The discussions between the drivers and their race engineer on the microphone, on the track, often make fans smile. Here is a top 10 of the best radio messages heard during the 2023 season.
Lance Stroll achieved one of his best results of the season, a 6th place, in Spain. When he crossed the finish line, his team reminded him in his headset that the next race was at home, in Montreal. ” Yeah. I can’t wait to put maple syrup on my pancakes,” he said softly.
Max Verstappen made more than one laugh during the second free practice session in Spain. As his race engineer tried to explain the game plan to him, the Red Bull driver heard a cell phone ringing from the garage. Even while he was driving his car, he was able to figure out who the said cell phone belonged to! “Someone’s phone is ringing. Is it Helmut’s [Marko, Red Bull boss]? Ha ha,” Verstappen said.
At the end of the race in Miami, Lance Stroll overtook Alex Albon to move from 14th to 13th place. Alonso, far in front, then addressed his team: “What position is Lance in? he asked. Nice overtake in turn 1! » How did the Spaniard know what was happening behind him? “At this track we have a big TV screen in some of the slow corners, so it was very easy to follow the track on the screen,” he explained in a press conference. Because everyone is capable of following a race at the same time as participating in it, right?
Lewis Hamilton struggled to keep his Mercedes within the limits of the track in Austria, like several other drivers. He complained to his team, which forced team leader Toto Wolff to intervene. “Lewis, the car sucks, we know that… Please drive it,” he said.
During the second free practice session in Miami, Esteban Ocon and his Alpine blocked the path of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin. Into his microphone, Alonso let out a little laugh. His race engineer blurted: “It’s a joke. You were on a flying lap and Ocon didn’t let up. » The Spaniard replied by throwing a small tip at his former team, significantly less efficient than Aston Martin: “Yeah, well received. But free practice is their time, so that’s okay. »
Torrential rain fell on Montreal during the second free practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix. As he struggled to make his way through the river that had formed on the track, Valtteri Bottas opted for sarcasm. “It’s a nice temperature for… a duck,” he suggested with his usual calm.
In his very first race behind the wheel of an Aston Martin, at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso put on an extraordinary show, including superbly overtaking Carlos Sainz Jr.’s Ferrari for third place on lap 45. “Yes! Bye-bye,” he said into his radio, making many fans smile. “It’s a fun car to drive! “, he added a little later.
Oscar Piastri will probably not go to play golf with Carlos Sainz Jr. during the off-season. During a flying lap during the first free practice session in Abu Dhabi, the young McLaren driver passed Sainz’s Ferrari, which was driving slowly. “Classic Carlos, just sitting in the middle of the road. I see that nothing has changed,” he whispered, visibly discouraged.
Starting 15th on the grid at the Austrian Grand Prix, Sergio Pérez moved up to 3rd place. On his way, he had to fight a good battle with Carlos Sainz Jr., who tried to defend himself as much as possible. “He pushes me out of bounds, it’s crazy… He intimidates me! “, exclaimed a distraught Carlos Sainz into his microphone.
The physical effort put in by a Formula 1 driver in a single-seater is titanic. Extreme physical effort means sweat. Talk to George Russell. “Has anyone else reported rain? I think it’s sweat coming from inside my helmet,” he blurted into his microphone. “Looks like it’s just you reporting rain. I suspect it might be sweat,” he was told in all seriousness.