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FIA to clamp down on radio communication relating to the performance of the driver

Technical Directive to take effect from the Singapore GP

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The FIA are making changes to the communication between the pit wall and the driver via team radio.

The FIA has banned radio communication relating to the performance of the driver and the car with immediate effect.

This season has seen a dramatic increase in drivers asking for advice on where they can go faster, what turns they are losing time in and engineers relaying messages about quicker ways to drive the car such as what gear to take a corner in and when to brake.

This has received criticism from experts and pundits and FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting has now issued a Technical Directive to the teams stating that Article 20.1 of the Sporting Regulations – which states that “the driver must drive the car alone and unaided” – will be used to clamp down on radio communications from the Singapore Grand Prix onwards.

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“In order to ensure that the requirements of Article 20.1 of the F1 Sporting Regulations is respected at all times we intend to rigorously enforce this regulation with immediate effect,” Whiting wrote.

“Therefore no radio conversation from pit to driver may include any information that is related to the performance of the car or driver.”

Whiting added that teams cannot get round it by sending information in other forms: “We should also remind you that data transmission from pit to car is specifically prohibited by Article 8.5.2 of the F1 Technical Regulations.”

The ban does not include advice with regard to pit-stop strategies or safety, nor with regard to general messages between pit and driver, a number of which have often been dramatic and have proven an integral part of the show.

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