2014 Chinese GP qualifying team radio transcript

2014 Chinese Grand Prix

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No one on the pit wall has any excuses for not being prepared for wet weather in qualifying – today’s was the third in four race weekends.

With frequent showers topping up the water levels at the circuit and the possibility of more rain to come on Sunday drivers and their race engineers had to make tough calls about which tyres to use and when.

Some, like Fernando Alonso, were anxious avoid avoid wasting tyres they might need during the race. And others simply found they couldn’t get the wet weather rubber to work for them – like the McLaren pair.

On several occasions last year Force India didn’t seem to be completely on top of their tactics for wet qualifying sessions and today Nico Hulkenberg and his engineers weren’t in sync. There was frustration from the driver over how long it took to take decisions and disagreement over where they were missing out on lap time.

Despite getting Lotus into the top ten this year Romain Grosjean felt his car was capable of much more. But Daniel Ricciardo didn’t feel the same about the lap which put hi on the front row of the grid, telling his team there was nothing more to be had from the RB10.

Here are the team radio messages that were broadcast during qualifying.

2014 Chinese Grand Prix qualifying team radio transcript

PhaseTimeFromToMessage
Q1-0:44Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatSo at the moment the question is between inter and extreme. We are ready with both compounds in the garage. At the moment your setting, your switches are for type two. In case of type three you need to adjust to go to rain three.
Q1Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaOK in this case if the rain is increasing I think we should be first one to go out.
Q1Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatYes we are discussing about that. In terms of the switches now you are diff entry four. We go out like this. Then if you are struggling mid-corner you can think about diff entry three. Hydraulic bias rearward as discussed and brake offset forward 0.5, please check.
Q115:33Dave RobsonJenson ButtonAll cars around you left the pit lane with you. That is Hamilton in front, Kevin just behind, Kevin has a large gap behind him. So let’s warm the brakes and make good gap. All but three cars are on full wets.
Q115:15Tony RossNico RosbergNico we don’t have telemetry at the moment so we’ll just try and feed back to you. So just warming the brakes up. Everyone around you is on X-wet, there’s a couple of cars on inters. We’ll go one timed on the X-wet but just confirm you’re happy with it.
Q10.625Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoWhat do you think of the conditions?
Q1Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieI’d probably stay on extreme [wet tyres] for now.
Q114:58Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonAll cars around are on X-wet.
Q114:17Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoToro Rosso ahead of Sebastian is on inters. If he struggles he may back into you so make good space to Vettel. I imagine Vettel will back off as well.
Q114:04Guillaume RocquelinSebastian Vettel[Unclear] ahead is on inters, he might be struggling.
Q112:39Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelDisabling the fastest lap is available. Fail 21, fail two-one, fail, if you want.
Q112:05Adrian SutilMarco SchupbachI have the brake-by-wire failsafe
Q1Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilOK we are having a look, we have one lap to adjust it. We keep looking. It is clearly wet conditions now so we go for another lap.
Q19:20Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonNico gaining turn 13, he’s short-shifting there.
Q18:40Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieTraction’s really poor. Very poor with this tyre,
Q1Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK, understood.
Q15:14Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuI have no idea what to do. I’ll let you do the call.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanCan you do it in one lap in the wet tyre, question?
Q1Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuYeah I can certainly try.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK
Q1Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuFull wet.
Q1Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK, full wet.
Q12:25Fernando AlonsoAndrea StellaOK we have two more laps. Some are improving, we should be OK. Still P5.
Q11:23Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezYou’ve got to push on this out-lap.
Q11:02Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergThere are people going faster on intermediates now, midfield are all converging to intermediates.
Q10:40Sebastian VettelGuillaume RocquelinI don’t think I will improve so if you are OK, I box.
Q1Guillaume RocquelinSebastian VettelUnderstood. Box, box.
Q10:14Gary GannonMax ChiltonSo Jules is 1.6 quicker on inters, 1.6 quicker than that lap, this is your last timed lap.
Q10:00Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezUnfortunately Perez had already backed off thinking he hadn’t crossed the line before the chequered flag dropped.
One timed lap, Checo, one timed lap, just made it.
Q10:00Kimi RaikkonenAntonio SpagnoloIn the high speed and low speed we are locking the rear under braking.
Q10:00Max ChiltonGary GannonThat was such a mess.
Q1Gary GannonMax ChiltonUnderstood, Max, understood.
Q1Max ChiltonGary GannonWhat’s the info?
Q1Gary GannonMax ChiltonOK so Jules is P19 at one minute 59.3, Ericsson P20 at two minutes .6, and we’re P21, two minutes .8.
Q10:00Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonYou did a good job, you are P20, Chilton behind two-tenthsd and then Maldonado didn’t take part in the session.
Q1Marcus EricssonAngel BaenaHow far are we off Bianchi and Kobayashi.
Q1Angel BaenaMarcus EricssonKobayashi did 59.2 and Bianchi 59.3.
Q1Paul DavisonJules BianchiVery good effort, mate. Kobayashi just got us, did a 59.2 in front of us.
Q1Jules BianchiPaul DavisonWhere is Max?
Q1Paul DavisonJules BianchiMax is P21, two minutes .8 seconds.
Q1Jules BianchiPaul DavisonThat was tough, guys.
Q1Paul DavisonJules BianchiDon’t worry mate you’ve done very well anyway after FP3.
Q1Jules BianchiPaul DavisonGood job guys, thanks.
Q1Tim WrightKamui KobayashiGood job. Grosjean P16, 58.4, Gutierrez 58.9, then you 59.2, Bianchi 59.3, Ericsson, Chilton two minutes.
Q1Esteban GutierrezCraig GardinerGutierrez’s brake-by-wire system went into a safety mode and he failed to make the cut for Q2. Sutil appears to have had the same problem earlier in the session (see above).
Why did this happen with the brake?
Q1Craig GardinerEsteban GutierrezWe’ll talk about it when you get back because I don’t know the answer to that question but… Think you lost a lot of time there.
Q212:29Tony RossNico RosbergWe’re going to go for two timed on the inter. If you’re alower on the second lap, Nico, then just stay out and then we’ll box for another inter at the end of that second time.
Q211:55Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonFront brakes still cold so keep working the front brakes.
Q211:45Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonThey’re starting to wake up now, starting to look good.
Q211:04Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilAdrian use DRS if you get the light and keep the overtake button in.
Q29:40Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoSector one and two very good, in line with Mercedes.
Q29:12Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilSeems off a little bit in 11 compared to ourselves so we can possibly improve there, brake 11.
Q28:34Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaWe need main magnettino blend four.
Q27:00Felipe MassaAndrew Murdoch[Unclear] tyres no grip at all.
Q2Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaCopy that, the tyres have no grip.
Q26:55Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergThis slightly terse exchange between Hulkenberg and his race engineer seems to have been edited in at least one place.
Pits this lap, pit confirm
Q2Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceGo on the back straight?
Q2Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergYeah I’m looking at what to do. It’s not instantaneous, yeah? Got to make a decision.
Q2Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceNeed to know whether to pit or complete this lap.
Q2Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergYeah if I don’t tell you to pit, you complete the lap. But I need to look at what we need to do timing-wise, then decide. We’re pitting now. Pit now.
Q23:16Jenson ButtonDave RobsonWas I up on my last lap?
Q2Dave RobsonJenson ButtonYeah just a tenth up, just a small amount up.
Q2Dave RobsonJenson ButtonWe will have time for one timed lap,possibly a second one if we keep our pace up on the out-lap.
Q21:48Tony RossNico RosbergRosberg’s telemetry is apparently working again.
So brake temperatures just give them a good brake at the end, they’re pretty even but just a bit of managing at the moment. Tyre temperatures are eightfront and seven rear.
Q20:46Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonSo you’re currently P1, four-and-a-half tenths to Vettel, P2.
Q20:40Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoTalking over each other slightly.
One more timed lap after this.
Q2Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieOK.
Q20:00Fernando AlonsoAndrea StellaAnother message which seems to have been edited. Alonso isn’t convinced his tyres will produce a faster lap time and he wishes to save them in case he needs them for the race.
This is slower and the next one again [unclear] the tyres so I am happy to pit in.
Q2Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoOK we are still P5, we are P5, we have this five seconds margin to get another lap, you can even use them, try to open another lap, if it’s not quicker we box.
Q2Fernando AlonsoAndrea StellaYeah but the race is tomorrow. I’m having the tyres go into a strange condition.
Q2Andrea StellaFernando AlonsoFernando if you think you don’t improve I’m happy to box. I don’t know how the tyres are.
Q2Fernando AlonsoAndrea StellaBox, box.
Q2Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseOK box. Where did we end up?
Q2Gianpiero LambiaseSergio PerezThat’s P16. P16 for us today. What happened on that tyre?
Q2Sergio PerezGianpiero LambiaseCouldn’t find any grip. The first time I had massive understeer to turn one. I don’t know why. And then I just had trouble from then on.
Q2Mark TempleKevin MagnussenUnforunately we didn’t get through to P3. We finished P15. Kevin, it looked like we struggled a bit more on the inter than the wet. Any thoughts on the balance of the car or the tyre condition?
Q2Kevin MagnussenMark TempleThe balance didn’t feel too bad really. I just didn’t any the grip at all, overall grip was much lower. I actually think we would have been quicker on the wet tyre, it seemed more consistent and more stable. This tyre was really snappy. Just low grip.
Q2Mark TempleKevin MagnussenYeah I wonder if we just didn’t get them working in these conditions.
Q2Marco SchupbachAdrian SutilOK still P14, it’s for sure P15 so… But OK, it’s for sure 14, OK. Good job Adrian. We beat Magnussen and Perez, and Kvyat was just a tenth away. Bit of a pity but that’s how it is.
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK Dany, P13 confirmed.
Q2Daniil KvyatMarco MatassaDon’t understand really why we lost against [unclear].
Q2Marco MatassaDaniil KvyatOK Dany, OK, don’t worry we are looking into that.
Q2Dave RobsonJenson ButtonEveryone has completed their timed laps. We are P12. We missed out by just over a tenth.
Q2Jenson ButtonDave RobsonYeah I think our biggest problem is just the front tyre juddering. I don’t think we can get the grip in the front tyres or the temperature in the front tyres. Especially… high-speed’s fine, it’s the low-speed.
Q2Antonio SpagnoloKimi RaikkonenOK you are P11. We saw the problem last sector so we will look into the problem of the down shifting. Sorry about that.
Q2Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergHulkenberg made it into Q3 by 0.013s
The rain has intensified. I think the rain that’s intensified has managed to get us through.
Q310:43Tony RossNico RosbergWe are expecting light rain just continuing, nothing heavy. So just warming the brakes up.
Q39:05Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanBrakes are still cold. It’s coming up, but still cold.
Q3Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceRear locking and rumbling happens more and more now.
Q3Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergGo +1 on the adjustment. Brakes are cold, especially the front. Tyres are cold too.
Q37:11Valtteri BottasJonathan EddolllsWe need inter.
Q3Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasYep, agree. So go mode two which you’ve done, so we’ll box now, we’ll have two timed on an inter.
Q37:00Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuGrosjean spoiled his lap by going off at the first corner and didn’t have enough fuel to immediately do another lap.
Went out at turn one.
Q3Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK, copy that. We haven’t got any more fuel.
Q3Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuYeah, box.
Q3Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK box.
Q35:20Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoDo you want adjustment, yes or no, on front wing?
Q3Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieLet’s leave it.
Q35:12Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK understood.
Q3Tony RossNico RosbergSo Nico you…
Q3Nico RosbergTony RossYeah we’ve got to box now, right?
Q3Tony RossNico RosbergNegative you can stay out and get one timed lap or if you box now you’ll get two timed laps. So you’ll get less time. You call. You box now, you’ll get two timed…
Q3Nico RosbergTony RossYeah but I’m slower, so I box?
Q3Tony RossNico RosbergNegative, if you stay out you’ll have less fuel for new tyres. You can do two timed on the next tyre. So prefer to stay out, do one timed on it.
Q3Nico RosbergTony RossNico just call on the front wing, do you want an adjust?
Q3Tony RossNico RosbergBox, box, box no change.
Q3Nico RosbergTony RossCopy, box. So set 53, Nico. Just confirm you’re going inter tyres, you happy?
Q3Tony RossNico RosbergAffirm.
Q3Nico RosbergTony RossOK, we’re putting new inters now.
Q34:08Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoWe expect only light rain now until the end.
Q32:55Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonYou’re currently P1, six-tenths to P2. The only area you’re losing time to Nico is through turn seven, he’s just carrying a little bit more speed.
Q31:23Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoPace at the moment is very good.
Q31:19Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaTrack clear, we need a hard out-lap to make sure we get the time in, get over the line in time.
Q30:52Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoKeep pushing this lap, I’ll keep you updated, currently P2.
Q30:00Lewis HamiltonPeter BonningtonHow are the times looking?
Q3Peter BonningtonLewis HamiltonStill Ricciardo to complete. You’re looking good at the moment.
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoCurrently P2 mate. I’ll keep you updated. Very good job.
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoThat’s it, P2, nice job mate.
Q3Daniel RicciardoSimon RennieAlrighty. There wasn’t anything left in that.
Q3Simon RennieDaniel RicciardoOK understood.
Q3Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuThere’s no grip. I don’t know what’s happened.
Q3Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanIs the balance quitre different from P3?
Q3Romain GrosjeanAyao KomatsuIt’s completely different, I have no rear end. Even between turn 11 and 12 I cannot go power. Third gear, 1,000rpm and the rear just spun. That’s why I asked for the diff. There’s something is not the same as this morning. Seriously.
Q3Ayao KomatsuRomain GrosjeanOK, copy that.
Q3Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneP9. Again very good job from your side.
Q3Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarHow was the gap to P8?
Q3Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneFour tenths.
Q3Jean-Eric VergneXevi PujolarThanks guys for the job. Not too bad. At least we start in the points.
Q3Xevi PujolarJean-Eric VergneYeah thanks for your drive.
Q3Nico HulkenbergBrad JoyceAlso I had the wind change because on both laps I was losing a lot of time, more than a tenth on the long straight.
Q3Brad JoyceNico HulkenbergWe’ll have a look at it. I don’t believe there’s that much wind.
Q3Jonathan EddolllsValtteri BottasP7 Valtteri. Really good job. Massa was P6.
Q3Andrew MurdochFelipe MassaGood job Felipe that was a good lap, you’re P6.

Phase/time: Refers to point at which message was broadcast. There may be a delay between messages being said and being broadcast. PQ = pre-qualifying.
Message: Repetitive or irrelevant messages omitted. Notes in italics. Highlights in bold.

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10 comments on “2014 Chinese GP qualifying team radio transcript”

  1. Some very terse sounding comments there between hulk and his engineer!

    1. @hairs There was another weird message at the end of FP3: one two.

    2. You’d think with the all-new quieter engines power units everybody would be able to hear the radio more easily.

  2. That conversation with Alonso at the end of Q2 is exactly why I like him: he thinks about things himself.

  3. I think some of the Q3 comments between Rosberg and his engineer have the names the wrong way round. Either that or Nico is talking about himself in the third person.

  4. How come Massa’s engineer tells him to move the ‘manettino’ ? Has Felipe taken his steering wheel from Ferrari?

  5. Odd to see some drivers like Vettel and Alonso with no radio n Q3?

  6. Did Raikkonen have a problem free weekend so far?

  7. Third gear, 1,000rpm and the rear just spun.

    I hope that’s a typo…1000 rpm? for real? I really hope it’s meant to be 10,000

    1. made a mess with the quote-thing, sorry

Comments are closed.