F1 drivers don’t want their radio being broadcast? That’s exactly why it should

Tempers ran high on Formula 1 drivers’ radios during the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend.

After colliding with Lance Stroll during practice, Max Verstappen launched into a tirade which contained more than just the usual effing-and-blinding, to the extent that the Mongolian government is pressing Red Bull for a public apology over Verstappen’s “racist and derogatory language”.

Verstappen wasn’t the only driver to mouth off about Stroll’s driving – Lando Norris did so as well that weekend and subsequently apologised – but the Red Bull driver clearly went much further with his comments than other drivers have.

Nonetheless, it’s become commonplace to hear drivers’ complaints about their rivals, often in highly unflattering terms, particularly when broadcast unedited on F1 TV. And even the censored versions on the world television broadcast usually leave enough of the message intact for it to be quite clear which four-letter word a driver has reached for.

Full team radio broadcasts have been available to viewers since F1 TV was launched in 2018, though not all drivers seem to appreciate this. Earlier this year Sebastian Vettel told journalists it was “very weird for you to judge because you don’t get all the [messages]”, clearly labouring under the misconception that only some of his comments can ever be heard.

“I think whoever is selecting which radio transmissions to broadcast and which not, I think it’s very difficult there for you to know what is being said and get the full picture,” Vettel continued, apparently unaware that his full radio broadcasts have been available to anyone who wants to listen to them for the last three years in many countries.

Recent controversies over drivers’ radio messages has prompted suggestions F1 should stop broadcasting their discussions. Predictably some of them, including Vettel and others, are keen on this idea.

“Why is it broadcasted?” asked Romain Grosjean ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. “The cockpit and the radio to your team is your own environment. I don’t like radio messaging being being broadcasted when you are flat-out.”

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Grosjean has previously said his unflattering descriptions of his car’s performance are why his radio messages have been regularly selected for broadcast on the world feed. He points out the live broadcasts of drivers’ discussions doesn’t have a parallel outside motor sport.

“Imagine if you were broadcasting what’s going on on the football pitch. I mean, I think it’s more fruity and colourful.

“You can always speak your mind. You need to respect people. We’re not perfect at it. And I am not, I’m far from being perfect at it.

“But also, you have to bear in mind that we’re driving a car 330kph, pushing it to the limits and obviously knowing that there’s a risk…