2013 Abu Dhabi GP qualifying team radio transcript

2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Mark Webber claimed his second pole position of 2013 in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

After his final lap Sebastian Vettel said he “had it in his hands” to beat Webber but made a mistake at turn one on his final lap.

Lewis Hamilton also hit trouble on his final lap, spinning at turn 13. He had previously told his team to look for a problem on his car but they hadn’t seen anything in the data and it seems the fault was also overlooked in the limited time available between his two runs in Q3. Mercedes later confirmed Hamilton’s right-rear wishbone had failed.

Here are the team radio messages that were broadcast during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying team radio transcript

PhaseTimeFromToMessage
Q110:00Jenson ButtonDave RobsonVery easy to lock the front-left.
Q1Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK, understood.
Q19:15Tony RossNico RosbergJust try and avoid over-boosting out of the last corner as it happened in the last lap.
Q18:06Marco MatassaDaniel RicciardoComments on balance
Q1Daniel RicciardoMarco MatassaYes still losing through turn one, I feel there’s understeer. If I want to carry more speed through there I just push on the front. Then out of seven traction’s quite poor. Braking still a little bit hard to manage but in general we’re making progress so I think just a bit more front wing and see if we can gain more front grip – rear grip, sorry – on traction.
Q16:46Tim WrightCharles PicDo you need any aero balance changes?
Q1Charles PicTim WrightNo front wing change.
Q1Tim WrightCharles PicOK Charles copy that, we’re going soon.
Q16:19Mark TempleSergio PerezCompared to Jenson sector one is strong, you’re slightly faster than him; there’s 20 milliseconds in sector two and three-tenths to find in sector three, so sector three’s the one to focus on.
Q15:39Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonWe will be running again, let’s just get back, get the car turned around.
Q15:15GianPiero LambiasePaul di RestaConcentrate on reducing the surface temps through sector three.
Q15:01Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanThrough turn two and turn three you are upshifting too early.
Q14:37Phil CharlesJean-Eric VergnePosition is good, Jev. You can drop about four seconds to Grosjean but do not let him through. So you’ve got four seconds you can drop to make the gap.
Q14:13Francesco NenciEsteban GutierrezThe ‘special two’ is a performance setting Sauber use.
Warm up the front, we need all the special two.
Q12:32Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK Rocky what do we want to do?
Q1Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelGet yourself ready for another timed lap.
Q1Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinDon’t you think it’s enough?
Q1Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelWe’re looking into this.
Q12:17Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK, pit this lap. Watch out for Hulkenberg. Box, box. Use more KERS if you can on the way in.
Q11:30Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenYou are currently P1, Kimi.
Q11:08Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonTyre temps are in the window and brake temps are looking good.
Q10:00Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaThat is a bit better. Switch down and press the ED button. That is the fastest lap so far. You are P1 which is a slight recovery from the P18 we were on the medium.
Q10:00Max ChiltonGary GannonYeah it wasn’t too bad just the rears… Problem is I pushed on the out-lap to get the tyre temp. And then on the actually pushing lap the rears I could see kind of the last sector the rears starting to grain, or blister. And then the last lap there was just nothing left.
Q10:00Gary GannonMax ChiltonYep, understood mate. You did a good job there you went quicker on the second run. Jules just finishing his lap now, he had a KERS problem.
Q10:00Jenson ButtonDave RobsonYeah struggling with understeer in the car, quite a lot.
Q10:00Giedo van der GardeJuan Pablo RamirezCensored by FOM.
Di Resta completely ****** my lap! So how did it go?
Q10:00Juan Pablo RamirezGiedo van der GardeIt’s good enough, Giedo. P19 for the moment.
Q10:00Tim WrightCharles PicSutil P18 42.0, Giedo 43.25, Bianchi 43.39 and yourself 43.52, and then Chilton 44.2. Can we have your feedback please?
Q10:00Charles PicTim WrightUndersteer in the front was not there and second lap it was a bit better but still understeery. Specially medium to low speed. High speed corner the balance is fine, it’s medium to low speed.
Q213:54Brad JoyceAdrian SutilThat is us out, Adrian, we are not through with that.
Q2Adrian SutilBrad JoyceWhy is this?
Q2Brad JoyceAdrian SutilBecause we weren’t fast enough. We a 42.0, Gutierrez 41.9, Ricciarod 41.8, Paul di a fast-slow-fast and that got him through on 41.6.
Q212:47Esteban GutierrezFrancesco NenciGutierrez was unable to do another lap at the end of Q1 as he crossed the line moments after the chequered flag came out.
I thought there was time enough for the second run.
Q2Francesco NenciEsteban GutierrezYeah there was traffic in front so it was too tight, sorry, we missed by one second.
Q211:51Phil CharlesJean-Eric VergneWarm brakes end of this lap.
Q211:25Andrew MurdochPastor MaldonadoGoing for one timed lap.
Q210:45Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelRaikkonen behind is one a timed lap, you’ve got a good gap at the moment. If you need to let Raikkonen by there’s a big gap behind him as well.
Q27:57Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonThat’s P2, four-one-thousandths to Nico, P1. You were purple sector one and two.
Q27:07Felipe MassaRob SmedleyOK so I need a half degree more front wing.
Q2Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaYep that is already being instructed, that is happening.
Q26:24Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenWe think that the cut-off will be 41.1, so it’s very close. The circuit we think will improve by three-tenths, so you’re looking at Di Resta, 41.18.
Q25:04Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonI thought you said the cut-off was 40.9?
Q2Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAs is normal Lewis we’ll just turn the car around just in case we get a scare.
Q24:54Simon RennieMark WebberWe are going to run again, think about the front wing on the way in.
Q2Mark WebberSimon RennieWe need more front wing, mate, [distorted].
Q2Simon RennieMark WebberOK mate understood.
Q23:42Simon RennieMark WebberWe’re going to add three clicks of front wing. We’re going to run a new set of [softs], one timed lap. I would suggest keeping up the pace on the out lap, please.
Q22:57Dave RobsonJenson ButtonTrack is clear ahead, behind you there is four or five cars, all of them left the pit lane with you. Got plenty of time, good gap ahead.
Q22:13GianPiero LambiasePaul di RestaOK, easy on the tyres.
Q21:44Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo we’re just going to send you round and abort at the last minute, we’ll let you know.
Q20:06Andrew MurdochPastor MaldonadoBox this lap.
Q20:00Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasP16 Valtteri, Pastor P15, half a tenth ahead. Those last couple of corners with Raikkonen cost us unfortunately but good job. Sorry about the traffic in the last couple of corners, that was a bit costly.
Q20:00Pastor MaldonadoAndrew MurdochGood job from your side. P15 in the end.
Q20:00Phil CharlesJean-Eric VergneP14 Jev, Daniel P6.
Q20:00Jenson ButtonDave RobsonReally struggling to find the grip.
Q20:00Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson understand, we are currently P12.
Q20:00Jenson ButtonDave RobsonDon’t quite understand how we go from P6 this morning to so far off the pace. No grip, very strange.
Q20:00Dave RobsonJenson ButtonYep, agreed. Very strange, very frustrating. So Jenson we are P13.
Q20:00GianPiero LambiasePaul di RestaSo that is P12. Massa P10 a 40.989. So we were the fuel out from Q3 but I think given what we knew, we went with what we believed, we can discuss it afterwards. Yeah, nonetheless that’s a good job mate, good two sessions, good progression throughout. Good job.
Q20:00Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoI confirm at the end we are P11. Behind us Di Resta, Button, Vergne, Maldonado, Bottas.
Q39:38Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAll cars ahead on out-laps.
Q39:25Simon RennieMark WebberTrack will be clear and strong out-lap.
Q38:00Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuThere is a problem on the back. Vibration at the back.
Q3Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanVibration at the back, OK, we’ll have a look at it.
Q37:52Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanLotus later Tweeted a picture of the damaged floor.
Alright so you basically took the thick concrete paint out of the garage so that’s the vibration. It should go.
Q3Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuOK, good.
Q37:05Marco MatassaDaniel RicciardoYou can release the KERS.
Q37:02Marco MatassaDaniel RicciardoNo more KERS release.
Q36:49Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton suspects a problem with his car after his first run in Q3, which was slower than his Q2 lap.
Can you check my floor when I come in.
Q35:24Tony RossNico RosbergDon’t lose too much time on the in-lap but this may be a race set, we’ve got two new sets.
Q34:51Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergFront wing for new: plus one or plus two?
Q3Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachPlus one only.
Q3Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergOK Nico copy, plus one.
Q34:00Simon RennieMark WebberWhat do you think about the front wing?
Q3Mark WebberSimon RennieLittle bit more again.
Q33:55Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis if you get yourself back quick as possible we’ll have a check over the car. At the moment we can’t see anything on data. So currently P2, eight one-hundredths to Nico, P1.
Q33:25Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAs usual watch out for Joe. Do you want to do anything with front wing.
Q3Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinArguably you could go up two but I’m happy either way.
Q3Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelAlright we’ll stay where we are.
Q32:32Simon RennieMark WebberYou just have Hulkenberg ahead of you.
Q32:03Tony RossNico RosbergTemperatures are twelve front and ten rear so try not to get the fronts too hot. Brake balance is quite forwards at the moment so don’t get them too hot.
Q31:29Mark TempleSergio PerezLet’s have lots of brake warm-up down to turn eight and turn eleven.
Q30:54Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaJust keep doing as you’re doing, this is perfect, preparing the tyres as you want. Rosberg is actually a little bit more pulled out a gap to you. Seven seconds, something like that. The car in front of him, Webber, is five seconds in front of him, six seconds, so he has a big gap there. KERS recharge one click up.
Q30:18Mark TempleSergio PerezCheck your brake balance. You still have ten seconds to spare behind.
Q30:00Rob SmedleyFelipe MassaBrake balance forward, that’s good, come on.
Q30:00Mark TempleSergio PerezYou’re currently in F4, let’s go back to green KERS F3.
Q30:00Simon RennieMark WebberWebber took his second pole position of the season
P1 mate, P1, excellent job, nice one.
Q3Mark WebberSimon RennieFantastic guys, fantastic, thank you, very good job.
Q30:00Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelSorry mate, you’re P2. Grosjean is still running [distorted] won’t do it. Mark got pole and you’re P2 by a tenth.
Q3Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinSorry guys I had it in my hands, lost it in turn one this time. Sorry guys.
Q30:00Tony RossNico RosbergSo it’s Webber, Vettel, yourself, Lewis has spun, Raikkonen is fifth, Hulkenebrg sixth, Grosjean, seventh, Massa eighth and Ricciardo… Perez ninth, Ricciardo tenth. OK so P3, good effort.
Q30:00Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonSomething’s failed on the rear end.
Q3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK message understood Lewis.
Q30:00Mark SladeKimi RaikkonenWe are P5.
Q30:00Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergP6 Nico, well done, good. Actually, yeah, very good, P6.
Q3Nico HulkenbergMarco SchupbachCome on, that’s not too bad, that’s great! Good job guys.
Q3Marco SchupbachNico HulkenbergIt told you it’s good! Good job, Nico.

Due to a technical fault some messages from the first half of Q1 are omitted.

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 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and all other live F1 sessions.

Image © Daimler/Hoch Zwei

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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16 comments on “2013 Abu Dhabi GP qualifying team radio transcript”

  1. Wow, that was fast. Thanks, @keithcollantine

  2. What is that message to Di Resta supposed to mean?

    1. At the end of Q2, I should say.

    2. @philereid Seems they had more fuel in the car than they needed.

  3. respect keith for getting it up so fast, does anyone no what the ed button is cause smedley always tells massa to press it

  4. This is probably confirmation bias on my part, but have noticed some quite detailed feedback from RIC the last couple of transcripts. Interesting since. I think rumour has it that his technical feedback, along with results and the young drivers programme, was a big part of him getting the RBR seat.

    1. @gwan He is very thorough, there’s quite a bit of it during practice as well. It’s not just been since he got Webber’s seat, though, there was quite a lot earlier this year.

      1. @keithcollantine thanks! I don’t usually get to watch practice sessions, I love the behind-the-scenes info from these transcripts :)

  5. I feel like this is an almost essential resource, now.

    Now I know that Gutierrez wasn’t necessarily bad, but that he missed out on starting a final flying lap because the team miscalculated. That was never mentioned on the coverage I was watching.

    Instead of jumping on him for being so much slower than Hulk yet again, I can cut him some slack now I’ve seen the transcript.

    1. That why he shook his head in the garage after Q2. Big up for Ricciardo’s feedback as mentioned above, him and Vettel will make a great engineering line-up next year.

  6. Paul di a fast-slow-fast […]

    I thought that was a pun at first :-)

    I didn’t see qualifying, but I don’t understand why Mercedes sent Hamilton (and only Hamilton) out for a second time in Q2. Perhaps the ghost of the Nurburgring still haunts them.

    Does that also mean he set his Q3 time on slightly scrubbed tyres? Either way, I was quite disappointed with P4, given his previous form at this track. I hope he won’t spend the whole Grand Prix looking at the rear wing of Hulkenberg.

  7. I love these so much

  8. Cool! We now have quali’s radiotranscripts! really nice addition, thanks @keithcollantine for the hard work!

  9. Q3:649 lewis hamition as his first wun* when well

  10. hello keith,where is team radio transcript for the race?

Comments are closed.