Scripted for TV?! F1's driver radio moaning problem
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How did the hosts introduce the debate about F1 drivers' radio complaining?
The Athletic.
The race is on, and with the recent Hungarian Grand Prix yet another one where radio chatter became one of the big stories, do F1 drivers need to cut back on the complaining? Or is it just a consequence of radio traffic being so easy to hear these days? I'm Ed Straw, and joining me to delve into driver etiquette are Glenn Freeman and special guest Connor Daly. Well, Conor, welcome back. It's good to have you again. You enjoyed your first time and a good response as well. So hopefully we'll have you as a regular fixture.
No, I appreciate it. It's fun to talk about. There's a lot to talk about. Honestly, it seems like every weekend there's been... Something worth discussing and some exciting events and good to see, honestly, Lando back up top. I really enjoyed the fact that we got his first win as world champion. It's been a lot on these teams to kind of work on their cars and improve as the season goes.
Yeah, absolutely. It gave the season a little bit of a kick as well. A bit of a change in narrative before the August break, which is never a bad thing. And Glenn, we've also got you here. We're going to be chatting about driver etiquette. So I think your job is just to try and encourage Connor into saying things that will make him unpopular with the F1 drivers. That's the trick.
Well, I've got a choice, haven't I? Do I bait Conor into causing trouble for the European drivers, many of which are his friend? Or do I just bait Conor into arguing on behalf of all drivers? Do I take the complete armchair perspective? I'm undecided. I'll see how he starts and then see which route I'm going to take.
Yeah, this will be a fascinating test of the drivers' union, won't it? Whether everyone falls into line. But it's a good topic because quite a few of these sorts of things cropped up during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend in terms of radio messages and what everyone's saying. So on that basis, Conor, obviously anyone who watches any F1 practice, race, qualifying, very familiar with all the complaining, finger-pointing, Impeding, moving under braking, blue flags, forcing drivers off track, collisions, yellow flags being ignored, all the rest. So from your perspective, is it too much?
Well, in Formula One, I feel like the rules from the FIA vary black and white and the blue flags... From what you've seen, and I think it's fairly normal to think that if you're going a lap down and if the blue flags are out, it's pretty much like, all right, game over. I feel like we've seen that in the past. Yes, you're probably having a tough day. But the Hungaroring is, I think, a little bit unique because it felt to me when I was driving there a bit of a smaller track. It's not necessarily one of the longest circuits. And when the best cars are having a great day there, you're going to catch the cars that are struggling quite quickly. And you do need to get by them, though, quite quickly because it is tough in the dirty air.
It is tough when you do get stuck behind other cars. But that situation with signs, I was actually very blown away. I kind of expected it to be just a, you know, let the leader buy, obviously, let the faster cars buy. But it kind of was like, oh, all right, like he's going to fight for this. I didn't hate it, but it is very black and white with the rules. Like when you do get the blue flag and the leader, like you do have to let them buy. And certainly on our side of the world, it's not the exact same, but... It certainly created some excitement. If I was Oscar Piastri, I would have been furious as well. I would have definitely been very upset because, again, you're trying to win the race. And win your first race in a very long time, too.
So I definitely do see the frustration. And I'm a little bit... kind of in the center. Like if you're Carlos, you still want to race. You're still a race car driver, no matter if you're finishing P1 or P22, like you still are a race car driver. And if you're fighting for something, if you're trying to learn something with the car, you're trying to do your job for the team, which in my mind is you're going to push hard no matter what every single lap to the end.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
How did the hosts introduce the debate about F1 drivers' radio complaining?
0:02–8:00
2
What examples from the Hungarian GP sparked discussion about radio etiquette and blue flags?
8:00–33:15
3
Why do drivers vent on team radio and how does stress affect their messages?
33:15–37:04
4
Could radio messages be strategic to trigger race control rather than genuine complaints?
37:04–55:41
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from The Race F1 Podcast
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