Who decides which radio messages are broadcast?

I hear the commentators say that most team-driver radio isn't broadcast, but they never mention who decides which messages are broadcast.

I have wondered if it is the teams themselves. This has in turn made me wonder that, if the teams do decide, why would they give away vital strategy information to other teams.

An example was Raikkonen's message at Hungary "my only hope is if his rear tyres go" (in reference to getting past the leading Hamilton". This sends a pretty clear message to McLaren that all they needed to to was cruise home and look after Lewis' tyres...

I it is not the teams, who decides what messages are broadcast, and why?

Edited by Spa One, 05 August 2012 - 11:19.

The teams hear all the radio messages not just those that are broadcast - hence, I guess, Ferrari's recent use of Italian for some of their messages. I reckon the decision on which messages to broadcast is made by the director of the FOM World Feed.

i think that the messages are broadcasted bit after than theyve actually happened which probably means that the FOM World Feed are choosing the ones that are worth hearing for the viewers.

The TV director i the one who chooses I guess! but anyway the radio is delayed sometimes bacause it's monitored for language. Some drivers swear in the radio...

The TV director i the one who chooses I guess! but anyway the radio is delayed sometimes bacause it's monitored for language.

They are always delayed - at least during the race.

Edited by scheivlak, 05 August 2012 - 16:02.

The team radio transmissions are monitored by one or more serfs in the trailer, who then alert the director/associate director that someone just said something interesting. The audio is very seldom broadcast live, not only due to the possibility of salty language, but because until somebody says it, there's no way to know it will be worthy of broadcast. Around 97.9 percent of the team radio chatter is meaningless to the television audience.

And they swear when they don't want something broadcast. And in some cases they're warned ahead of time they're about to be on air. Though in the example I can remember it was post-qualifying and they were going to open the pole-sitter's channel. It was when Kimi was at Ferrari and they were talking to him normally and said "next time you hear from me will be for the broadcast" and there's a pause of a few seconds then a really overdone "omg that was amazing!" and Kimi, bless him, actually made an effort to say thank you/well done, etc.

Anything after a session/race is finished is painful to listen to.

And they swear when they don't want something broadcast. And in some cases they're warned ahead of time they're about to be on air. Though in the example I can remember it was post-qualifying and they were going to open the pole-sitter's channel. It was when Kimi was at Ferrari and they were talking to him normally and said "next time you hear from me will be for the broadcast" and there's a pause of a few seconds then a really overdone "omg that was amazing!" and Kimi, bless him, actually made an effort to say thank you/well done, etc.

Anything after a session/race is finished is painful to listen to.

That was more applicable when the teams were able to restrict their radio from FOM. Ferrari would block access to their radio feed until after the race when they would open it up to FOM and the driver would be given advance warning. McLaren were even more restrictive and simply blocked all team radio until ~2006 from being broadcast. Williams were generally the most liberal giving FOM access to most of their content, leading to some of the brilliant Montoya exchanges. "Raikkonen! What a ****ing idiot!" I'm sure is remembered by many.

That was more applicable when the teams were able to restrict their radio from FOM. Ferrari would block access to their radio feed until after the race when they would open it up to FOM and the driver would be given advance warning. McLaren were even more restrictive and simply blocked all team radio until ~2006 from being broadcast. Williams were generally the most liberal giving FOM access to most of their content, leading to some of the brilliant Montoya exchanges. "Raikkonen! What a ****ing idiot!" I'm sure is remembered by many.

Oh "deer" who can forget that?

As far as I know they are always delayed (30 sec or 1 minute?) during the races to avoid spoiling quick strategy calls, as well as to screen for bad language.

As far as I know they are always delayed (30 sec or 1 minute?) during the races to avoid spoiling quick strategy calls, as well as to screen for bad language.

Its quite amusing they do that as the V8 Supercars (who have had access to radio for longer) seem to air uncensored, including Fs and Cs. Then the governing body in their infinite wisdom fines the teams/drivers....

And they swear when they don't want something broadcast. And in some cases they're warned ahead of time they're about to be on air. Though in the example I can remember it was post-qualifying and they were going to open the pole-sitter's channel. It was when Kimi was at Ferrari and they were talking to him normally and said "next time you hear from me will be for the broadcast" and there's a pause of a few seconds then a really overdone "omg that was amazing!" and Kimi, bless him, actually made an effort to say thank you/well done, etc.

Anything after a session/race is finished is painful to listen to.

i think that the messages are broadcasted bit after than theyve actually happened which probably means that the FOM World Feed are choosing the ones that are worth hearing for the viewers.

Worth = potential controversy to "spice up the show".

They are always delayed - at least during the race.

And the race itself is delayed, all in order to prevent showing something untoward, so goodness knows how old the messages really are.