2014 Australian Grand Prix team radio transcript

2014 Australian Grand Prix

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Nico Rosberg only had two things to worry about during his cruise to victory in the Australian Grand Prix: Fuel consumption and reliability.

With one Mercedes falling by the wayside early in the race, Rosberg’s team radio messages show he was anxious to ensure he was doing everything possible to preserve his car as the race went on.

Rosberg set the fastest lap of the entire race as early as lap 19, shortly after switching to a ‘rich 20’ engine map. Immediately after that came an intruction to “target +0.3”. From that point on he only lapped within three-tenths of a second of his fastest time once, yet was over 24 seconds ahead at the chequered flag, indicating Mercedes had a lot of performance in hand.

Mercedes’ rivals understood how large their performance advantage was and doubted they could compete with them, as Jenson Button’s radio message on lap 11 makes clear.

Team mate Hamilton betrayed little emotion when told to park his car five laps into the race. Sebastian Vettel was notably less sanguine as his faint hopes of a tenth consecutive race victory were wrecked within the opening laps.

And Romain Grosjean, whose radio messages throughout the weekend betrayed his frustration at Lotus’s myriad problems, sounded utterly dejected when his E22 cried enough with a dozen laps to go.

But the drivers’ problems weren’t limited to the new engines. Valtteri Bottas, who had one self-inflicted prolem earlier in the race, also had to cope with a DRS fault, though it didn’t stop him overtaking 14 cars on his way to fifth place.

Here are all the broadcast team radio messages from the Australian Grand Prix up to the chequered flag.

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2014 Australian Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*FromToMessage
PRJean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarErr, sec seven, is that correct? Or is it sec 14 like we discussed?
PRXevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneIt’s OK. We changed the plan from what we originally discussed. That will be for the outlap, and then we’ll let you know of the change. Also, during this first lap, we want to check the overtake button out of turn nine.
PRAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK Romain. I’ll let you know that I cannot hear you. I’m assuming by the setup change, or the switch change, that you can hear me, but I cannot hear you. So please come in through the pitlane and start from the end of the pitlane. No procedure, no procedure.
PRBernadette CollinsJenson ButtonOK Jenson, please cool the car. So it’s orange E1. Orange E1. And yellow G10. Yellow G10.
PRKevin MagnussenMark TempleI had a bad pre-launch.
PRMark TempleKevin MagnussenYep, understood Kevin. We will look into it.
PRKevin MagnussenMark TempleOK Kevin. And from now on please cool the car down, so drive at a hight speed but low throttle inputs.
PRJenson ButtonBernadette CollinsHeading straight to the grid. Everything’s good with the car.
PRBernadette CollinsJenson ButtonOK Jenson, and a bite-point find before the grid please. Bite-point find.
PRPaul DavisonJules BianchiOK Jules, just remember the rolling bite-point as you come up to the back of the grid, and I’ll see you on the grid, mate. So go P1 and then P0 as normal when we switch the car off, check your driver drinks and I’ll see you on the grid.
PRPeter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis, let’s try and get a couple of big stops on the brakes just to get the front brake temps up.
PRTony RossNico RosbergThe fuel is good, from the last few runs it was on target from the first two laps.
PRNico RosbergTony RossI don’t know what a normal lap is.
PRTony RossNico RosbergJust carry on doing what you’re doing, you’re fine Nico.
PRAndrea StellaFernando AlonsoAny issues for you?
PRFernando AlonsoAndrea StellaNo.
PRAndrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK
PRKimi RaikkonenAntonio SpagnoloAt the moment we have an issue with the radio, because I cannot hear you.
PRAntonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenOK, we look into that.
PRMarco SchupbachAdrian SutilTen minutes to go, ten minutes.
PRRomain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuBasically, coming out of the pits first lap already I am saving fuel.
PRAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOnly fuel saving that is before and after a pit stop, basically.
PRLewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonA switch has just come off my steering wheel… I don’t know where it is! My numbers, pit numbers and all those, just came off.
PRSimon RennieDaniel RicciardoTwenty seconds until formation lap
OK Daniel. There’s only two cars on mediums. Vettel, and Gutierrez on mediums, everybody else on options. OK? And I know we’ve talked about it before, but there’s quite a strong wind at the moment. It’s in this direction.
FLYoshi IwashitaKamui KobayashiKobayashi is brief by his performance engineer.
OK, just make sure the toggle is up. And just before the formation lap, we need the pit limiter on, until they pull away. After that, you can use all gears, also more than 50 percent. Get drive through each gear. Into second, and warm up tyres and brakes. I will come back to you around turn 11 and 12, and after turn 12 we go torque two. And after turn 13, we need two rolling bite-point finds. Turn 13 to turn 14 exit. Two rolling bite-point and below the 40km/h, please no brakes. And after last corner, I will tell you how many burnout is needed. And last of all should be the clutch call.
FLMax ChiltonGary GannonChilton has failed to leave the grid
OK, it cut out as soon as it started to engage.
FLRomain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuCan’t understand
I’ve got no drive [on paddle two (?)].
FLAyao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanShouting
Ah!
FLSebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK, I’m sure you’re aware, big loss of boost pressure when finding the revs.
FLTony RossNico RosbergOK Nico, just put the rotary in position four.
FLNico RosbergTony RossIt does not work. I am in four.
FLBernadette CollinsJenson ButtonOK Jenson, last car is forming up now. Last car forming up now.
FLXevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneFirst start attempt aborted due as Bianchi stalls
Cool the car. Extra formation lap
FLJules BianchiPaul DavisonEngine is stopped. Engine stopped. I’m on the grid, stopped.
FLPaul DavisonJules BianchiOK, wave your arms in the air, mate. Wave your arms in the air.
FLDaniel RicciardoSimon RennieJust give me some feedback on the launch, if you can. Seems like it’s bogging down again.
FLGuillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelOK Sebastian, the race is shorterned by one lap. This is effectively one race lap.
FLSebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK, is it normal that I have no power?
FLGuillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelYeah Sebastian, torque-2 is no ‘K’. Torque-2 is no ‘K’
1Kamui KobayashiTim WrightAt the start, Kobayashi crashes into Massa, taking both out of the race.
Sorry guys. Sorry guys. Really sorry… sorry guys.
1Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinEngine is not running smoothly. I will get passed, so you are aware.
2Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinAngrily
Do something! I have no power, less IC than normal and no ‘K’! No ‘K’!
2Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelUnderstood
2Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinAngrily
That’s ridiculous guys!
2Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton has an engine problem and has been dropping places since the start
Guys… [distorted]… car’s still driving.
2Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonNo Lewis, we need to retire. We need to save the engine. We need to save the engine.
2Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis, stay out. Stay out. Just keep rolling.
3Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHamilton enters the pits
Don’t seem to have any power.
3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonCopy that, Lewis. That’s the issue we’re seeing. We are discussing it here.
3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonOK Lewis. So confirm – box, box, box. Box, box, box. We are going to retire.
4Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonMulti-function four. Position four. Less front-locking.
5Gary GannonMax ChiltonDRS enabled.
5Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinOK, there seems to be a little bit of ‘K’ now. A slight improvement. Just beginning out of the corners.
5Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelUnderstood
5Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinBut, still, very low on power.
5Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelVettel pulls into the pits to retire
Sebastian, in the garage please. Stop in the pit box and engine off. We think there’s an issue with the IC, there’s no point carrying on. Engine off please.
6Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilAdrian, we see your problem. We are working on it, it takes a while. Stay tuned, keep fighting.
6Mark TempleKevin MagnussenAnd Hulkenberg is plus one point one [+1.1] – try and keep him out of DRS if you can.
7Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezSo Esteban, fuel consumption so far is OK. And think about using the diff for any understeer. You can use entry six or unlock toggle.
7Nico RosbergTony RossShould I be doing higher mid-corner revs? Should I be doing higher revs?
7Tony RossNico RosbergNegative. All is good at the moment, Nico. We’re happy.
8Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico, we’d like minus point five [-0.5] on the delta time, so go slightly quicker. We need to pull a gap to Ricciardo and then we’ll be happy.
8Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasBottas has passed Raikkonen for sixth
This is mega, Valtteri. Good work.
9Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezPace is looking good. We’re seventh quickest on track and fuel management so far is looking good.
9Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaI need to pass Jev!
9Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK Daniil, OK. I will let you know.
10Jenson ButtonDave RobsonFront-left graining.
10Adrian SutilMarco SchupbachTyres are holding on quite well. I’m using overtake button for extra power on the straight. Everything’s OK.
10Brad JoyceSergio PerezYou’re doing well. Closing two seconds to Lotus. Per lap.
11Dave RobsonJenson ButtonBottas has struck the wall and suffered a right-rear puncture.
OK Jenson, so we are in the window,
11Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasPuncture. So box. So puncture button, box.
11Jenson ButtonDave RobsonWhat are the laptimes that the leaders are doing? Obviously not the Mercedes, but the rest.
11Dave RobsonJenson ButtonThe Safety Car has been deployed
OK Jenson, Kevin last lap 1’35.6.
12Tony RossNico RosbergOK Safety Car. Safety Car. Box. Box. Keep the delta time positive, let us know if you want a flap adjust at the stop.
12Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoFront wing, question? Front wing, question?
12Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieI have the feeling we’re probably just a little bit high for this first stint.
12Kimi RaikkonenAntonio SpagnoloI need a little bit more front wing, I have front graining.
12Antonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenWe will remove the lip from the rear and the equivalent will be half a degree.
13Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, nobody stayed out. Everybody pitted. When you get to Safety Car line, you need to respect the delta.
13Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson. So things have worked out nicely. We are currently P6. You’re obviously just picking up the train now.
14Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieHow was the pace? Obviously not compared to Rosberg but everyone else?
14Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoYou were the second-quickest car. Bottas was similar, but he has retired… or he has pitted. Damaged a wheel, that’s why that tyre was on the road. You were the second-quickest car.
15Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin. As a reminder, once the Safety Car comes in, you can race from the Safety Car One line. Look for the lights on the Safety Car, when they go out, it will be coming in this lap. You may know before us.
15Kevin MagnussenMark TempleHow many laps do we think we can do on these tyres?
15Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK, let’s aim for 20 laps. Twenty laps on these tyres.
15Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, there may be very light rain at turn three. We only expect a few drops.
15Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieUnderstood.
15Jenson ButtonDave RobsonHow are we looking on fuel? I think we’ve done pretty well.
15Dave RobsonJenson ButtonYeah Jenson, you’ve been doing a great job and obviously saving more now. So there will be a little bit more to do before the end, but we’re looking good. We can attack on the restart.
15Jenson ButtonDave RobsonIs the Force India [Hulkenberg, in fourth] quite fast?
15Dave RobsonJenson ButtonThe Force India is Hulkenberg. Similar to you, possibly a bit slower. We’re in good shape. We can have him.
15Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico, on your next pit stop, we want you to be cautious on your second lever release. Cautious, second lever release.
15Nico RosbergTony RossMove the pit box in front out of the way. And I’m going to come in at an angle. I’m going to position myself at an angle to drive out more easily.
16Paul DavisonJules BianchiThe race is restarted
And blue flag straight away, Jules. Blue flag behind.
16Nico RosbergTony RossTell me the stint length.
16Tony RossNico RosbergSo, a rich 20.
17Tony RossNico RosbergNot sure what is said
So, go strat seven. No more “hogies” required currently.
17Mark SladePastor MaldonadoOK Pastor, we need to use the overtake button. Charge is high.
18Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoMagnussen is less than a second behind Ricciardo
Charge ten. Charge ten. You can use the overtake to defend. Charge ten.
18Marcus EricssonAngel BaenaEricsson, 15th, did not pit and had Gutierrez behind him at this point.
Why I get blue flags all the time? Every corner I get blue flags!
18Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonIgnore them! You are racing all the cars!
19Tony RossNico RosbergRosberg has immediately set the fastest lap of the race
…and ‘HPP2’ to ‘one’. And gap to Ricciardo, 3.2 seconds.
20Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, you do not need to save fuel. Hit the beeps. You do not need to save fuel.
20Tony RossNico RosbergSo target, +0.3 on the delta time.
21Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonContinue, continue. Diff map ten, less understeer.
21Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasDriver default 58, OK? That will let you use DRS whenever. You need to only use it when you think you’re within a second of the car in front. So it’s up to you.
21Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsYep.
21Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasSo just be safe when you use the DRS Valtteri, we don’t want to get in trouble. There is a problem with the hardware.
22Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, you’re doing a really good job so far. Let’s keep doing this and we’ll see what sort of opportunities we’ll get later in the race. Other cars may struggle with their fuel.
24Paul DavisonJules BianchiBianchi is ahead of his team mate on track, but six laps behind
OK Jules, into turn one, you need to let Max past. He’s faster behind. He needs to race Ericsson, we need to let him past.
24Gary GannonMax ChiltonMax, at the end of this lap, Jules will give back the track position.
24Gary GannonMax ChiltonEricsson has pitted from 16th
OK Max, good job. We are monitoring the situation… In now, Max. In now.
25Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneVergne is challenging Button for sixth
You should be closer. You need to close the gap for the DRS
26Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilAdrian, stay at this pace. We need 12 more laps at this pace, then we can change strategy. Slower will not work in any case.
26Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieStarting to get a bit of deg’ on the left-front. That’s the limiting factor at the moment.
26Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, understood. Think about diff five. Think about going down on the diff if you’re having understeer.
26Tony RossNico RosbergNico, just confirm tyres are OK? Remember to drink.
26Nico RosbergTony RossTyres dropping off a bit more than expected at the moment. I am graining on the left-front. Rears also struggling a little bit.
27Mark TempleKevin Magnussen…and Kevin look after the front-left at turn 13. Front-left at turn 13.
27Gary GannonMax ChiltonBlue flag, Rosberg.
28Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico, you’re in your Safety Car window. We will go medium for the next stint.
28Dave RobsonJenson ButtonAnd Jenson, balance check?
28Jenson ButtonDave RobsonUndersteer, four. Oversteer, two.
28Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK, understood.
29Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonEricsson pulls off at turn four to retire
Stop the car, stop the car! Engine oil pressure.
29Marcus EricssonAngel BaenaStop the car? Copy.
29Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonMan, that was a good race on your side. Very good Marcus, until this point
30Sergio PerezBrad JoycePerez is tucked up behind Sutil’s Sauber
So what at the moment? I don’t have power, how can I overtake him?
30Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezLooks to me like rear degredation is not as much of an issue as we predicted.
30Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoButton is less than a second behind fifth placed Alonso
I remind you, ‘K1’ available. I saw the McLaren with the DRS on
31Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, Magnussen behind you is starting to struggle. You’re doing a good job at the moment.
31Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieUnderstood.
31Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasGive me an update on tyres and balance. And would you want a front wing adjustment for the mediums?
31Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsPlus one. Plus one. We are graining the front-left quite bad already.
32Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico, we’re still planning to stretch the stint out. Gap to Ricciardo, 11.6.
32Mark SladePastor MaldonadoMaldonado has retired in sector three
Stop the car. Stop the car. Stop the car please Pastor. Stop the car. We’ve got a failed MGU-K, so stop the car.
33Tony RossNico RosbergSo just continue with the current “hogies”. You’ll be able to continue that until the end of the race.
33Dave RobsonJenson ButtonButton pits from sixth
OK Jenson, launch map on, first gear before you stop and apply the brakes. This is the medium tyreand we are fuel-zero – we are pushing to undercut these guys.
33Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilOK Adrian, keep the pace. We try to go a little longer.
34Gianpiero LambiaseNico HulkenbergHulkenberg pits from fourth as does Vergne from sixth
Racing Button on exit.
34Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneYou’ll be racing Jenson to turn one.
36Dave RobsonJenson ButtonButton has successfully undercut Hulkenberg
OK Jenson, so Alonso has stayed out. We’ve currently got a three second gap on him, so we’re looking good. Let’s just find out rhythm.
36Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoFront wing, question? Front wing, question?
36Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieAt the start of the run, it’s pretty OK. But then at the end, I have some front graining. So probably go up a little bit. Two steps maybe.
37Tony RossNico RosbergNico, just be aware there maybe some light rain around, but it’s not expected to get wet. Not expected to get wet, but maybe a couple of drops.
37Brad JoyceSergio PerezGood pace, good pace.
38Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, box this lap. Box this lap, confirm.
38Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasSo all cars ahead on medium – older medium than us. So we should be able to catch them. Twenty laps to go.
38Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK Jev, so fighting everyone around until the end of the race now. Look after the tyres at the moment.
39Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, Magnussen has come out behind you. We’re going to the end. Turn five and turn 14 are the places to look after the left-front.
39Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasSome of the cars in front have quite high deg’ after the first couple of laps on the mediums. So don’t kill this medium early, just look after it.
39Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson, car in front is Kevin. We are racing Kevin for third place. Our fuel is good.
40Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoRicciardo is coming under pressure from Magnussen
You can use overtake button to defend.
40Tony RossNico RosbergSo current gap to Ricciardo, who’s also stopped for medium tyres, 23 seconds. No graining seen on mediums so far.
41Brad JoyceSergio PerezProtect the left-front.
41Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarHow is the performance looking right now?
41Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneWe are a a bit slower than the soft tyre, but still OK.
42Tony RossNico RosbergRosberg set his fastest lap on lap 19 and was clearly managing his pace from that point on.
So on the previous set of tyres, ten percent remaining left-front, 45 left rear.
42Nico RosbergTony RossIs there nothing else I can do for reliability?
42Tony RossNico RosbergWe’re completely happy as you are, Nico. So just staying off kerbs.
43Gary GannonMax ChiltonIn now. Clutch, four. Torque, one and remember pit limiter.
43Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarVergne is currently running seventh
Watch Bottas behind. Keep him behind.
43Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico, we’d like to up the pace up just a little bit. By about point four of a second. So just more on the delta time. Just to get a nice Safety Car window.
43Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK Fernando, no threat from behind anyhow. We stay focussed. Here is, like I said, a battle of reliability as well. So we look after everything and we see what happens.
44Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson, Ricciardo last lap, 1’33.9.
46Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanGrosjean has now retired in the second Lotus. He sounded dejected, as he often did on the radio during practice.
OK, stop the car please. Stop the car. We lost MGU-K. Stop the car and go to P1, please.
46Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuOK, I stopped the car. Is it safe?
46Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanCar is safe Romain, so go to P0, please. Car is safe.
46Jenson ButtonDave RobsonDoes Ricciardo have to save fuel, you think?
46Dave RobsonJenson ButtonWe don’t think so, Jenson. But his last lap was 1’33.9.
47Mark TempleKevin MagnussenProtect rear tyres. Protect rear tyres, turn 14. We may be racing Jenson at the end of the race.
47Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasBottas is challenging Vergne for seventh
Mode eight will build up a bit of charge and then we do a mode five to overtake.
48Gianpiero LambiaseNico HulkenbergBottas has passed Vergne along the pit straight
OK Nico. So Bottas is through on the Toro Rosso behind, so I expect you’ll be coming under attack from Bottas soon.
48Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasYeah, great stuff Valterri. Let’s save that mode five for overtaking Hulkenberg. So stay in mode eight.
48Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK, so we need some lift-off.
49Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK, Ricciardo struggling. Ricciardo is really struggling.
49Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, you can now use target +0.03.
49Mark TempleKevin MagnussenAnd Kevin let’s try and get Ricciardo, he is struggling.
50Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoFernando, you are being eight tenths quicker than the three cars in front of you. Ricciardo, I think, is slowing down everybody so he may be struggling. Ricciardo is ten seconds in front of you now.
50Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneOK Jev, your pace is good now. Keep it like it is. Keep your head down, keep Raikkonen behind.
52Dave RobsonJenson ButtonOK Jenson. Purple C8, postion six. C8, position six. Rear tyre temperature.
53Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoMagnussen is within DRS range of Ricciardo
OK Daniel, you are doing a good job. Fuel is good.
53Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, let’s have yellow G6 for a couple of laps. We’ll save G3 for the last two.
53Brad JoyceSergio PerezGo gentle on right-hand side corners.
54Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK Daniil. At the end of this lap, we will attack Raikkonen. We need to charge the [“sock”?]. Use brakes on lift-off
54Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK Daniel, we need to keep up the pace. Magnussen is saving fuel – he will try again later. Keep up the pace, pull away from him.
55Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneVergne has just been overtaken by Raikkonen
OK Jev. Daniil behind is faster than you – don’t hold him up.
55Mark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin. Yellow G3. Yellow G3, three laps to go.
56Tony RossNico RosbergLast lap now.
57Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK mate. This is the last lap. Last lap. Keep it going, mate. You’re doing a good job.
VLTony RossNico RosbergThat’s it, well done Nico! Well done. Good job.
VLNico RosbergTony RossWoo! Come on guys! Brilliant stuff! Brilliant! What a car you’ve given me. What a car… unbelieveable.
VLMark TempleKevin MagnussenOK Kevin, Absolutely fantastic. Absolutely awesome.That was sensational all weekend.
VLDaniel RicciardoSimon RennieThank guys [laughs]. It’s all a bit of a blur right now. That’s… that’s really cool [laughs]. Wow.
VLSimon RennieDaniel RicciardoThat’s brilliant mate. I think we can see your smile from here. Nice job.

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.

Australian Grand Prix data

Text by @keithcollantine, radio transcript by @willwood.

Image © Daimler/Hoch Zwei

Author information

Will Wood
Will has been a RaceFans contributor since 2012 during which time he has covered F1 test sessions, launch events and interviewed drivers. He mainly...

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77 comments on “2014 Australian Grand Prix team radio transcript”

  1. Bernadette Collins, really?

    Thanks for the upload F1F

    1. @jeff1s Yep she’s Button’s performance engineer, started late last year. Was in at least one of the late-2013 transcripts I’m sure.

      1. Thanks!

        And once again for this now mandatory insight of our sport. I even read them loud and clear, hear them loud and clear, mate ;)

      2. I wondered who she was, she sticks out like a sore thumb with that pink uniform

    2. GB (@bgp001ruled)
      18th March 2014, 23:56

      yeah, i couldnt believe a girl was giving dirctions. cool! i had to google her…

  2. I need to pass Jev!

    Young Daniil means business! That was lap 9!

    1. Jev was too slow, he wanted him to go out of the way! ;)

    2. @jcost Start as you mean to go on!

      1. I think JEV is gonna have a hard time against Kvyat. He’s quick and composed.

  3. 45% rear tire left on Rosberg..this gonna be a boring year. What the hell is Mark Slade doing with a burning car? He should fighting championship with Kimi.

  4. Jenson Button, “What are the laptimes that the leaders are doing? Obviously not the Mercedes, but the rest.”

    Epic!! Haha!!

    1. And Ricciardo said essentially the same as well. . .

    2. yeah i think those two are the most telling comments of the whole thing. Have a feeling this is gonna be another Brawn 2009, RB 2011, RB 2013 style year.

      1. Except they have two quick, evenly matched drivers, and they both want this championship badly. I think it will be much more interesting.

  5. Okay, so not a single complaint about not having enough fuel, and no complaint about tyres deg..
    I think teams were being a little on the conservative side, just to ensure the cars would be able to get the checkered flag…

  6. Any one know what a “hogie” is? As in “No more hogies required currently”..

    1. They’re used for charging the sock.

      1. I think “sock” refers to the “SOC” or the “State of Charge” of the energy store.

        1. So what exactly is a hogie?

  7. Not too many “save fuel” messages. Considering this was the first race with the PU and fuel regs, it bodes very well for the season ahead. I even remember a driver saying Melbourne would be one of the most fuel-marginal races. Oh happy days. Again, the media fear-mongering is proved to be hyperbole..

    1. Mr win or lose
      18th March 2014, 16:14

      Probably the safety-car period and the two formation laps helped quite a bit.

  8. Mr win or lose
    18th March 2014, 13:57

    What does “IC” mean?

    1. I think Internal Combustion (Engine).

    2. as in ICE – Internal Combustion Engine – The v6 engine part of the power train..

    3. Not the intercooler?

      1. Mr win or lose
        18th March 2014, 17:08

        Thanks! So Vettel had less internal combustion than normal? He allegedly lost some cylinders, so it seems plausible.

  9. Stop the car. Stop the car. Stop the car please Pastor. Stop the car. We’ve got a failed MGU-K, so stop the car.

    Mark Slade almost sounds as if he’s begging Pastor to stop the car.

    1. @infinitygc When you hear the actual audio it’s clear he’s just making sure the message is heard. Even with the quieter engines the radio do still give problems – indeed Lotus had one with their other car right at the start.

      1. I didn’t hear the message on air, I read it just now and it sounded quite funny in my head.

  10. OK, that was a great article, great article and yellow G3.

    1. @andae23 Thanks! Remember to drink.

      1. Keith baby stay cool, we’re reading your white articles!

      2. Haha! Very good!

  11. The best prove of why DRS is just NOT needed:

    Valtteri Bottas, who had one self-inflicted prolem earlier in the race, also had to cope with a DRS fault, though it didn’t stop him overtaking 14 cars on his way to fifth place.

    1. Indeed, more torque, less downforce and reasonable tyres = better racing.

      1. In fact, I can’t recall specific passes and watching a commercial TV coverage I probably only saw half of the race anyway but most of the passes I saw were mid-corner passes.

    2. And a Mercedes engine… he made short work of his Ferrari and Renault-powered victims, but needed his DRS to get past another Merc-powered car (Hulkenberg). Plus it sounds like he had to get his mode eights and mode fives ready to attack him, too.

    3. I read the transcript in a way that suggests that DRS was set to manual mode, so that he could use it whenever he wanted. This meant he had to be sure to be within one second of the car in front, and also make sure that he doesn’t open it too early (or incur a penalty otherwise). Normally, the DRS button would not work in either of these circumstances. So I think he still used DRS to overtake.

      @bascb @hohum @bullfrog

    4. He actually did use DRS as far as I saw it.

      Rather, I think, based on the transcript, Williams might have two ways of moving the actuator, an automatic and a manual one.

      My theory is that the automatic system failed and so the team instructed Valtteri to use manual, obviously cautiously to avoid illegal use.

      Apart from the transcript a further proof for manual usage could be that he did not use it AFTER passing someone late in the race in the second zone – he probably forgot it – but did use it on the main straight.

      On a sidenote, it’s not that I’m not against DRS, it’s just that I think your above argument is invalid.

      1. He actually did use DRS as far as I saw it.

        He used it a few times but most of his overtaking was done without it, In fact most of the overtaking in general looked to occur outside of DRS zones.

        Martin Brundle made a comment on Sky’s commentary which most seemed to have missed. He said something like ‘There looking at if DRS is still needed, I suspect it isn’t’.

  12. In light of the accident at the start it is interesting that KK alone was told “please no brakes” while setting the car up on the initial formation lap.

    1. He is being told not to use the brakes while finding the roling bite point, perhaps they have had problems in the past with him touching the brakes, who knows but that is how I took that comment within that context.

      1. Oh, sounds reasonable.

  13. Yeah Sebastian, torque-2 is no ‘K’. Torque-2 is no ‘K’

    Does anybody know what this means? When I heard it first in the race “no K” sounded like “okay”. So does no “K” mean “K” is not okay? If I’m right it’s a confusing way of pointing that out!

    1. no kinetic recovery. Kers failed basically?

    2. @insilico I think he is referring to the MGU-K. It makes a bit more sense when you read all the messages between Vettel and the team.

    3. I’m guessing but I think it refers to K ilowatts available for electric boost, torque2 is probably a low torque setting relying entirely on the ICE for power, hence no K.
      @insilico.

    4. Should be MGU-K failure.

  14. guys, what’s the bite-point?

    1. Clutch bite point is the point where the clutch bites.

      many a driver has lost body parts when the clutch bite point bites them at the wrong times.

      scary stuff.

    2. It’s where the clutch starts to “bite” as in when the clutch begins to engage. Obviously clutches do wear out which is why that point will change not only during the weekend, but also during the day.

    3. Everything you need to know about the F1 cutch:
      http://scarbsf1.com/blog1/2013/05/31/indetail-the-f1-clutch/

    4. @albedo if u have driven a manual transmission vehicle- after engaging 1st gear, as u release clutch u will feel a jerk at a certain point. This jerk starts to happen even without the accelerator being pressed. That point is clutch bite point.

  15. As always, this now classic insight is so nice to read (in Belgium, the broadcasted messages come even less often than the bold ones in the list.) Thanks, Keith.

  16. That Alonso is certainly a laconic chap. He didn’t say a single word over the course of the entire race!

    1. I read somewhere that more intelligent people say much less than others. Why to talk when there is no such need… or maybe he is just focusing on his driving more :)

    2. I believe the case is that ALO uses italian to speak to his engineer, and Keith, though fluent in F1, not so much in Italian, and can’t transcribe the conversations… I might be wrong though.

    3. Not all messages are broadcasted by the FOM. The transcript here is just what is broadcasted on the pitlane channel, but there are a lot more messages that go back and forth. I believe Stella tends to talk Italian a lot to Alonso, so FOM might not bother to broadcast that.

    4. Maybe they talk on a ‘secret’ frequency bypassing the FOM…

      And would somebody please explain why Ferrari refer to Ricciardio as Ricchardo

      1. @onebhk Ricciardo is an Italian surname and he has Italian lineage (he speaks the language). While living in Australia his family adopted the Anglicised pronunciation ‘Ricardo’. The pronunciation used by Ferrari is how the surname is pronounced in Italy with a ‘ch’ as in ‘cappuccino’.

        Of course another spelling of Riccardo is also a forename in Italy as in Riccardo Patrese.

        1. My dad and I always thought it was pronounced that way, so I was kind of confused when I hear the Sky guys saying “Ricardo”. They had the same problem with Pérez, but it’s really easy because the little symbol above the first ‘e’ marks where it’s stressed. The way Brundle pronounces it would be “Peréz”

  17. Kimi: At the moment we have an issue with the radio, because I cannot hear you.
    Antonio Spagnolo: Ok, we look into that.

  18. soundscape (@)
    18th March 2014, 23:38

    I can’t believe I waited this long to read my first radio transcript. What a brilliant read! Thoroughly insightful and fascinating (and often amusing).

  19. GB (@bgp001ruled)
    19th March 2014, 0:09

    what is safety car window? i dont get that…

    1. Where it becomes ideal to come in to change tyres if a safety car comes out.

    2. William Jones
      19th March 2014, 10:56

      The glass bits through which the safety car driver can see out of the car.

      (Sorry, I’m joking, Alexis is spot on)

  20. The radio transcript is always illuminating and I was keen to read whether there had been more instructions regarding fuel saving than we heard on the broadcast.
    It is wonderful to see that my worst fears regarding the need to back off and save fuel did not dominate events. Sure there are a few times that drivers are told to change modes (Bottas being told to change to mode 8 on lap 47 so they can attack on mode 5 later and likewise Magnussen instructed to go to Yellow G6 on lap 53 then back to G3 for the last two laps) but nothing like I was expecting.
    Sometimes it wasn’t clear if the changes of mode were directly aimed at fuel saving or toward the charging of batteries so the stored energy could be used later.
    A wonderful segment as always.

  21. Yeah this is awesome, just found this site before qualy, great stuff guys.

  22. Great stuff for the transcripts… sure have changed from last years and you feel the anxiuness more this year.

    I strongly believe that what we saw in this race the whole race was not of what the cars are capable of doing in the limit as matter fuel and thats why we didnt had too much info according to fuel. All teams was afraid even if they did tests to be in the limit because not to finish cause of fuel is embaresment more than if you dnf for any other reason and here are big games from manufacturers.
    Offcourse Merceded stand out off all and thats why all the other teams was saying that Merc’s are the favoris for this season.
    The fuel management seems crucial to me and IF i repeat IF Dany was really gaining a bit cause of more fuel (no matter what the Jury will say it will shown in the upcoming races if Dany’s performance was due to more power cause of bit more fuel) then we have more to see and this Demo Race in Melbourne is not the real deal for me..

    Offcourse i say this based totally on my feeling and my thought

  23. Vettel – really showing his true colours there – ‘this is ridiculous guys’..

    Yes, only the team that’s allow you to win 4 x WDC in a row..

    1. exactly but seems some of Vettel fans will be unhappy if found words like what you said

  24. Any body notice Merc radio message to Nico Rosberg? Remember to drink. Any new thoughts on that?

    1. @Scorer Yeah It’s not uncommon actually, it was heard a few times last year.

  25. ILuvSoundtracks (@)
    2nd June 2015, 17:17

    Magnussen’s team radio from post-race:
    KEVIN:Ah, thank you guys! Thank you so much. That was a good race. Thank you for being so great to me, spending good time listening to me. Thank you so much man…I cannot describe this.

    ENGINEER:Yeah. Absolutely that is bright. I don’t know what to say, that is just such an awesome debut. Fantastic job yesterday, thank you in difficult conditions in the wet. And then, podium finish for first race, it’s absolutely brilliant! Let’s keep this up the rest of the season.

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