Radio clampdown continues to cause anger

Formula One's radio communications regulations are continuing to cause anger in the paddock in the wake of Nico Rosberg's penalty at the British Grand Prix.

Teams are now restricted in what they can say to drivers over the radio in order to clampdown on so-called 'driver coaching'.

But Williams' Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds thinks that such communication is an integral part of F1.

"You're going to do tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the car because you can't tell a guy his brakes are about to fail? It's not just wrong, it's negligent."

Former Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull driver David Coulthard agreed, questioning the need for such restrictive rules.

"I have no view on whether it should have been a penalty because I have no interest in this and it has no place in sport," he wrote in the Telegraph.

"Bernie Ecclestone takes the view that any publicity is good publicity, but talking about something in frustration, is that really the scene setter we need?"

However, while the general consensus is that the radio restrictions are unnecessary, John Watson believes that teams should do away with the radio altogether.

"They should look at banning it all. Ban the whole bloody lot," the former F1 race winner told the Guradian."Take the radio away from them altogether."

GB Silverstone - 10 July 2016

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • ianf1

    Posts: 185

    I tend to agree with John Watson; but where do you stop? Ban all telemetry too? I guess that would put us back in the era where the driver was totally on his own, maybe that would increase the spectacle at the same time?

    • + 0
    • Jul 12 2016 - 13:12
  • Take the bloody radio away? Only if they can make the cars simpler to driver. There are too many settings for them to control now.

    • + 0
    • Jul 12 2016 - 18:04

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jun 27 1985 (40)
  • Place of b. Wiesbaden, DE
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.78 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar