F1 team radio shouldn't be broadcast says McLaren's Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso believes radio messages between Formula 1 drivers and their teams should not be broadcast to the public on television
The McLaren driver caused a stir during the Japanese Grand Prix when he referred to his car feeling like it had a "GP2 engine" at Honda's home race.
McLaren chief Ron Dennis was unhappy with the remarks, which he felt showed a lack of "professionalism", but Alonso does not think F1 radio communications should be for public consumption.
"What you say on the radio should remain private because you are talking with your team, not publicly," said Alonso ahead of this weekend's Russian GP.
"We have been very positive all season about the team and the car, and we have faced some difficult times.
"You're battling and you can't hold anyone behind and you are losing positions, it's normal [to show frustration].
"But as I said, it's a unique sport that we have a microphone in our helmet and it goes live on TV.
"It's talking to the team, understanding the frustration driving the car.
"Imagine in NBA or football what we could find."
Alonso added there have been plenty of other comments made by he and team-mate Jenson Button this season that have not been picked up on TV.
"It's just the frustration of battling hard and wanting to be competitive," he said.
"You are fighting lap after lap and you keep losing positions easily on the straight, [so] you get some frustration on the radio.
"But I'm happy it was only broadcast in Suzuka.
"If you hear other races and other messages from me or Jenson, you would be even more surprised."
Alonso believes his meetings at the Honda factory in Sakura before the Japanese GP weekend were more important than his comments during the grand prix.
"On the Wednesday I visited the factory and I saw the engine programme for next year," he said.
"We had very long meetings, we went through the difficulties we are facing right now and the possible solutions we want for next year.
"That was the most important part of the weekend and the message of the weekend.
"Sunday['s frustration] was just the competition against the others. It's nothing new."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
F1 testing: Max Verstappen feels 'big difference' in 2018 Red Bull
Williams F1's Oliver Rowland to test Super Formula car at Suzuka
Why F1's under-fire rookie is already causing surprises
Alonso: No F1 team has Aston Martin’s ‘ambitions’ as Newey intrigue flies
Alonso will be "first to raise my hand" if he loses F1 edge at 45
Suzuka sensation redeemed Alonso, but his F1 future is complicated
McLaren F1 team bracing for "damage limitation" in Chinese GP
Misano E-Prix: McLaren's Hughes beats Vergne to pole
How Bruce McLaren's death shaped more than just his F1 team
Porsche lodges appeal over da Costa's Misano Formula E disqualification
2024 MotoGP world championship standings after the Americas GP
What Aston Martin’s curfew burn told us about its F1 upgrade trajectory
Tank Slappers Podcast: MotoGP Americas GP review
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
The secrets of F1 turbocharging explained
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments