The Team Radio Special

On this edition of Talking Bull - It's a Team Radio special! We hear from Max Verstappen and his race engineer GP as they dive into the complicated and often confusing world of F1 team radio. From brake bias to box, box, box we decode some of the messages you are likely to hear between drivers and race engineers over an F1 weekend. We also have exclusive chats with Alex Albon, Red Bull athlete and legendary surfer Mick Fanning PLUS we end with the brand-new song from Albert Hammond Jr.

# Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Podcast: Decoding Team Radio

**Decoding Team Radio with Max Verstappen and GP:**

- **Car is Green:** The number one mechanic informs the driver that the car is ready for the driver to start the engine.
- **Radio Latched:** The driver has forgotten to depress the radio button, resulting in an open mic.
- **Track is Green:** The track is safe for racing at full speed after a yellow flag, VSC, or safety car.
- **Avoid the Sausage Kerb:** Large, brightly colored kerbs that should be avoided to prevent suspension damage.
- **Four Clicks on the Front Wing:** Adjust the front wing to increase or decrease front downforce, affecting understeering.
- **Check Your Drink:** The driver is reminded to use the hydration system in the helmet.
- **Recommend Bebell 6 Max:** The race engineer suggests a brake balance adjustment to optimize braking performance.
- **Cool the Brakes:** The driver is instructed to cool the brakes to prevent overheating.
- **Option Tire:** The softest tire compound available for the race weekend.
- **Box, Box, Box:** The driver is instructed to return to the pits immediately.
- **Mode 1 and Recharge Off:** Switch to a specific engine mode and turn off the battery recharge system.
- **Flat Spots:** Areas on the tire that have lost grip due to a prolonged lockup, causing vibrations.
- **Blue Flags:** A driver must allow a faster car to overtake when shown blue flags.

**Interview with Alex Albon:**

- Albon expresses his excitement about being confirmed as a Red Bull driver for the 2020 season.
- He reflects on his journey from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, acknowledging the pressure but feeling prepared.
- Albon emphasizes the importance of staying motivated and disciplined to maintain peak performance.

**Interview with Mick Fanning:**

- Fanning shares his experience as a world champion surfer and the mindset required for success.
- He highlights the significance of self-belief and the drive to constantly improve.
- Fanning recalls jumping in the back of a Formula One car and expresses his admiration for the sport.

**Decoding More Team Radio Messages:**

- **DRS Enabled:** The driver is reminded to activate the Drag Reduction System (DRS) for increased top speed.
- **Understeer:** When the front tires lose grip, causing the car to slide forward.
- **Outlap:** A lap taken to prepare for a fast lap, including tire preparation, engine modes, and driver preparation.
- **What's Your Delta?:** The driver is informed of the time difference to a reference time, such as a safety car limit or the end of a qualifying session.
- **Launch:** The driver is instructed to start the car from a standstill, optimizing wheel slip for maximum acceleration.
- **10 Second Margin:** The driver is informed of a 10-second time limit, typically related to a regulated lap time or the end of a qualifying session.
- **Safety Car in This Lap:** The safety car will be entering the track on the current lap, prompting the driver to prepare for a restart.
- **Good, Your Turn:** The driver is instructed to take their turn during a pit stop.
- **Hit Your Marks:** The driver is reminded to stop at the correct position in the pit box for a faster pit stop.
- **Watch for Debris:** The driver is alerted to debris on the track, specifying the corner and location.
- **We're in Phase:** Informs the driver that another car is on a similar lap, providing a reference for mirror usage.
- **Rubber the Box:** The driver is instructed to perform burnouts in the pit lane to improve grip for the pit stop.
- **Two Burnouts:** The driver is instructed to perform two burnouts before the race start to warm up the tires.
- **Look Out for the Weighbridge:** The driver is reminded to pay attention to the lights at the weighbridge to avoid penalties.
- **Last Cars Approaching the Grid:** The driver is informed that the last cars are approaching the grid, signaling the imminent start of the race.

**Conclusion:**

The podcast provides an in-depth exploration of team radio communication in Formula One, offering insights into the language and strategies used by drivers and race engineers. It also features interviews with Alex Albon and Mick Fanning, providing perspectives from different corners of the racing world.

[00:00.000 -> 00:03.000] Hi there, this is Christian Horner.
[00:03.000 -> 00:06.000] You've won the Austrian Grand Prix!
[00:06.000 -> 00:08.000] Hi, it's Alex Albon.
[00:08.000 -> 00:12.000] Hi, I'm Max Verstappen and you're listening to the Aston Martin Rebel Racing Podcast.
[00:12.000 -> 00:15.000] Oh, this feels good!
[00:17.000 -> 00:23.000] Hello and welcome to Talking Bull and it's a very special edition exploring the wonderful world of team radio.
[00:23.000 -> 00:25.400] We have an exclusive message
[00:25.400 -> 00:28.780] from our newly confirmed driver for 2020, Alex Albon.
[00:28.780 -> 00:30.560] We're going to be chatting to Red Bull athlete
[00:30.560 -> 00:32.280] and legendary surfer Mick Fanning.
[00:32.280 -> 00:35.300] Plus we have brand new music from Albert Hammond Jr.
[00:35.300 -> 00:36.800] to end the episode.
[00:36.800 -> 00:38.200] In every race you watch,
[00:38.200 -> 00:39.760] you hear the amazing relationship
[00:39.760 -> 00:42.840] between Max Verstappen and his race engineer, GP.
[00:42.840 -> 00:44.360] They talk a lot during every race.
[00:44.360 -> 00:46.760] Some of their chat is obvious.
[00:46.760 -> 00:49.440] Whoa, there's a giant lizard on the track.
[00:49.440 -> 00:52.520] Yeah, I'm not joking, out of turn three.
[00:52.520 -> 00:54.520] Face to face with Godzilla then, mate.
[00:54.520 -> 00:55.760] Yeah.
[00:55.760 -> 00:58.400] Some of it might need a little bit of explanation.
[00:58.400 -> 01:00.640] There are yellows in turn seven.
[01:00.640 -> 01:01.480] Yellows in turn seven.
[01:01.480 -> 01:02.920] Yeah, that's because of me.
[01:02.920 -> 01:06.720] GP is in Max's ear every time he gets in the car and
[01:06.720 -> 01:10.480] they're always pretty honest with each other. Okay so that was the same lap time
[01:10.480 -> 01:16.320] as a previous lap Max. I'm really sorry. We got them together at the factory and
[01:16.320 -> 01:19.960] challenged them to explain some of the phrases you'd hear across the weekend on
[01:19.960 -> 01:24.440] the team radio from break bias to box box box. This is fascinating they're
[01:24.440 -> 01:27.340] gonna make you an expert by the end of this podcast.
[01:27.340 -> 01:28.320] Over to you boys.
[01:28.320 -> 01:31.700] Hi guys, we're here at the factory and next to me.
[01:31.700 -> 01:32.540] No.
[01:37.540 -> 01:38.380] Come on.
[01:39.300 -> 01:41.260] Hi guys, we're here at the factory
[01:41.260 -> 01:43.500] and next to me sitting my race engineer,
[01:43.500 -> 01:46.120] also the legend you can hear on the radio.
[01:46.200 -> 01:51.840] So we are going to go through some radio messages between the two of us.
[01:51.840 -> 01:56.400] Yeah, and we're going to try to explain them to the open public.
[01:56.400 -> 01:58.400] That's it. Car is green GP.
[01:58.400 -> 02:01.480] So that is something that the number one mechanics is.
[02:01.480 -> 02:08.120] So Leroy would say that when the car is all ready for me to give you the instructions to fire up. So it'd be that from
[02:08.120 -> 02:12.560] Honda's side or the chassis side, just gives me the heads up of when I'm able
[02:12.560 -> 02:18.000] to put you out in traffic. Yeah because I've never heard this one so I was already wondering.
[02:18.000 -> 02:22.480] This one I've heard before, radio latched. You're pretty good at that actually.
[02:22.480 -> 02:27.720] You don't normally forget when your radio is keyed up but that essentially all that that means is that
[02:27.720 -> 02:34.000] he's forgotten to depress his radio. I remember Max here, radio is keyed up mate.
[02:34.000 -> 02:38.560] The track is green. We talk about a track being green. It's not literally green.
[02:38.560 -> 02:42.640] Unless I've been off and taken a lot of grass onto the track. There's two
[02:42.640 -> 02:45.680] contexts to this but I I think in this situation,
[02:45.680 -> 02:46.880] I would be telling Max this,
[02:46.880 -> 02:50.200] when if there's been a yellow flag or a VSC
[02:50.200 -> 02:51.720] or a safety car of any sort,
[02:51.720 -> 02:54.960] then yeah, when the track is good to go
[02:54.960 -> 02:56.140] back at full racing speed,
[02:56.140 -> 02:58.920] then we're giving the message track is green.
[02:58.920 -> 03:00.120] You're laughing.
[03:00.120 -> 03:02.880] This is quite relevant based on where we've just been,
[03:02.880 -> 03:04.640] actually, what happened last year.
[03:05.400 -> 03:06.600] Avoid the sausage kerb.
[03:06.600 -> 03:12.000] In some tracks you have the normal kerb and then you have like a big yellow, big orange or big red kerb,
[03:12.000 -> 03:14.000] whatever is laying next to it.
[03:14.000 -> 03:16.600] You don't want to hit that with a Formula 1 car normally.
[03:16.600 -> 03:23.400] So, of course, drivers, they always want to try and find the limit in terms of lap time.
[03:23.400 -> 03:25.600] But yeah, it can be sometimes, of course,
[03:25.600 -> 03:28.720] critical on suspension loads or whatever.
[03:28.720 -> 03:31.300] So sometimes GP has to come onto the radio
[03:31.300 -> 03:32.520] to tell me to stay off it.
[03:32.520 -> 03:34.760] And when you tell me that you'd like to go up
[03:34.760 -> 03:35.960] four clicks on the front wing?
[03:35.960 -> 03:39.920] Four clicks, well, it's basically plus four clicks, right?
[03:39.920 -> 03:42.020] So basically just adding more front wing.
[03:43.760 -> 03:47.400] When the car's under steering, just sliding on the front basically.
[03:47.400 -> 03:53.560] I asked that when I come into the pits again that the mechanics, they give me a bit more
[03:53.560 -> 03:54.560] front flap.
[03:54.560 -> 03:56.080] Check your drink, that's not something we...
[03:56.080 -> 03:57.600] You did that once to me.
[03:57.600 -> 03:58.880] You did that once to me.
[03:58.880 -> 04:02.440] Check like, remember to drink please.
[04:02.440 -> 04:03.440] That was at Singapore?
[04:03.440 -> 04:04.440] Yeah.
[04:04.440 -> 04:06.000] Yeah.
[04:06.000 -> 04:08.000] In my head, I was like
[04:08.000 -> 04:10.000] mate, I'm not Nico Rosberg, you don't need to
[04:10.000 -> 04:12.000] remind me.
[04:12.000 -> 04:14.000] Anyway, it was a nice thoughtful message of you.
[04:14.000 -> 04:16.000] That is not actually the message.
[04:16.000 -> 04:18.000] Check the drink. This is check your drink.
[04:18.000 -> 04:20.000] Yeah, if we get
[04:20.000 -> 04:22.000] into the car before the race,
[04:22.000 -> 04:24.000] of course, you want the system
[04:24.000 -> 04:25.280] to work, so I put the tube in my mouth which is connected before the race, of course you want the system to work so I put the
[04:25.280 -> 04:29.040] tube in my mouth which is connected in the helmet but of course that runs all
[04:29.040 -> 04:34.880] the way next to me to the to the drink bottle. So yeah I'll check it before
[04:34.880 -> 04:40.520] the race that it actually works. Recommend Bebell 6 max? It is your brake
[04:40.520 -> 04:47.760] balance offset, you can go forward, rearwards and if they see something in the data
[04:48.320 -> 04:52.480] that can be done better under braking or whatever or we can find a bit of performance,
[04:52.480 -> 04:56.960] they will recommend me to try it and if I like it as well under driving then
[04:58.400 -> 05:04.800] yeah I'll use that for the duration of the stint or whatever. You're basically right but technically
[05:04.800 -> 05:07.200] we can do a little bit more than just going forwards and backwards.
[05:07.200 -> 05:11.800] Cool the brakes is something we would give you basically to do exactly that,
[05:11.800 -> 05:15.400] but that might be either because the brakes are running hot on track, right?
[05:15.400 -> 05:19.600] Just because we've got our cooling configuration wrong or it's a heavy-duty track
[05:19.600 -> 05:23.600] or you're right up the chuff of another car that you can't get by, which doesn't happen often.
[05:23.600 -> 05:25.840] Or we're coming in
[05:25.840 -> 05:30.160] Unexpectedly on an in lap and we need him to call the brakes before we set fire to the brakes when the car stops
[05:30.160 -> 05:34.880] So yeah means that option tire option tire this year
[05:34.920 -> 05:40.180] Well, actually for most years has been the softest tire available of the compounds that Pirelli have brought
[05:41.040 -> 05:45.360] To the event that's been changing year on year,
[05:45.360 -> 05:47.640] so we're trying to track the best way,
[05:47.640 -> 05:50.200] trying to keep consistency within our own engineering
[05:50.200 -> 05:52.640] and driving crew, but Options are the softest tire.
[05:52.640 -> 05:55.200] I honestly still get confused with all the tires.
[05:55.200 -> 05:56.320] Yeah, you and me both.
[05:56.320 -> 06:00.200] It's like, soft, but then soft reminds me
[06:00.200 -> 06:02.680] always to a yellow tire, because back in the day,
[06:02.680 -> 06:08.880] always yellow, but of course now it's red and then you sometimes say option or you even say
[06:08.880 -> 06:14.000] the coded the C5 or C4 or whatever so you have a lot of namings for it.
[06:14.000 -> 06:17.600] Box, box, box. Well if you get that one wrong.
[06:17.600 -> 06:21.400] Probably one of the most crucial words that I give to Max actually is box
[06:21.400 -> 06:28.220] because regardless of whatever else is happening in the pit lane when it it's another car coming in the pit lane, if he hears box
[06:28.220 -> 06:32.240] that is his instruction to return to the pits. So it's the only word I will ever
[06:32.240 -> 06:36.160] use on the radio so it cannot be mistaken for anything else. So yeah
[06:36.160 -> 06:39.800] whenever we want him back in the pits and we're missing him on track, box please Max.
[06:39.800 -> 06:54.800] Sorry I don't box myself. Mode one and recharge off. So mode 1, we have a lot of different mode switches we can use for wet weather running, dry weather running, race modes, quali modes.
[06:54.800 -> 06:59.680] So it's just one of the modes we use throughout the weekend.
[06:59.680 -> 07:06.720] And of course, recharge off. Recharge means where you charge your battery
[07:06.720 -> 07:08.740] in the laps, or out of the pits of course,
[07:08.740 -> 07:10.840] or in between your fast laps to of course
[07:10.840 -> 07:12.520] have the full battery power available.
[07:12.520 -> 07:14.720] And this one you'll know a little bit about as well.
[07:14.720 -> 07:15.560] Flat spots.
[07:15.560 -> 07:18.640] That's normally when the driver locks up
[07:18.640 -> 07:21.960] and keeps the tire still for a longer time,
[07:21.960 -> 07:23.520] like a longer duration, and yeah,
[07:23.520 -> 07:26.000] you see a lot of smoke, of course, coming off the tire.
[07:26.000 -> 07:30.280] It's not very enjoyable then to go very fast on it as well,
[07:30.280 -> 07:31.200] if it's a big one.
[07:31.200 -> 07:34.280] So yeah, basically the tire of course is round
[07:34.280 -> 07:36.640] and if you lock up and you keep it at the same spot,
[07:36.640 -> 07:39.200] it basically becomes a bit of a squared area
[07:39.200 -> 07:40.880] and like a flat area.
[07:40.880 -> 07:42.080] So that's not what you want.
[07:42.080 -> 07:42.920] Why not?
[07:42.920 -> 07:44.240] Because you lose grip
[07:44.240 -> 07:45.840] and there is a lot of vibration
[07:45.840 -> 07:46.920] as well in the car.
[07:46.920 -> 07:47.880] Blue flags?
[07:47.880 -> 07:51.360] Blue flags, actually wait, if we're talking about
[07:51.360 -> 07:54.760] blue flags, have you ever, is there wifi here?
[07:54.760 -> 07:57.440] Blue flag, blue flag, blue flag.
[07:57.440 -> 08:00.120] Blue flag, blue flag, blue flag.
[08:00.120 -> 08:02.720] Blue flag, blue flag, blue flag.
[08:02.720 -> 08:11.000] Blue flag, blue flag, blue flag. Blue flag, blue flag, blue flag, blue flag, blue flag, blue flag, blue flag, honestly.
[08:11.000 -> 08:16.000] It's better than the Iconfire standby one, Salita.
[08:16.000 -> 08:19.000] I think that's a good explanation for blue flag.
[08:19.000 -> 08:21.000] Honestly, what are we doing?
[08:21.000 -> 08:23.000] So what does it mean?
[08:23.000 -> 08:25.000] What are we doing? So what does it mean? What are we doing?
[08:26.000 -> 08:29.000] Sweet.
[08:31.000 -> 08:35.000] We never did find out what blue flag means. Cheers boys, part two of that chat is on the way shortly.
[08:35.000 -> 08:39.000] First, it's been a big week for our newest driver Alex Albon.
[08:39.000 -> 08:43.000] He's been confirmed alongside Max for the 2020 season.
[08:43.000 -> 08:46.040] We spoke to him to find out how he's feeling.
[08:46.040 -> 08:47.600] Hey guys, Alex here.
[08:47.600 -> 08:48.880] Super excited to be an Aston Martin
[08:48.880 -> 08:51.080] Red Bull Racing driver for 2020.
[08:51.080 -> 08:53.720] Yeah, just feels an amazing 12 months for me.
[08:53.720 -> 08:55.720] I could never imagine something like this would ever happen.
[08:55.720 -> 08:58.840] Good to kind of get that announcement,
[08:58.840 -> 09:01.200] feel a bit more comfortable going into the next two races.
[09:01.200 -> 09:03.580] I'm feeling very excited, obviously.
[09:03.580 -> 09:07.960] I got the news quite recently, so still buzzing. Yeah, it's been a busy 12 months. y dwy o fwrdd. Rwy'n teimlo'n fawr yn agos, yn amlwg. Dwi'n cael y newydd yn eithaf cyfnodol, felly mae'n dal i fyny.
[09:07.960 -> 09:12.480] Mae wedi bod yn ddiweddar 12 mlynedd. Rwyf wedi dod i ffurfiadur
[09:12.480 -> 09:16.800] yn eithaf newydd. Mae fy mhoblith yn Toro Rosso wedi mynd'n dda.
[09:16.800 -> 09:19.680] A chwe blynedd yn ôl, neu'n fwy na hynny, rwy'n credu,
[09:19.680 -> 09:22.480] trwy'r blynedd yn ôl, rydw i wedi cael y cyfeiriad i Red Bull,
[09:22.480 -> 09:29.840] ac roedd yna lawer o bwysau yno. Mae'n fy mhoblith i fod yn y pntaf gyda'r tîm, mae'r cyfnodau'r cyntaf wedi mynd yn dda iawn ac rwy'n
[09:29.840 -> 09:34.160] mwy hyfryd gyda sut oedd e'n mynd, ond yn y ddegau o fy nghyfan, dydych chi ddim yn gwybod a oedd o'n
[09:34.160 -> 09:39.040] digon i gael y seit. Ond mae'r tîm wedi fy nghymryd llawer, roeddent wedi rhoi
[09:39.040 -> 09:42.800] i mi lawer o ddynion a fe wnaethon nhw i mi teimlo yn at ei home. Felly, ie, rwy'n
[09:42.800 -> 09:46.160] mwy cyfrifol, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i fod gyda'r tîm
[09:46.160 -> 09:52.880] sy'n llwyddo o gympaniad, a tîm sy'n gwynebu cymorth. Ie, dydw i ddim yn gobeithio i ddechrau.
[09:52.880 -> 09:58.320] Y cynyddu o Toro Rosso i Red Bull Racing, efallai'r cyflwyniad cyntaf i Toro Rosso
[09:58.320 -> 10:09.160] oedd ychydig o sioc, ac ers hynny, dim peth yn sefydlu'n wir, rwy'n teimny'n bwysig, mae'n mynd i fod yn fwy cyffredin. Efallai y byddwn yn gallu ymdrechu dros y gwasanaethau'r hif ymlaen,
[10:09.160 -> 10:13.400] a bydd yn ymdrechu ac yn teimlo'n fwy gwirioneddol.
[10:13.400 -> 10:16.480] Ond ar hyn o bryd, na, dydw i ddim yn credu
[10:16.480 -> 10:21.000] na fyddaf wedi cael fy nghymryd i'r cymdeithas fawr yn ystod y cyfnod.
[10:21.000 -> 10:23.680] Mae'n teimlo ychydig o gyd-dwylo,
[10:23.680 -> 10:28.300] ond rwy'n teimlo bod yr hyn yma'n ymwneud â'r blwyddyn hwn, soon. It does feel a little bit of pressure, but I felt that all this year, so it's just
[10:28.300 -> 10:35.340] a continuation of that. But yeah, the goal now, enjoy it, get prepared for 2020 and thank
[10:35.340 -> 10:39.740] you everyone for supporting me and thank you to Red Bull for giving me this chance.
[10:39.740 -> 10:43.860] Well done Alex, great to have you on the team. As you know, we love to catch up with other
[10:43.860 -> 10:46.520] athletes from the Red Bull family on the podcast.
[10:46.520 -> 10:49.980] On this edition, we hear from legendary surfer, Mick Fanning.
[10:49.980 -> 10:51.800] Tom caught up with him in the paddock.
[10:51.800 -> 10:53.000] We're lucky enough to be joined
[10:53.000 -> 10:55.720] by Aussie surfing legend, Mick Fanning.
[10:55.720 -> 10:57.280] Mick, it's nice to see you again.
[10:57.280 -> 10:59.360] We caught up with you in Melbourne as well.
[10:59.360 -> 11:00.560] How have you been since then
[11:00.560 -> 11:03.280] and what's life like for Mick Fanning at the moment?
[11:03.280 -> 11:05.760] Yeah, it's been good, it's been good.
[11:05.760 -> 11:11.280] Just been busy traveling around, I was over here doing some stuff with Rip Curl and then
[11:11.280 -> 11:16.480] had a week holiday in Italy, just eating food and drinking wine which has been fun and
[11:16.480 -> 11:18.840] stoked to be here, it's a beautiful place.
[11:18.840 -> 11:23.760] And Max was a little scared to get in the water, he noted a fear of sharks.
[11:23.760 -> 11:27.280] Do you have any tips for him of how he might be able to overcome that fear one day?
[11:27.280 -> 11:30.400] Yeah stop being soft, no I'm joking.
[11:30.400 -> 11:37.520] Yeah no, it's more dangerous on the road so yeah look just go do it mate.
[11:37.520 -> 11:41.520] Yeah this is from a guy who drives 300 kilometers an hour around the corner.
[11:41.520 -> 11:47.640] We've been super lucky recently on our podcast to talk to a couple of like world champions in their discipline so
[11:47.640 -> 11:52.600] we had Seb Ogier recently, we've also spoken to Mark Marquez the MotoGP
[11:52.600 -> 11:57.800] multiple champion. You're a world champion yourself, I just want to ask you
[11:57.800 -> 12:02.660] like about the mindset that you need to have to become a world champion and how
[12:02.660 -> 12:05.360] you sort of stayed motivated to keep pushing
[12:05.360 -> 12:07.560] yourself to become the best in your sport?
[12:07.560 -> 12:10.120] Yeah, it's hard, it's hard.
[12:10.120 -> 12:15.120] I guess first and foremost you've got to believe in what you're doing, you've got to believe
[12:15.120 -> 12:19.100] that you are capable of doing that.
[12:19.100 -> 12:26.240] In the early years you don't believe that you can actually get there and all of a sudden just a switch turns
[12:26.240 -> 12:29.000] and you're like, okay, this is it, I'm going for it.
[12:29.000 -> 12:35.240] And you know, once you hit the top, it's even harder to stay there.
[12:35.240 -> 12:40.400] The motivation and just the discipline sort of wavers a little bit.
[12:40.400 -> 12:48.160] So you've got to take a lot of hard looks in the mirror and make sure that you're doing
[12:48.160 -> 12:56.080] the right things at the right time. For me it was if I didn't give it my all then I'd sit with regret
[12:56.720 -> 13:04.000] and knowing that I could have done better so that was for me was just pleasing myself and
[13:04.000 -> 13:06.920] making sure that every time I went to sleep at night,
[13:06.920 -> 13:10.680] I knew I gave my best and I could sleep easy that way.
[13:10.680 -> 13:13.880] What was the very first car you ever owned?
[13:13.880 -> 13:18.800] Very first car I ever owned was an 84 Ford Laser.
[13:18.800 -> 13:20.960] It cost me seven grand.
[13:20.960 -> 13:22.060] Yeah, it was cream.
[13:23.160 -> 13:25.780] If you could race any car in the world what would it be?
[13:25.780 -> 13:29.440] I've been lucky enough to jump in the back of a Formula One car a couple of
[13:29.440 -> 13:35.400] times and that was just next-level incredible. On the road, what's the pace
[13:35.400 -> 13:40.480] cars you have? I got to drive one of those once, it was next-level amazing.
[13:40.480 -> 13:44.880] Cool and if you could drive our F1 car anywhere in the world where would you go?
[13:44.880 -> 13:48.920] Like a racetrack, a favorite stretch of road? I think I'd do like the Great
[13:48.920 -> 13:54.600] Ocean Road in Victoria, that'd be pretty fun. Just get everyone off the road though,
[13:54.600 -> 13:58.960] I wouldn't want to hurt anyone. Cool, thanks very much for your time. No worries, thanks for having me.
[13:58.960 -> 14:04.120] Great to hear from Mick Fanning. Now this podcast is all about the team radio and
[14:04.120 -> 14:05.320] it's time to decode
[14:05.320 -> 14:10.240] more of the messages you'll hear across a racing weekend. Let's hand back to Max Verstappen
[14:10.240 -> 14:12.640] and his race engineer, GP, for more.
[14:12.640 -> 14:13.640] DRS enabled.
[14:13.640 -> 14:21.800] DRS, well, mostly you say that to me after two laps into the race, basically.
[14:21.800 -> 14:22.880] Yes, or?
[14:22.880 -> 14:26.240] Or when I forget that there is an extra DRS zone. You
[14:26.240 -> 14:32.360] remember in Austria, Max there is another DRS zone. I was wondering why your first sector
[14:32.360 -> 14:38.520] was so sh** to be honest. I completely forgot. I think my first four laps or something I
[14:38.520 -> 14:43.300] was running without DRS on the second straight, like from turn one to turn two. It's good
[14:43.300 -> 14:46.560] that we go through these things on the simulator and a preview.
[14:46.560 -> 14:50.560] Yeah, but on the simulator I was doing it, but then I got to the track and I just, I
[14:50.560 -> 14:53.640] was already wondering why is this yellow light on, it's really odd.
[14:53.640 -> 14:57.640] Clearly it was because of the DRS zone in that area.
[14:57.640 -> 15:02.480] But yeah, normally coming back to that, you said it to me after two laps into the race
[15:02.480 -> 15:05.680] gym or after a restart or something with a safety,
[15:05.680 -> 15:06.920] like safety car or something.
[15:06.920 -> 15:10.160] DRS stands for drag reduction system,
[15:10.160 -> 15:12.320] which of course opens the rear wing
[15:12.320 -> 15:14.440] and just basically gives you more top speed.
[15:14.440 -> 15:16.800] But of course, you have to be a bit careful
[15:16.800 -> 15:18.880] with that getting into braking zones and stuff.
[15:18.880 -> 15:21.640] But luckily, when you press the brake pedal,
[15:21.640 -> 15:23.240] it closes as well.
[15:23.240 -> 15:24.080] Understeer.
[15:24.080 -> 15:24.920] Understeer.
[15:29.920 -> 15:30.520] Understeer, understeer is basically your front tires
[15:33.760 -> 15:35.880] are just sliding, washing out, just losing grip. The rear is pushing, front is not gripping up
[15:35.880 -> 15:39.880] and it's just sliding over the front wheels.
[15:39.880 -> 15:41.560] You were looking at me like, what is that?
[15:41.560 -> 15:42.400] So basic.
[15:43.480 -> 15:45.440] Yeah, but if you have to explain it to someone
[15:45.440 -> 15:48.520] who has no clue, what is understeer?
[15:48.520 -> 15:50.600] When you are talking on the TV as well,
[15:50.600 -> 15:53.240] yeah, a bit of oversteer, a bit of understeer.
[15:53.240 -> 15:55.920] Some people are like, what is that?
[15:55.920 -> 15:57.880] So it's like, yeah, front tires are sliding
[15:57.880 -> 15:59.640] or rear tires are sliding.
[15:59.640 -> 16:00.480] Outlap.
[16:00.480 -> 16:02.960] An outlap is, well, it can be anything to be honest.
[16:02.960 -> 16:09.920] It can be on new tires, so you do your planned strategy of how you prepare your outlap to get into your fast lap in terms
[16:09.920 -> 16:15.480] of tyres preparation, engine modes, yourself as well, preparation.
[16:15.480 -> 16:22.480] But it can also be an outlap, like a kind of an install, like a radio check or whatever
[16:22.480 -> 16:25.960] around the track, that can be an out lap as well.
[16:25.960 -> 16:29.540] Or an out lap into the race after a pit stop.
[16:29.540 -> 16:30.680] What's your delta?
[16:30.680 -> 16:35.040] So Max will have various deltas on his dash
[16:35.040 -> 16:38.360] for different scenarios, but I think this one refers to
[16:38.360 -> 16:41.600] if there's been a safety car or a red flag
[16:41.600 -> 16:43.000] or anything like that, or actually at the end
[16:43.000 -> 16:44.200] of a qualifying session.
[16:48.240 -> 16:49.600] So for example, at the end of a qualifying session,
[16:52.760 -> 16:56.160] the FIA restricts how slow he can go, mainly not to get into other drivers' way.
[16:56.160 -> 16:58.600] So he needs to be negative on his dash,
[16:58.600 -> 17:00.720] so quicker than the reference time.
[17:00.720 -> 17:02.760] And then under a red flag scenario
[17:02.760 -> 17:09.440] or a safety car or a virtual safety car, there is again another speed limit set by the FIA but this time obviously for
[17:09.440 -> 17:12.720] safety reasons he needs to be slower than that so watch your dash it needs to
[17:12.720 -> 17:13.920] be positive on the Delta.
[17:13.920 -> 17:14.920] Launch.
[17:14.920 -> 17:17.580] Essentially all that that means is that Max comes to a stop he's
[17:17.580 -> 17:20.920] hopefully you've got his engine in the correct settings his tires in the
[17:20.920 -> 17:25.680] correct operating window and then fromstill, he will release the clutch
[17:25.680 -> 17:28.640] to our control engineer's desired settings,
[17:28.640 -> 17:31.360] and then as best he can, control wheel slip away
[17:31.360 -> 17:34.680] to optimise the time up to maximum car speed.
[17:34.680 -> 17:35.760] Sounds about correct.
[17:36.680 -> 17:38.680] It's a drag race in the end, isn't it?
[17:38.680 -> 17:40.000] 10 second margin.
[17:40.000 -> 17:41.640] I think if we're talking about margins,
[17:41.640 -> 17:46.640] we are talking again about margins to a time limit.
[17:47.360 -> 17:50.200] So that might be either a 10 second margin on his dash
[17:50.200 -> 17:52.420] to a regulated lap time,
[17:52.420 -> 17:56.080] or perhaps talking about 10 second margin,
[17:56.080 -> 17:58.400] actually which you may have picked this up from,
[17:58.400 -> 17:59.660] to the end of a qualifying session,
[17:59.660 -> 18:02.360] to be able to cross the control line
[18:02.360 -> 18:03.760] before the end of the session,
[18:03.760 -> 18:06.920] so that we don't miss a time lap as we have done,
[18:06.920 -> 18:09.400] I think, once it's been ready.
[18:09.400 -> 18:11.360] Safety car in this lap.
[18:11.360 -> 18:13.860] Means exactly that, but it's,
[18:13.860 -> 18:15.400] obviously during the race when the safety car's out,
[18:15.400 -> 18:16.800] safety car in this lap means the safety car
[18:16.800 -> 18:18.000] is coming in this lap.
[18:18.000 -> 18:21.640] But ultimately that also is a prompt for Max to,
[18:21.640 -> 18:25.480] again, sort himself out into the right engine mode settings,
[18:25.480 -> 18:27.360] get his brakes prepped, his tires prepped,
[18:27.360 -> 18:28.800] get himself ready for the restart,
[18:28.800 -> 18:30.600] make sure he's up to the car in front
[18:30.600 -> 18:32.720] and not flagging behind him or anything like that.
[18:32.720 -> 18:35.120] So really just a prompt to make sure he's ready
[18:35.120 -> 18:37.320] to go in not many seconds time.
[18:37.320 -> 18:38.160] Good, your turn.
[18:38.160 -> 18:39.000] Hit your marks.
[18:39.000 -> 18:42.720] Hit your marks is normally in the pit stop, right?
[18:42.720 -> 18:43.560] Yeah.
[18:43.560 -> 18:46.160] So, yeah, it's of course always very important
[18:46.160 -> 18:48.760] to stop at the correct position
[18:48.760 -> 18:51.120] because that's better for the mechanics as well
[18:51.120 -> 18:52.400] to have a faster pit stop.
[18:52.400 -> 18:54.120] So we really practice on that
[18:54.120 -> 18:57.840] throughout the whole weekend up until basically qualifying,
[18:57.840 -> 18:59.440] even a little bit in qualifying,
[18:59.440 -> 19:02.680] but yeah, basically normally up until qualifying
[19:02.680 -> 19:04.520] to stop at the right place.
[19:04.520 -> 19:08.220] So the mechanics as well can have a good practice on having the fastest pit stop.
[19:08.220 -> 19:09.220] Watch for debris.
[19:09.220 -> 19:12.220] Yeah, watch for debris. That can be anything to be honest.
[19:12.220 -> 19:17.720] If there was like a crash somewhere around the lap or you come around for the next lap
[19:17.720 -> 19:20.820] I think you will see if there's a yellow flag or whatever it's mentioned
[19:20.820 -> 19:28.400] And you will normally then also call tell me the corner name name or corner number yeah and I have to just watch out you'd normally also tell
[19:28.400 -> 19:32.000] me where it is like left or right or in the middle and then try to avoid that
[19:32.000 -> 19:36.280] sometimes I don't know I mean I'm trying to look on the screens but sometimes of
[19:36.280 -> 19:40.040] course some corners are a bit tight so I can't really look on the screens.
[19:40.040 -> 19:44.680] We're in phase. It's interesting actually because I use this a lot but do you actually know what it means?
[19:44.680 -> 19:45.600] I can't put it into a sentence. We're in phase. It's interesting actually, because I use this a lot, but do you actually know what it means?
[19:45.600 -> 19:46.880] I can't put it into a sentence.
[19:46.880 -> 19:48.200] Into context.
[19:48.200 -> 19:50.560] So if you're on an out lap or on a slow lap.
[19:50.560 -> 19:52.000] Yeah, yeah, yeah, true.
[19:52.000 -> 19:54.560] So that can be in practice or qualifying.
[19:55.440 -> 19:57.600] We're in phase, so that's normally
[19:57.600 -> 19:59.700] to the cars ahead or behind.
[19:59.700 -> 20:03.640] If they are equally on a slow lap or a fast lap,
[20:03.640 -> 20:09.040] it's always good to know, because then sometimes I don't need to always look into my mirrors. When I know that
[20:09.040 -> 20:14.080] there is no car behind coming really quickly or whatever, so it's really nice
[20:14.080 -> 20:19.440] for the last few corners when I know that behind me there is no one on a
[20:19.440 -> 20:22.800] quick lap for example, when I'm on a slow lap I can just focus on my own prep and
[20:22.800 -> 20:27.840] and start the lap. So it's actually really good to have that information.
[20:27.840 -> 20:28.840] Rubber the box.
[20:28.840 -> 20:29.840] Rubber the box.
[20:29.840 -> 20:36.920] So more often than not, the pit apron or the pit lane where we have the pit box for the
[20:36.920 -> 20:43.960] guys and the crew during pit stops on a Sunday is less grip than we would like.
[20:43.960 -> 20:45.040] It's normally very dusty,
[20:45.040 -> 20:47.440] it's not often of an asphalt or material
[20:47.440 -> 20:50.120] that necessarily provides good grip.
[20:50.120 -> 20:54.920] So by rubber in the box, i.e. over-rotating the tires
[20:54.920 -> 20:57.800] during a practice session, we can stop Max on the marks,
[20:57.800 -> 20:59.540] we can put him in a clutch setting,
[20:59.540 -> 21:02.360] or he can use his throttle pedal to,
[21:02.360 -> 21:05.040] what we call lay rubber into the box and provide
[21:05.040 -> 21:09.360] more grip so that come Sunday when it's a pit stop he has more grip decelerating
[21:09.360 -> 21:13.480] into the box and then again accelerating out of the box so we reduce our pit
[21:13.480 -> 21:20.440] lane time. Two burnouts. Two burnouts, yeah we use that in practice or in the
[21:20.440 -> 21:26.000] race before we stop on the grid. Burnouts basically are to warm up the tyres
[21:26.000 -> 21:30.280] and to bring them up to a more optimum temperature
[21:30.280 -> 21:33.400] to do your start basically.
[21:33.400 -> 21:34.760] That is basically why we do it.
[21:34.760 -> 21:37.440] Of course in practice, we do it to practice your launch
[21:37.440 -> 21:41.520] and see how much, like how the grip is over there.
[21:41.520 -> 21:45.280] And for me as well, it gives you a good reference for for Sunday
[21:45.280 -> 21:50.560] and then of course from all we practice on the Friday and Saturday then we make
[21:50.560 -> 21:56.120] up our mind and we'll set how many burnouts in this case two we're gonna do
[21:56.120 -> 22:03.360] on on the Sunday before the start. Very good. I know something, I'm not completely stupid.
[22:03.360 -> 22:08.000] Look out for the weighbridge, look out for the lights at the weighbridge.
[22:08.000 -> 22:13.000] There are always two panels before you drive into the pit lane.
[22:13.000 -> 22:20.000] So basically you have the weighbridge, but before that there are two panels already saying if you have to go onto the weighbridge or not.
[22:20.000 -> 22:24.000] So if you do, it's red with your number. If not, it's just green.
[22:24.000 -> 22:26.100] So green arrows, I think it is.
[22:26.100 -> 22:28.220] Where you can then just of course drive by.
[22:28.220 -> 22:30.420] But if they're red, you have to go to the left.
[22:30.420 -> 22:32.740] If you don't, to the left or to the right,
[22:32.740 -> 22:34.860] wherever the pit entry is.
[22:34.860 -> 22:35.780] Yeah, and if you miss that,
[22:35.780 -> 22:37.900] you have to start from the pit lane, which you don't want.
[22:37.900 -> 22:40.280] So you really have to pay attention to the lights.
[22:40.280 -> 22:44.960] And GP reminds me almost every time I'm of course
[22:44.960 -> 22:46.620] getting into the box to look
[22:46.620 -> 22:50.920] at it because they can stop you anytime. What they try to do when they stop you.
[22:50.920 -> 22:54.320] Well and yeah when they try yeah what they what they basically do is wait the
[22:54.320 -> 22:59.160] car with me in it see if we are yeah on on the weight limit above the weight
[22:59.160 -> 23:04.360] limit because of yeah of course if you are under it you can go faster and that's
[23:04.360 -> 23:05.200] not what they want.
[23:05.200 -> 23:06.400] It's what we would like.
[23:06.400 -> 23:08.600] Last cars approaching the grid.
[23:08.600 -> 23:15.000] Last car approaching the grid basically gives Max a heads up that the last car isn't exactly that before the start of the race.
[23:15.000 -> 23:20.600] So he again can expect the initiation of the red lights to start the race.
[23:20.600 -> 23:25.660] So again he gets himself ready and he knows it's not going to be too long then before he needs to get to his pre-start revs
[23:25.660 -> 23:26.500] for the launch.
[23:26.500 -> 23:29.100] Quite a few messages to go through and think about it.
[23:29.100 -> 23:30.180] Whole new world, isn't it?
[23:30.180 -> 23:33.300] Well, if you come from go-karting
[23:33.300 -> 23:35.700] and then you just jump into a car
[23:35.700 -> 23:37.540] and then you get initial messages,
[23:37.540 -> 23:40.140] but I remember when I was in my first half one weekend
[23:40.140 -> 23:43.380] just listening through all them, it was quite a lot.
[23:43.380 -> 23:44.860] Like initially, I was like, wow,
[23:44.860 -> 23:46.600] that's a lot of information you're giving
[23:46.600 -> 23:47.880] the driver all the time.
[23:47.880 -> 23:50.920] But over time, of course, you get used to it
[23:50.920 -> 23:53.880] and I guess that's with everything, to be honest.
[23:53.880 -> 23:56.440] And if you do it a lot, practice it a lot,
[23:56.440 -> 23:57.960] it's pretty normal.
[23:57.960 -> 23:59.640] Now you have a bit more of an insight
[23:59.640 -> 24:02.120] into what they're talking about across the race weekend.
[24:02.120 -> 24:04.040] Thanks very much to Max Verstappen and GP
[24:04.040 -> 24:08.320] for telling us all on the podcast. That's almost it. You know how we like to end with
[24:08.320 -> 24:12.080] a big tune that we're playing in the garage at the moment. We would have finished with
[24:12.080 -> 24:16.920] the clip Max played from Seb Vettel about the blue flag, but we couldn't do that to
[24:16.920 -> 24:21.920] you. Instead, this is the brand new tune from Albert Hammond Jr. This is More to Life. Hope
[24:21.920 -> 24:52.000] you like it. We'll be back soon with more action from the track, the paddock and the factory. Until then, take care. confusion such delusions the money's all that's left but it's all right by me
[24:52.000 -> 25:07.000] yes it's all right by me Let the music make you someone else
[25:07.000 -> 25:12.000] Let the love, fix what you say
[25:12.000 -> 25:17.000] Doesn't make me good to be swayed
[25:17.000 -> 25:22.000] Master of life, the nine to five
[25:22.000 -> 26:05.000] When your world's are dirty every night We are turning right to Park Road Living it up at the hotel Everyone could see
[26:05.000 -> 26:10.000] That it's alright by me
[26:10.000 -> 26:13.000] Cause it's one, two, what to do
[26:13.000 -> 26:16.000] Now I want something new
[26:16.000 -> 26:19.000] Now I want something to do
[26:19.000 -> 26:20.000] No one's messing with me
[26:20.000 -> 26:25.000] So tonight, be yourself
[26:25.000 -> 26:30.000] Let that music make you someone else
[26:30.000 -> 26:35.000] Not the nine, the nine to five
[26:35.000 -> 27:25.000] And the bells are burning every night បានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានានាន� So tonight, be yourself
[27:25.000 -> 27:30.000] Let the music make you someone else
[27:30.000 -> 27:35.000] No turning back, and no hiding back
[27:35.000 -> 27:40.000] When your world's a party every night
[27:40.000 -> 27:45.000] So tonightight be yourself
[27:45.000 -> 27:50.000] Let the music make you someone else
[27:50.000 -> 27:55.000] Not what I felt is what you say
[27:55.000 -> 28:01.000] But I do, can't feel this way
[28:02.000 -> 28:24.560] You love the game, it's something we are good at Thanks for listening.
[28:24.560 -> 28:27.600] Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
[28:23.850 -> 28:25.850] Which would be your life?
[28:26.850 -> 28:27.850] Thanks for listening.
[28:27.850 -> 28:30.850] Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.