Brazilian Grand Prix 2018: Race team radio
87 radio messages were recorded during race at the Brazilian Grand Prix 2018, across 18 drivers. 86 of them have a transcript; the rest are audio only. Lewis HAMILTON had the most, with 20.
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
- Lewis HAMILTON · Mercedes · 20 messages
- Max VERSTAPPEN · Red Bull · 18 messages
- Daniel RICCIARDO · Red Bull · 11 messages
- Brendon HARTLEY · Toro Rosso · 6 messages
- Valtteri BOTTAS · Mercedes · 5 messages
- Fernando ALONSO · McLaren · 5 messages
- Nico HULKENBERG · Renault · 3 messages
- Stoffel VANDOORNE · McLaren · 3 messages
- Charles LECLERC · Sauber · 2 messages
- Esteban OCON · Force India · 2 messages
- Romain GROSJEAN · Haas · 2 messages
- Sebastian VETTEL · Ferrari · 2 messages
- Pierre GASLY · Toro Rosso · 2 messages
- Kevin MAGNUSSEN · Haas · 2 messages
- Carlos SAINZ · Renault · 1 message
- Sergio PEREZ · Force India · 1 message
- Marcus ERICSSON · Sauber · 1 message
- Kimi RAIKKONEN · Ferrari · 1 message
Every message, in the order it happened
Carlos SAINZ: Yeah, I don't understand too much traffic.
Engineer: Okay, understood.
Engineer: They
Lewis HAMILTON: need to put a flag around the corner of where they're doing a start because you can't see, you didn't know there was a massive queue.
Engineer: Okay, copy.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Daniel RICCIARDO: I think something came off the Sauber, just in the pit lane. I saw it fly over my car. Just checking it didn't get stuck on the kind of left side here.
Engineer: Still no rain in the next 15-20 minutes.
Engineer: Currently track temp reading 39, but still moving up and down with the cloud collar. Wind direction still that headwind is turn 1, so same as calling.
Engineer: Track temp's probably about 3 or 4 degrees hotter than the FP1, and then a chunk warmer than FP2.
Engineer: Almost everybody out of the top 10 starts on the soft, only Perez on the super soft and Hartley on the medium.
Engineer: Check at this moment, risk of light rain similar to quality, nothing worse at the moment. We'll keep you updated.
Esteban OCON: What is the latest forecast?
Engineer: There's possible for a very light rain at the moment But very light and then that's it at the moment from what we can see. And
Esteban OCON: still around 4, yeah?
Engineer: Possibly, we don't know that at the moment
Engineer: I
Lewis HAMILTON: don't know, it's quite warm, so warm-up might not be an issue for everyone,
Engineer: you know. Yeah, it's just clouding over now as we speak.
Brendon HARTLEY: Please check for puncture, puncture.
Engineer: All OK so far, all OK so far.
Brendon HARTLEY: OK, I understand entry is very big.
Engineer: Copy that, all OK on data, copy that, we keep checking.
Engineer: Stroll has lost DRS, Stroll lost DRS, let's get him stuff
Engineer: He's on the same as you, super!
Engineer: Verstappen will try and brake late on the inside if he tries to overtake
Engineer: He's been told to try and break up the inside of 1MAX.
Max VERSTAPPEN: OK.
Engineer: He might be running out of battery as well.
Engineer: Yes, get it
Engineer: And tell us about the balance.
Romain GROSJEAN: It's not great balance. It's quite inconsistent in the high speed. I think the damage is not great.
Engineer: Bottas is struggling a little bit, Max has passed him, Raikkonen is on him now. The Mercedes are not particularly quick at this stage.
Engineer: And Fernando, how are the tyres? How are the tyres? We are OK, but the traffic, I cannot pass them with the DRS.
Engineer: So
Max VERSTAPPEN: slow!
Max VERSTAPPEN: That was nice.
Engineer: Yep, cracking joke.
Max VERSTAPPEN: It seems like he's sliding a bit more than me okay
Engineer: understood so just creep up on it
Engineer: OK, last lap for Hamilton and the staff from both 14.0s. Bottas is holding everyone up with a 14.5.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Understood. Yeah, there's a lot more pace in it.
Engineer: Yeah, understood.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Okay, my tires are fine.
Engineer: Understood mate.
Engineer: Box box box box Let's just go for it box box box box
Engineer: Don't overdrive it keep it clean
Stoffel VANDOORNE: The vibrations are getting worse.
Engineer: We see the vibration in the data, it's coming from the rear tyres. We're monitoring at Stoffel, no concern at the moment from our side, no concern.
Engineer: I need to box. Ok, copy. I cannot drive this thing. Copy, copy, copy, box.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, just keep me up to date with what they are doing
Engineer: Yeah, at the moment Hamilton's too quick on the new tyre But we're just monitoring the pace of Bottas to make sure we're not in any danger of any undercut or anything like that
Lewis HAMILTON: Stopped too early.
Engineer: Just protecting against the undercut Lewis.
Lewis HAMILTON: We lost ground, can we stop?
Engineer: No, we're gaining ground.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Okay, tires are good.
Engineer: Understood.
Engineer: I'll go past it a bit. Copy.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Just the back markers are a little bit of a pain.
Lewis HAMILTON: So what was I wanted the arrest to stop I
Engineer: think
Engineer: Ok Fernando, it's box to overtake, box to overtake. How is the balance? I
Fernando ALONSO: don't know!
Engineer: Ok, box to overtake please mate. Stop, stop, stop. And the other Williams Stroll is just leaving the pit lane now. No more radio for the rest of the race.
Engineer: Stoffel, was there any debris in turn 7? Was there debris in turn 7? There is some debris on the inside, yes. I think they should clean the track. Yeah, understood Stoffel, understood.
Lewis HAMILTON: So Lewis,
Engineer: we need to match Verstappen's time. Verstappen was the 13.6 last lap.
Lewis HAMILTON: You
Engineer: are 0.7 safe, 0.7 safe. And
Lewis HAMILTON: when were you going to tell me this?
Engineer: Lewis, I've been giving you Verstappen's time, so we need to match these. So 13.6 was his last lap. He's on course for 13.5.
Max VERSTAPPEN: From my feeling the tires are getting better. Good
Engineer: news.
Engineer: Scenario 12, Niko, we need to box and retire. Scenario 12, we need to box and retire. Ah, f***!
Nico HULKENBERG: What is this?
Engineer: I'll tell you when you get back, Niko. Sorry, mate.
Engineer: Hamilton, last lap is at 13.5
Max VERSTAPPEN: OK, I think I can do better than that
Engineer: Understood
Max VERSTAPPEN: Mate, I think my right rear is really dropping off
Engineer: Understood
Max VERSTAPPEN: And they are not moving
Engineer: Sebastians, Jockey, we would like you to let Kimi by and let Kimi have a go at Bottas, this is critical for the race for both of you.
Engineer: My engine OK? Just monitoring the situation Lewis, it's OK for the minute.
Lewis HAMILTON: Power's dropping out.
Engineer: OK, copy, we're looking into it. So Lewis, that SuperSoft can do 36 laps at least, so the wear shouldn't be an issue.
Lewis HAMILTON: Wear is not an issue, it's blistering and
Engineer: sliding.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah I got quite badly compromised with the end of that stint with the traffic.
Engineer: Yeah understood, but you did a hell of a job to get through the traffic at the beginning of that stint mate, so that was an excellent job. We do have several laps fresher tyres than Hamilton and you'll see the whites of his tyres as well, that is a medium for him.
Engineer: He's
Lewis HAMILTON: got me on like this lap.
Engineer: Get in there my son. Get in there. Alright, let's get a gap to him. You've done everything you've needed to.
Engineer: So we've got a Valtteri in P3. So
Lewis HAMILTON: you've got engine problems?
Engineer: Negative, just a pressure from Reichenen behind and Vettel behind him. Was
Lewis HAMILTON: there nothing we could do there?
Engineer: Lewis I think we've done everything we can do.
Valtteri BOTTAS: Some nice blister on the rear left. I'm
Engineer: sure you've seen it. Copy.
Max VERSTAPPEN: I have the Swazilandia behind me, pushing.
Engineer: Understood. Yeah, he's out on fresh supers.
Max VERSTAPPEN: What a f***ing idiot! What a f***ing idiot!
Engineer: Alright, calm yourself down for the moment, Max. Yeah, I made massive floor damage.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Give me directions with tools.
Engineer: Yeah, just looking for the data now.
Max VERSTAPPEN: On the pictures. On pictures you can see what's actually broken. Yeah,
Engineer: we've lost load on the pod front. We're measuring it. I'll give you an update on data and what we can do with tools, but obviously, for the moment, you know what you can feel, so get on that and be proactive. Alright, Max, we have lost a significant amount of downforce, but we think it's fairly well balanced, so you just have to manage it.
Esteban OCON: I don't think I need to comment what happened.
Engineer: He
Esteban OCON: didn't leave me space there.
Engineer: Yeah, you were ahead and he didn't leave you space, I understand.
Lewis HAMILTON: give you some power but that's a long way to go with the engine turned down like this.
Engineer: Copy Lewis, we're just going to look after the PU at the moment, we're just keeping an eye on it, we'll see what we can do. We
Lewis HAMILTON: don't
Engineer: want to
Lewis HAMILTON: lose the position.
Engineer: Yeah Lewis, we don't want to lose the PU.
Engineer: Can you go quicker? Can you go quicker? We are proceeding to stop again.
Sebastian VETTEL: I'm trying to go as fast as I can.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Wait, this battery needs to charge more. We're all really empty.
Engineer: Charge 10 please, charge 10.
Engineer: You just put your personal best sector 2 in there. You've still got some in this.
Engineer: Try and limit how much overtake we're using, we're just about to go over the limit, so no more overtake for the moment.
Engineer: Ok mate, Bottas is not allowed to use any more overtake, he's been using it a lot this lap, he might be a bit more vulnerable, I do suggest mad 7, mad 7.
Engineer: Fernando, how are the tyres? How are the tyres? Thinking about plan C?
Fernando ALONSO: Tyres OK for another 15 laps.
Lewis HAMILTON: Are the people struggling on tyres?
Engineer: Look, Vettel has just stopped again, not sure why.
Engineer: Valtteri, can you hold Ricciardo up for sure? Not
Valtteri BOTTAS: without overtaking or price plus.
Engineer: Ok mate, we will get him eventually, let's keep it clean
Lewis HAMILTON: How is this pace considering?
Engineer: I think all things considered Lewis, pace is good.
Engineer: Just took 7 tenths out of Hamilton in sector 2.
Max VERSTAPPEN: No, you made a mistake!
Daniel RICCIARDO: OK, I'm going. Send it.
Engineer: Awesome. Right, Reichenen. Four seconds up the road, let's get him. Good.
Engineer: And there are 11 laps remaining to get a podium. We can use mode 7 every lap from turn 12 to turn 1. We can use mode 7 every lap. It's three lap time. Let's use it.
Engineer: OK, I'm getting pretty close to Gatsby guys, I'm going to get head on for... OK, I'm looking at it, stand by.
Brendon HARTLEY: If I don't get by, I'll get past my signs.
Lewis HAMILTON: We've got a little mantis here.
Engineer: Okay, copy.
Engineer: I would
Fernando ALONSO: think it's
Engineer: the
Fernando ALONSO: fastest lap It's
Engineer: currently an 11.3
Engineer: Driver Swap, Driver Swap
Brendon HARTLEY: Yep, he did do it What's going on guys?
Engineer: Turn 4, Driver Swap, Turn 4
Lewis HAMILTON: Blue flags coming up guys copy
Engineer: we're on it
Engineer: Driver swap, turn 4 now. We need to do it. Stay in front of Sainz.
Lewis HAMILTON: Translucent tip, I think they won out.
Engineer: Sirotkin is our next target, he's six seconds in front
Fernando ALONSO: Which position is Sirotkin?
Engineer: Sirotkin is in 16th and we've got blue flags for Verstappen
Engineer: OK, battery is full and you've got mode 7.
Lewis HAMILTON: Car's not turning, got no grip.
Brendon HARTLEY: Mate, is he going to let me by or what the f*** is going on? Mate, he's holding me up so much.
Engineer: Use anti-deploy middle sector. Use anti-deploy middle sector. Get close to him.
Brendon HARTLEY: Mate, I'm right up his f***ing
Engineer: a**.
Engineer: You have to leave Hartley by as soon as possible.
Pierre GASLY: It's five
Engineer: left to do, can
Pierre GASLY: you explain me why we cannot race? It's not like we
Engineer: are
Pierre GASLY: fighting for the win. Past one.
Engineer: Almijan's tires are not super soft. Sorry,
Pierre GASLY: but if
Engineer: you
Pierre GASLY: counter-attack me, my tires are completely damaged.
Engineer: Dramaswap, turn one.
Brendon HARTLEY: So what's happening guys, I'm not attacking him because you say he's letting me fly And then he f***ing doesn't do it Mate, I'm so close to him guys, come on!
Engineer: We are asking for turn 4 again, we are asking for driver swap turn 4
Engineer: Yes! That's it Lewis, that's the double mate. Mercedes-AMG Patronus, world champs. Lewis Hamilton, world champ.
Lewis HAMILTON: Yes! That's what I'm talking about guys. What an amazing freaking year for you guys. I'm so proud, I'm so grateful I could do this for you today. What an amazing accomplishment. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you. Lewis, we are double world champion, driver world champion and constructor world champion. What a race. Congratulations.
Engineer: I better
Lewis HAMILTON: see you all when I get back. Come on.
Engineer: Hey, I don't know what to say mate. I do not know what to say about that
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, I know what to say. I hope he I can't find him now in the paddock because then he has a problem. What a Max
Engineer: you drove brilliantly today. You've summed it up brilliantly with about Mr. Ocon compose yourself You deserve that race victory today, but considering the lack of downforce you've got on that car to catch Hamilton the way you did is a hell of a drive
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, the car was amazing the whole race. So thank you. Thank you for that guys
Engineer: Yeah, no worries Max. You made such light work of getting through him as well Didn't yeah, you're not behind him for very long any of them. It was incredible. You just got straight through Incredible maturity getting through mate. You just yeah, they get a chair on the cake today, but he'll come back. He'll come
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, at least we could enjoy the overtakes And the general pace of the car he
Engineer: left them standing It was incredible
Engineer: Great race, another podium, be free.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: Yeah, thank you. I did the best I could.
Engineer: Good job Kimi, thank you.
Engineer: Okay mate, that was a good drive, good effort there, finishes 0.4 behind Reichen and Nett.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Okay thanks, I appreciate it.
Engineer: That was a good drive Daniel though, I mean that move on Bottas, we were all ****ing ourselves down here I tell you. So one to go, you'll be on the podium in Abu Dhabi, keep your head up, that was a great drive.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Thank you Christian, thank you guys, appreciate it, two more weeks.
Engineer: Fear and fervour, Stappen was leading, when he pitted for softs a few laps before us he caught and overtook Hamilton, bit of a help from him, bit of a backmark of traffic and he got him on the straight. But then Ocon tried to un-lap himself and took Max out at turn 2 which wasn't very clever, I'm sure he'll see it later. Yeah.
Engineer: Good job Valtteri, good job. Great job there, great job. So, Constructors World Champions again.
Valtteri BOTTAS: Well done guys, congratulations. Every single guy in the factory, and in the race too.
Engineer: Thank
Valtteri BOTTAS: you, well done. Congrats.
Engineer: It was a ***
Valtteri BOTTAS: race for me again, but Sunset this season, no problem.
Engineer: Ok Charles, and once again best of the rest, great race, brilliant, P7 at the end, P7.
Charles LECLERC: Well done guys, great race, pace was crazy.
Engineer: Yeah, brilliant drive, great, thank you very much.
Engineer: Great job dude, P8, P8, Kevin's P9, good job, you were at minus 30 points of downforce, so that was an incredible drive, your pace was amazing dude, really brilliant, well managed on the tyres and the pace was fantastic, shame we didn't have that, 30 you would have had Leclerc I think. Oh my god yes mate, yes, well great job everyone, very happy that we got a double point finish, that's what we want, you know, that's what we want, that's what we're here for. Yep, very good, thanks a lot man, good job, great drive.
Engineer: Think about function one. I
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: am aware, leave me alone.
Engineer: Understood, understood mate.
Engineer: I love that you're leaving me alone, I can put it on my CV as well You know I love you mate, no worries I love you too, darling Vamos, good race mate Vamos
Engineer: Sorry about the language on the radio, but the thing is... That's ok, leave it behind you, don't worry, leave it behind you, no worries. Otherwise, if you said we could race, I would have attacked, but anyway... Turn the car off, that's ok, leave it behind you. Copy.
More from this weekend
Every session of the Brazilian Grand Prix 2018Search the full archive