Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2018: Race team radio
88 radio messages were recorded during race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2018, across 20 drivers. 87 of them have a transcript; the rest are audio only. Daniel RICCIARDO had the most, with 16.
These are transcripts of real team radio audio, produced by speech recognition and presented as an archive rather than as edited prose. Radio is clipped and noisy, so wording can be imperfect. Each message is attributed to the driver or their engineer, and the original audio is playable in the archive.
Who was on the radio
- Daniel RICCIARDO · Red Bull · 16 messages
- Max VERSTAPPEN · Red Bull · 11 messages
- Lewis HAMILTON · Mercedes · 9 messages
- Stoffel VANDOORNE · McLaren · 7 messages
- Romain GROSJEAN · Haas · 5 messages
- Brendon HARTLEY · Toro Rosso · 5 messages
- Pierre GASLY · Toro Rosso · 5 messages
- Fernando ALONSO · McLaren · 4 messages
- Esteban OCON · Force India · 3 messages
- Marcus ERICSSON · Sauber · 3 messages
- Kevin MAGNUSSEN · Haas · 3 messages
- Sebastian VETTEL · Ferrari · 3 messages
- Valtteri BOTTAS · Mercedes · 2 messages
- Nico HULKENBERG · Renault · 2 messages
- Kimi RAIKKONEN · Ferrari · 2 messages
- Sergey SIROTKIN · Williams · 2 messages
- Carlos SAINZ · Renault · 2 messages
- Charles LECLERC · Sauber · 2 messages
- Lance STROLL · Williams · 1 message
- Sergio PEREZ · Force India · 1 message
Every message, in the order it happened
Max VERSTAPPEN: One thing, my drink tube is a bit too short, so I need a longer one.
Lance STROLL: My seat's broken.
Engineer: OK, that's the seat issue, we can break some space.
Lance STROLL: Yeah, it's the right lip. Right lip of the seat, not my ribs.
Engineer: Turn 19 entry, big tailwind, worst tailwind, turn 19 entry.
Engineer: So wind you can still see is kind of moving around some of the flags are dropping it's just going to mean it's going to be inconsistent to start the race so just be aware of that. Track temperature already down to 39 so pretty very similar to quality.
Engineer: So, Stoff, there is actually a small chance of rain in the race. Meteor France put it at 40%, I'm not sure I believe it's that high, but the fact that the wind hasn't changed direction yet is slightly unusual, and we can tell you there's very unlikely to be anything for half an hour. You're very optimistic today, very optimistic.
Daniel RICCIARDO: All right, this is it fellas, thank you, have it
Lewis HAMILTON: Is it hotter than the other day? It feels hot.
Engineer: Yeah it does feel hot, maybe it's just a bit of humidity. It's tracking within a degree or two of Friday. But yeah I'm with you, it's a bit warm.
Engineer: All right, champ, here we go. Millions and millions of people watching. Got everyone here at McLaren cheering for you. Let's go out with a great race.
Fernando ALONSO: Yeah, let's do this, guys. We will give it all. As always, very proud of you.
Engineer: OK, Fernando, on behalf of everyone at McLaren, I'd like to say thank you for your relentless commitment, your passion and your fighting spirit. On a personal level, it's been an absolute privilege working with you over the past four years and a period of my life I'll look back on very fondly. Now, let's bow out in style and I'll see you on the grid.
Fernando ALONSO: Turn five. Turn five.
Engineer: Yeah, Fernando, turn five, loud and clear.
Fernando ALONSO: He was surprised about that answer. That has been an honor for me, guys. Very proud working with you and defending the Scholar's next year also on the Indy. And, you know, the friendship, the commitment, we gave it all.
Engineer: Stuffle let's have a great race thank you for all your hard work the last couple years let's uh let's go out with a good one
Stoffel VANDOORNE: Cheers Zach one more time
Engineer: Are you okay, Nico?
Nico HULKENBERG: Holy ****.
Engineer: I'm hanging here like a cow. Get me out, there's fire. There's fire. It's alright, they're coming. They're coming. Safety cars there with you, Nico.
Nico HULKENBERG: What happened there anyway? Who was that?
Engineer: Yeah, we think it might have been Grosjean. Main thing is you're safe Nico, all good.
Romain GROSJEAN: I've got a puncture at the rear Where did he think he was going?
Romain GROSJEAN: Hey, where did he think he was going?
Engineer: Yeah, tell us what damage you have. Do you think your front wing is damaged? I don't know. Okay I don't know. He just turned into me. Yeah, I saw it. I saw it
Engineer: No risks. AFER, no risks.
Engineer: Ok Daniel, that car is still being craned off the track, so I think it's going to be at least one more lap.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yeah I agree, it won't be this lap.
Engineer: He's out to the car now, so yeah, he's getting out now good yeah good good, but I don't know why I mean I couldn't disappear You were on the Apex ball art or whatever so yeah, yeah
Engineer: And they considered that a racing incident, no further action, okay? So that's all clear.
Romain GROSJEAN: Good, good, I think that was, very sorry for him, but nowhere I could go.
Engineer: Yep, understood mate, yep, it's clear on the replay, yep.
Max VERSTAPPEN: MADE ENGINE HOT!
Engineer: Max, when you can, fail Charlie 3, fail. Fail C3, fail when you can.
Brendon HARTLEY: I touched the wall but I don't think I have damage. Check the car. Yeah, getting really weird snaps with the car. Keep checking the data please.
Engineer: Confirmed, all OK with the car on our side.
Brendon HARTLEY: OK, doesn't feel right.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: What's happening? I don't have power. Can you hear me?
Engineer: Now yes Kimi, now yes.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: The whole car just shut down.
Engineer: We lost you for a long time with the radio.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: Yeah, yeah, but I have no dashboard even.
Engineer: Kimi try to do a power cycle.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: Yeah, but I cannot get the dashboard on. I cannot get power in the car.
Engineer: Understood. The only thing we can do is a power cycle, Kimi. The only thing we can do, Kimi, is try to do a power cycle. So if we can... Yeah, but I'm turning off the whole car and going back, but nothing happens. So you cannot go to P1, and then try to go to P2. Try to stay in P0 for a few seconds, Kimi. 3-4 seconds in P0, and then try again the power cycle. I
Kimi RAIKKONEN: tried everything. I tried everything. The dashboard just doesn't work up anymore. OK, Kimi.
Engineer: OK, Kimi, it's over.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Hey, can you tell me what was going on with the engine? It's so weird.
Engineer: There was unexpected PU protections, unexpected PU protections Max, so those fails have disabled those sensors so hopefully we don't have a recurrence of that. So apologies for that, we've done a good job getting back through the traffic, alright. You overtook me. That's fine, you're ahead, he'll have to give that back, he'll give that back.
Engineer: Did you know that we were coming up behind you Spurs? Affirm Lewis, just remember you are going to the end now.
Engineer: Okay, so two cars ahead quite slow doing 45 zeros
Engineer: Keep looking after the short shift, or we will have to turn down the P.U. We cannot lose any more time behind Williams, multi-harvest 6 when you can.
Brendon HARTLEY: Yeah mate, I got no traction.
Engineer: Daniel, how are your tyres? How are your tyres?
Daniel RICCIARDO: OK, so they certainly hit a drop, but the last couple of laps it's stabilised a bit, so I could probably halt this.
Engineer: OK, understood. So obviously Vettel has stopped, so we're thinking about doing the opposite.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, a bit stuck with the right front now.
Engineer: Understood Max.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah mate, listen to my words, right front are gone.
Engineer: Understood.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Tyres are gone.
Engineer: Understood Max.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, losing all the rotation left hand corners.
Engineer: So box and pick and put Max, box, pick and put.
Esteban OCON: I'm gonna lose that place, you know it?
Engineer: Copy that, copy that.
Engineer: OK, so everyone ahead of the pitted, keep pushing on, you know the plan now.
Engineer: We
Marcus ERICSSON: must have picked up damage or something, it's un-drivable!
Engineer: Ok, we can't see anything Marcus, you're doing the same lap time as the car behind.
Engineer: So we expect Ricciardo just to go long. Just need to keep him in check.
Daniel RICCIARDO: I just saw the pit board. Nice.
Engineer: He did a good job, that last gap. He pulled out 7 tenths on Hamilton, gap now 6.4. For info, wind has not changed, still headwind, breaking for turn 8, no changes to the wind.
Engineer: So all the top cars now in the Supers apart from us, Hamilton 6 behind, Bottas 15 behind you, Vettel 18 behind and Verstappen 20 behind you.
Engineer: How are your tyres Daniel, are your tyres unbalanced?
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yeah, fairly consistent, I can hold this.
Engineer: Ok Marcus, you might see some drop of rain in 5 minutes, we are expecting drop of rain in 5 minutes.
Engineer: And Fernando, Ocon is stuck in traffic at the very back. If it stays the same, we may need to extend.
Fernando ALONSO: OK, copy.
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: How is the hypersurf looking?
Engineer: I think we stay on plan A at the moment.
Engineer: It's
Lewis HAMILTON: very hot in the car.
Engineer: OK copy, we'll have a look.
Engineer: okay you might notice it there are some very light drops we think they will not wet the track at all let's know what happens but we think it's gonna be short little period of few drops no concerns for us
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, it's raining here on turn 7.
Engineer: Yeah, copy, understood. On the back straight. Yeah, obviously we need to try and avoid fitting inters, so just take care.
Engineer: It's no power at all, sorry, stop it. Ok, stop around turn 8, behind the armco. I stop in the support pit. Ok, find the gap, find the gap. I'm in support pit. Ok, sorry about that mate.
Pierre GASLY: Alexander, plug the engine
Engineer: Should get a bit heavier but finish in three minutes keep
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: an eye on the leaders
Engineer: We are having a look. We are having a look Okay understood understood should be temporary for what we know
Sergio PEREZ: It is raining a little bit harder, a special effect of one.
Sergey SIROTKIN: Rain level 2.
Engineer: Copy, rain level 2. Just give me some feedback around the lap.
Sergey SIROTKIN: Turn 567.
Engineer: Okay then, so the wind has changed a bit, you're now getting a tailwind into 1 and into 11, tailwind into 1, you can probably feel it.
Lewis HAMILTON: My tires definitely don't feel great.
Engineer: Okay, copy.
Engineer: Okay, so we think it might only just be one or two more laps with a few drops around.
Brendon HARTLEY: Yeah, tyres are starting to recover now, getting quicker.
Engineer: Copy that, good job, we are catching the cars in front, keep going.
Sebastian VETTEL: Update on wind.
Engineer: It's quite gusty at the moment.
Stoffel VANDOORNE: These tires are not doing well
Engineer: copy
Engineer: Mega job mega
Engineer: Pierre Hartley 2.1 behind on you. I don't understand why you're beating me.
Pierre GASLY: We're fast. We're fast and we're in the traffic.
Engineer: To avoid undercut.
Engineer: What do you think about front wing now, Daniel? Front wing?
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yeah, for the majority of the stint, I've been real limited. Then it's stabilised quite a bit, so I'll still probably come down a smidgen.
Engineer: OK, understood. Just be aware, we are likely to be in traffic as well, so think about that.
Daniel RICCIARDO: OK. Yep, I know what you're thinking, so I'm happy with that. Understood.
Stoffel VANDOORNE: He's passed
Engineer: Copy Stoff, copy, no problem, car behind is gas, is Hartley, we need to defend against that We need to defend against Hartley
Stoffel VANDOORNE: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I know, I understand
Engineer: Okay, so obviously tyre wear is not a concern, so you can get stuck in, so have fun for 22 laps.
Engineer: Okay so on the previous lap Bottas missed out turn 8-9 so there's a chance that he might have to let Max go so we need to be there to pounce on him straight away
Max VERSTAPPEN: I got the torque mate, otherwise it would have been behind
Engineer: Yep, ok, I'm sure we'll keep it back Alright, we're in touch with the FIA, Max
Engineer: Lovely.
Max VERSTAPPEN: He just didn't see me.
Engineer: Right, let's get a gap.
Engineer: The wind is very low now wind is very low and balance is stable
Engineer: So we just pitted because we saw something that concerned us with the right rear after the contact
Engineer: Just keep an eye on Magnussen, he is on new tyres, don't do anything stupid.
Esteban OCON: Why am I losing so much rear?
Engineer: Oil may be on the tyres, we may be oil, take care, take care, we could have oil. Do
Esteban OCON: you see something or not?
Engineer: We're just going through the data, going through the data. I lost all power. He's on his way in, on his way in. I lost the power. Copy that, copy that. Garage is ready, garage is ready.
Esteban OCON: Well yeah, not me. No
Engineer: shifting, no shifting. Stop there, stop there. Stop where you are.
Esteban OCON: Yeah I'm stopped, don't do much.
Engineer: Oil transfer Smoke coming out Smoke coming out Oil transfer
Engineer: We need to box. We need to box, Björn. Stop. Stop now. Stop on track in a safe position. Stop on track in a safe position now.
Pierre GASLY: check check if there is fire check if there is fire at the back check if there is fire behind we see no flames we see no flames okay
Max VERSTAPPEN: But I've got weird anti-breaking.
Engineer: Copy. Try the talk rotary.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Smoke. Listen, listen. I've got weird anti-breaking.
Engineer: Well, going up on talk is only going to help that. And I am listening. You don't need to tell me to listen, mate.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Keep me up to date with the wind speeds, we're changing 11.
Engineer: Yeah it's gusty out there at the moment Max, general direction is similar but it is gusty. You've got a big tailwind out of 9 now, tailwind out of 9, less of a tailwind into 11.
Engineer: Can
Carlos SAINZ: you check the radar if there is a thunderstorm coming? Yeah, we're watching it Carlos.
Engineer: It
Carlos SAINZ: was a joke.
Fernando ALONSO: What is the fastest lap? Ok
Engineer: Fernando, there are 5 laps to go, 5 laps to go, last time round you were 6 tenths quicker than Grosjean, gap to him currently 5.6 seconds. There's a point here for grabs mate, there's a point here for grabs, let's go get him, let's go get him, more performance, multi C2, position 1 please, C2 position 1.
Fernando ALONSO: I have 1800 points.
Engineer: Well for me make it 1801.
Engineer: Pay attention with the wind very strong gust of wind
Engineer: Use also overtake button to defend. Overtake button.
Charles LECLERC: Copy, copy.
Engineer: Okay, it's a very strong tailwind turn eight. Fernando locked to front and ran on there. Take care turn eight
Engineer: yes get in there Lewis what a way to see out 2018 awesome work today mate awesome work all year fantastic
Lewis HAMILTON: job this weekend guys all year long really just so proud and thankful for everyone's hard work and I hope that was a good enough drive for you thanks so much it
Engineer: was more than good enough Lewis that's just what we needed so yeah we can go into the winter just feeling confident
Engineer: So Lucio, we're just thinking that the fans on the pit straight haven't seen any doughnuts, so you might want to oblige. You've made my mind. Yeah, it can always count on you.
Engineer: Thank you Sebastian, thank you for your hard work and the work of the team, Kimmich at the third position in the championship, thank you very much, it's a great one.
Sebastian VETTEL: Thank you guys, it's been
Engineer: a
Sebastian VETTEL: tough year, but we've tried everything, I'm happy to be with you, even for the next years. I thank you from the bottom of
Engineer: my heart,
Sebastian VETTEL: thank you
Engineer: to
Sebastian VETTEL: the team here, thank you to the Maranello team, thank you, thanks for everyone, all the hard work, next year we fight back, let's focus on ourselves and get the job done, thank you.
Engineer: That's it mate, job done, P3, another podium.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Well that was not a bad race, after a difficult start, but I think we managed everything very well. So pretty good that, mate I couldn't see at the end, unbelievable.
Engineer: Well done Max, that was a very very strong drive today, well done, good job. Thank you Christian,
Max VERSTAPPEN: the tyres held on also really well on both actually, positively surprised on the hyper.
Engineer: Max, Hugh tells me we got fourth in the championship, two points behind Kimi, people.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Not too bad.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Thanks guys, I know it got a bit boring, but I appreciate the last five years, thank you.
Engineer: Daniel, great drive today, it's been an absolute pleasure having you in our team for the last five seasons. Seven victories, all the podiums, all the high moments and we're going to miss you. We wish you all the very, very best for the future and hold very fond of memories that we have together, so enjoy this slowdown lap.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Thank you, thank you Christian, thanks fellas. Anyway, I echo Christian's comments mate, it's been a pleasure for the last five years, thank you. Yep, you're a . Yeah, I love you too.
Carlos SAINZ: Nice job, mate. Awesome job. Yes! Come on, boys. That's how you finish in style. Yes. Awesome job. We had some unfinished business here. You did the job, man. Exactly. Finally. We could do something really good work, I promise. Yep. I'm going to miss you guys. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Carlos. You will be missed as well. It's been an absolute pleasure.
Engineer: Thank you, Carlos. Good for the team, Rodo. So, it's been mega. It's been a bit short, but mega. But finally, that's six positions that escaped on a couple of occasions. So happy for you. Thank you.
Carlos SAINZ: Thank you, Cyril. Thank you, everyone back at the factory. It's been a pleasure. All right. Finally, finally, finally. What a great race. Thank you.
Engineer: Good race Charles, another P7, very good race.
Charles LECLERC: Thanks for this amazing season, about the race we'll talk later, but yeah, thank you, you have made me grown so much and it's been a pleasure to work with all of you guys, thank you so much, I'll forever remember my first season and as I said, thanks to have learnt me so much.
Engineer: Thank you John also from our side, it was a great season, a fantastic rookie season for you and for the team overall, we scored a lot of points and really a pleasure to work with you, thank you very much.
Engineer: Good job everyone. Proud of you this season. Really proud of you and we keep going like this and you'll see next year. It's
Romain GROSJEAN: going to be amazing.
Engineer: You scored the highest point of your career this season.
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: Good job, man. Very happy for that. Julie, it's been a pleasure. I wish you all the best. It's been a real pleasure. I've learned a lot. And, yeah, I wish you all the best. Ciao.
Engineer: Ciao, Velo. I wish the best for you and your family. God bless you.
Engineer: I need one default from you, please. It's default Fernando Alonso. That's default Foxtrot Alpha. Fifteen on the left and ten on the right. Champ, what a career. Thank you. Thank you. You're a champ. Let's go win the Triple Crown. And Fernando, I've always wanted to get a Top Gun quote in over the radio, so you have permission to buzz the tower. Please proceed to the grid, free-to-do donuts, and once you're happy and done, please stop at grid position six, which is outside the first gate by Parc Fermé. They'll be there waiting for you.
Fernando ALONSO: OK, thank you.
Brendon HARTLEY: Anyway, last race guys. Thank you very much for the hug. Yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed it to
Engineer: you
Engineer: Mate, there were some great battles in the middle there. Holding those cars behind was fantastic.
Stoffel VANDOORNE: Yeah, just thanks for the two past years.
Engineer: It's
Stoffel VANDOORNE: been a good experience and I wish everyone the best in the future.
Engineer: Yeah, thank you, Stoffel. It's been great working with you. Great drive, Stoffel. Great drive.
Engineer: Yeah, difficult race at the end of a difficult season, but you always give your maximum performance. It's been a pleasure
More from this weekend
Every session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2018Search the full archive