• Mercedes

Wolff predicts controversy over team radio clampdown

ESPN Staff
September 12, 2014 « Horner tips Vettel to take fight to Ricciardo | FIA publishes 2015 calendar »
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Mercedes motor sport boss Toto Wolff has labelled the FIA's plans to limit team radio during races as "complex and controversial".

The governing body notified teams this week that radio communications relating "to the performance of the car or driver" will be banned in order to uphold Article 20.1 of the sporting regulations, which requires the drivers to drive the cars "alone and unaided". Several Mercedes radio communications have been broadcast on TV this year involving instructions to drivers about where and why they are losing lap time, but the FIA is hoping to outlaw such messages from the Singapore Grand Prix onwards.

Communications about safety, pit stops and race strategy will still be allowed, but any radio traffic - coded or otherwise - about the car's settings, fuel consumption or state of tyres will not be allowed.

"It has been confirmed that we will now see less radio traffic," Wolff said. "This is a complex and controversial decision which will require a significant effort from the teams to understand how best we can work around it.

"The directive is not yet fully clear and there will inevitably be some controversy, so it will need further clarification as to how much the essential on-track procedures will be affected - particularly before the start of the race."

The ban is expected to be discussed further in Singapore to clear up any grey areas.

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