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The F1 season has drawn to a close and after the usual ups and downs in the season, Lewis Hamilton once again emerged victorious in the driver’s championship and Mercedes too had the constructor’s championship sewn up with time to spare.
As avid watchers of F1 on television might have noticed along with the current ownership of the Liberty Team, more pit to driver communication is being broadcast to viewers around the world, to give everyone an idea of what actually happens within the team in the heat of the moment - leading to some hilarious moments and some not-so-happy moments as well.
Let us have a look at the top 5 sound bites of the 2018 F1 season. The list includes some regular faces and some entirely new entries:
#5 Kimi Raikkonen – US Grand Prix (Race)
The Iceman has been with Ferrari for four seasons now in his second tenure at the team since 2014.
However, after 113 starts, he was yet to win a race for the Italian team since rejoining. Known for his unique and short radio messages to the pit wall, even Kimi got more than a few words out when he won the US GP of 2018.
On crossing the line, he was congratulated by his race engineer in multiple languages with a whole lot of enthusiasm to which he simply replied, ”Finally, Thanks guys.” A lot of emotion on display for the achievement at hand by the Iceman by his own standards.
The win was well deserved too for Kimi, who has had to wait so long for a race victory. It does still remain to be seen if he can keep up his high standards in a Sauber next season, however. He always will be the Internet darling though, without a doubt.
#4 Lewis Hamilton – German Grand Prix (Race)
A bizarre moment took place during this race when Lewis Hamilton was busy chasing the scarlet Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen.
Kimi was on a similar strategy and was asked to box (pit) by his engineer right at the pit entry, making poor Lewis swing into the pit lane and then swing out again after being told to stay out only to be told to pit once more.
Finally, the then four-time champion turned out of the pit lane entry, drove over the grass and needless to say, voiced his bemusement to his pit wall along with a concerned radio message asking if they were in ‘trouble’ to which the race engineer replied ‘negative’. Not something the Constructors champions would like to relive ever again.
Lewis must have been relieved in the end though because no harm was done. The worst was obviously avoided.
#3 Fernando Alonso – Abu Dhabi GP (Race)
No article about radio messages can ever be complete without featuring the two-time world champion who has been increasingly vocal over the radio with his struggling McLaren car.
The Spaniard, featuring in his final race before retirement was encouraged by his pit wall to attack the car ahead with five laps to go for the final point scoring position (10th) to which the fiery Alonso replied in his usual cocky manner - “I have 1800 points”, referring to all of his success with different teams.
To give credit to his race engineer, he did come up with a cocky response saying, “ For me, make it 1801 mate.” Good on you McLaren!
As good as the radio message was, perhaps nothing beat the showboating Alonso pulled off at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix alongside Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
#2 Fernando Alonso – Hungarian GP (Q2)
Another hilarious soundbite featuring the Spaniard and his team during wet conditions was towards the end of Q2 when despite trying his best, Alonso was still 11th and likely to be eliminated for Q3.
The team asked the Spaniard very seriously, whether they should switch him to inters or full wets to which he replied, “I think we should go to the garage and assess the conditions before venturing out.”
The team wished to know whether it was feasible to do a final timed lap to which Alonso replied, “Put whatever tyre you want mate. The last sector is impossible. Even if you put on a rocket ship we can’t improve P11.” A lot said about the state of the team in a typically Fernando Alonso sarcastic way.
This was yet another classic Alonso moment which we will all remember, considering it isn't happening again any time soon.
#1 Sebastian Vettel – Brazil GP(FP3)
No doubts about this one. Probably because the pressure of the Championship was off his shoulders, the German decided to have some fun to describe a loose object near his feet during free practice.
He radioed saying - “There’s something loose between my legs apart from the obvious.” His pit wall burst out laughing and acknowledged the same to which the cheeky German continued, “It’s near my feet and I would be proud if it were what you think it is, but it’s not.” Great to see this version of Vettel after his disastrous second half of the campaign and his constantly frustrated radio messages.
As good as this was though, Ferrari will know they need to pull up their socks, and Vettel more than anyone needs to bring out his best in the 2019 Formula One season.
Fans expect a whole lot more from the Scuderias, and perhaps funny radio messages just aren't quite good enough.
