Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019: Race team radio
120 radio messages were recorded during race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019, across 20 drivers. 113 of them have a transcript; the rest are audio only. Max VERSTAPPEN 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
- Max VERSTAPPEN · Red Bull · 16 messages
- Valtteri BOTTAS · Mercedes · 16 messages
- Sebastian VETTEL · Ferrari · 14 messages
- Lewis HAMILTON · Mercedes · 12 messages
- Charles LECLERC · Ferrari · 10 messages
- Carlos SAINZ · McLaren · 9 messages
- Nico HULKENBERG · Renault · 9 messages
- Kevin MAGNUSSEN · Haas · 4 messages
- Daniel RICCIARDO · Renault · 4 messages
- Kimi RAIKKONEN · Alfa Romeo · 4 messages
- Sergio PEREZ · Racing Point · 4 messages
- Romain GROSJEAN · Haas · 4 messages
- Lando NORRIS · McLaren · 3 messages
- Pierre GASLY · Red Bull · 3 messages
- George RUSSELL · Williams · 2 messages
- Antonio GIOVINAZZI · Alfa Romeo · 2 messages
- Alexander ALBON · Red Bull · 1 message
- Robert KUBICA · Williams · 1 message
- Daniil KVYAT · Toro Rosso · 1 message
- Lance STROLL · Racing Point · 1 message
Every message, in the order it happened
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Engineer: Ten seconds to go. Ten seconds to go.
Engineer: Okay you can do a practice start on the way out. Just Ramon's there right now. Yeah so it should be clear for your practice start. Just do it further up.
Engineer: OK, front wing update and just save a little bit of fuel on the way to the pit lane.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, that's fine.
Engineer: Understood, so straight through the pit lane Max, straight through the pit lane.
Engineer: Ok Nico, boxing this lap, are you happy with the front wing? Certainly,
Nico HULKENBERG: yep, I think we'll keep it.
Engineer: Copy, so driving through to do a start, no burnouts.
Lewis HAMILTON: Is this the flat spot at the set of tyres from yesterday?
Engineer: Affirm Lewis
Engineer: Okay, so you're going to the grid at the back of the grid switch to P1 and stay in P1, please
Engineer: And wind update same direction as yesterday tailwind into turn two
Lewis HAMILTON: Did you do a check with the car? No, it's
Engineer: a
Lewis HAMILTON: bit strange.
Engineer: Copy, we'll have a look.
Engineer: The
Lewis HAMILTON: grip didn't feel very good on the start, the car feels like it's flexing more, the tires weren't working at all.
Engineer: Any car issues? No, bit of brake vibrations into turn 5, but yeah, other than that it's ok. Copy that. And then it just seems quite difficult to get the tyres to work when you go so slow. Understood.
Engineer: Slippery track reported, turn 15.
Engineer: Fuel is fine for the moment. Fuel is good now. Did a good job in the first lap.
Engineer: Feedback is the front tires not working, really difficult to warm up anything and can't lean on the tires, but apparently Danny has the same comment, so I think we don't overreact.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: Is the car in Tumat's right? Or was it in the right position? Did I stop in the right position or Tumat's right?
Engineer: And we have these new guns to torque the wheels here, the steerer will take you through the procedure but you just need to hold your foot on the brakes.
Engineer: Please don't forget that once we've fired up and the car is on the ground, a static by-point find. Okay, static by-point find once the car's on the ground. Now carry out your double-grid launch to third gear, and then mode 12. Mode 12. Shift between first and second gears as many times as possible during the formation lap, and try to sink all gears by turn three.
Engineer: Okay, I lost tyre information. So medium tyre runners are Leclerc, Grosjean, Russell, Kubica and Gasly. All other cars are on soft.
Engineer: Can you speak in the last minute when we have the engines on, just to let me know what tyres are the other cars using? I don't know if it's possible or not. People behind on soft.
Engineer: and Robert we can just go straight to go race so if you pre-select that now I think you're in race start so go race
George RUSSELL: Cannot get any temp whatsoever
Engineer: Check brake balance, check brake balance.
Engineer: That's point nine behind
Romain GROSJEAN: But I hope the front are gonna warm up.
Engineer: When you can, not urgent. Engine 7, position 5. Engine 7, position 5. Not urgent.
Engineer: DRS is active DRS is active
Engineer: Okay, now Reese is one in front, 1.1, try to take his DRS.
Engineer: Bottas last time 47.6, Hamilton 7.8, behind Jules Perez, fighting with Verstappen, try to push now.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: I cannot fight if we have to just worry about the brakes right now. I understand the story, but we need to get past people.
Engineer: SLEEPERY TRACK REPORTED, TURN 12, 13, TURN 12, 13, SLEEPERY TRACK REPORTED.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Engineer: copy that Lewis, just discussing that here
Max VERSTAPPEN: And the braking is not working perfect.
Engineer: OK, stand by.
Max VERSTAPPEN: It's like a handbrake in 5 and 6.
Engineer: Understood, Max.
Engineer: So Alban, we'll get DRS again, you might get a full stroll. Can you let us know the front wing adjust?
Engineer: Carlos, good pace. Scenario 7. Scenario 7.
Engineer: Nice job, Nico. There's a long way to go in this race.
Engineer: Box, pit confirm Max. Opposite Vettel. We think he may be pitting. Opposite Vettel please, box and confirm. Yeah, he's pitting. Stay out. Stay out.
Engineer: And Vettel is in the pits.
Valtteri BOTTAS: Yep, I'm quite happy to stop when needed.
Engineer: Portage lap time at the front, 48.9
Engineer: And if you can give us a balance check.
Lewis HAMILTON: Quite a lot of on the steer. I could keep going at this pace though.
Engineer: OK, so box, box, box, box.
Engineer: Race situation so Leclerc and Verstappen is the car ahead they still have to stop Leclerc 13 seconds
Engineer: And Kubica will have a drive-through penalty, so he has to serve that in the next few laps.
Engineer: Did
Lewis HAMILTON: you put wing in?
Engineer: Yes we did.
Engineer: So Leclerc still has the safety car gap so we want to pull him in so low 47s
Engineer: So early lap times for those on C3, Vettel 46.9, 46.8, Bottas second lap 47.4, Leclerc 15 laps in, 47.4 and Pierre 47.4 as well, also 14 laps in.
Engineer: Scenario 7, Scenario 7 Yeah
Carlos SAINZ: I'm only going to use it when I really need it, not for the moment Copy
Engineer: And the pace is far too good, so you can back off a bit. Leclerc is entering our window, so we need high 46s.
Engineer: and target lap time for us 47.0 47.0
Engineer: You keep reeling Leclerc in.
Engineer: So for the brake saving we need lift off and not braking earlier. Focus on lift off turn 3, then turn 4 to turn 12.
Antonio GIOVINAZZI: Yeah John, I'm doing, I'm doing, I'm losing time as well.
Engineer: Nico, for best lap time, avoid overtake before turn 1.
Nico HULKENBERG: I disagree, I need to stay with the slipstream.
Engineer: He was faster than Bottas. Bottas 6.4 was a very good lap.
Engineer: Yeah, the purple lap has shifted a bit. It's a couple tenths faster than you've managed, but Hamilton is in a tow. So that's where we're down.
Engineer: Press oil pump button press oil pump button
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Kimi RAIKKONEN: Are we trying to say that I also go faster?
Nico HULKENBERG: 16 is impossible, always fun locking, always understeer
Engineer: Copy Nico we're on maximum understeer reduction already so I'm afraid we don't have anything to offer
Engineer: So we're confident the opportunities will come at the end of the race.
Engineer: And Hamilton is opening to Bottas, probably saving a bit the tyres, he's 2.6 in front, Verstappen 8.3 behind.
Engineer: Rear locking. Yeah, I think it will come back. Yep. And you can keep going rear with brake balance. Rear locking is okay.
Engineer: So Grosjean and then Magnussen are bunching the field up in front of you. Suggest brake 4 and 1% rearwards on brake bounce.
Engineer: Are you okay? Are you okay to continue? Yeah, yeah, I'm back, but bloody
Romain GROSJEAN: front right tyre, brother. It's just getting... It's bloody going.
Max VERSTAPPEN: I'll pass the clerk ahead.
Engineer: He's now within our pit stop window again.
Engineer: So Carlos the focus at the moment is to have good tires from lap 30 to lap 35 Once that's done then we can have the chance to attack Perez both cars can have the chance to attack Perez
Engineer: So driving wise you're doing a good job, just be a bit careful on throttle, don't be too aggressive on throttle.
Engineer: And they start to make a move on Leclerc. Everybody's bunching up behind.
Engineer: OK Lando, although the front right is just visual, there are still 25 laps to go after this one, so we want to take care.
Lando NORRIS: Yeah, copy.
Engineer: Scenario two, Nico. Scenario two. We can use for multiple laps.
Engineer: Face is good. Keep it there.
Engineer: And he's behind. Grosjean.
Engineer: Perez is now 23 seconds behind, Perez is 23 seconds behind, Russell in front.
Engineer: Gap ahead 1.5, gap behind 1.4, have a go at the clock.
Engineer: And you get the arrest on Fiat now
Engineer: Lewis, my take UDRS.
Engineer: Hamilton on DRS to Bottas, lecture slap time 6.5, verstappen behind 5.5.
Engineer: Boost button if you want it
Engineer: Ignore the fuel on your dash ignore the fuel values on your dash
Engineer: Double yellow turn three. Double yellow turn three.
Charles LECLERC: I think we should both, or we'll lose a lot of time.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Engineer: And it will be soon, we don't think the soft will last, so we need to have this one longer.
Lewis HAMILTON: Grain in right front
Engineer: So Vettel now the car behind 2.1. We are seeing a similar graining situation on all cars looks fairly stable
Engineer: Ghazali will need to stop again.
Engineer: Ok Kimi, so you have Albon, 7 seconds behind, same tyres as you, he's pretty quick.
Engineer: Lewis two seconds behind and behind in Vettel two seconds
Engineer: Purple C7, position 4. Purple C7, 4. That should help in turn 3, should help braking efficiency turn 3. You just need to take care of rear locking turn 2. Could cause rear locking turn 2.
Engineer: Let's try forward 1% brake balance to look after the rears
Romain GROSJEAN: Yeah, I've pushed everything already. Have a look but let me know
Lewis HAMILTON: Where can I improve?
Engineer: Sir, only area is turn 15 braking
Engineer: Leclerc last lap is a 45.5. He's going to have to have some low deck to go purple.
Engineer: I lost... lost power. Copy.
Engineer: Max if you see safety car pit if you see safety carpet otherwise stay out
Engineer: This is a virtual safety car because Gasly retired, is out of the track so shouldn't be any debris.
Engineer: All right, so keep focus Keep your tires up to temperature. This is an absolutely stellar stint so far mate. Mega job, mega
Max VERSTAPPEN: But like I say, why is the future safety car?
Engineer: Pierre has stopped
Nico HULKENBERG: Since the stop, the brakes have been square, the guy's pulling to the right quite a lot.
Engineer: Copy, we see a difference in temperatures. Nico, we think it could be a glazing type issue, it had just about fixed itself but now it's got worse again, so expect it to carry on for a while.
Engineer: And Carlos, let's have blue bell 5 to put more temperature in the front brakes, more temperature in the front brakes, blue bell 3 for the restart.
Engineer: Ok Carlos, so we know your tyres are in much better condition than Perez's. We know they're in much better condition than Perez's. It's just a case of keeping temperature as much as you can.
Lewis HAMILTON: Ah, I lost two seconds on this damn Delta.
Charles LECLERC: Do we have the fastest lap?
Engineer: No, we don't at the moment. 44.7
Engineer: OK, Max, I would like you to stay off the exit kerb at turn 16, please. Stay off the exit kerb at turn 16.
Engineer: So you are P5 at the moment, Verstappen is in front at 29 seconds and behind is Pérez at 28 seconds.
Engineer: Press oil pump button, oil pump button, Giovinazzi losing a ton of time in the blues, he's 15 ahead, this low 46s will be good.
Engineer: So Verstappen and Leclerc will have a free stop at the end for the fastest lap, so we're not going to go for that. Gap behind, 2.3 and 7 laps remaining.
Engineer: Just bring the car home, bring the car home mate, bring the car home. There are seven laps to go after this one
Engineer: Okay, gap to Giovinazzi is 13 now. He's picked it up a bit, but you're still catching him. Keep pushing.
Engineer: Check out within reason, within reason we're happy for you to push the pace to build temperature, tyre is fine to the end.
Engineer: And FS4, FS4 for QLUX.
Sebastian VETTEL: I got it covered.
Engineer: OK, understood. Just to have some margin at the end, but I'll leave it to you. First up and 4.7 behind.
Engineer: Leclerc has just come in for new tires for the fastest lap
Engineer: and Lou says DRS, overtake is available
Engineer: Okay front right temperature starting to be on the limit there's two laps to go two laps to go
Sebastian VETTEL: Did you get the FASA slap? Did you get it?
Engineer: Not yet, not yet.
Valtteri BOTTAS: Yes, great
Engineer: job Valtteri getting there
Engineer: Ronald Lewis, P2, 4th P1 and 2 for the Mercedes, so awesome race today, survived Baku for another year.
Engineer: Was that a strong race?
Sebastian VETTEL: Yeah, sorry for the beginning, but I was shooting myself a little bit around here. I had no grip.
Valtteri BOTTAS: Amazing job, guys. Really, really strong. Really good job. So proud. Proud to be part of this. Thank you.
Sergio PEREZ: Good job man. Well done guys.
Engineer: It
Sergio PEREZ: was hard to keep up the pace under McLaren, but good job.
Lance STROLL: Good job guys, good recovery at
Engineer: the
Lance STROLL: beginning of the weekend, good to get some points, everyone counts.
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