2017 Malaysian Grand Prix team radio transcript

2017 Malaysian Grand Prix

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The Malaysian Grand Prix revealed how much teams rely on radio communications from their drivers to prompt investigations from the stewards.

2017 Malaysian GP in pictures
During the race Esteban Ocon was reminded to make sure he stated on the radio he’d been hit by another driver, Carlos Sainz Jnr, to prompt the stewards into investigating the collision. A few laps later Ocon did exactly that.

Other drivers didn’t need reminding. Romain Grosjean was quick to point the finger when he dropped to the back of the field at the start.

The race began and ended with drama on the radio at Ferrari. First Kimi Raikkonen reported the problem which meant he didn’t even get to start the race. And after the chequered flag fell Sebastian Vettel collided with Lance Stroll. He blamed the Williams driver but the stewards cleared both drivers.

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2017 Malaysian Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*DriverMessage
PRFrom Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen’s troubles began on the reconnaissance lap.
I have no power.
PRTo Kimi Raikkonen

Understood Kimi can you just get around to the grid, we’ll try and fix the issue on the grid.
PRFrom Kimi Raikkonen

I have no battery it’s just empty.
PRTo Kimi Raikkonen

Understood Kimi. Unfortunately will be from the turbo. Can we have fail alpha 12 on, Kimi.
PRTo Marcus Ericsson

No rain expected in the next 30 minutes.
PRTo Kimi Raikkonen

OK Kimi we’re going to do a fire-up very shortly. And after the fire-up we’re going to decide what to do. We’ll try and engage the turbo and see if everything’s working. So we’ll very shortly do the fire-up, Kimi.
PRTo Kimi Raikkonen

OK Kimi we go to the garage and try to fix the problem.
PRFrom Sebastian Vettel

Vettel reminded his race engineer not to bother letting him know when the grid had formed up at the start.
Radio check Sebastian.
PRTo Sebastian Vettel

Loud and clear. Obviously as I’m the last car on the grid you don’t need to tell me.
PRTo Esteban Ocon

The right-hand side is quite slippery where there’s been some rubber laid down. You want to be positioning your car to the left.
PRFrom Esteban Ocon

OK, understood.
PRTo Daniel Ricciardo

The track is drying a little bit, drying quickly.
FLFrom Carlos Sainz Jnr

I can see some clouds coming at turn 11, just keep an eye.
2From Romain Grosjean

Mate the Toro Rosso’s moving all over the [censored by FOM] place.
2To Romain Grosjean

Yep, understood.
2From Romain Grosjean

Those new guys need to learn they can’t move like this. I had to go out to avoid him.
2To

Yep, understood we’ll report it.
3To Max Verstappen

OK Max there is mud on the line at the exit of turn 15.
3From Lewis Hamilton

Verstappen passed Hamilton for the lead.
Hamilton I’ve got de-rates.
3To Lewis Hamilton

Copy Lewis, it’s to be expected. Just coming to the top of the pack, it should take one more lap.
4From Max Verstappen

That’s how we do it.
4To Max Verstappen

Well done mate. Right let’s clear the DRS, think about your tyres now.
4To Pierre Gasly

OK Pierre good job. Focus on rear slip management.
6To Esteban Ocon

So you’ve got some front wing end plate damage but it’s OK to carry on.
6From Esteban Ocon

Yeah well Checo pushed me into Stroll again, so…
6To Esteban Ocon

OK. We could have had that as a report.
6To Lewis Hamilton

At the top of the tyre temp window so we’re happy with tag two. Opportunities will come later.
7From Nico Hulkenberg

There’s a funny feeling in the front axle on high-speed.
7To Nico Hulkenberg

OK Nico we’ll have a look. OK Nico we see nothing in data here, we see nothing to suggest a problem.
7From Nico Hulkenberg

Copy. Stuck in dirty air obviously.
7To Nico Hulkenberg

Understood. Slip three please Nico, that’s at nine o’clock.
8To Pierre Gasly

OK Pierre you need to watch the exit kerb in turn eight, you are too aggressive with the exit kerb, turn eight. How is the car?
8From Pierre Gasly

A bit unstable at the rear at the moment.
10To

OK Nico we need everything you’ve got on the out-lap.
11From Nico Hulkenberg

Cool the car – I’ve lost power. ‘Cool the car’ message.
11To Nico Hulkenberg

Understood Nico.
11To Daniel Ricciardo

OK that last lap you took one second out of Hamilton. Nice job.
12To Lewis Hamilton

To Hamilton Vettel in P9 at the moment, he’s 22 seconds behind. Just remember he may be a threat towards the end of the race.
12To Sergio Perez

Checo if understeer five and six is a problem you could try open diff.
13To Lance Stroll

How are the tyres now, Lance?
13From Lance Stroll

The rear’s starting to go away a bit mid-corner.
13To Lance Stroll

OK, understood.
14From Lance Stroll

Stroll dropped behind Massa after the Williams drivers pitted.
Come on, guys.
15To Stoffel Vandoorne

Good job Stoff, that’s a Sauber in front let’s go straight through him.
15From Romain Grosjean

Guys I can’t do anything with my front-left. I can’t do anything. There’s no grip. Simple as that.
16From Daniel Ricciardo

Some understeer’s starting to build on throttle high speed. Low speed just got to watch the rear.
16To Daniel Ricciardo

OK understood. So we will add front wing at the next pit stop.
17To Stoffel Vandoorne

Stoffel the only threat right now are the two Williams, still behind Wehrlein.
19From Max Verstappen

I think my left-front tyre is starting to give up a little bit in turns seven, eight.
19To Max Verstappen

Yep, copy, understood.
20To Sergio Perez

Checo we didn’t understand. Radio’s not good. Try again at low speed.
20From Sergio Perez

Tyre is good, no rush to pit.
20To Sergio Perez

Understood, Vettel behind.
20To Sergio Perez

You can use everything from the tyre.
21To Esteban Ocon

So when you come up to Sainz use both straights to go by. Use the first straight to catch him up, second straight to go by.
21To Carlos Sainz Jnr

Keep pushing Carlos. You are doing a fantastic job. You are catching Fernando in front.
22To Lewis Hamilton

And give us feedback on the tyres, let us know your tag level.
22From Lewis Hamilton

Tag three, tyres are OK.
23From Max Verstappen

Yeah left front is a limitation.
23To Max Verstappen

OK the front-left tyre is in good shape. I understand the balance limitation mate but no concerns over the tyre itself at this stage. We’re happy.
24To Valtteri Bottas

So biggest losses now minimum speed turn six and 14, then we’ll let you get on with it.
25From Max Verstappen

Starting to get worse.
25To Max Verstappen

OK copy.
25From Lewis Hamilton

Tyres dropping off.
25To Lewis Hamilton

OK copy that last message.
25To Esteban Ocon

Ocon was knocked into a spin by Sainz.
Quick as possible, quick as possible, get going.
26From Nico Hulkenberg

We need to think about converting strategy. I don’t think we will make it to the end like this.
26From Carlos Sainz Jnr

He closed on me. He didn’t leave me any space.
26To Carlos Sainz Jnr

Any car damage?
26From Carlos Sainz Jnr

No. No car damage.
26To Carlos Sainz Jnr

OK.
27To Daniel Ricciardo

OK mate so Hamilton is coming in, we’re staying out.
27To Esteban Ocon

So did Sainz hit you?
27From Esteban Ocon

Oh for sure, for sure he hit me.
27To Esteban Ocon

Well that us know then
27From Esteban Ocon

That’s not clear enough?
27To Esteban Ocon

Yep, you need to get on the radio and let us know.
28To Daniel Ricciardo

OK so Verstappen also pitted. We are going to extend. Keep us updated on your tyres.
28To Pierre Gasly

Good job, Pierre. Keep focusing on the fuel, please.
30To Romain Grosjean

Is the front-left any better at this lower temp?
30From Romain Grosjean

Yeah a little bit.
30From Carlos Sainz Jnr

Engine problem. No engine.
30To Carlos Sainz Jnr

Understood. Nothing obvious from the data.
30From Carlos Sainz Jnr

Yeah no engine. [Censored by FOM] no engine.
31From Esteban Ocon

[Censored by FOM] hell. Pushed me off again!
32To Nico Hulkenberg

OK Nico what are you thinking about the tyres now? Can we make it to the end?
32From Nico Hulkenberg

I think it’s going to be difficult. Honestly.
33From Fernando Alonso

Alonso was given a strong squeeze by Magnussen as he passed the Haas.
What an idiot! Haha. Hulkenberg is right…
34From Kevin Magnussen

What the hell is he doing that guy?
34To Kevin Magnussen

OK we saw it. Pressures are fine at the moment.
34To Pierre Gasly

Stop lifting off, maximum attack on Magnussen.
35From Romain Grosjean

I can’t do anything guys, I can’t do anything.
35To Romain Grosjean

Understood, just stay with them.
35To Daniel Ricciardo

OK mate so even with that traffic you were quicker than Hamilton, you were a tenth quicker.
36To Daniel Ricciardo

OK so that last lap you took six tenths out of Hamilton, he’s now 9.7 ahead, you are catching him.
37To Sergio Perez

ACS off and run switch ‘race’.
39From Kevin Magnussen

Magnussen was hit by Palmer who spun in front of him.
What a [censored by FOM] lunatic.
39To Jolyon Palmer

Everything OK with the car?
39From Jolyon Palmer

Yeah there was some contact there.
39From Jolyon Palmer

I’ve lost a lot of rear grip.
40From Kevin Magnussen

I have damage on the car. I don’t know how long it’s going to last.
40To Kevin Magnussen

OK we don’t see anything from our side at the moment. We’ll keep you posted.
41To Pierre Gasly

MFB K power four.
42To Nico Hulkenberg

OK Nico stopping is not an option, it’s a very poor option, we have to try to make this work.
42From Nico Hulkenberg

What happened to Jo?
42To Nico Hulkenberg

He had a spin.
43To Daniel Ricciardo

Vettel doing 34.0s. He’s five seconds behind you now. He’ll be with you in four or five laps. Let’s keep pushing.
43From Daniel Ricciardo

OK understood.
43To Pierre Gasly

OK you will get blue flag for Ricciardo. Keep pushing, this is a good time to overtake Magnussen.
44From Max Verstappen

Sometimes there’s some balance shift when I shift a little early.
44To Max Verstappen

Copy Max I’ll get back to you. Ocon ahead, blue flags.
44To Marcus Ericsson

OK good lap keep pushing.
45To Sergio Perez

Checo Vandoorne is still 24 seconds behind. We may ask you to lean a bit more on the tyres a bit more in the high-speed just to maintain temperatures through the rest of the stint. You don’t need to push any more, pace is good, but just make sure we’re leaning on the tyres to keep temp.
45To Pierre Gasly

Follow Vettel.
46To Daniel Ricciardo

OK so next car behind is Vettel. We’re racing for the podium.
46To Daniel Ricciardo

OK so battery is in a good place, use it if you need it.
46From Daniel Ricciardo

Understood.
47To Max Verstappen

OK so use your tools to help your balance as you need to mate.
47From Max Verstappen

Yep it’s all OK.
47To Max Verstappen

Understood.
47To Lewis Hamilton

That last lap was good. If you can maintain that, that would be great.
48From Sebastian Vettel

Vettel was held up by Alonso as he lapped the McLaren.
Hey what a… Come on, Alonso. Really? I thought you were better than that.
49To Sebastian Vettel

Attack now. Attack now.
49From Sebastian Vettel

Too far, let me do it.
50To Max Verstappen

Alright so we’ve got a bit of free air now that’s 15 seconds to Ericsson ahead.
51From Pierre Gasly

I’m struggling with the rear.
51To Pierre Gasly

Other people are struggling more than us. You are doing a good job keep pushing.
52To Pierre Gasly

Go offset plus one to protect the rears. Hulkenberg has boxed.
52To Pascal Wehrlein

Hulkenberg exiting pit lane, Hulkenberg coming out. SOC six we are racing Hulkenberg.
53To Daniel Ricciardo

I think you’ve broken Vettel’s spirit. He’s having to look after his tyres, he’s run out of front tyres. Nico job mate.
54To Sebastian Vettel

Engine temps are fine, attack now.
55From Romain Grosjean

I can’t believe the front left is gone.
56To Daniel Ricciardo

Vettel’s really backed off, he’s over seven seconds behind you now. Hamilton ten ahead.
VLTo Max Verstappen

Well done Max.
VLFrom Max Verstappen

Yes! Woo! Hahaha!
VLTo Max Verstappen

Well done Max, well done mate. That was absolutely on merit. Flawless drive. And happy birthday, mate.
VLTo Max Verstappen

Super job Max that’s a really great job. Welcome to being a 20-year-old. Great start to a new decade for you, well done,
VLFrom Max Verstappen

Thank you very much Christian, car was great.
VLFrom Sebastian Vettel

Vettel and Stroll collided on the slow-down lap.
Stroll is not looking where he’s going. He completely shunted into my car. I mean seriously. What a bunch of idiots. I’m stopped in turn five. Would you believe it, would you believe it?
VLTo Sebastian Vettel

Yeah we can see it, we can see it Seb.
VLFrom Sebastian Vettel

Vettel Unbelievable.
VLTo Sebastian Vettel

Yeah we can see it Seb yeah.
VLFrom Sebastian Vettel

Vettel What a [censored by FOM]. Sorry for that but he had no, he wasn’t looking. [Censored by FOM] me.
VLFrom Lance Stroll

Vettel just ran right into the side of me.
VLTo Felipe Massa

Good job Felipe, thank you very much. Sorry about the mix-up with the stops but a great drive, good points, thank you.
VLTo Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis well done mate. That was a good drive, well managed. Not exactly the result we wanted but still looking good.

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.

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Malaysian 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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    7 comments on “2017 Malaysian Grand Prix team radio transcript”

    1. With the knowledge Vettel was going far into the minus with his fuel as he approached Ricciardo, this line:

      54 To Sebastian Vettel – Engine temps are fine, attack now.

      takes on some extra meaning; at the time it seemed a bit odd to tell a 4-time champion he has to attack, but now we know they were really meaning ‘attack now, before you are forced to give up’.

    2. And does anyone know what this Mercedes’ TAG level is? I guess maybe something related to tyre degradation?

    3. I have a question for all you knowledgeable F1 Fanatics out there. I thought that pit wall to car telemetry was forbidden. Obviously car to pit wall is not (transmission of data). The reason I ask is that Kimi’s pit wall inferred that “they would try and start the turbo” (in itself a fascinating technical reveal, like how, what?), thus inferring that they could alter the car parameters from the pit wall. Of course, I may have this completely wrong, and it is permitted. If I have, please correct me gently.. :)

      1. Vince Duggan (@vince-dugganvirginactive-co-za)
        4th October 2017, 17:00

        This was before he got to his grid slot, so I assume they meant they would try fix it when he got to the grid.

      2. @baron Yep @vince-dugganvirginactive-co-za has it right – that message is from when he was on his reconnaissance lap and heading to the grid.

        1. @keithcollantine @vince-dugganvirginactive-co-za Cool, thanks guys but (by inference) you are confirming that pit-wall to car telemetry is not permitted after the flag drops?

          I would be really interested in the tech involved in remote starting of the turbo. Any chance of a piece on that Keith?

    4. ILuvSoundtracks (@)
      4th October 2017, 17:29

      Hey what a… Come on, Alonso. Really? I thought you were better than that.”
      Oooooh, what was Vettel trying to say there?…

    Comments are closed.