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | We are not going to run again. |
Q2 | 2:27 | Jonathan Eddollls | Valtteri Bottas | Keep the revs up when we leave, Valtteri, get the revs up. Now, yeah, that’s it. |
Q2 | 0:07 | Andrew Murdoch | Felipe Massa | OK Felipe good lap. Switch override on. P4 at the minute, just watch Grosjean coming behind on a timed lap. |
Q2 | 0:00 | Brad Joyce | Nico Hulkenberg | I can’t really let you know where you are yet, mate, there’s too many cars to complete their laps, I’m afraid. |
Q2 | 0:00 | Sergio Perez | Gianpiero Lambiase | I’m going too slow, man. |
Q2 | Gianpiero Lambiase | Sergio Perez | Box and pit confirm. | |
Q2 | 0:00 | Kevin Magnussen | Mark Temple | Are we going to be able to run again? |
Q2 | Mark Temple | Kevin Magnussen | No Kevin, I’m afraid our session is over. | |
Q2 | 0:00 | Craig Gardiner | Esteban Gutierrez | So Esteban that looks about the maximum we could have achieved today. There’s two-and-a-ahlf tenths to Kvyat in front. |
Q2 | 0:00 | Gianpiero Lambiase | Sergio Perez | Perez was overtaken by Button just before he started his flying lap. First question, Checo: Why did Jenson get by? On the out-lap? |
Q2 | Sergio Perez | Gianpiero Lambiase | He went into the chicane, into 13 and… I was opening the gap to Raikkonen and he just tried to overtook. (Unclear) I lost too much front temperature. | |
Q2 | Gianpiero Lambiase | Sergio Perez | OK so then no grip in turn one, two, three. Is that what you’re saying? | |
Q2 | Sergio Perez | Gianpiero Lambiase | There was no grip. | |
Q2 | Gianpiero Lambiase | Sergio Perez | Right. Well we have to learn from it, mate. OK? | |
Q2 | 0:00 | Dave Robson | Jenson Button | And good job JB. We’re through. That’s P9 and we’re through to Q3. |
Q2 | Jenson Button | Dave Robson | I think the diff switch changes we made helped but also felt like I could use more rear grip and a little bit more front grip as well. The only corner that’s really limiting us in front end is turn three but I think we can try a bit more. | |
Q3 | 9:50 | Tony Ross | Nico Rosberg | So brake balance currently not forward. Cancel RS. |
Q3 | 9:30 | Jonathan Eddollls | Valtteri Bottas | Track clear, good track position. |
Q3 | 8:10 | Sebastian Vettel | Guillaume Rocquelin | Vettel discovered he can’t select a gear as he leaves the pits. I have a problem, I can’t get second gear. I’ll try again. Second gea’s broken, only got third. So I haven’t got second gear. |
Q3 | 8:10 | Sebastian Vettel | Guillaume Rocquelin | And as he joins the track the problem gets worse. I have no drive, I’m sorry, I have no drive. |
Q3 | 8:10 | Sebastian Vettel | Guillaume Rocquelin | I have to stop. Exit of turn two, entry of three. |
Q3 | 8:10 | Peter Bonnington | Lewis Hamilton | OK Lewis so red flag, red flag. |
Q3 | 8:10 | Lewis Hamilton | Peter Bonnington | Hamilton makes sure Charlie Whiting knows he was held up by Vettel. I got held up by the Red Bull there. Think that should definitely be mentioned. At turn two. |
Q3 | 8:10 | Sebastian Vettel | Guillaume Rocquelin | And Vettel makes sure Charlie Whiting knows it was because he had a problem with his car. I’m sorry for Lewis but I had all kind of lights flashing so… Yeah. Anyways there was a red flag. |
Q3 | Guillaume Rocquelin | Sebastian Vettel | Yeah it’s you mate. | |
Q3 | Sebastian Vettel | Guillaume Rocquelin | Sorry. | |
Q3 | 6:33 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | Check brake balance, you are one click forwards from the last run. |
Q3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Simon Rennie | Yep, just done it for the out-lap. | |
Q3 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | OK, understood. | |
Q3 | 3:53 | Peter Bonnington | Lewis Hamilton | OK Lewis, start mode one, full throttle, charge the battery. That’s currently P1. |
Q3 | Lewis Hamilton | Peter Bonnington | Give me my sector updates. | |
Q3 | Peter Bonnington | Lewis Hamilton | Sector one was zero, you were faster sector two by eight hundredths and sector three… it’s two tenths in the last sector you were faster. | |
Q3 | 2:48 | Andrea Stella | Fernando Alonso | So we already improved compared the time in Q2 with a used set so should be OK with a new set. We are P4 at the moment, Mercedes and Ricciardo in front of us. |
Q3 | 1:15 | Peter Bonnington | Lewis Hamilton | So tyres 120 front, 100 rear, You’ve got plenty of space behind to Alonso, seven seconds. |
Q3 | 0:43 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | Remember, think about the tyres. Think about the tyres on this timed lap. |
Q3 | 0:00 | Peter Bonnington | Lewis Hamilton | Nice work Lewis, nice work, that’s P1. |
Q3 | 0:00 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | OK fuel two. |
Q3 | Romain Grosjean | Ayao Komatsu | I’ve got a problem with the KERS. I think the SOC [state of charge] was not high enough. | |
Q3 | Ayao Komatsu | Romain Grosjean | Yeah, copy that. | |
Q3 | 0:00 | Jonathan Eddollls | Valtteri Bottas | Mega job, Valtteri. P4 you line up for tomorrow. Great lap. |
Q3 | Valtteri Bottas | Jonathan Eddollls | Thank you guys, so much. Let’s get a good start tomorrow. Got there in the end huh? | |
Q3 | Jonathan Eddollls | Valtteri Bottas | Copy that, took a bit of work but you got there. Well done. | |
Q3 | 0:00 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | OK mate finished P3, good job. Vettel was… |
Q3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Simon Rennie | Thanks boys! | |
Q3 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | Vettel stopped turn two on the out-lap, I’m sure you saw he had some problems. Remember what Charlie said about the photo. Remember what Charlie said about the photo. | |
Q3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Simon Rennie | Understood. | |
Q3 | Simon Rennie | Daniel Ricciardo | Nice job, mate. | |
Q3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Simon Rennie | Cheers guys, thank you. |
Phase/time: Refers to point at which message was broadcast. There may be a delay between messages being said and being broadcast. PQ = pre-qualifying.
Message: Repetitive or irrelevant messages omitted. Notes in italics. Highlights in bold.
Follow F1 Fanatic Live on Twitter for team radio highlights during the Grand Prix and all other live F1 sessions.
2014 Spanish Grand Prix
- Vettel’s recovery run earns him Driver of the Weekend
- Spanish Grand Prix continues ratings rise since 2011
- 2014 Spanish Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- 2014 Spanish GP Predictions Championship results
- Top ten pictures from the 2014 Spanish Grand Prix
Team radio transcripts
- “I’m insanely slow, man…” – Every message from Hamilton’s Shanghai slog
- “Am I in a race here or what?”: How Ferrari aced their Suzuka strategies
- How Tsunoda seized on Stroll’s “frickin’ horrible race” to snatch home point
- “Don’t put me under pressure” – The best unheard team radio from Melbourne
- What were Alonso’s battery and throttle problems in the final stint of his race?
Image © Daimler/Hoch Zwei
Theo Parkinson (@theo-hrp)
10th May 2014, 23:20
Wait, what was Daniel supposed to do in the photo? I’m pretty sure he was already planning on smiling.
Eddie (@wackyracer)
10th May 2014, 23:23
Haha, who knows, maybe wave? remove the cap? That was weird
zippyone (@zippyone)
10th May 2014, 23:29
Haha yes of course he would be planning on smiling! Maybe Charlie said he smiles too much in photos? Makes the others look miserable?
Eddie (@wackyracer)
10th May 2014, 23:41
Listen to Charlie guys, smile and wave, smile and wave!
zippyone (@zippyone)
11th May 2014, 0:49
Was still bugging me so Googled it! found this:
Q: (Dan Knutson – Auto Action and National Speedsport News) Daniel, at the end of the session, the team sent you a message on the radio saying something about ‘remember what Charlie said about the photo.’ What was that about?
Ricciardo: He didn’t want us running away, the top three guys, after qualifying, he didn’t want us running away out of the scene, to do the group photo. I think last time I was hiding for a little bit too long, so just a reminder from the team, nothing technical, just outside dramas.
http://www.grandprix.com/race/r902satpc.html
Is that any clearer?!? Not sure. He was hiding last time…what?!
sato113 (@sato113)
10th May 2014, 23:23
WHAT PHOTO??? i am curious about this. unless he measns the top 3 drivers photo?
Stephen Craig
10th May 2014, 23:24
Anyone know what the deal is with the Charlie and photo comment to Ricciardo at the end of qualifying?
Ivan (@wpinrui)
11th May 2014, 1:03
Wow, Vettel seems extremely apologetic for a problem that couldn’t possibly have been his fault – I’m impressed. Most other drivers would just be complaining to their teams; I guess Vettel knows the meaning of teamwork.
Mayank (@mjf1fan)
11th May 2014, 10:02
If anything, this season has shown Vettel more humane and I’m starting to like him even more. I might be wrong but I haven’t seen any driver helping marshals when there car has stopped on track. This has not been the case in this race only but Vettel has been helping marshals since the winter test begun. I’m quite optimistic that his perception is goin to be changed in mind’s of many people after this season and that too in a better way.
dragoll (@dragoll)
11th May 2014, 1:11
This is a cracker… I saw this on the live F1F feed last night and was having a chuckle, but its funny how Seb just says “Sorry” at the end.
These radio transmissions aren’t exactly normal team speak type communications, they’re more public relations statements these days aimed at dobbing people in to the headmaster. But good to see some personality come out in them from time to time.
schooner (@schooner)
11th May 2014, 1:43
Maldonado…”I lost the car”. Ya think?! I have since read that, once again, he has stated that the accident was no fault of his own. I’m not claiming to be an expert, but it looked to me like that lap started going pear shaped a couple of corners before he ultimately stuffed his car into the wall, and he could/should have backed out of it. The guy is a loose cannon. A very well funded one, unfortunately.
Sudha (@cbesudha)
11th May 2014, 3:54
Is Maldonado making sure Lotus use every penny they are paid by his sponsors on his car? E22 has shown some major improvement over the last few races. Grosjean is showing the car’s potential now.
Pastor will be costing the team pts and money with his crashes. Something this team can ill-afford
dragoll (@dragoll)
11th May 2014, 4:30
@schooner I’m not sure if you’ve read the autosport article before making this comment, but the 4 words alone of “I lost the car” isn’t enough to suggest he was claiming it wasn’t his fault. However, given his excuses as posted on Autosport’s site, it suggests that is his attitude. Again, another demonstration of his skill, thankfully he wasn’t injured and no one else was involved.
source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113888
sam
11th May 2014, 7:51
Seemed like vettel was saying sorry for being in the way of a timed lap, even if it wasnt his fault. Even ruthless competitors can be sporting from time to time
tmekt (@tmekt)
21st May 2014, 21:47
@keithcollantine
I was looking for the transcript for the race but it doesn’t seem to exist? Any idea why I can’t find it?
CHIUNDA
21st May 2014, 23:25
Keith, how do I get the transcripts for Spanish Race 2014