Most iconic Formula 1 team radio quotes

We've compiled some of the most memorable Formula 1 team radio messages, including Rob Smedley's advice to Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso's McLaren outbursts and the musical entertainment provided by Lando Norris.

• Mark Webber

"Fantastic. Not bad for a number two driver!"

- There were accusations of favouritism in the Red Bull camp during the 2010 British Grand Prix after Christian Horner had sanctioned the removal of an updated front wing from Mark Webber's car in favour of giving it to Sebastian Vettel.

Webber responded to the preferential treatment on the track, taking the lead from Vettel on the first corner before taking the chequered flag, prompting this famous post-race message.

"I'm vomiting, I can't drive."

- Ever wondered what would happen if an F1 driver was sick in a race? Unfortunately this happened to Webber in the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix, having suffered a bout of food poisoning in the morning of the race.

• Rob Smedley to Felipe Massa

"Fernando is faster than you."

Felipe Massa's race engineer Rob Smedley uttered the words no driver wanted to hear when he instructed the Brazilian to let his Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso past during the 2010 German Grand Prix.

The call prompted outrage through the paddock, with Alonso leading Massa home in a Ferrari 1-2.

"Felipe baby, stay cool."

- Smedley's dulcet Yorkshire tones would often be a source of comfort to Massa and during a rain-affected Malaysian Grand Prix in 2009, Smedley reminded his driver to keep calm in the only way he knew how as the Brazilian demanded a new visor.

• Kimi Raikkonen

"Just leave me alone, I know what to do."

- Kimi Raikkonen's team radio conversations were often a source of entertainment during an F1 weekend and no message epitomised his unapologetic nature better than during the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he clashed with his race engineer multiple times whilst chasing victory.

• Fernando Alonso

"GP2 engine! GP2!"

- Fernando Alonso's return to McLaren was massively underwhelming and nothing summarised his second stint better than his outburst at Suzuka in 2015 where he lambasted Honda's engine.

"All the time you have to leave a space!"

- Battling with Nico Rosberg's Mercedes at the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix, Alonso was squeezed off the circuit on the approach to turn four and the Spaniard wasn't afraid to vent his frustrations on the radio.

• Lando Norris

"It's Friday then, it's Saturday, Sunday... WHAT?"

- Lando Norris introduced a new style of radio check at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix when he sang the chorus to 'Friday', a dance song by Riton and Nightcrawlers.

"Ok, what damage do you have?"

"Talent."

- After spinning his McLaren during Free Practice Two of the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix, Norris provided an unexpected assessment when quizzed by his race engineer Will Joseph if the car had sustained any damage.

• Toto Wolff

"Michael, I just sent you an email."

- There were many infamous incidents in the battle for the 2021 drivers' title and none more so than at Silverstone, where Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen collided on the opening lap.

Desperate to prove Hamilton's innocence, Wolff sent an email to race director Michael Masi which included diagrams of where the car should be placed on corner entry, to which Masi replied: “I don’t check my emails during the race."

• Carlos Sainz

"Smooth Operator!"

- Renowned for his smooth driving style, Carlos Sainz first sang Sade's 1984 hit 'Smooth Operator' at the 2019 British Grand Prix and the title of the song has stuck with him ever since - even if he's no longer permitted to sing it on team radio due to copyright laws.

• Peter Bonnington to Lewis Hamilton

"Get in there, Lewis!"

- The familiar phrase was used religiously by Lewis Hamilton's race engineer Peter 'Bono' Bonnington whenever his driver won a race, which was quite a few times.

• Lewis Hamilton

"Nico hit me!"

- The battle for the 2014 drivers' title between the Mercedes pairing of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg was fraught with tension and it escalated during the Belgian Grand Prix, with the pair making contact into Les Combes which resulted in Hamilton suffering a puncture and ultimately ending his race.

"That's for all the kids out there who dream the impossible. You can do it too, man!"

- After claiming his seventh world title with arguably one of his finest victories in Istanbul, Hamilton was overcome with emotion and sent this powerful message out to all of his fans.

• Sebastian Vettel

"Yabadabadee! Ring da da ding ding ding!"

- Rewind to 2011 when the Crazy Frog was definitely no longer in fashion, Sebastian Vettel decided to celebrate his Spanish Grand Prix success by imitating the animated character.

"Honestly, what are we doing? Racing or ping pong?"

- Vettel was less than impressed by Daniel Ricciardo's attempts to play ping pong during the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix as the Ferrari driver was forced to take evasive action to avoid the Australian, who tried a late overtaking manoeuvre into turn one.

"Who gave you my number?"

- In the 2021 season, drivers that were voted 'Driver of the Day' were greeted by a congratulatory message over their radio and after receiving the award for his second-placed finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Vettel was at his witty best.

• Max Verstappen

"Simply, simply lovely!"

- 'Simply lovely' has become Max Verstappen's catchphrase and the origins date back to the 2017 Mexican Grand Prix, where the four-time world champion described his overtake on Sebastian Vettel to his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

• Daniel Ricciardo

"And for anyone who thought I left... I never left."

- It was sweet redemption for Daniel Ricciardo who sealed his first victory in three years at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, leading home a McLaren 1-2 at Monza. It's a shame his time with the Woking-based constructor didn't materialise as hoped.

• Jenson Button

"I'm going to pee in your seat!"

- With Fernando Alonso racing in the 2017 Indianapolis 500, Jenson Button came out of retirement to deputise in the Spaniard's absence at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Ahead of the race, Alonso spoke on the radio to wish his former teammate good luck, only for Button's wicked sense of humour to emerge.

• Juan Pablo Montoya

"We've seen a deer, we believe it's somewhere on the circuit."

"Oh dear..."

- One of the most outspoken drivers to grace the F1 grid, Juan Pablo Montoya found the funny side of his race engineer warning him of an unexpected guest trespassing the Spielberg circuit at the 2001 Austrian Grand Prix.