Written by Kristina Qevani, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
In the dynamic world of Formula One, team radios stand as a fascinating intersection of technological advancement, and a tremendous insight into race strategy and driver emotions.
Since their inception in the mid-80s, team radios have undergone significant transformation, progressing from being unclear and susceptible to interception, to becoming an indispensable part of the sport's communication. Notably, Mika Hakkinen received a misdirected team radio in 1998, telling him to pit, however, this was an interference meant for another driver. And as the Finn pulled into the pits, the McLaren crew were not ready for him.
Another example is at the British Grand Prix, where Aryton Senna received a series of confusing messages that were actually accidental intersections from the catering company. However, these issues are a thing of the past, and demonstrate the evolution and increased reliability of team radios.
Originally featured on F1 Digital+, team radio broadcasts gained global prominence at the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix, and were consistently available from 2006 onwards. The use of team radios were initially shrouded in secrecy, with teams hesitant to admit using them.
As a result, the initial emergence of F1 team radios is unclear. Although, photos and archives give an idea of teams like Mclaren using them back in the 80’s, but denied doing so as this gave them a secret advantage.
The absence of specific rules governing their use too allowed for discreet communication, notably practised by teams like Ferrari and McLaren. They were notoriously secretive about their radios, refusing live TV broadcasts, and during the early 2000’s, team radios from either outfit were rarely heard.
The FIA intervention brought about increased transparency, and today, all team radios are broadcast on live feeds, albeit with varying delays. Teams still often resort to coded messages to communicate changes in race strategy without revealing details to competitors. Examples include Ferrari’s infamous ‘Plan C”, “D” and “E”.
Despite concerns about privacy, team radio broadcasts became accessible to viewers with the launch of F1 TV in 2018. However, not all drivers appreciate this transparency, with figures like Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean suggesting a reconsideration of broadcasting discussions during races.
“Why is it broadcasted?” asked Romain Grosjean ahead of the 2020 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. “The cockpit and the radio to your team is your own environment. I don’t like radio messaging being broadcasted when you are flat-out.”
Drivers are often scrutinised for their sometimes explosive outbursts during these team radios, which they find unfair as tensions run high, with the adrenaline of racing at 300 km/h (around 190 mph).
Vettel famously defended Lewis Hamilton after the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix, emphasising that scrutiny over comments drivers make in the heat of the moment is not justified, and such interactions could lead to similar outcomes, much like other sports, and they should not be something drivers should be reprimanded for.
Drivers have also previously argued that sometimes only snippets of a team radio are broadcast, to exaggerate and blow things out of proportion. They also claim that viewers don’t always receive the complete broadcast, and may hear things taken out of context.
Earlier this season Alonso suggested this had occurred in Suzuka, where he believed Formula One directors had made him seem angrier at his team than he was, “It’s the same, the classic thing, the classic FOM radio, completely out of context”.
However, the occasional bursts of unfiltered and emotionally charged comments from drivers provided by open broadcasting of team radios has provided fans with a deeper understanding of the stresses experienced by F1 drivers.
It serves as a crucial reminder that beneath the high-tech world of carbon fibre, there exists a human aspect — emotional, strategic, and raw. Carlos Sainz underscores that constant microphone presence captures the intense emotions and pressures faced by drivers,
“That is what we have in Formula 1, and that is actually an advantage. Just to see how the drivers feel sometimes, all the emotions”, adding a human element to a sport that can seem cold and mechanistic.
Nico Hulkenberg also believes it is a crucial part of the sport’s entertainment “We all know that if you say something interesting, worthy, it will be out there," added Hulkenberg. "So we know the consequences and obviously we have control of that — we don't have to say it. You know, we're racing, but at the end of the day we're also entertainment."
Team radios are allowed throughout the entire race, except during the formation lap, unless in the event of an emergency or damage to the car. They have also become helpful for warning drivers of the flags during a session, and weather warnings, in recent years.
Team radios were not only used between drivers and their race engineers, but also between team principals, the FIA and the race director. In the aftermath of the controversial 2021 season finale, F1 managing director Ross Brawn announced the discontinuation of direct communication between team chiefs and the race director starting in 2022, responding to increased scrutiny faced by then race director Michael Masi.
In the ever-evolving landscape of Formula One, team radios have become an integral tool for communication, strategy and entertainment. From the early days of secrecy, to the current era of heightened transparency, the role of team radios continue to adapt, providing fans a deeper connection to the human drama unfolding within the high-stakes world of Formula One.