Russian Grand Prix2021 · Race team radio

EngineerOkay Kimi, that will be 40 seconds.

EngineerOK, quick radio check please. OK. OK, for me too, you can push.

EngineerAnd ready to check out of 10-10, Lando?

Lando NORRISYeah, all good.

EngineerThat was clear.

EngineerSo, go race, and you can push to turn 10, and then call the kart.

EngineerAnd Daniel, launch feedback, clutch drop was good, throttle was initial late.

Daniel RICCIARDOOK, understood.

EngineerHow's the front wing, Max?

Max VERSTAPPENAh, front wing is good.

EngineerCopy.

EngineerBox, box, box, box.

Pierre GASLYCan we do flat adjust or not?

EngineerIt's not really going to help for this next lap. We focus on the start. We have a plan.

EngineerOK, so box in the slab please, box the slab for a drive-through and another start from the end of the pit lane please, and are you happy with front wing?

Fernando ALONSOYes, OK.

EngineerOK, so a bit of a queue of cars ahead of you, we've got 60 seconds margin on temps.

Fernando ALONSOI think our pit box was wet.

EngineerYeah, AFEM.

George RUSSELLWould be good to see a wind map.

EngineerI felt there was quite a few corners sheltered on the drivers parade

EngineerOkay, Kimmy, we need mode charge, mode charge.

EngineerOK, to the grid Max, leave the engine running when you get there, all OK Max? Yeah, all OK.

EngineerCopy that, right, I'll see you on the grid shortly.

Esteban OCONI think the drink is leaking a bit in the helmet.

EngineerUnderstood, we'll take a look at that.

EngineerAnd we need more lift and coast than before for last part, more lift and coast and to the grid

Nikita MAZEPINThe steering rack is feeling strange, it's quite a little offset to the right and yeah it'll be nice to have a look at it because it hasn't been like that before.

EngineerYep, copy that, we'll have a look.

EngineerConfirmed, just to confirm we don't need a by-point fine so you can hop out now Copy, Terrywood could you get a head rest?

EngineerSo Lewis, the rain that we're seeing on the forecast, on the radar rather, there is a little bit that may come towards the very beginning of the race but it may just miss us. It's sort of fizzling out but very unpredictable at the moment.

Carlos SAINZWhere will the rain hit first, which corner?

EngineerTurn 5, turn 6. It will be light, intensity light rain expected, if anything. And some brakes please. So we are expecting a bit more than Q1 level.

EngineerUsual reminders, so once the engine fires up it will be pit speed limiter on, then

Fernando ALONSOyou

Engineerkeep pit speed limiter on until you're past pole position and work these tires on the formation lap. Think about energy management as well.

EngineerSo Sebastian, ahead is Alonso in P6 on hard, Perez P8 on hard, behind is Gasly on hard, and then it's at the back Bottas, Giovinazzi hard, Leclerc, Verstappen hard.

Lance STROLLMake sure to use the pit board as I might not hear you very well

EngineerSo the rain, we expect to come between five past three and quarter past three. We think it's going to be light and potentially other teams think it'll be lighter than we do. That's probably quite important. Anything, it means that it's more and more plan A. More and more plan A.

Max VERSTAPPENMy battery is just draining, I don't know what's going on.

Max VERSTAPPENAll good now

Pierre GASLYMode 6, offset 1.0. Can you check the car, there's so much of a steer. And someone is near the tractor and run.

EngineerYes, we're on it.

EngineerAnd look after your tyres. Behind Lando is Russell, Stroll, Alonso and then Hamilton P6.

EngineerWe need liftoff if you're not overtaking.

EngineerNice move, let's stay on Hamilton.

Nicholas LATIFILook after the front left as well. Copy. Tires are sliding around though. Just getting off of it early.

EngineerOK George, gap at 0.5

EngineerCan we think rain is reducing rain reducing so we need to do something about Russell

EngineerGap at point seven, he is struggling to follow in sector three.

Nicholas LATIFIFlap adjust, plus one.

EngineerOkay, for info we're seeing some separation on front brake temps

Lando NORRISYeah, ties a little bit of our TR3 rear. Definitely being held up a little bit.

EngineerOK, so then the next six cars ahead are all being held up by Russell at the moment. How are the tyres?

Esteban OCONThey're OK at the moment.

EngineerOkay, race info max, Sainz and Norris up front, lap times 41.5, then there's a 5 second gap back to Russell, and that is the train ahead of you.

EngineerAnd more info, currently Hamilton 6th, Checo is right behind him.

EngineerDaniel, could be plan B, could be plan B.

Daniel RICCIARDOOK.

EngineerSo try to stay close to Verstappen Ghazali might move out of the way

Lando NORRISYeah, he's starting to hold me up a lot, but should be okay.

EngineerOK, so Hamilton's still sixth. Gap is just 8.6 ahead.

Lewis HAMILTONRight now my left front

Daniel RICCIARDOYep, so Russell seems pretty consistent, Stroll losing a little bit of rear.

EngineerCopy.

Daniel RICCIARDOI'm pretty even at the moment, tyres. Both axles similar deck.

Max VERSTAPPENYeah, nice job keeping... Is my front wing okay? Yeah, I'll check the front wing.

EngineerWe'll have a look.

EngineerDaniel, is plan B possible? Plan B possible?

Daniel RICCIARDOYes. At this stage, yes.

EngineerGood. Good news.

EngineerYeah, my front left is completely gone

EngineerSo stay on top of the tools. Hand baits there when you need it.

Sergio PEREZThere's some on your side. I'm happy with them.

EngineerYeah, just look after that front left. Look after the front left. We need them later.

EngineerSome people are starting to struggle. Just make sure that front left, look after it. Handbrake for the right hand turns when you need it.

Max VERSTAPPENYeah, I'm first through the last sector, it's incredible.

EngineerOkay Mick, Sonoda ahead, also struggling with graining. Other people in traffic too. Nikita's under pressure now from Giovinazzi. Hopefully this graining will clear a bit. I guess you can hang back there with a bit of a gap until an opportunity comes. At this point though we want to just keep going because opportunities will come by running longer.

Lando NORRISGot him

EngineerSo things are starting to move around up front Stroll has pitted, Russell has now pitted Okay,

Max VERSTAPPENlet's see what pace we got now

EngineerFighting Matsupina off the pits will be take available.

EngineerAnd if you can update your tyre switch.

Lando NORRISI think I still have good faith, so I can continue.

EngineerFernando, what do you think about target lap? How far past it?

Lando NORRISEverything seems okay, I'm picking up some vibrations now, that's the only thing.

EngineerMax, could I have a front wing update for the next stint please? I need a bit more, like two, three clicks. Understood, thank you.

Max VERSTAPPENYeah, because the left one is ****, like it just doesn't turn.

EngineerUnderstood.

EngineerOkay, so that lap time is to protect against cars that haven't stopped yet, so we're looking for high 41 lap times.

Lando NORRISI think the track improvement is masking the deck at the moment, but pace is still good.

EngineerSo this pace is good. You're matching Ricciardo who's still on the medium at the front. So this pace is strong, Sebastian.

EngineerSo Lewis, pace to the cars that have stopped already, it's slightly slower but it's not a big difference, we are still going to go for that target plus 8.

EngineerStill looking at the top five finish.

EngineerOkay, good job in corner 10. We're happy to push, just watch the slips at the peak.

Lance STROLLRepeat, Ben, I can't hear you.

EngineerTyres are good, just watch slip for performance.

Lance STROLLI'm sorry, man, I'm really trying to hear you, but I can't. Can you talk to me in

Engineerthe

Lance STROLLlow speed of the last sector?

EngineerOkay, tyres are good, tyres are good. Russell 3 behind, Russell 3 behind, so this is a good position. Let's keep working on this.

Lewis HAMILTONGet ready to run the car

Engineerham 0.9 correction ham does not have DRS

EngineerOkay Lando, gap to Vettel 25.4. This is almost the Germany situation. We want to extend if we can, but no risk. Pace is good.

EngineerHam 0.9. Nine lap tyre delta to Russell. Can you overtake him? He is doing 41.2.

Daniel RICCIARDOYeah let's try. Let's do it. Box

Engineerthis lap. Box this lap.

EngineerHe's lost his toe, come on!

EngineerI can't turn the car.

Max VERSTAPPENI've got your message, Max. Yeah, now Lumos is just pulling away while your left is going super close.

EngineerThere's not much space behind to be honest with you.

Max VERSTAPPENI'll try to hang in there

EngineerOkay

EngineerAnd update on tires when you can.

Pierre GASLYYeah, f***ing ugly.

EngineerWe are looking to a p5 finish going ahead like this you're doing a good job

EngineerLando, how many more laps at this pace can you do?

Lando NORRISI don't know, it feels very consistent at the moment. I feel like 10, but I'm not sure.

EngineerOK, Lando, 100% pace, please, 100% pace. Confirm.

EngineerBut just look after the front left please, it's a long stint, long stint.

EngineerOK Lando, we will be boxing this lap, we are going to box this lap.

Lando NORRISConfirmed.

EngineerAnd the car behind you is now Verstappen on medium. He pitted same lap as Hamilton.

EngineerAs I say, this is a long stint for this compound max, so please be careful with it initially. It will be a deg race at the end.

EngineerAnd tires are healthy, try to give it a go with Gasly.

EngineerAnd tires are healthy, try to give it a go with Gasly.

Carlos SAINZTires are?

EngineerHealthy, you can push.

EngineerSo it's a front left limitation as you may know. We've got Sainz ahead. He's on 12 lap older tyres. He's already stopped. Gasly ahead of him has yet to stop.

EngineerLuis you can win this race

Pierre GASLYCan you check the front left of the wing? I'm touching a lot, I don't know if it's

Engineersparkles Yes we are checking, we are checking Reminder we have greening there

EngineerKeep on pushing on here, Checo. It's a really good pace.

Sergio PEREZNot the pace of the people around. Give me more information.

EngineerHamilton's cleared the traffic. It's the last lap of 38.0. He's obviously on fresh tyres. This is right on the money.

Fernando ALONSOWhite cloudy in 10-16, any weather forecasts?

EngineerOK, copy that. Significant rain expected in the next 15 minutes. Copy.

EngineerMick we have to box now box to retire the car we cannot resolve the issue and it's a decaying situation I'm sorry about that. So box now, please to retire the car

EngineerBox, box, box, box!

EngineerWalter we get those guys in front of you for points

EngineerOK, Alonso 25 ahead, so we need to follow these guys to get him out of our window.

EngineerVerstappen 0.9 Alonso is close to our pit window if there's a way to get past Sainz we need it

EngineerBeautiful work, Lewis.

EngineerNice, nice. Next car, Sainz.

EngineerThis pace is very good Lewis, we've got Norris at 38.8, he's got Alonso ahead of him doing 40.1

Daniel RICCIARDOYeah, it's just hard with the tyres, this course.

EngineerCopy. Alonso's picked his pace up, 40.1.

EngineerThis pace is very good Lewis

EngineerWe think Alonso is boxing. Let's push as much as we can now. And

Lance STROLLpushing.

EngineerOK, Russell 5 behind, same age tyres, this is P8, this is a good job, keep pushing like this.

EngineerOkay, let's be smart here what we do with that front left.

EngineerWhat kind of

Lewis HAMILTONplaces are you going to, quite quick?

EngineerNorris 38.9, 38.9

EngineerAlonso has passed Verstappen, Perez 1.1. Let's see if we can close up to Sainz to keep the tow, make defending easier.

Daniel RICCIARDOYep, I'll try.

EngineerExpecting light drops in around 10 laps.

EngineerPerez 0.9 he's on medium the longer you can hold him up the easier it gets

Charles LECLERCWhat's going on with the stop guys? Why am I so low?

EngineerAvoid K1

EngineerVerstappen is struggling a lot on medium

Carlos SAINZFrom left, starting to go.

EngineerOK, understood.

EngineerLewis, there's still a threat of rain towards the end.

EngineerThat's 11 laps to go dude, 11 laps. Keep going, you're doing a good job mate.

Nikita MAZEPINTrying to improve my balance.

EngineerThreat of rain 5 to 10 minutes, hitting 10-5-7.

EngineerControl the slip in sector 3, plus 1 on brake balance.

Lance STROLLI can't hear you!

EngineerTorque 8! Torque 8!

Lance STROLLWhere did that loss of rear grip come from? The temperature!

EngineerTemps are too low, temps are too low. Torque 8, torque 8 and push as hard as you can.

EngineerHis tyres are almost 30 laps old. Free air. You've got him.

EngineerThere is a risk of rain increasing, it would arrive around turn 5 area first.

Lewis HAMILTONStarts getting closer.

Fernando ALONSOIt's darker and darker in 10-7.

EngineerCopy that.

Fernando ALONSOYeah, definitely some drops of rain, 10-7 and 8.

EngineerCopy that.

EngineerHow are conditions, Max?

Max VERSTAPPENNo, it's frizzling a little bit there.

EngineerAnd Lando, umbrellas are going up.

Lando NORRISSpit it quite a bit.

EngineerWe think rain coming turn five we think rain coming turn five keep us posted if you see anything

Carlos SAINZOkay, be ready with the inters, be ready with the soft.

Valtteri BOTTASTires are okay, just I really struggle to follow because I've not passed on the straights

Carlos SAINZOkay, it's nearly enter.

EngineerWe think the rain might get worse before it gets better.

EngineerOK, let's box for inters then, box for inters.

EngineerBox, box, box, box! Box, box, box!

EngineerIt's

Lewis HAMILTONpretty slippery, but it's not raining much.

EngineerBox, box, box, box for Inters.

EngineerTrack very slippery from here to turn 10, lots of cars going off. Yeah,

Lando NORRISshut up!

EngineerLando, what do you think about it in Inter, what do you think about it in Inter?

Lando NORRISNo!

Lando NORRISI need three flags, what are they doing?

Lewis HAMILTONIt's stopped raining man!

EngineerSo box, box, box, box, pick and burn. There's more coming.

EngineerOK, Lando, Hamilton has taken it. He's gone to an inter. Yes, I've seen. I've seen.

Lando NORRISWe've just got to commit to staying.

EngineerSo if Norris tries to hang this out, he's going to be in trouble.

Max VERSTAPPENHeavy rain here mate, heavy rain!

EngineerCopy mate, copy, keep it on the black stuff.

Lando NORRISIt's so wet boys.

EngineerI got a box. I want to shove. Yeah, we're gonna come I can't do this. We're gonna come in We're gonna box

EngineerP2 is on here mate

Charles LECLERCI cannot stop the car guys

EngineerGet in there Lewis. That's it mate. That's the 100. Yeah, well reacted at the end there Lewis. Beautiful drive mate.

Lewis HAMILTONGreat effort guys. That was hard work man. It's taken us a long time to get that 100. But so grateful for all of you, for all the work back in the factory and here. Thanks so much for not giving up on me.

EngineerWell done Lewis. Great job man. Really well done.

Lewis HAMILTONFantastic call on the rain tyres. Thank you.

EngineerNicely done Max, we'll take that. P2, nice job. We definitely take that one. Wow, that was at the end a good call. I think we took the right lap. Well done Max, you judged that well, you got the right lap there. We didn't lose too many points today, so that's really, really good.

EngineerMP3, Carlos. Nice job. Well managed. How bizarre.

Carlos SAINZVamos! Well managed, guys. Probably the toughest scenario that we could face. We did it perfect. Vamos!

EngineerYeah, it was a team effort there. You picked up the right calls. Good job.

Carlos SAINZYeah, no, definitely. Thank you, guys. Perfect job.

EngineerOkay Daniel, that's P4 mate, P4, good job. It got pretty tasty at the end, well done buddy, that was a good call with the inters. Okay,

Daniel RICCIARDOyeah, that was, spiced it up a little. Okay, yeah, I think that was a good call, so we did what we could, thank you.

EngineerLando tried to stay out on the slick tyres and it just got too wet.

Daniel RICCIARDOYeah, it was really bad through turn 5, this part of the track. Where you guys are wasn't too bad, but yeah, it got very heavy the last couple laps.

EngineerOk man, so that's the checker, that's the checker. Brilliant start and opening lap and that first stint was really good defending against those faster cars and then crazy end and good call on the inters. Lots of other people didn't do that as quick as you did and then as you saw struggled so nice race mate, that was good.

Nikita MAZEPINCopy man. I had a lock up when I was fighting with the faster cars on the first stint and after that lock up I never had the same grip unfortunately. So yeah, we'll analyse in the comebacks from then.

EngineerYeah man, nice job, nice job. We'll have the in button please, the in button.

EngineerAnd that's P5, so we were at the first car stop in there for the inters, that's a good call there.

EngineerWe'll check the effect Sorry

Yuki TSUNODAfor the start

EngineerYeah, we'll have a look later together

Yuki TSUNODAYeah, but also, like, the oversteer was quite crazy in the first lap, I don't know what's going on, but...

EngineerYeah, I know, I know, we need to have a good look

EngineerOkay mate, that's still P6, shame we lost out a few positions there but it was a very good race mate. What's more in it for us?

Fernando ALONSOYeah we were close to the podium maybe.

EngineerYeah Sainz was struggling in P3 so it was definitely on the table, good fight for new mate.

Fernando ALONSOHow Sainz finished in front of us?

EngineerWe were in front of him no? Yeah he stopped two laps earlier than us. Okay,

Fernando ALONSOthey are so lucky, you know a little bit less rain. Yeah

Engineerso Leclerc and Norris tried to stay out, they lost out even more. So Leclerc finished P15, he was right behind you.

Fernando ALONSOYeah yeah sure, I mean nobody predicts the weather and the intensity of the rain so it's just a pure luck.

EngineerAnd P15

EngineerThat's it Kimi, fantastic, P8, but actually Norris has a penalty, so that's P7 mate, P7 very likely, fantastic race, fantastic race, well done.

EngineerHow's up, how are you doing?

Sergio PEREZF***, I'm very well. I'm lucky we are.

EngineerIt's the one that got away.

EngineerOK, lovely job, well done mate, well done, that is P10, that's P10

George RUSSELLYeah, well done guys, I think that was a really good stint, some of the slicks Except for the last few laps, really struggling for overall

Engineergrip

George RUSSELLI don't know if it was on my old tyres, or what, but nevertheless, that was a good result, well done

EngineerYeah, mega drive mate, that was really good, really good

EngineerThat's checkered flag Lance p11 p11 that was tough with the hard tires. It was tough with the hard tires We know they were worn. We know they were worn

EngineerOK, checkered flag, checkered flag, P12, sorry about that.

Sebastian VETTELWell, we tried. One risky many, maybe, but yeah. Yeah, it was drying up, you know, again, but then there was a big shower coming, so I didn't see that lap before.

EngineerYeah, exactly.

Sebastian VETTELI think if we stop one lap sooner, we are at the best spot, but hey,

Engineertook

Sebastian VETTELthe gamble. Yeah.

Pierre GASLYGuys, whatever we do with the weather forecast, we need to change. Hockenheim, Spa, here, whatever we do is wrong, so... This was a golden opportunity, we didn't take it. Yeah, I think we are on the line with that. Well, I tried my best in these conditions, but... I know you did, there was nothing you could do, we just did the wrong one there. That was bad. Yeah. And again, sorry, a lot of work in front of us. But we are there, we are there with the pace. Just need to put it together.