2017 Brazilian Grand Prix team radio transcript

2017 Brazilian Grand Prix

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Felipe Massa’s son Felipinho must have the distinction of being the youngest person to make an appearance in the team radio communications. He sent a special message at the end of his father’s final home race.

Brazilian Grand Prix in pictures
Massa had plenty to be proud of at the end of a race in which he successfully resisted the attack of his former Ferrari team mate Fernando Alonso. Earlier in the race Alonso revealed his plan to stay within range of Massa in order to be able to use DRS to see off the threat from Sergio Perez behind. That worked, but his straight-line speed deficit meant he wasn’t able to find a way past the Williams.

Max Verstappen was also calling the shots on his strategy. Late in the race Red Bull advised him that if he took the opportunity to make a ‘free’ pit stop he would end up further behind the front-runners and less likely to benefit if any of them suffered a late-race drama. Nonetheless, Verstappen came in and took on a fresh set of tyres.

It was a tough race for Massa’s team mate, however. He was astonished by Romain Grosjean’s traction while stuck behind the Haas, then locked up his front-left tyre which, despite his engineer’s assurances about its safety, threw part of its tread and forced him to pit again. His team were quick to urge Stroll to get out of the way of his team mate when Massa and his pursuers came by.

Grosjean lost time due to his first-lap clash with Esteban Ocon and subsequent 10-second penalty. His team didn’t bother telling him about the sanction until the time came to serve it, some 50 laps after the incident, and Grosjean was not impressed to discover he’d been held responsible.

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2017 Brazilian Grand Prix team radio transcript

Lap*DriverMessage
PRTo Kimi Raikkonen

OK Kimi I’ll go through the normal stuff in a second but just to bring you up to speed where we are, the reason why all the fuss earlier was we saw an issue with the telemetry signal being a bit weak so we’re worried we migh tlose telemetry in the race. We did then have problems connecting to the car but that seems to have resolved itself. So the only thing to remind you of in the event we do have a problem with telemetry is to look after your fuel. You’ve got your display, you know how to use it.
PRTo

Potentially an issue with Raikkonen’s engine. It looks like that might be potentially resolved now. Keep an eye out.
PRTo Esteban Ocon

Hamilton also started on softs.
Three soft starters: Ricciardo, Ericsson, Gasly
PRTo Valtteri Bottas

So no change track temperature and wind.
FLFrom Felipe Massa

Massa prepared for his final home grand prix with a special pre-race message.
So guys I’m here. Just an amazing feeling to have here in Brazil for my last race in Formula One. The only thing I can say is thank you very much to all of you guys. I love you, I love you for everything that you guys did for me, really thank you very much.
FLFrom Lewis Hamilton

Thanks for getting the car ready, guys.
1To Daniel Ricciardo

OK Daniel any damage, question?
1From Daniel Ricciardo

I’m not sure, I’ll keep going.
1To Daniel Ricciardo

Understood.
1From Romain Grosjean

This message was heard on television broadcasts on lap 21.
[Censored by FOM] [censored by FOM] [censored by FOM] I’ve been touched by Ocon from behind. I don’t know if I’ve got any damage. I’ve had a spin, I don’t know what’s the car like.
1From Stoffel Vandoorne

This message was heard on television broadcasts on lap 3.
I got squeezed.
1To Stoffel Vandoorne

Copy. Is the car OK?
1From Stoffel Vandoorne

No.
1To Stoffel Vandoorne

OK Stoffel. In that case if the car’s broken both switches. Right-hand side, ten second pause, then left-hand side.
1To Esteban Ocon

This message was heard on television broadcasts on lap 3.
If you can drive back it would be very slowly back.
1From Esteban Ocon

I’m not sure I can drive back. Should I try or not?
1To Esteban Ocon

Yes. Go to race plus. I can’t tell what the car’s like from here. OK park it, find a safe place, turn the engine off.
4To Fernando Alonso

OK Fernando bit of a race update for you then. The cars behind are Massa, Perez and Hulkenberg. Grosjean, Wehrlein and Ricciardo have pitted. They mat try and go to the end from here.
5From Kevin Magnussen

My suspension is gone. Do you want to stop on the track?
5To Kevin Magnussen

OK, OK.
5To Max Verstappen

OK how are the track conditions, Max?
5From Max Verstappen

Yep, sunny.
5To Max Verstappen

Yeah, any more debris left?
5From Max Verstappen

Heh, no.
5To Max Verstappen

Understood.
5To Max Verstappen

And you’re racing from Safety Car line one, Max, a pass into turn one if possible.
8From Carlos Sainz Jnr

Very poor drive-ability.
8To Carlos Sainz Jnr

Understood, we’re looking at it
9To Nico Hulkenberg

OK right-hand-side tyres are starting to get into the danger zone.
10To Brendon Hartley

Radio check Brendon, radio check. Press the radio button if you can hear me.
11From Romain Grosjean

He just moved at the last minute, I had to avoid him. Cannot do that.
11To Romain Grosjean

Understood, we’ll report.
11To Daniel Ricciardo

Nice job mate great stuff. Gasly next one.
12To Sergio Perez

Hamilton is now the car behind, one-and-a-half seconds behind on softs, he’s eight tenths a lap faster.
13To Daniel Ricciardo

Very good. Next one: Sainz.
15To Daniel Ricciardo

Next car ahead Hulkenberg. Let’s get after him.
16To Max Verstappen

Max how is our pace relative to Kimi ahead?
16From Max Verstappen

I’m faster but I’m stuck.
16To Max Verstappen

Understood, thank you.
16From Lewis Hamilton

I see Vettel’s pulling away.
16To Lewis Hamilton

Gap to Vettel at the moment 15 seconds. He needs to start managing some more.
17From Kimi Raikkonen

The tyres don’t feel great, it’s moving around a lot.
17To Kimi Raikkonen

Understood Kimi. Rear-right temp’s high as you’ve seen. Hopefully they’ll start to come down.
19To Daniel Ricciardo

That’s a good lap, 14.6, same pace as Hamilton, same pace as Verstappen on his supers.
19From Brendon Hartley

Radio check one-two.
19To Brendon Hartley

Yep radio is back.
19From Brendon Hartley

OK. Copy.
22To Valtteri Bottas

It’s important to close that gap now. Close the gap.
22To Fernando Alonso

Ricciardo has passed Hulkenberg. You’re doing a really good job. Pit window is full at the moment. We are plan A, target lap.
22From Max Verstappen

The rear tyres, they’re getting warm.
22To Max Verstappen

Understood.
22To Daniel Ricciardo

Pace is great, mate, you’re doing a good job, keep it up.
22From Daniel Ricciardo

OK mate, keep me posted.
24From Marcus Ericsson

I thought he was supposed to pull away from me?
24To Marcus Ericsson

Copy that. Stay behind him. Keep pushing, he’s faster than us in sector two.
25From Pascal Wehrlein

I am losing a lot of power.
25To Pascal Wehrlein

Copy Pascal we’re still checking, keep pushing. At the moment pace is still good.
25To Fernando Alonso

We are P9. There are two cars in front yet to stop. That’s Ricciardo and Perez. You are much quicker than Perez. Both should come out behind you. How you are driving the tyres should be good to the end.
25From Fernando Alonso

Yeah I would like to catch Massa to have the DRS.
25To Fernando Alonso

OK so it’s important to close that gap now, close that lap.
26From Lewis Hamilton

The super-soft’s looking quite good, huh?
27From Max Verstappen

I’m struggling a lot now.
27To Max Verstappen

Copy Max.
27From Lance Stroll

It’s very hard to overtake this one. He has very good traction out of the hairpins.
28To Fernando Alonso

Fernando G6. 100% pace. How’s the balance.?
28From Fernando Alonso

A little bit oversteering. And I cannot use G6 now, it’s wasting.
28To Fernando Alonso

Understood.
29From Max Verstappen

Yeah this is almost undriveable now.
29To Max Verstappen

OK copy that.
29From Max Verstappen

OK I really want to box.
29To Max Verstappen

Just stay out for this lap, Max.
29From Max Verstappen

Yeah but look how much time I am losing.
29To Max Verstappen

Understood.
29To Sergio Perez

Checo plan B.
30From Carlos Sainz Jnr

Yeah front tyres are nearly finished because of many flat spots. Rears five more laps, something like that.
31From Lewis Hamilton

Quite good pace but the rear doesn’t feel spectacular.
31To Daniel Ricciardo

OK Daniel Max is the next car behind you now around three seconds behind you. He is on fresh soft tyres, don’t hold him up please.
31From Daniel Ricciardo

Understood.
33To Kimi Raikkonen

OK Kimi quick update: Option pace looks good on Hamilton, he has been quite quick so I think it’ll be fine for us too. He has got some blistering but it’s not affecting his pace. And obviously Hamilton is going to be as threat to us at the end of this race.
34To Fernando Alonso

OK Fernando, Perez, who has stayed out, has lost time. We want best pace to the end.
34From Fernando Alonso

What is the gap to Massa and who is quicker?
34To Fernando Alonso

Gap to Massa 2.2, he’s managing his pace.
35To Kimi Raikkonen

Nice lap Kimi, quickest man on track.
36To Fernando Alonso

OK Fernando race update. We are P9. There are two cars in front yet to stop, that’s Ricciardo and Perez. You are much quicker than Perez. Both should come out behind you. And Fernando how you’re driving the tyres should be good to the end.
36From Fernando Alonso

Yeah. I would like to catch Massa to have the DRS.
38From Pascal Wehrlein

Yeah there’s nothing I can try.
38To Pascal Wehrlein

Understood Pascal. Nonetheless last lap time was good, three-tenths quicker than Gasly and we are racing Gasly.
39To Daniel Ricciardo

OK for info the leaders pitted after around 27, 28 laps on their super-softs. They were starting to struggle. Remember there was quite a lot of Safety Car laps involved as well. That’s why we think it’s still a bit early at the moment. There are still 36 laps to go.
39From Daniel Ricciardo

OK. Undestood. I think I can hold this.
39To Daniel Ricciardo

Yeah that’s good stuff mate.
41From Fernando Alonso

Gap to Massa every lap.
41To Fernando Alonso

Last lap 2.8. Perez plus 6.7.
41From Fernando Alonso

Perez I don’t care. He will come, nothing we can do. We catch Massa or we are in danger.
41To Fernando Alonso

OK, let’s go get him then.
41To Lance Stroll

Jesus he has good traction. How is this possible with 30 lap tyres?
42To Brendon Hartley

Box Brendon box we are to retire the car.
42From Brendon Hartley

Copy, box.
42From Lewis Hamilton

I’ve lost time to Vettel.
42To Lewis Hamilton

Yeah copy. He’s got to get through them too.
44From Daniel Ricciardo

Starting to strggle.
44To Daniel Ricciardo

Understood.
44From Daniel Ricciardo

Just can’t lean on it any more.
45To Max Verstappen

OK so this will be blue flags for Stroll and Grosjean. They’re racing.
45From Max Verstappen

They just keep racing.
46To Lewis Hamilton

OK Lewis currently P5 at the moment. We are chasing a podium.
47To Felipe Massa

That’s Ricciardo behind. He has DRS. Don’t make it too easy for him but he’s not really in our race.
48From Max Verstappen

Is the wind increasing in turn three because I’m all over the place?
48To Max Verstappen

It is gusty in three.
48To Pierre Gasly

Fantastic job.
49From Lewis Hamilton

Lost another two seconds just there. Wouldn’t let me by.
49To Lewis Hamilton

Yeah copy we saw that.
51To Valtteri Bottas

So based on Lewis’s wear we’re not concerned about your wear.
52From Romain Grosjean

OK if I’m faster than the guy, can I overtake or can I not?
52To Romain Grosjean

If you’re faster you can overtake. He has to pull away.
52To Romain Grosjean

Box now Romain, we have a 10-second penalty, box now.
52From Romain Grosjean

For what?
52To Romain Grosjean

For the Ocon incident.
52From Romain Grosjean

You must be kidding me. You must be kidding me.
52To Romain Grosjean

Yeah so we’ll just be sitting there before the stop, before they commence work.
53From Lewis Hamilton

Just to make a note of car feeling different.
53To Lewis Hamilton

OK, copy.
55To Max Verstappen

Do you think you can cope with plus one on your brake balance offset?
55From Max Verstappen

No. The tyres feel like rocks. So stiff. Unbelievable.
55From Lance Stroll

Ah this [censored by FOM] flat spot.
55To Lance Stroll

The flat spot is OK in terms of safety so no problem.
55From Lance Stroll

Yeah I know it but I can’t drive because the balance is killing me, the understeer.
55To Lance Stroll

OK.
56From Daniel Ricciardo

Did Max’s right-rear run hot as well on this compound?
56To Daniel Ricciardo

Yes right-rear same temperature as you now. Your left-rear is nice and cool but your right-rear is the same as he had. He did 28 laps.
56From Daniel Ricciardo

Was he in trouble at the end?
56To Daniel Ricciardo

Yeah same as us on the soft, same symptoms you had on the soft, that’s why we’ve been a bit cautious, mate.
60To Max Verstappen

Alright nothing you can do about that Max. So we just need to bring this home now, mate.
60To Lewis Hamilton

Nice work Lewis that’s P4. Raikkonen next car ahead.
61To Sergio Perez

Tyres now fine to push until the end.
62From Max Verstappen

Can we make a pit stop because the tyres are horrible?
62To Max Verstappen

Max at the moment our preference would be to stay out just to be able to capitalise and stay as close as possible to the guys ahead. I’m afraid that is the quickest way to the end of the race at this stage.
62From Max Verstappen

Yeah but I don’t think we will stay close if within ten laps I’m drifting all over the track.
62To Max Verstappen

I understand but with the laps remaining you wouldn’t necessarily make up and get back to your track position on the super.
62From Max Verstappen

Oh sure but we will stay in fifth anyway so what’s the problem. This is just a lot more difficult to drive. Ah rear tyres are gone.
62To Max Verstappen

Copy.
64To Valtteri Bottas

Ten laps remaining. Vettel has been told to look manage his tyres so if there’s anything left let’s go and attack him.
64To Daniel Ricciardo

OK so for info Verstappen has boxed again. Same issues as we had at the end of our stint, same issues. I’m happy with our tyres the way they are.
68To Lewis Hamilton

Go HPP7 to position two for a bit more poke.
69From Lance Stroll

Woah the tyres, something’s on the tyre.
69To Lance Stroll

OK, understood.
69From Lance Stroll

Yeah I think it’s finito.
69To Lance Stroll

Watch out behind is Felipe. Felipe racing eh, let Felipe go. There’s a train of Felipe, Alonso, Perez.
69From Lance Stroll

OK but I’m boxing?
69To Lance Stroll

Yeah you box.
69To Max Verstappen

OK so Stroll has suffered a tyre failure. Possible debris around turn eight.
70To Lewis Hamilton

Just keep the pressure on, Lewis, nothing to lose.
71From Pascal Wehrlein

How many laps to go? I think the tyres will explode.
71To Pascal Wehrlein

You finish this lap and then it’ll be the last lap.
VLTo Sebastian Vettel

Yes! We won it! Great drive.
VLTo Sebastian Vettel

Seb, grande gara.
VLFrom Sebastian Vettel

Woohoo. Grazie ragazzi. Forza Ferrari. Grande gara. Grazie! Danke!
VLTo Valtteri Bottas

So good job Valtteri. Just didn’t fall our way today.
VLFrom Valtteri Bottas

Yeah sorry guys we lost it in the start. Otherwise the pace was OK compared to Ferrari but there was nothing we could do. Thank you guys.
VLTo Kimi Raikkonen

Nice job Kimi nice drive. Thank you mate. Perfect.
VLTo Kimi Raikkonen

Bravo Kimi. Well done Kimi.
VLTo Lewis Hamilton

Nice work Lewis. That was close mate very close but P4, got to be hapy with that, only 5.4 seconds off the lead.
VLTo Max Verstappen

Alright Max that’ll be it. Fifth place.
VLFrom Max Verstappen

That was a good effort Max. Unfortunately we didn’t have the pace today. You got the fastest lap at the end of it but a bit of a static race unfortunately.
VLTo Daniel Ricciardo

Good race today mate. Good recovery.
VLFrom Daniel Ricciardo

Yep. Thanks guys. Can’t complain. Cheers, thank you.
VLTo Daniel Ricciardo

For info the incident with the three cars at turn two at the start of the race is going to be investigated after the race. We’ll see what happens.
VLFrom Daniel Ricciardo

OK. Obviously I was on the outside I couldn’t really see much. So I’ll let you tell me after.
VLTo Daniel Ricciardo

Yeah understood mate. It looked like Vandoorne clipped your left-rear. Right-rear, sorry
VLTo Daniel Ricciardo

That was a good effort Daniel, some nice moves into turn one.
VLFrom Daniel Ricciardo

Thanks Christian, cheers boys.
VLTo Felipe Massa

Brilliant job Felipe.
VLFrom Felipe Massa

Come on!
VLTo Felipe Massa

Thank you Felipe, terrific job, that was such a great drive. Thank you. It’s been an absolute pleasure.
VLTo Felipe Massa

Obrigado, Felipe. Absolutely brilliant drive. Nice job. It’s been an absolute pleasure.
VLTo Felipe Massa

Well done mate, brilliant drive. Thank you so much. Excellent, excellent drive.
VLFrom Felipe Massa

Thank you mate, thank you.
VLTo Felipe Massa

Daddy I’m so proud of you and wherever you go I will support you. I love you. By the way, I loved your start.
VLFrom Felipe Massa

Thank you, I love you all. Thank you so much. I love all of you guys.
VLTo Fernando Alonso

OK Fernando nice race. P8. Almost had him.
VLFrom Fernando Alonso

Yeah very good. We definitely deserved the points today. Deserved the points many times but today we achieve it. Obviously with a normal speed we could finish top five, top four easily. So next year’s going to be fun.
VLTo Fernando Alonso

Yeah mate. Great race and a great weekend.
VLTo Sergio Perez

Good go Checo but P9 I’m afraid there.

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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Brazilian 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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    13 comments on “2017 Brazilian Grand Prix team radio transcript”

    1. Tyres. Tyres. Tyres. These Pirelli tyres are just something else.

      They are inconsistent within the same batch. They are inconsistent across different stints (on same car), They are inconsistent regarding operating temperature range and windows – even when they are identical. They are inconsistent across the cars in the same teams. They are inconsistent across different cars and different teams. They are inconsistent in practice, qualifying and race – even when conditions are the same

      They simply cannot be relied upon to behave in a consistent manner using ANY parameter. How on earth did we get here where a tyre manufacturer finds it impossible to build a compound/s that behave consistently in ANY given circumstance??

      1. @kbdavies You’re being harsh. It’s only logical that drivers and teams constantly communicate about tyres, tyre condition is one of the most important parameters in a race. I’m sure that in the Bridgestone era there were many messages about tyres too.

    2. From Romain Grosjean
      [Censored by FOM] [censored by FOM] [censored by FOM] I’ve been touched by Ocon from behind.

      5 other people since then have come out exposing Ocon for his unacceptable behaviour.

      1. Assuming you meant Grosjean.

      2. +1 , Historical incidents presumably? :-D

      3. @eljueta – funny and contextual in a non-F1 way, nicely done :-)
        @ho3n3r – two words: Harvey Weinstein.

      4. @eljueta Well done!
        On a serious note: in what parallel universe does Grosjean live that he actually believes that Ocon touched him from behind? Or was he referring to the first corner where he allegedly got a puncture after contact (with Vandoorne I believe).

    3. ‘Felipe Massa’s son Felipinho must have the distinction of being the youngest person to make an appearance in the team radio communications. He sent a special message at the end of his father’s final home race.’

      are you sure?
      wasn’t Max Verstappen younger than Felipinho is now when Max first raced a formula 1 car?

      1. Hmm… Felipinho is 8 years old

        1. Exactly……

    4. Grosjean is such an annoying character when behind the wheel… Loudly blaming Ocon for his own lack of caution.

      1. It was all ‘crybaby’ Alonso’s fault.

    5. Felipe’s son on the radio is my favourite ever team radio moment.

    Comments are closed.