Russian Grand Prix 2018: Race team radio
83 radio messages were recorded during race at the Russian Grand Prix 2018, across 20 drivers. 81 of them have a transcript; the rest are audio only. Lewis HAMILTON had the most, with 11.
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 · 11 messages
- Sergio PEREZ · Force India · 11 messages
- Max VERSTAPPEN · Red Bull · 9 messages
- Esteban OCON · Force India · 6 messages
- Kimi RAIKKONEN · Ferrari · 5 messages
- Pierre GASLY · Toro Rosso · 4 messages
- Sebastian VETTEL · Ferrari · 4 messages
- Daniel RICCIARDO · Red Bull · 4 messages
- Nico HULKENBERG · Renault · 3 messages
- Kevin MAGNUSSEN · Haas · 3 messages
- Romain GROSJEAN · Haas · 3 messages
- Stoffel VANDOORNE · McLaren · 3 messages
- Marcus ERICSSON · Sauber · 3 messages
- Fernando ALONSO · McLaren · 3 messages
- Carlos SAINZ · Renault · 3 messages
- Valtteri BOTTAS · Mercedes · 3 messages
- Brendon HARTLEY · Toro Rosso · 2 messages
- Lance STROLL · Williams · 1 message
- Sergey SIROTKIN · Williams · 1 message
- Charles LECLERC · Sauber · 1 message
Every message, in the order it happened
Engineer: There's quite a bit of smoke at the back of my car, a lot of the exhaust. Copy that Nico, no problem in the data.
Engineer: Tire's going to need rebalancing on the right if I'm sticking with you. OK, copy.
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: very light drops of rain it's
Engineer: like someone ok understood understood
Sergio PEREZ: We have some new airdrops of rain, all around the track
Engineer: Understood, Checo, understood We aren't expecting more at the moment
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: There are some raindrops on my way, so it's understood.
Engineer: how
Lewis HAMILTON: was that last uh start it
Engineer: wasn't target loose uh but i think the grip has come down a little bit with uh with the weather so i think 35 is still the correct um the correct target there's just a little bit less margin than what we initially thought so that should be correct on on the surface we'll be starting on
Pierre GASLY: The drink system, I'm not sure is the correct pump, because I don't have much water coming. I think we tried a different one, which was better.
Engineer: Copy, we'll have a look.
Romain GROSJEAN: OK, my drink is leaking quite badly.
Engineer: OK, understood. We'll sort it on the grid.
Engineer: There's very light drops of rain here. The Marshall Post 110 has been reporting rain a little bit longer, but we expect it all to pass quite quickly. We think it's dried.
Esteban OCON: Is it me, or it's raining a bit now?
Engineer: There's a very, very tiny light spot. Very tiny and light.
Lewis HAMILTON: Definitely a little bit nervous about having enough front wing in. Let's go up another half.
Lance STROLL: I don't hear anyone on the radio Radio check, radio check
Engineer: Can you hear me Lance?
Lance STROLL: Yes, now I can hear you
Engineer: Alright mate, so tyre update, Renault and Gasly, so both Renaults and Gasly on soft, on ultras, both Williams and both McLarens.
Engineer: Deformation lap, have a look around turn 10, some rain was reported there, should be fine, but just to inform you in advance.
Engineer: Alright mate, that was a crack in the first lap. Nice and patient now, let's pick these off.
Pierre GASLY: I got the pistol
Engineer: You're obviously doing a very, very good job here Max, remember the ultimate objective.
Brendon HARTLEY: Red Line, brake pedal feels low
Engineer: Torque 1, Torque 1, hold the brakes, we are checking, hold the brakes for the pit stop, Torque 1
Engineer: All okay, Pierre. All okay.
Pierre GASLY: What the **** is going on with the brakes?
Engineer: Okay, Pierre. Slow down and box. Slow down and box.
Engineer: Problem is still there. Please confirm problem is still there. Box, box. Very much, very much. The problem happened before the pit stop. Box, box. Box, box. Confirm from data. Box, stop in front of the garage. On stop.
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: The curfew is getting hard.
Engineer: Understood, understood.
Marcus ERICSSON: He went the wrong side of the ball, Lord, in turn 2.
Engineer: Copy that, we are on it. We are referring that to Charlie.
Engineer: Bit of an update for you, both Toro Rosso's have retired, we are plan A, maximum pace, plan A, maximum pace.
Engineer: Use energy. Go by Magnussen if you can. Go by Magnussen if you can.
Engineer: He
Esteban OCON: moved last minute, that was dangerous.
Engineer: Copy that Esteban.
Engineer: OK, we might have a bit of front wing damage, let us know if you feel understeer
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yeah, I was going to mention I hit symptom 3 on the first lap
Engineer: OK, understood
Engineer: We are on plan B at the moment, plan B at the moment.
Engineer: It's good times Lewis, just keep it up. We're going to monitor what you're doing.
Engineer: Ok Marcus, your battery is still low, your battery is still low, so we need to... How can it be so low? It's normal, it's normal after the pit stop, so he will come back, don't worry.
Lewis HAMILTON: How did that happen?
Engineer: You need to look at the maneuver on the straight, you move twice. Yeah, copy Lucy, that didn't look cool.
Engineer: Did I touch with anyone? Because I don't feel any touch or anything. Looks like you touched with Sorkin, Carlos. Let's keep our head down, let's keep pushing. Still a long race.
Engineer: Good enough Kimi, we are matching each other's pace.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: Okay.
Engineer: We
Sergio PEREZ: have to
Engineer: We
Sergio PEREZ: have to increase the pace, man. This is too slow now. We have to push him to the... Is Esteban struggling to push? Or what? This is
Engineer: too
Sergio PEREZ: slow right now. We need to push, man. Can I overtake?
Engineer: So you need to get by them now. Get by them now.
Engineer: Checo, we're just going to push so we've got better pace than Hulkenberg.
Sergio PEREZ: Yes, I just think Esteban is too slow right now.
Engineer: Understood, check out, but Magnussen is the car ahead.
Engineer: So, Esteban, you've got three laps to get by him, else Hülkenberg will have done us.
Engineer: Esteban has been given three laps to overtake him
Engineer: Opposite to Hamilton. Opposite to Hamilton. But
Kimi RAIKKONEN: I cannot see him.
Engineer: And the motor race, Kimi.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: Ok, but I have to remember that I couldn't even see him.
Engineer: Good.
Carlos SAINZ: He pushed me on that ramp. I got a penalty in the past.
Engineer: OK, understood. Understood, Carlos.
Carlos SAINZ: Exactly the same move, 2015. Take a look at
Engineer: it.
Carlos SAINZ: They put me 5 second penalty.
Engineer: Valtteri it's James we had a risk with Lewis against Vettel he has a small blister I had to do this to make sure we secured this I understand
Lewis HAMILTON: I've got hesitations coming in the engine.
Engineer: Okay, copy. We'll have a look.
Engineer: I do have a
Lewis HAMILTON: blister on the left ear.
Engineer: Okay Daniel, so for info, people on the first stint on ultra has had some graining on the left front and Hypersoft had a lot of graining as well so we're gonna extend a little bit we're gonna be aggressive on the balance on the next set
Engineer: Checker, we will have to switch the cars back later in the race if we can't get DRS and get past.
Engineer: Checo it could only be two more laps before Hülkenberg boxes and then we can't leave it any longer. We think Hülkenberg may be boxing in a couple of laps.
Engineer: So, Esteban, once Hülkenberg pits, we'll swap the cars back over. Copy that.
Engineer: Checo you will be given two more laps, you will be given two more laps to do your best
Engineer: Yep, get behind, 3.4, Hamilton last lap was a 38.0, Bottas 37.9, same for Vettel, you are quicker than all of them.
Engineer: Ok Marcus, we have an option to stop for new Ultra and try to attack Grosjean at the end of the race, what do you prefer?
Marcus ERICSSON: I don't think much will happen here, but it's not much deck though, so that's
Engineer: a
Marcus ERICSSON: problem Copy
Engineer: Check out one more lap to try. One more lap to try.
Engineer: OK Fernando, as a heads up, Stroll has been told he is OK to the end on his dash and he has one hit of quali left.
Fernando ALONSO: Yes mate, we are 15, head on again.
Engineer: So Stoff the challenge for us is to get Sainz at the end we want to maximize your pace to the end to keep him under pressure if he keeps pushing his tyre will fail
Engineer: Keep it up max 15 laps to go
Engineer: We are going to change the nose so it'll be a longer stop need to hold the brakes on whilst they're changing the nose
Daniel RICCIARDO: Understood
Engineer: So these are very good laps. How's the tire? How's the balance?
Romain GROSJEAN: It's getting colder. That's a problem
Nico HULKENBERG: Where's the leader? How far?
Engineer: He's four seconds behind So
Nico HULKENBERG: Red Bull is leader?
Engineer: Affirm
Nico HULKENBERG: How the heck did that happen?
Engineer: He's not pitted yet. He's yet to pit
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, the tyres are a little bit cold. Especially in traffic, difficult to follow now.
Engineer: Okay Max, understood. Alright, push this lap, push this lap.
Max VERSTAPPEN: He can't follow them, he can't stay close. Now it's already much better.
Engineer: Yeah, copy Max.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Let's keep going.
Engineer: Okay, okay, stay out Max.
Engineer: Box and pick and perm, Max. Box, pick and perm.
Fernando ALONSO: What is the fastest lap?
Engineer: It's a 36.3
Engineer: And the stop and pitted Kimi is 12 seconds behind us, he is an option, he could close on us, I will let you know.
Engineer: Yep, quite struggling with the tires now, quite
Sergey SIROTKIN: a lot of vibration
Engineer: Hey, come on, are
Sebastian VETTEL: you serious 1
Engineer: .5 seconds, thank you
Engineer: OK Lewis, so we've got a group of four backmarkers ahead, they are racing, so just be careful.
Engineer: A firm Valtteri position, stay as they are. We'll talk about it after the race.
Lewis HAMILTON: That feels like it's coming apart.
Engineer: OK copy, we're looking into it. OK, so one more lap, one more lap, and then just stay off the kerbs.
Engineer: Well done Lewis, so Mercedes 1-2, nice work, good weekend. I feel great,
Lewis HAMILTON: but congrats to the team, just great effort all weekend.
Engineer: Yeah, well done Lewis, solid weekend, just keep the momentum up.
Engineer: Good job, Patrick. Valtteri, this is Toto. Difficulty for you and difficulty for us. Let's discuss it afterwards when we come together and we'll explain the things.
Engineer: I'm P3, Sebastian P3, nice job, we tried.
Sebastian VETTEL: OK, it was a solid race guys, we tried, we tried.
Engineer: That's an awesome drive. Really good mate. Not a bad day's work. Well done Max, it was a very good birthday drive. Your progression in seven laps into the top six was awesome, so very well done.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, it was an exciting few first laps.
Engineer: And happy birthday. Happy 21st.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Thank you.
Engineer: Yeah, I reckon you might have a few first lap onboard comparisons to your interlap. Was it China or something last year? That was awesome mate on lap one. Yeah.
Engineer: Obviously we had quite a lot of damage in that first stint, you probably, well we were quite understeering, I think we were fortunate we were on the soft tyres because they were pretty robust, people doing quickest laps right at the end of their stints and those even after the 30-40 laps.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yeah I remember pulling out of a tow and there was a broken, I think someone's wing or something just before turn 13, so I didn't have enough time to react.
Engineer: Yeah I understood, it was like a middle part of one of the flaps was missing basically and by the end of the stint it was all hanging off so it was an easy decision to change it.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Okay, understood, thanks anyways. Yep,
Engineer: it
Daniel RICCIARDO: was a bit lonely but yeah, I see the first couple of laps were a bit of a shamble so yeah sorry we couldn't get further up.
Engineer: Well at least the eagles won't.
Daniel RICCIARDO: I'll take it.
Engineer: Thank you.
Engineer: Excellent race, son, excellent race. P7, P7.
Charles LECLERC: Yes!
Engineer: It's like a win for us. The top six is only Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari still, right? Yeah, exactly. Best of the rest. Really great, great race from your side.
Engineer: Absolutely excellent job, go to mode slow, very solid race.
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: Ok guys, yeah sorry, just didn't have the pace for Leclerc, but solid result, we're getting there, keep
Engineer: pushing. Yeah we will keep on pushing, thank you very much, still we haven't beaten your record but we will do it very soon, 4 points more.
Engineer: Well, you drove a perfect race. I'm sorry it was only got you to 11th, but you did everything perfectly, really good management.
Romain GROSJEAN: I don't understand why did the gap open so much with the guys in front?
Engineer: Yeah, I guess most of it happened when we were trying to get around Sainz for a few laps when he was going so slow. Yeah, you just had the disadvantage of you were behind Sainz and Hulk and they weren't, so it's just that we were just a little bit further back. You did brilliantly though, sorry it's just 11th.
Romain GROSJEAN: Well, did Kevin finish?
Engineer: Okay, yeah, finished P8. That's good. Yeah, it's really good. Leclerc was 7th, Kevin 8th. Yeah, Sauber was flying, mate. They were, yeah, they were. Unbelievable, but anyway, you had a much better management on the soft though and did a really great job.
Engineer: Did all you could with what you had, but unfortunately that isn't good enough
Nico HULKENBERG: Sorry, Magnusson was what?
Engineer: Magnusson was P8 He finished 16 seconds behind Leclerc
Nico HULKENBERG: He's the Sauber, huh?
Engineer: Yeah, it was pretty swift Sauber finished 18 seconds behind Ricciardo. I mean, Nico, as I said, you did the best you could there. Great job, mate
Nico HULKENBERG: Thank you, Mike
Engineer: It
Nico HULKENBERG: was pretty good on the surf, that's all we had
Engineer: Yeah, yeah, we did what we could Anyway, I'll see you back at the office
Engineer: Stoph that was great getting past Sainz at the end, fought hard for that, certainly P16th and we could have pitted earlier and raced the other Williams so that's a shame we'll look at that after but you drove really well pace was good much better pace than yesterday
Carlos SAINZ: Yeah, probably the longest race of my life without balance. Ah, what a shame. Points on the table today, I think.
Engineer: Yeah, I copy that mate. We'll get them in Japan.
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