2017 Hungarian Grand Prix team radio transcript

2017 Hungarian Grand Prix

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Could Kimi Raikkonen have won the Hungarian Grand Prix if he’d taken matters into his own hands regarding his pit strategy?

And did a loss of radio communications at Mercedes cost them a better result?

Lewis Hamilton was unable to speak to his team for much of the first half of the race, leaving him unable to give them feedback on the state of his tyres. By the time his radio problems were fixed Hamilton had already made his pit stop. He informed the team he had been able to run much longer on his tyres – had they been aware this could have given them more strategic options.

Ferrari were able to hear what Raikkonen was saying which, for the most part, was complaints about being kept bottled up behind his team mate, who had to cope with a steering problem. Raikkonen began complaining about being “stuck behind Seb” before they made their pit stops.

If Raikkonen did try to delay his pit stop there were no radio messages played on the television broadcasts which indicate him doing so. Last year Vettel had no problems calling the shots when it came to his pit strategy when he felt the team had called him in too early.

He delayed his pit stop by multiple laps on more than one occasion. Had Raikkonen done the same in Hungary he might have won.

While Ferrari were unwilling to let one car past the other, Renault had no hesitations about pulling a swap of their own to move Nico Hulkenberg ahead of Jolyon Palmer. Their message – “Nico’s quicker than you” – had more than a slight ring of one notorious past team radio message about it.

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2017 Hungarian Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*DriverMessage
PRFrom Lewis HamiltonI mean the car does turn in. The rear tyres are going to die. Willing to bet they don’t last a one-stop.
1From Daniel RicciardoSomeone hit me. If that’s who I think it was. Yeah it’s [censored by FOM].
1To Daniel Ricciardo

Yeah mate we can see.
1From Daniel RicciardoWas that who I think it was?
1To Daniel Ricciardo

Yeah.
1From Daniel Ricciardo[Censored by FOM] sore loser.
1From Romain GrosjeanOK I’ve been massively hit but I don’t know who so I don’t know if the car’s got any damage.
1To Romain Grosjean

Yeah it’s guy in a Renault.
1From Romain GrosjeanThe guy’s a stupid…
1To Romain Grosjean

Yes understood. We’re watching the data now.
1From Romain GrosjeanAnd Ericsson just pushed me off.
2To Sergio Perez

Checo did you have any contact on the first lap?
2From Sergio PerezNo. Just a little touch from Esteban but I think all is good.
3From Max VerstappenCan you see any front wing damage?
3To Max Verstappen

Nothing according to data at the moment.
4To Jolyon Palmer

OK Jo as you might have seen there’s some oil on track where Ricciardo has stopped at turn three but that’s well off-line.
5From Fernando AlonsoOK so they didn’t leave me space out of one, pushed me in the gravel. It should be very clear.
5From Kevin MagnussenI think if you can do what Hulkenberg did to Romain then it’s going to be a dirty race.
7From Lewis HamiltonHamilton attempted to pass Verstappen.
That guy’s dangerous, it wasn’t worth the risk.
7To Lewis Hamilton

Copy Lewis, we see what you’re doing, happy with that.
7From Fernando AlonsoSainz forced Alonso wide at turn one.
OK so they didn’t leave me space out of one, push me in the gravel so it should be very clear.
8From Lewis HamiltonHamilton asked whether Verstappen’s penalty for hitting Ricciardo required him to pit right away and was told it didn’t.
Not a stop-and-go?
8To Lewis Hamilton

It’ll be ten seconds added to his pit stop.
10To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis radio check, radio check, we’re having IT issues in the garage.
10From Fernando AlonsoAlonso seems to have just been informed Sainz was under investigation.
OK but there should not be too much to discuss, you cannot drive against other cars, simple.
12To Lewis Hamilton

Loud and clear. Good to have you back.
13From Nico HulkenbergThink I’m going to take a little breather from that group.
13To Nico Hulkenberg

Understood Nico.
16From Marcus EricssonCannot get closer to him, it’s impossible. This track is impossible. I’m so much faster otherwise I would not be this close.
16To Marcus Ericsson

OK Marcus copy that, stay close to him, I’ll come back to you.
16From Marcus EricssonLet me try catching Di Resta. I can catch him.
17From Lewis HamiltonTyres feel fine.
17To Lewis Hamilton

OK copy.
17From Lewis HamiltonI don’t have a big enough delta to close the gap and get past him though.
17To Lewis Hamilton

Yeah no problem there Lewis, hopefully that should be taken care of.
18From Kevin MagnussenThe tyre’s OK but I feel like I’m driving on oil everywhere, there’s no grip.
18To Kevin Magnussen

I think it’s a general comment from everybody. Your pace is good.
19To Jolyon Palmer

OK Jo Nico’s quicker than you please don’t hold him up.
19To Nico Hulkenberg

Jo has been asked to let you past. Jo is slower than you.
20To Jolyon Palmer

Thank you for that Jo. Please focus on the race now.
21To Romain Grosjean

The front-left tyre pressure is slowly dropping. We’re monitoring it.
21From Romain GrosjeanWonderful.
21To Romain Grosjean

OK I think we have a slow leak so we’ll box, box now. Mode puncture. Front-left is low pressure.
22To Carlos Sainz Jnr

Sector one and three lap times…
22From Carlos Sainz JnrOK, leave me alone, please.
22To Carlos Sainz Jnr

OK.
22To Romain Grosjean

OK Romain stop the car, just bring the car in slowly, we believe we have a crossed wheel nut so just go slow, we’ll come back to you. Do you feel anything loose?
22From Romain GrosjeanYes.
22To Romain Grosjean

OK we need to stop the car.
23To Kevin Magnussen

Lost a little bit with the double yellow but we have more pace than Palmer, we can do it.
24To Valtteri Bottas

Currently on lap 23 we’re target plus five at the moment but ideally we’d like to close the gap to cars ahead. Just need to keep the tyres in good shape.
24From Valtteri BottasThat’s a bit tricky combo to be honest.
25From Sebastian VettelCheck the steering, it’s hanging to the left when I go straight.
25To Sebastian Vettel

Is it getting worse or is stable?
25From Sebastian VettelI thought it’s getting worse.
26To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis press the marker button if you hear us.
26To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis we saw the marker button press we think the radio is one-way.
27To Valtteri Bottas

So Valtteri we’re having some radio problems still. You are in your VSC and Safety Car windows so you’ll be in if you see them. Just confirm.
27From Valtteri BottasCopy.
28From Nico HulkenbergNo chance, even with DRS they’re faster on the straight. So you know what you have to do.
29To Max Verstappen

How much faster do you think you could go at this stage?
29From Max VerstappenMaybe a few tenths.
30To Kimi Raikkonen

Yeah it’s OK but I’m stuck now behind Seb.
31To Valtteri Bottas

Box, box.
31From Sebastian VettelVettel didn’t want his first stint to be extended, perhaps mindful of their tyre failures at Silverstone.
Fronts are not in a healthy shape.
31To Sebastian Vettel

Understood, will be soon.
31From Sebastian VettelDon’t extend it.
33To Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen wasn’t impressed with Di Resta.
Hey what the [censored by FOM] is this Williams guy? I mean if he cannot see behind then he stay on the reporting stuff.
34To Lewis Hamilton

Chassis default 51, we’re on the backup radio now, see if you can transmit.
34To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis no joy on the backup radio, we can see you’re keying up.
34From Kimi RaikkonenI had the speed to stay out.
36From Carlos Sainz JnrNo front-left or rear-left.
36To Carlos Sainz Jnr

Carlos, copy, do your best.
38From Kimi RaikkonenHe is going full speed? Because obviously Mercedes is catching. I have nothing I can do.
38To Kimi Raikkonen

Understood Kimi. He has handling issues at the minute, Kimi, he is struggling with his handling.
39To Sebastian Vettel

Try to avoid heavy kerbing.
39To Fernando Alonso

What a fantastic move Fernando. Just be careful, Sainz still very close behind. Palmer behind is on 37-lap-old options.
39To Valtteri Bottas

We believe Vettel has an issue so you can close the gap.
41From Kimi RaikkonenWhatever you meant you put me under massive threat from Mercedes for no reason.
41To Kimi Raikkonen

Understood.
41To Max Verstappen

Any sudden drop from the front-left tyre, you let us know please.
41From Max VerstappenI will.
42To Valtteri Bottas

Ferrari cannot use the kerbs. Just close them down and attack for five laps.
42To Max Verstappen

OK Max box and pit confirm.
44From Lewis HamiltonRadio check.
44To Lewis Hamilton

Ah I’ve got you back, Lewis, I can hear you mate.
44From Lewis HamiltonOK man I’ve got a lot of pace now let me use it. I don’t know why the Ferraris are slow.
44To Lewis Hamilton

Yeah copy Lewis we’re looking into it, we’re looking into on the situation.
44From Lewis HamiltonAnd this radio stuff sucks. My last tyres were perfect, I could’ve kept going.
44To Lewis Hamilton

Yeah I have to agree with you there Lewis. It’s all a bit rubbish at the moment. But yeah, keep your head down, race is going to come to us, just keep your tyres in good shape and things will start happening soon.
44From Lewis HamiltonIf I can’t catch them and get past then I have to let him back past. Let me know when I can race Valtteri.
44To Lewis Hamilton

Yeah copy Lewis. We are looking at it, we are managing it, we’ll let you know.
46To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis so we don’t know what fixed the radio. Just keep talking to us.
46To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis Valtteri is going to let you past into turn one. Go strat mode three. Ferraris just up ahead.
47From Kimi RaikkonenYeah I have speed, a lot, but obviously this won’t be helping it.
47To Kimi Raikkonen

Copy, copy.
49From Nico HulkenbergFeel like I’ve got some braking deg, brakes are getting worse.
49To Nico Hulkenberg

OK Nico stand by.
49To Nico Hulkenberg

We did have some problems with the left-front getting very hot, it should get better.
50From Kimi RaikkonenI don’t know, I’m not in the most comfortable position, still I am, but soon.
50To Kimi Raikkonen

Understood, Vettel has been told to push, stay with him.
51To Valtteri Bottas

Make sure you stay close to Lewis so we can re-invert the cars.
51From Lewis HamiltonIt’s getting very hard to get close.
51To Lewis Hamilton

Just do what you can, we’ve got overtake available.
51To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis we’re going to have five laps to try and make something of this.
51From Lewis HamiltonNo pressure, then.
52From Nico HulkenbergHulkenberg was pushed wide by Magnussen.
This guy is just dangerous.
55From Kimi RaikkonenYeah I’m going to only ruin my tyres even more behind. Is this all we’re going to do the rest of the race?
55To Kimi Raikkonen

Confirm, Kimi, confirm. Hamilton has backed off slightly for engine temperatures.
56To Kimi Raikkonen

Massive pack of blues coming up.
57To Lewis Hamilton

So we’ve been given five more laps. Front calipers reaching the limit.
57From Lewis HamiltonDon’t worry about it. You want me to let Valtteri back, yeah? I don’t need to bust my nut off any more?
57To Lewis Hamilton

Negative, Lewis. Keep the pressure on the Ferraris if you can.
59From Lewis HamiltonMy tyres are holding in. I’m just waiting for a mistake from then to get in front.
59To Lewis Hamilton

Copy that Lewis, we hear you.
60From Nico HulkenbergDid we get a puncture or what?
60To Nico Hulkenberg

We still don’t see any puncture Nico. Not sure what happened there.
63To Paul di Resta

OK Paul I’m afraid we’ve got a problem with the car, we’ll have to retire. So watch for Sainz.
63From Paul di RestaOK.
63To Paul di Resta

Sorry mate that was a real shame. But I hope you enjoyed what you did do. It was fascinating to see what these tyres are like as well, good job.
64To Max Verstappen

OK Max let’s push up to Bottas, mate.
66To Lewis Hamilton

Verstappen is on a younger soft tyre. He will be a threat.
66From Lewis HamiltonAt threat to us all, Bon?
66To Lewis Hamilton

Yeah, affirm.
67To Kimi Raikkonen

OK Kimi let’s not take anything for granted. We don’t know what Hamilton’s going to do. Just keep going as you are.
VLTo Sebastian Vettel

P1 Sebastian! One and two. Well managed. Nice drive.
VLFrom Sebastian VettelDai un’altra bandiera a Maranello. Vai! Grazie! Forza Ferrari. Grazie mille. Grazie ragazzi. Grande lavoro.
VLTo Fernando Alonso

OK Fernando that is the chequered flag. P6, fantastic drive. Deserved a lot more. Fantastic overtake on Sainz. Great pace at the end and fastest lap of the race. Great work.
VLFrom Fernando AlonsoThank you guys. So no one was fastest the last lap?
VLTo Fernando Alonso

No, you’re fastest lap of the race by 0.28 seconds to Raikkonen. Good job. Nice little present going into the shutdown.
VLTo Lewis Hamilton

OK mate thanks for that. It’s a gentlemanly thing to do. Well done.
VLTo Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes strategist James Vowles thanked both drivers after their podium.
Lewis it’s James. Thank you very much for doing that mate. You did a really good race mate. Well done.
VLFrom Valtteri BottasThanks Lewis. Thanks again for that. Thanks for the trust.
VLTo Valtteri Bottas

Valtteri it’s James. Thank you very much for helping us. We appreciate it. Well done. Good podium.
VLFrom Valtteri BottasWe’ll get them in Spa.

Note: Only includes messages which were broadcast in the race coverage.
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.

Follow F1 Fanatic Live on Twitter for team radio highlights during all live F1 sessions.

Hungarian Grand Prix data

    Author information

    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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    31 comments on “2017 Hungarian Grand Prix team radio transcript”

    1. “I have nothing I can do”.- Raikkonen.
      I understand that they do not speak english perfectly and the difficulty of speaking through the race but, if he means that overtaking is impossible, then that is no problem. However, if he meant that: I cannot do anything because I will destroy my tyres, China 2015 Rosberg, OR I cannot do anything because of he does not want to overtake Sebastian, then something fishy is going on with Kimi and Ferrari…

      1. There’s nothing fishy. SV earned his spot last weekend by getting poke and leading, and heads KR by a large number of points in the standings. There was no reason for Ferrari to have KR pass SV unless SV was struggling moreso than he was and they needed KR to keep the 25 points from LH. ‘Nothing I can do’ simply meant he wasn’t going to risk passing SV and at the same time he had Mercs on his butt.

        1. Oops should be ‘getting pole’ …

          1. Lmao, I was laughing out of my seat with that ‘poke’ lol,

            Imagine Seb getting poked by his own racing winning finger …. hahaha

      2. All the comms from Raikkonen and the responses suggest he was doing as the team wanted – parking up behind Vettel, not trying to attack. Not so much that he didn’t want to overtake, more that – I’d assume – he needed permission to have a go, but he didn’t have it… and the team weren’t giving it.

        So I’d be inclined to read “I have nothing I can do” as “There’s nothing I can do unless you let me”… a request for permission to attack. Or maybe, if he thought Vettel’s problem was more severe and he’d slow down even more, a request to be let by so at least one Ferrari would be safe from Mercedes.

    2. So upon hearing the ‘full’ radio comm’s there is still much missing with respect to the team decision to let LH pass VB. Seems to me LH never volunteered anything. We do know he confirms on lap 44 that he’d ‘have to let him back past’ and then on lap 57 it’s ‘you want me to let Valterri back yeah?’ Question mark. I think the only think LH volunteered was the information that he was being held up by VB. The rest was the team ordering VB to give it up for LH. He is the team’s number two. The re-inverting was just political correctness, and I suspect only because it was just 3 points under issue. A bit of respect for VB after being treated secondarily, although for sure VB understands and complies with what is going on. But if I’m VB aren’t I now thinking that all LH has to do is be quicker and as long as he is trailing and they are behind Ferrari he’ll get a free pass. It is only just circumstance that saw LH unable to pass KR. The plan was for him to leave VB in his dust with the team’s permission. I hope this all adds up to TW being uncomfortable with this 1 and 2 stuff and hires FA so that he puts both drivers back on the 1-2 positions to which the team had become accustomed.

      1. Toto wants Vettel. A German and friend on his team. FA and his prissy-drama is the LAST person he’s going to consider

        1. So…by that logic, nationalism and friendship trumps results?

          1. It was an aside. Take what you want out of it, but don’t kid yourself – nationalistic pride influences everything directly or indirectly.

            1. @sjzelli

              nationalistic pride influences everything directly or indirectly

              Perhaps for some people, but there are also many who don’t give a damn.

            2. Speaking as a supposedly impartial reporter Keith, I guess your right. But I can’t help but notice the pro-Hamilton spin here and there and there and here. And the some more here.

            3. @saraj

              Pro Hamilton bias?

              From Robbie?

              Funniest comment I have read for months…

            4. No Drg. I mean this forum of which Keith is overlord. Try to follow

            5. Oh I am following.

              I suggest you take your own bias up to the top of the thread you replied to…

          2. no, with SV you get both nationalism and results.

          3. It’s more like the devil you know.

        2. @sjzelli Not buying that. Vettel as far as we know seems content at Ferrari. Seems like he’s all but been announced as staying but of course that’s not been officially announced. And I don’t know what ‘prissy-drama’ you are talking about that would be so overwhelming as to overshadow what many consider to be the best talent on the grid. Why you are so convinced that it took a ‘LAST’ in capitals is beyond me. TW just came off NR/LH and 3 WDC’s and WCC’s in a row from that rivalry and as soon as SV thought he was brake tested by LH and whacked him in retaliation TW said the lovey dovey was bound to not last and now that the gloves are off it is better for F1. This is not someone that sits well with a #1 and #2 driver on his roster.

          Of course Vettel at Mercedes beside LH would be a blast to see too, but it is FA who really needs the ride. We all need him in a competitive car for some proper seasons out of him before he retires from F1. TW is about the only one in a position to help out in that regard. I still have not heard one good reason why TW shouldn’t take on FA, and I can think of all kinds of reasons why he should.

      2. You still pushing this Alonso to Mercedes? Let it go, it’s not going to happen.

    3. While Ferrari were unwilling to let one car past the other, Renault had no hesitations about pulling a swap of their own to move Nico Hulkenberg ahead of Jolyon Palmer. Their message – “Nico’s quicker than you” – had more than a slight ring of one notorious past team radio message about it.

      The thing is, Hülkenberg was indeed a lot faster than Palmer. After swapping places, he widened the gap to 6 seconds in as many laps, before catching Ocon, and the gap kept growing steadily whenever they were racing freely. Therefore, it was a logical choice for Renault to make. Palmer was clearly not in a position to menace the Force India drivers, but Hülkenberg was. They didn’t make them switch places because they thought one driver needed the points more than the other, but because one of their drivers was costing the the team a chance to score any points.
      Other than the wording, there is absolutely nothing these two team radio calls have in common.

    4. @keithcollantine

      Maybe add the post race interview transcript, would be interesting stuff ! ;)

      1. @redbullf1 Do you mean the press conference?

        1. @keithcollantine

          Sorry was kidding around, was referring to the exchange of words between Nico and Mag, haha

          1. @redbullf1 Ah sorry, just making sure I hadn’t missed anything!

    5. Who is Vettels race engineer this year?

      1. @hollidog
        Using my expert knowledge of Italian I was able to find that it is Riccardo Adami

        https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riccardo_Adami

        But I’m curious as to why you asked ?

        1. @redbullf1
          Thanks mate.

          In 2012 I went to the Australian GP, leaving my massive Vettel fan girlfriend at home. So to make up for it I bought her one of those teddy bears in race overalls and named him Rocky, after Sebs race engineer at the time.

          This year, I’m leaving her at home again to go to Monza (I’ve already taken her to Austria) and was planning on buying another bear. I’d looked around for ages to find the name of Sebs current race engineer.

          Perhaps not the answer you were expecting, but thank you all the same!

          1. Cool, true love !

    6. Hamilton is of course their number one driver, and why not? VB has been signed for one year, to keep him in line. The up side is he has won two races in the first half season, should be on for one or two more. All great for his CV, but don’t lets kid ourselves that he has equal number one status. He has not earned it! The team hired Hamilton to be the leader. He has 3 WDC, and more race wins, Poles and fastest laps than any other driver but M Schumacher.

    7. So there was no clear message to Hamilton to return the position to Bottas, only the 5 more laps. When that message was misunderstood and Hamilton asks if he must give the place back right away, the answer is actually: Negative.

      There was no clarification as one would expect, it was just to keep pressuring the Ferrari. Then after that nothing. There’s no other message to say his 5 laps are up (that Hamilton obviously didn’t hear), time to give up the place or anything. Hamilton does it by himself on the last corner.

      To me it’s telling. With the race long radio trouble and Hamilton misunderstanding, the team should have given a final instruction to make sure, but was not too bothered about this point. Just as they were not too bothered that any Ferrari mistake wouldn’t fall Bottas’ way. They can pretend there’s no number 1 and 2 driver, but no one is fooled.

      1. They don’t publish all radio communications. This is just a snap shot so we don’t have the full picture.

    Comments are closed.