Japanese Grand Prix2018 · Race team radio

EngineerSo just do one little blip before you de-pre-start res and it'll be a gear one start. Remember reverse on and off and the little lift before turn one.

EngineerOne second. Sorry, my helmet's not properly done. Sorry, guys.

EngineerOK, quite a big queue, just let me know about temperatures. Copy that, we should be OK.

EngineerRemember, if we have a car behind us, we can't take more than 5 seconds for the start. If you have no cars behind, you're ok to wait a bit.

EngineerStart. Start. Start.

Engineerremember no burnouts and again the start is in after the pit exit but before the grass on the right-hand side

Daniel RICCIARDOUh, front wing, want to take some off, six clicks down.

EngineerOk understood sir, boxes lap please, boxes lap.

EngineerOK, balance update, Max.

Max VERSTAPPENAll OK.

EngineerUnderstood.

EngineerBox, box, box. Last clutch position was on target.

EngineerAnd to the grid.

Sebastian VETTELCopy that.

EngineerAnd clutch position was deep, 2%.

Lewis HAMILTONJust start where everyone else is starting, where we were practising yesterday.

EngineerSir, negative, let's just have it in the same place.

EngineerAnd Lewis, can you just confirm you're happy with the balance of the tyres, the vibrations on this set, do they look OK on data?

Lewis HAMILTONTyres are good, tyres are good,

Engineerbalance

Lewis HAMILTONwise.

EngineerAnd we can debrief in the garage.

Lewis HAMILTONCool.

Marcus ERICSSONRadio check, 123

EngineerYeah, loading clear, over

Nico HULKENBERGRadio check Mark, radio check.

EngineerYep, that's all out and clear to go. So, four more reminders, limiter on after firing up this time. At the end of the formation lap, turn 17 recharge off and then three burnouts starting 20 metres after the timing line. OK. And I'll remind you about scenario one at the end of the first lap.

Lewis HAMILTONRicky, when do I have my dismiss for the long run?

EngineerYou are at three on Friday.

Lewis HAMILTONIs the track temperature going to be dropping or just staying the same through this race?

EngineerI imagine it's going to stay fairly consistent throughout, it'll only be a degree or two at the most. Not a lot of cloud cover around to speak of.

Lewis HAMILTONHave we had front graining here before, past years?

EngineerYes we have, in terms of the Friday sets, a little bit of light front abrasion but it was nothing to write home about, I expect the distract temp problems are going to shift to the rear.

Lewis HAMILTONI'm assuming we're in VAT now, the same wing level?

EngineerYes you are.

EngineerPractice start was on target, the switch that we did, are reverting back the engine performance to yesterday there, FIA told us, so you need to expect that, ok, here will be fine, we said in the race it counts less, yeah, don't worry.

Pierre GASLYI know it's stupid.

EngineerAnd Valtteri car behind Verstappen P3

EngineerAnd Ares magic on, Ares magic on.

Kimi RAIKKONENYeah, it just went driving to me completely. We'll show Kimi, we'll show... I don't know what I lost, I lost a part for her.

EngineerOkay, nice job. Next car Hartley

EngineerSo Magnussen has a puncture and he's putting debris around the track just keep an eye out for it

EngineerSo careful debris in this area.

Kevin MAGNUSSENThe car is ****** guys.

Engineerokay so the debris was from the Magnuson puncture that's why there's bits of floor debris around it the main part of his tyre is on the left hand side going into turn 16 okay

Daniel RICCIARDOI see it and

Engineerthere is still quite a lot of debris I'm sure you saw the two cars they drove into the back of each other so there is some bits of front wing on the right hand side on the pit straight so stay on the racing line stay on the racing line down to turn one the debris near the pit line

Daniel RICCIARDOdon't remember okay keep

Engineeryour temperature in your tyres

EngineerOkay Magnussen still hasn't got past the safety car. The safety car is in the last chicane so it's gonna be at least one more lap

Nico HULKENBERGHow many left cars is there, that

Engineerwent by now? Only Magnussen I believe, yeah Magnussen has gone ahead, that's the only one.

EngineerTyres, temperature is good for the restart. Tyres are good for the restart. We think this should be the last lap. I keep you posted.

Brendon HARTLEYCopy.

Engineersafety car in this lap safety car in this lap

EngineerRemember you're racing from Safety Car Line 1, racing from Safety Car Line 1.

EngineerOkay, so you can free tease the modes as you wish.

EngineerSo let's stop on the marks and then switch off the car we will retire

EngineerOkay, there is possible debris but not confirmed turn 16 on the left hand side in braking possible debris unconfirmed turn 16

EngineerNice job

EngineerAnd the gap to rest up and it's 30 seconds now.

Kimi RAIKKONENYeah, but I'm going as fast as I can.

EngineerOk mate, nice job, you are now P5, you've just completed 13 laps, good job.

EngineerOkay, 35.1 for Hamilton, 35.2 for you, 36.1 for Kimi, 4.4, gap at 4.4 max. Let's keep this up, mate. It's good.

EngineerStill overheating is the limit if you can take any more brake balance forward do it

EngineerYou will have some traffic, look for signs, look for signs, they will be in front of you.

EngineerOkay, full info Max, Kimi has pitted but he's on to mediums and he's into traffic, just keep doing what you're doing at this stage pace is good

EngineerCheco Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car windows are open. Both windows are now open.

EngineerGood job Kimi, engine free and get one available.

EngineerI'd

Lewis HAMILTONsay we do a whole and a half probably.

EngineerCopy, thinking the same.

EngineerOkay, Daniel Pace is looking good on this tyre

EngineerRacing Kimi, Racing Kimi

Daniel RICCIARDOWhat time is this kid be doing?

EngineerRaikkonen's fighting through traffic. He has been losing time to us. He's now 21 seconds behind. He's right on our window

Carlos SAINZYeah, it looks like they're throwing us into a different struggle.

EngineerUnderstood.

EngineerWhat is Mercedes commenting on the ISO, OK? Yep, so first sim was 21 laps, it'll be 32, 32 for this sim.

Max VERSTAPPENWhat did Mercedes say at the end of this stint? Were they out of tyres?

EngineerNegative. Hamilton fastest lap for him was on his final lap. 34.0 on his 23rd lap.

EngineerDoing an excellent job there Nico, keep it up.

Max VERSTAPPENLet me know if you're happy with tyre energies and stuff

EngineerYeah, just watch the right hand side. The right rear is a little bit warmer than we'd like at this stage So right hand side tyre where you can. I'll let you know once it's stabilised

Sergio PEREZMan, did you see how I leg-leg move?

EngineerUnderstood Checo, understood Grosjean, right on the edge.

EngineerOkay Fernando, Leclerc, Ericsson and Sorokin who all fitted the backup under the safety car are beginning to fall back, they're struggling. Stroll who's the car in front of Hartley is on 12 lap older backups than us, Hartley in front fitted the prime.

Lance STROLLThe flat spot feels really bad, just worried about the tire.

EngineerTemperature on the front are okay and vibration of the car are okay, so it's critical but it's still constant.

Lance STROLLThat's about to sound bad

EngineerOK mate, so tyre wear in the first in on supers was very good, no concern on the super

Max VERSTAPPENYeah and that was not a nice tyre at all

EngineerUnderstood

Max VERSTAPPENThe wear life between soft and the medium, is

Engineerthat

Max VERSTAPPENa lot different?

EngineerThere is a small improvement in wear life on the medium

EngineerSo there's gonna be a whole host of blue flags

EngineerTire temperatures are stable they've been very stable over the last five laps

EngineerVirtual Safety Car

EngineerSo just keep your dash positive target plus one shortest line, please max shortest line

Max VERSTAPPENIt's getting a bit rough, close to the limiter

EngineerUnderstood

EngineerOkay, gap to Perez 1.7. Let's stay within five in case he gets it. Yeah. No, I need to get the position now

EngineerIt's okay, we'll get it sorted, just get the temps up and just drive and close up these gaps.

Romain GROSJEANYou made your dirty air.

EngineerAnd you are the fastest man on track

EngineerAlright Max, to the end of the race you have two attempts of Mode 7 between Turn 13 and Turn 2 so you can use Mode 7 between 13... Yep, OK. ...only twice.

Max VERSTAPPENAre you guys not worried about the close to the limiter, that's the problem?

EngineerI'll get back to you. Fuel 3, position 4. Fuel 3, position 4.

Max VERSTAPPENYeah, it's definitely getting worse.

EngineerUnderstood.

EngineerYou have five laps remaining, just be careful these guys ahead they are fighting for points.

Brendon HARTLEYHey, I'm so much quicker, but I can't get by.

EngineerOK, shift to 6th and 7th max on the red light, not the blue.

Max VERSTAPPENYeah, I'm doing that, I've got 10, 15 laps already.

EngineerAnd you're still fastest man on track, so two laps remaining.

Max VERSTAPPENI can use mode seven now, two laps.

EngineerLast lap, mode seven, correct.

EngineerI

Lewis HAMILTONhope you guys are not getting bored of this, because I'm definitely not.

EngineerNever grow tired Lewis, never grow tired. Yeah, you guys are looking good out there.

Lewis HAMILTONYeah, Silver Arrows in formation.

EngineerYeah, what a team.

EngineerAlright Max, you've done it mate. You've done it. It's another podium, P3. Mega work.

Max VERSTAPPENThat was not bad.

EngineerWell Max, it was a very strong drive, so to get that in spite of the penalty, very, very strong. I doubt you're too popular with Ferrari and the Italians today.

Max VERSTAPPENYeah, well, that's not my problem. They went too aggressive.

EngineerYeah, well enjoy the podium. Well done. Good job.

Max VERSTAPPENThank you.

Engineerit's not bad from p50 mate yep understood thanks guys it's a good comeback well daniel has a very good comeback very good drive today well done

Sebastian VETTELOk, not much to say, I think as Dinovskin said, I don't know, if I don't go for that gap and that gap was there then I might as well stay at home, sorry for the result, la macchina è stata forte, grazie ragazzi.

EngineerGrazie a te, we got the fastest lap.

Sergio PEREZGood job guys. This is what we deserve. Well done to everyone.

Romain GROSJEANdot org

EngineerGood

EngineerDon't know what happened at the beginning of the race, but definitely something strange on the car. Something's wrong, yeah. Yeah, I felt suspension or something. Okay, yeah. Perez, not acceptable. Not acceptable. Okay, man, as far as we can tell, we were positive, but anyway, we'll go through the data later. When the dash became black, I was plus 0.3. So that's the restart, unless we have a problem with the software, but that's the restart. It closed the 2.4 second gap within 10 meters. That's not normal. Yeah, understood. When the race is over, when everyone's back, we'll go through all the data and get everything straight. Anyway, you did a really good job managing these tires with no information. Really good.

EngineerNice job mate, P10, well done! Thank you guys, well executed, again! Bravo everyone, I know it was difficult to salvage a point here, but we did it! Thanks Carlos, great race!

EngineerWe got ourselves ahead of the Williams mate, that's not a bad effort after yesterday. Yeah

Stoffel VANDOORNEthat was a frustrating race, I mean honestly with this power we can't do anything.