To Bottas – “Track is clear.” (FP1)

Bzzz… radio check, radio check?

Hey, are you still here? Did you miss us, right?

No need to answer, I know you did.

It has been a looooong winter without Formula 1 and I know that most of you dreamt about Melbourne’s first race every single night. And with the return of the action on track, it’s time for Formula 1 Radio to come back too!

I know, I know, things will not be the same again now that out biggest star and the one that inspired all this has left us (Fernando, you can make a guest appearance, whenever you want, you can come here and just scream ‘GP2 engine’ all the time, you don’t even have to ask!), but this year we got new radio stars and, most of all, the 2019 season will see the fight to conquer the throne: no, I’m not talking about Game of Thrones, that is nothing compared to Game of team radio.

Who is going to replace Fernando Alonso as the King of Team Radios? We’ll find out at the end of the season.

I guess the war is open, let’s start!

The 2019 season marks the start of what we hope is going to be a long career for several young drivers: Antonio Giovinazzi, Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon. This means that they are also doing their radio debut, but someone is still a little shy..

To Albon – “Can you come back to the garage? Try to reverse and bring it back.”
To Albon – “You can fire up again.”
To Albon – “Back to P2.”

Mmm, maybe the radio is not working.

To Albon – “Take it easy, take it easy.”
To Albon – “Charge on, come slowly, you have no front wing.”
Alex Albon – “Copy.” (FP1)

Oh, here he is! We know, stage fright is normal. Maybe Alex can learn something from one of Formula 1 Radio’s pillar. I know you missed him.
 

“Kvyat close, Kvyat behind, he’s also on a prepared lap. Ricciardo behind you now, he is prepared as well..”
Romain Grosjean – “No, mate, you warn me a little bit more..”
“Apologies. Big gap behind now.” (FP1)

Romain Grosjean is certainly one of the strongest contenders for the F1 Radio Throne: we’ve seen his ups and downs in Netflix Original’s Drive To Survive: a documentary about the 2018 season.

I would love to say one thing only: Gunther, you are my new idol! Dealing with two drivers such as Romain and Kevin Magnussen must not be easy. They follow their own rules.

“We need to push now, push now please.”
Romain Grosjean – “Too late, too late.” (Q2)

I told you!

The 2019 grid saw several changes thanks to the rookies, but some comebacks too!

The soon to be dad Daniil Kvyat is back again with Toro Rosso. The story with the Faenza team started love time ago, but something is missed to celebrate a proper comeback.

“Drink system check, drink system check.”
Daniil Kvyat – “I don’t have it!” (FP2)

Formula 1 Radio wants to reassure you: no vodka was involved in this party. Maybe.

Daniil Kvyat – “Please check, the bottle of the water is leaking.” (Pre- race)

Hopefully the mechanics fixed the issues and who knows if Daniil’s great results was thanks to this magic nectar.

Daniil Kvyat – “One year and a half away, not easy and I am on it again. Thank you, thank you.”
“Bravo Danilo.” (Chequered Flag)

Welcome back, Daniil!

The F1 fans waited so long for Pole hero Robert Kubica to come back on the grid.

Robert Kubica – “The overtake button on the outlap didn’t work.”  (Q1)

Oh, we wish this was the only issue for Williams. Welcome back Robert!

Charles Leclerc is living the time of his life with the start of his new adventure with Ferrari, but he still needs to get along with his engineer.

 “Box now box. You can push this lap.”
Charles Leclerc – “Hey, c’mon. I mean, it was a push lap, what’s happening? Is there something wrong or what?”
“Nothing wrong. We need to box and we’ll do a practice start.” (FP3)

But the radio misunderstandings are the last of their problems.

Daniel Ricciardo took a huge decision last year in joining Renault for two season after an entire career with Red Bull. The Melbourne weekend certainly wasn’t the start the Aussie was hoping for.

Daniel Ricciardo – “Something is broken I think.”
“We lost the front wing, everything okay with the steering?”
Daniel Ricciardo – “Has it come off completely?”
“Confirm.” (Race)

⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

A stellar start for Bottas, and a bumpy ride for Ricciardo

Re-live the moment the 2019 season roared into life 📽️#AusGP 🇦🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/JDU7umozCT

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 marzo 2019

Red Bull gives you wings, right?

Daniel Ricciardo – “Really don’t know what happened at the start.. it just didn’t work out.” (Race)

I guess he will need more than a Red Bull after this.

Other misunderstandings for Nico Hulkenberg: the German maybe need some new glasses.

Nico Hulkenberg – “Who is in front?”
“It’s Daniel in front of you.”
Nico Hulkenberg – “S**t. It looks like a Haas from this distance.” (FP2)

Magnussen, is that you?

And when he saw Magnussen in his mirrors during the race..

Nico Hulkenberg – “Yeah, of course… why am I not surprise?” (Race)

This duo already fired up the 2018 season and we can’t wait for more to come from them.

As everyone knows, a bonus point is given to the driver who scores the fastest lap, if he is classified in the Top10.

Lewis Hamilton – “I need that point, Bono.” (Race)

I am so sorry, Lewis, but Valtteri Bottas deserves the extra point, the win, and all the positions available in out Hit Parade!

Maybe the beard truly has some aerodynamic effects, like Vettel’s haircut last year.

Congrats, Valtteri! You’re our star.

“You’re still holding the fastest lap.”
Valtteri Bottas – “So.. what’s the plan in the end? Are we gonna stop for the quickest lap time or just try with these tyres in the end?”
“Valtteri we are not taking any risk, so we won’t be stopping.”
Valtteri Bottas – “Copy. But I want 26 points, so.. I’m gonna try it in the end.” (Race)

Sometimes, you've just got to let it all out#AusGP 🇦🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/fbzPlZzXLb

— Formula 1 (@F1) 18 marzo 2019

Valtteri Bottas - “How about that? Yeah! F**k that!”
“Indeed man! That’s payback from last year Valtteri.”
Valtteri Bottas – “To whom it may concern… F**k you!”

Valtteri Bottas – “I don't know what to say. It was definitely my best race ever. I don't know what happened, the car was just so under control... “ (Chequered flag)

Believe me, even Lewis doesn’t know!

If there’s someone who still doesn’t know what happened, that is Sebastian Vettel.

The German, along with Leclerc and Ferrari, faced a difficult weekend, which earned them out Special Prize: Honestly, what are we doing here?

Sebastian Vettel – “The car in turn 1 and 4 feels quite odd.”
“Understood.”
Sebastian Vettel – “There seem to be something wrong. Box.” (FP2)

Sebastian Vettel – “Check the car when we come back. Floor, front wing.” (Q2)

Sebastian Vettel – “Why are we so slow?”
“I don’t know at the moment.” (Race)

Believe me, it’s what everyone wants to know.

And it was everything from Melbourne!

Lewis Hamilton – “I can’t express how happy I am to be here guys, thank you so much or being on this journey with me.” (Pre- race)

It is going to be a long season: ready?

Keep following us!