Belgian Grand Prix 2020: Race team radio
132 radio messages were recorded during race at the Belgian Grand Prix 2020, across 20 drivers. 128 of them have a transcript; the rest are audio only. Lewis HAMILTON 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
- Lewis HAMILTON · Mercedes · 16 messages
- Valtteri BOTTAS · Mercedes · 16 messages
- Esteban OCON · Renault · 13 messages
- Max VERSTAPPEN · Red Bull · 11 messages
- Lando NORRIS · McLaren · 10 messages
- Pierre GASLY · AlphaTauri · 8 messages
- Charles LECLERC · Ferrari · 8 messages
- Daniel RICCIARDO · Renault · 8 messages
- Sebastian VETTEL · Ferrari · 8 messages
- Kimi RAIKKONEN · Alfa Romeo · 5 messages
- Alexander ALBON · Red Bull · 5 messages
- Kevin MAGNUSSEN · Haas · 5 messages
- Nicholas LATIFI · Williams · 5 messages
- George RUSSELL · Williams · 3 messages
- Lance STROLL · Racing Point · 3 messages
- Carlos SAINZ · McLaren · 2 messages
- Romain GROSJEAN · Haas · 2 messages
- Daniil KVYAT · AlphaTauri · 2 messages
- Antonio GIOVINAZZI · Alfa Romeo · 1 message
- Sergio PEREZ · Racing Point · 1 message
Every message, in the order it happened
Engineer: OK Kimi, that's 1 minute 20 for the green light.
Engineer: Remember it's the different box for the start today, so the one in the pit exit.
Engineer: And the gears will not be synchronized for the first practice start.
Engineer: And ready to attack, Landon, ready to attack?
Lando NORRIS: Yeah, ready to attack, all good.
Engineer: Loud and clear.
Engineer: Mode 6, Strat 8
Engineer: And for the start we will do the same procedure, so just target to red, no bite point, just
Charles LECLERC: to red, and
Engineer: when you get there you should have again one car in front.
Engineer: Water
Lewis HAMILTON: leaking from a little bit down my back.
Carlos SAINZ: There's some smoke coming out of the guard. Just double check everything. Yeah, box, box, something broke.
Engineer: Copy that.
Engineer: Ok mate, how is the car balance? How is the car balance?
Lando NORRIS: Yeah, I think it's ok
Engineer: Understood, copy that And remember we are driving through the pit lane again And I give you feedback at the start That was target, plus 4, throttle late Drive out, aggressive And come through the pit lane Again, please
George RUSSELL: Please advise on brake balance.
Engineer: We're happy with temps.
Carlos SAINZ: There's some smoke coming out of the car, just double check everything. Yeah, box, box, something broke. Copy that. Stop in front of
Engineer: the garage.
Carlos SAINZ: Looks like exhaust. Something big. It's something pretty serious. There was smoke, a lot of smoke coming out of the car. And it felt like the exhaust.
Engineer: OK, Carlos, we're going to investigate this in the garage, you should stay in the car. Carlos, that is dead, you can get out.
Lewis HAMILTON: Something's wrong with the pump because now you've plugged in the tube and as I did the start all the liquid went all over my face.
Engineer: Everything OK Max?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, just the engine doesn't really feel smooth, like a lot of turbo noises and stuff in mode 6, like low RPM.
Engineer: Copy, thank you. I'll see you back here in the garage.
Engineer: 30 minutes to go. 30 minutes. Carlos Sainz will not start the race.
Engineer: And don't be afraid to use lots of Daz on the formation lap.
Engineer: When you get settled into the race just think about your energy and also anti-deploy if you don't need it and think about that to top yourself up.
Engineer: Esteban, John Abbott is reporting that the wind is actually stronger than it was yesterday and it's tailwind on the back straight as usual up to turn 5.
Engineer: Track temperature is about 10 degrees higher than it was in qualifying.
Engineer: OK, so outside the top 10 we got everybody on mediums, except for Gasly, he is on hards, and Leclerc is on softs.
Engineer: Okay, Kevin, two minutes till we go, two minutes after we fire up, we'll do the K1, we'll switch on the pit limiter, and then when we're on the deck, we'll do the static bite point learn, and you keep the pit limiter until the line, and remember, back to mode race start for the start. Okay, you can do your static bite point learn, and you've got your pit limiter on. All right, Kevin, let's go, have fun!
Engineer: Strat 8, Strat 8, and Mode 7, Mode 7.
Engineer: Kate off, Kate off.
Engineer: Sanic out to Valtteri at 1.6, we've got Verstappen P3, Ricciardo P4.
Romain GROSJEAN: Okay boys, find something on strategy.
Nicholas LATIFI: Is everything okay with the rear left? I feel a lack of support quite a lot in the right-hand corners. Hold 7 before turn 2.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Engineer: We believe the car is okay, we believe the car is okay. It's a big asymmetry.
Pierre GASLY: That's how we race. Try to squeeze me like hell.
Engineer: So Kimi behind will have DRS, and we'll go Spark 2 next lap, Spark 2 next lap.
Charles LECLERC: They are struggling so much in the straights.
Engineer: And how was the balance?
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yeah, both axles a bit weak, but okay.
Engineer: Copy that.
Engineer: and Norris lap time behind 42.3 also soft compound
Engineer: Avatari HPP-1, set position 4, 1 is now allowed.
Engineer: Do
Valtteri BOTTAS: we have one push now?
Engineer: We do, but we agreed not to do it against each other.
Valtteri BOTTAS: I never heard of that.
Engineer: Engine braking minus 2, MBB minus 1, BB minus 1, engine braking minus 2.
Engineer: nice job mate nice job next target Perez let's get him
Engineer: So 10-12, think braking earlier for more apex speed.
Engineer: OK, so race update for you. Latifi, who is at the back of the group, is 18 seconds behind you. He's the last car, 18 seconds behind you now.
Engineer: P.U. 13, position 7 please. The lifting coast into turn 18 is not necessary for us. Too
Esteban OCON: much info there.
Engineer: Copy.
Engineer: Strat 10, position 2 please, Strat 10, position 2, and the tyres have peaked.
Max VERSTAPPEN: The second, no grip on these tires. Understood.
Engineer: The tire temps themselves look okay. They're not too high from what we think, and they're similar across cars, but yeah, it's difficult, I can see. Let's try diff 22. Diff 22, that will help a couple places. It's hard to understand totally what's going on with the tires. It's not like overheating, so it's difficult to tell you how to manage them. Going on, if we went on to the planned tire, would you take flap off? Would you still take flap off for the next tire?
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: It's hard to say. It's just an overall lack of grip.
Engineer: Understood, Kevin, understood. The C2 is looking okay for other people, so we're just checking all our options.
Engineer: And careful, there is a lot of debris. Cars are driving very slow. People seem to be sticking more to the right when they pass the accident, but there's a lot of debris all over the track. Drive very slowly.
Lewis HAMILTON: There's a lot of debris out there.
Engineer: Yeah, copy.
George RUSSELL: I'm okay. There's nowhere I could go guys.
George RUSSELL: I'm okay, there's nowhere I can go guys.
Engineer: So Gasly did not pit, Perez has not pitted I believe. Albon jumped you because you didn't make enough of a gap before stopping.
Engineer: And I need no more big braking. Offset 12. Offset 12. Keep this situation.
Esteban OCON: Is it okay to keep pushing the brakes? That's my question.
Engineer: Rear tyres are in... Sorry, tyres are good, Esteban, tyres are good.
Engineer: And Charles, we are looking into plan C or plan B at the moment, looking into both.
Charles LECLERC: I, yeah, I mean, either plan B or plan C, they are very different, so I need either to come into one or the other.
Engineer: Yes, we are looking into both plans at the moment. I will let you know which one.
Engineer: and tyre wear from the last set was very good, so lots of rubber remaining.
Lewis HAMILTON: Still quite a big split between the front two, there's
Engineer: a
Lewis HAMILTON: left one glazed.
Engineer: We imagine that should come back once we get back to racing speeds.
Engineer: Remember you can have a take from the line.
Engineer: And if you use too much press and hold overtake, just be careful of clipping later in the lap.
Engineer: Remember to use overtake if necessary.
Lewis HAMILTON: Lots of power
Engineer: Gasly at 2.8
Engineer: Nothing to worry about Lewis, that's just energy management, that should all be back to normal now.
Engineer: Well done, SOC 9, SOC 9
Engineer: And just think about a little bit more management turn 10, that would match Verstappen.
Engineer: seem
Lewis HAMILTON: to be losing a lot in the last corner okay
Engineer: copy we'll have a look if you go hpp one position four one position four
Engineer: So you should have DRS and Norris, I'll have DRS on you.
Lance STROLL: Are you sure I should have had DRS?
Engineer: There was an issue with it, it will get activated next lap.
Engineer: So it will be a long stint.
Engineer: Tire temps are stabilized and are good.
Engineer: You're doing a good job on the management. You're going to have 25 laps when you cross the line. It's just going to be a bit tricky at the end, maintaining bulk temp.
Engineer: Albons can be held up by Gasly on old tyres, Daniel last lap, 49.6.
Engineer: You've broken Stroll's DRS, that's great.
Kevin MAGNUSSEN: I'm ready for attraction in 19.001.
Engineer: Understood, we're checking.
Engineer: Chassis dash set to position 5, this happens till 1.6, he's trying to get the RS but not quite getting that
Engineer: And suggest high speed 5, high speed 5.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yup, understood.
Engineer: Alright mate, doing a good job, let's keep looking after the slips.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yep, understood.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Engineer: Okay Pierre, Alex behind you is struggling with temperatures, Alex behind you is struggling with temperatures. Don't worry about these guys, we will get them back at the end of the race. You're doing a very good job, keep pushing.
Engineer: So we're stopping at 1.7 losses in most of the corners in a toe, try to work turn 8, less speed on entry for higher mid.
Engineer: it's the
Nicholas LATIFI: same issue as the first stint where your left is like there's no support and then front right as well
Engineer: So clouded over track time will be dropping
Engineer: OK, Albon's passing, so up to Gasly. Need to pass him as soon as we can.
Engineer: That's about 3-4 seconds Verstappen, 5.2, you are the fastest man on track.
Charles LECLERC: What's happening? Why do we need to do slow pit stops?
Engineer: We'll let you know later.
Engineer: Ok Pierre, what do you think about coming in on prime for 20 laps? Update on tyres, do you think we can keep holding the pace on holding Ocon or are we losing too much time now? Answer me now. I think it's been a good break.
Audio only, no transcript available for this message.
Engineer: Leclerc has pitted again, Leclerc has pitted again, we will be in front of him We don't think they will all make it to the end Ok push push push push
Kimi RAIKKONEN: I have a lot of water in my right foot from the bridge.
Engineer: Everything you got, Valtteri.
Sebastian VETTEL: What is the charge doing in terms of lap time?
Engineer: 47.8
Sebastian VETTEL: On mediums?
Engineer: Correct, new mediums.
Sebastian VETTEL: I'm happy to block.
Engineer: Understood.
Sebastian VETTEL: Okay, I'm not gonna pass these guys in front, don't
Engineer: think
Sebastian VETTEL: about hitting
Engineer: Ok, tyres still look decent for him. And how are your tyres? Yeah, safe too. Ok, copy. Doing a good job mate.
Engineer: Uncharged lap time 49.0, and if we stop we'll go behind him, so best is to stay there.
Engineer: And Lando Prez is making his way through. He's three cars back. That's about six seconds back. Also, Gasly and Leclerc pitted. They're trying the two-stop.
Esteban OCON: I have some concern about the front run tyre.
Engineer: Copy. OK, so we're happy with tyres as they are. Maybe can save a little bit more turn 10 on front right.
Sebastian VETTEL: I have nothing on these tires left.
Engineer: Okay, understood.
Engineer: We see some vibration on the rears, let us know if it's an issue. No
Valtteri BOTTAS: issue, tyres are good.
Engineer: Do you have vibrations?
Sebastian VETTEL: Not too bad, but I tell you I'm going to get eaten up.
Engineer: And how are the tires?
Daniel RICCIARDO: Yep, they're holding on okay. This is the pace.
Engineer: This pace is good, half a second quicker than Obon.
Engineer: And keep pushing like this, you are doing a good job, gap to Magnussen in front, 2.1.
Valtteri BOTTAS: I have this issue with numbness of the left leg again, a bit of the brakes, struggles within the back.
Engineer: Copy that.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Well, vibrations are getting worse as well, so just keep an eye on it.
Engineer: Lewis pace 48.2, still a visible effect on the tow.
Engineer: Verstappen still complaining of a vibration
Max VERSTAPPEN: They are so weak, as soon as it settles it's more than it looks to me, they have no front, I'll try to hang in there.
Engineer: Yep, last lap was a tenth quicker than Daniel and just a tenth slower than Bottas.
Engineer: And Lando, on the previous lap, we've had a warning for... Yeah, I don't care about the... OK. Turn now. I don't care about the guys behind.
Lando NORRIS: All right.
Valtteri BOTTAS: Let's talk it up with the front net
Engineer: Copy
Valtteri BOTTAS: that
Engineer: Okay mate, great job, great job. Full concentration. Albon is two cars ahead. He's struggling. Seven seconds in front of us.
Engineer: just avoid curbs from the front right
Engineer: OK, it's nice, it's
Lewis HAMILTON: quite easy to lock up right now.
Engineer: OK, copy Lewis, we're probably going to start getting a bit low on gauge on the fronts so just look after them as much as you can.
Max VERSTAPPEN: I mean, critical or not?
Engineer: You can stay out, Max. We're happy if you stay out. Just look after the front left tyre.
Engineer: I
Lewis HAMILTON: don't like the feel of this rat tire
Engineer: Track temp is going to be dropping we just got a bit of overcast
Daniel RICCIARDO: You still happy with everything, settings? We
Engineer: have PU3, position 12, PU3, position 12
Engineer: Norris is on the back of Ocon as well so might give him something to think about
Engineer: So try that multi-bead blue again, multi-bead blue I'm trying Barrett, it's taking me a f***ing
Lance STROLL: second Okay mate, okay
Engineer: I'm just reminding you
Engineer: So take on curbs.
Engineer: No more overtake this lap
Engineer: OK, coming into the final lap now Max, look after both left hand and right hand side tyres now please.
Max VERSTAPPEN: I couldn't understand what you were saying.
Engineer: This is the final lap, just look after all tyres now please.
Engineer: Okay so that's P2. You're coming in the pits from the pit exit. Good race. So you're going down the pit lane in the wrong direction and look for the boards.
Sebastian VETTEL: P13, P13 confirmed, thanks for your report.
Engineer: Ok, well
Sebastian VETTEL: I was thinking that you would come back more with the set in the end, but it was really bad, the tyres were getting really cold, so I tried. Yeah, that's why the new soft was attractive, but probably what was to stay out was the best strategy. Thanks anyway, good effort.
Engineer: And slow button on, slow button on, P14. So it was Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Ricciardo and Ocon. You've done a good job.
Engineer: Get in there Lewis! What a drive mate! What a drive!
Lewis HAMILTON: Fantastic effort guys! That was awesome! Thanks so much mate!
Engineer: Ha
Daniel RICCIARDO: ha ha ha ha! Run white, that's
Engineer: our
Daniel RICCIARDO: one.
Engineer: I was
Daniel RICCIARDO: f***ing pushing.
Engineer: I f***ing
Daniel RICCIARDO: sent that last lap.
Engineer: OK, we're coming in the pit lane, so slow down, we're coming back in the pit lane the other wrong way, fail 84, fail please, fail 84, fail, back in the pit lane. OK Alex, I'll look there in the end. Good effort Alex, they were just too quick on the straight today.
Alexander ALBON: Yep,
Engineer: OK,
Alexander ALBON: thanks guys. I don't know why, if it's the same performance with the medium and the hard, why run the mediums? Especially because we pitted early with the safety cut.
Engineer: Yeah, understood. OK, already stopped P1, and you can leave it in P1 please.
Engineer: Ok dude, that's the checker, that's the checker. Remember the procedure to come into the end of the pit lane. Good job from you man, good drive. It was close to being able to defend the Ferraris. Good work man. We
Romain GROSJEAN: did the best we could. Hard time at the end, completely dead. But nice work, I mean keeping up with the Ferraris. Really good horse.
Engineer: Yeah man, you were matching Vettel's pace ahead. It was only because Leclerc had fresher tyres that he was able to get past.
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, no tires, nothing.
Engineer: Yeah,
Max VERSTAPPEN: well done mate, that was right on the bubble. Yeah, we brought it home, so another podium, which is good.
Engineer: Thanks for bringing it home. It looked like a very unfun day out there, but thanks for bringing it home
Engineer: Scenario one, scenario one. Big lift, and remember we drive back up. Yeah, almost mate, almost. Remember we drive back up to the pit lane and P7. We finished P7. Yeah,
Lando NORRIS: not bad, I guess. How do you know we had good pace in the end? The beginning was pretty tricky.
Engineer: But
Lando NORRIS: in the end we had good pace, I just...
Engineer: It
Lando NORRIS: was one lap too late, really.
Engineer: That was a good drive, man. That was a good drive. Well done.
Engineer: And checkered flag, checkered flag, remember we boxed the car, turn 1, turn 1, in lap is now the full lap.
Engineer: So we finish P12 P12 good race good race
Engineer: Okay, good job Lance, P9, P9.
Engineer: Checkered flag, checkered flag, slow down, you'll be coming in the pit exit, so come in the pit exit, you can go to run switch cool, P10 checkered P10.
Engineer: Well done mate, fantastic, well done, remember you're coming in the pit lane the wrong way, remember, you're coming in the pit lane the wrong way P4 and P5 for Renault, fantastic Awesome,
Esteban OCON: awesome, bravo to us, well done
Engineer: Scenario 12 please Esteban, scenario 12 Well
Esteban OCON: done Esteban, quite a race, sorry that you have to take two times the same car, it's been good, thank you
Engineer: It
Esteban OCON: was fun, well entertaining till the end, merci Cyril Merci, merci
Engineer: Ok Esteban, usual story, when you come to a stop, P2 to P1 carefully please, and then a pause of about 3 seconds and then P0 Well done mate, great job
Engineer: What a drive, what a drive Pierre. Great recovery. Fail 84, fail 84, fail 84 and you come in the pit lane. Wow,
Pierre GASLY: what a race.
Engineer: What a recovery. Amazing. Very, very good drive.
Pierre GASLY: Very good drive. Thanks.
Engineer: Super happy. I know the test car was really unlucky for us, we did an amazing first inch. But an amazing recovery. Good, good race. Good drive today.
Pierre GASLY: Thank you very much. Yeah, thanks everybody.
Engineer: It
Pierre GASLY: was an important race for me, so thanks to everyone. And hopefully Antoine enjoyed it as well, as much as I did. Thank you.
Engineer: I'm sure mate, I'm sure you make him proud. It was an amazing drive.
Engineer: we took the flag took the flag so we come in from the pit exit we come in from the pit exit and fail 84 fail fail 84. so what's the position what's anything bad p11 danny p11
Daniil KVYAT: a
Engineer: lot of people struggled as on the base going long and yeah it was a bit difficult
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