F1 teams now ‘thinking twice’ about broadcasted radio complaints

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s complaint about Nikita Mazepin at the Spanish Grand Prix marked the first use of F1’s new broadcast addition to share messages between the teams and race control.

The feature has been well received by fans but has resulted in fewer radio communications between teams’ pitwalls and race control, according to Masi.

“I think, to be fair, each sporting team, and it’s no different in F1, will utilise the radio knowing that it’s there,” Masi said after the Styrian Grand Prix.

“It’s been there for many years, obviously it’s just broadcast now.

“If anything, knowing now that the teams know that it’s broadcast, it’s actually probably reduced the radio traffic in race control and, from the team’s perspective, making them probably think twice before they ask a question.”

After Valtteri Bottas spun in the pitlane during second practice at last weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix, McLaren’s team manager Paul James complained to Masi in a message that was broadcast.

Bottas ended up receiving a three-place grid penalty for the incident, leading the Finn to claim “everyone is always trying to screw you over in this sport” and leaving Wolff unimpressed.

Speaking about the incident, Wolff said he found it "highly entertaining how quickly some sporting directors jump on the channel to Masi and come with Armageddon scenarios.”

He added: “It’s good that these channels are now opened up so we can all have a laugh.”

However, Masi confirmed the spin would have been investigated without McLaren’s intervention and said the stewards do not hear the broadcasted communications.

“The stewards don’t actually hear any of those communications between myself and the teams, and don’t hear the commentary of the races either,” Masi said. “So they’re not aware of that side of it in any way, shape or form.

“In those types of situations, when incidents like that happen, we go straight up on the screen and put that it’s ‘under investigation’ or ‘noted’ or whatever it may be to tell everyone in the pit lane what’s happening.

“But to be fair with what that incident was, even if McLaren hadn’t said anything, I would have asked the stewards to investigate that.”