374 replies to this topic

[Cyanide]

It's nothing new - the occasional cuss gets broadcast to live television, this is racing and adrenaline runs high. 

 

However, Vettel's recent outbursts are stretching the limit already. It's not even about concern to young audiences, it's about the bad taste and lack of civilized manners in a mainstream sport. And Vettel lost all sense of respect and manners already with "idiot this, stupid that, **** Charlie here, **** Charlie there, Max is a dick". 

 

It's becoming a bit much.

[Marklar]

Oh, I guess in the old times they said worse things, but it wasnt broadcasted.

I have not much against those kind of team radios, even if Vettels was a bit over the top for my taste.

Edited by Marklar, 31 October 2016 - 07:13.

[Giz]

I agree with op - its not allowed in other sports that don't even have microphones / radios attached to every 'player' never mind just broadcasting it with an often quite badly timed bleep over the top

 

Yes we want drivers to show personality but Alonso manages that very well whilst still showing respect for the sport

 

Giz

[Diablobb81]

Team radio. Not Vettel to spectators radio.

Edited by Diablobb81, 31 October 2016 - 07:21.

[Giz]

Exactly - he can say what he likes (within reason **** Charlie was too much from a sporting pov I think) they don't have to broadcast it

 

It can go on the pit radio broadcast and commentators can tell us about it (like they already do in some cases)

 

Giz

[travbrad]

At least I finally agreed with Vettel on something.  Charlie Whiting should **** off.  His constant complaints about blue flags are a bit silly though as if it is only him having to lap cars (especially when he blocked someone's qualifying lap just the day before).  Nothing is ever his fault either.  In the post race interviews he basically said it was Verstappen's fault that he hit Ricciardo.  

 

At least it provided some entertainment in what was otherwise a pretty boring race.

[Ellios]

What was it Daniel Ricciardo said the other race when talking about Rosberg 'I'd love to catch that m*********er.....' ? or something similar

 

I'm perfectly happy with strong language, unlike this board obviously hehe!

Edited by Ellios, 31 October 2016 - 07:29.

[SophieB]

I don't mind it if they swear on the radio per se. I do mind if someone has a meltdown and starts yelling that the race director should **** off because that suggests he's completely lost control of his senses and that's not a good thing at all behind the wheel. Too much.

 

Not really a fan of the drivers calling each other unbroadcastable four letter epithets, either - there should be some basic respect.

[Pimpwerx]

Seriously? This is why we have censorship, because people call into networks and whine and moan about how they're offended by dirty words.

Do we really want to further sanitize this already bland sport?

Raise your hand if you've yelled expletives in your car when another driver does something to offend you. I know I have. I'm not telling out of my car, but I'm quite the potty mouth inside. Why? Frustration.

These drivers get frustrated too. They are human. Given that 90% of what we get are machines rolling around a circuit, it's nice to be reminded that there's flesh and blood piloting these things. If anything, I want more emotion. Fans get emotional all the time. I want to see my drivers do the same.

I'm no Seb fan, but I've always admired and appreciated his display of personality. Be it finger wagging or swearing, it gives me a deeper glimpse into who the man at the wheel is. I'd love unfiltered in-helmet audio. Screw team radio, I'd love to hear all the stuff these guys say that isn't broadcast to their teams. I'm sure many of them are quite vocal inside those helmets, and that's cool. That's passion. That's racing.

[Ickx]

The worst thing about team radio is that they broadcas the short intense messages and not the ones that gives actual insight in the working environment down there

[P123]

The worst thing about team radio is that they broadcas the short intense messages and not the ones that gives actual insight in the working environment down there

Agreed, would be nice to hear some of the strategy discussions, rather than just the adrenaline fuelled outbursts.

[David1976]

Vettel is losing the plot. He's gone from occasional outbursts to near enough every race these days.

I dare say he cannot hack the Ferrari pressure and before too long his time there will be up.

[DaddyCool]

Maybe if the drivers were not fed up with the incredibly inconsistent stewarding and the piss poor racing standards of nowadays, perhaps they wouldn't go apeshit behind the wheel.

 

I, for one, agree with Vettel. Charlie should have f***ed off from the sport a long time ago.

[Lights]

Vettel is losing the plot. He's gone from occasional outbursts to near enough every race these days.

I dare say he cannot hack the Ferrari pressure and before too long his time there will be up.

 

It's not just this weekend indeed. Every weekend lately he's on the radio complaining. And then there's different ways of complaining, but his sounds like he's absolutely had it with just about anything, the simplest things. Someone driving in the way in practice? Cue the Vettel shitstorm.

 

That then all builds up to the end of this race, where he got unrealistically mad at Max, who was just doing what plenty of drivers have done (unpenalized even) and was waiting for further orders, and besides that Seb also got unrealistically mad at Charlie, who let's be honest can't always be expected to decide these incidents straight away. Calling them swearwords like that, with so much hatred, just made it over the limit for me. I don't care that there's adrenaline etc., that's all BS excuses, all drivers have that.

 

It's very unprofessional, and the fact that he's a 4 times WDC just makes it mind boggling how he can react in such a way.

Edited by Lights, 31 October 2016 - 07:57.

[muramasa]

　

basically it's broadcaster's choice thus fault to air that "inappropriate" part of the exchange. I would no way endorse that part of the Vettel remark, but at the same time I understand the context in which he said it and adrenaline he was under, so all in all it's no issue at all. After all that's what Seb is and has been, like it or not, and for me why I like him. Same can be said of "aggressiveness" of most other drivers as well.

 

Worst outcome out of this would be "disrepute" idiocy gets introduced, I loath this dictatorial rule in Indy etc. Hopefully F1 has sense and wont end up with such thing.

[HoldenRT]

I like it.  I like when the drivers are being real.  It's much better than mute team radio that we had in the last 12 months, when you wouldn't hear anything.

 

The drivers are so PR filtered outside of the car, it's nice to see what they really think.  The swearing was going a bit overboard but blame Seb, not the broadcaster or F1 as a whole.  Bleep out the swearing, no harm done?

 

It's revealing about their personality and character and that's something that makes F1 interesting.  If only they could act like this more in the actual PR interviews.

[MikeV1987]

If they don't like profanity on team radios then they shouldn't broadcast it. But at the same time, if fans are getting offended by it then maybe they should grow some thicker skin.

Edited by MikeV1987, 31 October 2016 - 08:13.

[HoldenRT]

I don't mind it if they swear on the radio per se. I do mind if someone has a meltdown and starts yelling that the race director should **** off because that suggests he's completely lost control of his senses and that's not a good thing at all behind the wheel. Too much.

 

Not really a fan of the drivers calling each other unbroadcastable four letter epithets, either - there should be some basic respect.

 

Agree, but that's a problem with the driver behaviour, not with the broadcaster for showing it.  They act like spoiled millionaire brats, but that's true whether we hear it or not.  For me personally, if they drivers really feel this way I want to know.  Seb deserved some sort of punishment for that though, whether he was right or not.

 

I don't know if it's been talked about much, but it seems his penalty was only for his braking move and not for his verbal attack towards race officials, which I agree isn't ideal.

 

[superdelphinus]

I like it too. I really don't get why grown adults would be upset by bleeped out swearing, especially when so many complain the sport is too sterile. And kids know that swearing exists from about 5 years old, and anyway bleeps. Vettel's radio messages endeared him to me and was a great insight into a sportsman's psychology live in the event that you just don't normally don't get in other sports.

Edited by superdelphinus, 31 October 2016 - 08:15.

[SophieB]

Agree, but that's a problem with the driver behaviour, not with the broadcaster for showing it.  They act like spoiled millionaire brats, but that's true whether we hear it or not.  For me personally, if they drivers really feel this way I want to know.  Seb deserved some sort of punishment for that though, whether he was right or not.

 

I don't know if it's been talked about much, but it seems his penalty was only for his braking move and not for his verbal attack towards race officials, which I agree isn't ideal.

 

I agree so I'm puzzled how you saw my post as me saying it is the broadcasters making the problem. To be clear, I put it all on the drivers. Did you quote the wrong post, maybe because lots of other people are saying they do blame TV for revealing the behaviour?

[Okyo]

All good if it's bleeped out. As stated by some, it's his channel to talk with the team and considering just what kind of  a enviroment it is, swearing is even expected. 

Heck, drivers are really the only guys that can call out Charlie. I mean, the teams, the management wont do it in a million years. Which is why i think it was great what Seb said. He spoke what all of us were thinking for years, which outweighs it all. I honestly can't recall someone saying of that sort. Idiotic calls done left and right, yet noone really went after the shot callers, usually ended in "oh i don't agree with the decision". If a lil profanity is what it costs to let the old board know about the ridiculous, inconsistent job they've been doing, hail that.
 

[Cyanide]

If they don't like profanity on team radios then they shouldn't broadcast it. But at the same time, if fans are getting offended by it then maybe they should grow some thicker skin.

 

It's not about the fans getting offended. 

 

It's about a supposedly professional 4-time world champion offending not only half the field, but now even the sporting director. 

[chunder27]

Don't think there has been any respect from any race driver to another regardless of friendship if he is being held up or being forced back by a team-mate into another drivers.

 

They have respect for each other, but once in that car they behave like spoiled, pathetic, needy little babies.

 

Just like footballers do actually, this is their diving, ref protesting etc. So petulant it makes you wince at times.

 

Makes them looks stupid, but does make for entertaining listening at times.

[MoP]

Aren't we living in a perfect politically correct und beautiful world. The amount of hypocricy in here is amusing. At least there is someone speaking his mind in the heat of the moment racing on the limit and showing some goddamn emotion. Hell, most of us swear worse than that driving the car to work, let alone going 300 kph and racing other cars 

[Szoelloe]

There is absolutely no problem with profanity on radio. Most - if not all - the drivers express themselves in that way in the heat of the moment. Most of us has from time to time, and again and again thought and said CW to xxxx-off. And he really should, at that.  Why should the drivers feel differently? The problem is releasing the radio traffic to the public in a manipulative way. You usually hear "editor's picks". Releasing it should be prohibited. Directors should get penalty points too. AND the race director should be given penalty points also. CW would have been banned a long time ago..

Edited by Szoelloe, 31 October 2016 - 08:26.

[Okyo]

Agree, but that's a problem with the driver behaviour, not with the broadcaster for showing it.  They act like spoiled millionaire brats, but that's true whether we hear it or not.  For me personally, if they drivers really feel this way I want to know.  Seb deserved some sort of punishment for that though, whether he was right or not.

 

I don't know if it's been talked about much, but it seems his penalty was only for his braking move and not for his verbal attack towards race officials, which I agree isn't ideal.

I don't really agree with drawing a connection between swearing, being pissed and the fact that they are millionaires. If that's the case, then when any day i go anywhere, i'm surrounded by billionaires left and right  

Edited by Okyo, 31 October 2016 - 08:28.

[RedBaron]

Fans: Ban team radio

 

Banned.

 

Fans: Remove the ban!

 

Ban removed.

 

Fans: We don't like what we're hearing!

 

F1 fans.

Edited by RedBaron, 31 October 2016 - 08:29.

[MikeV1987]

^ pretty much

[Okyo]

Fans: Ban team radio

 

Banned.

 

Fans: Remove the ban!

 

FIA: Ban removed.

 

Fans: We don't like what we're hearing!

 

F1 fans.

Swearing was never banned. Well unless it's used to pass coded messages, which could mean Kimi and Seb were geniuses and we got all of this wrong 

[Motorbreath]

While the profanity doesn't bother me and I welcome drivers giving their opinions, Vettel should seriously consider going to some anger management therapies...

[Massa_f1]

Exactly - he can say what he likes (within reason **** Charlie was too much from a sporting pov I think) they don't have to broadcast it

 

It can go on the pit radio broadcast and commentators can tell us about it (like they already do in some cases)

 

Giz

 

Pit radio broadcast channel is where they used to put most of the messages that had bad language in them. FOM seemed to of stop caring a  year or so ago and just put it all on the main world feed now.

[OneAndOnly]

Well finally we have a proof humans, not robots, drive these cars.

Was it too much? Probably. 

Am I glad it happened? Very much.

 

Off topic: Charlie should retire ASAP.

Edited by OneAndOnly, 31 October 2016 - 08:37.

[Spillage]

I thought it was great and that we should have more of it. Can anyone say it didn't add to the excitement?

[Lights]

Fans: Ban team radio

 

Banned.

 

Fans: Remove the ban!

 

Ban removed.

 

Fans: We don't like what we're hearing!

 

F1 fans.

 

That's far too simplistic, just to make your point.

 

Fans never wanted to ban team radio. Fans wanted to ban driver tips. "Felipe, Fernando takes Turn 3 in 5th gear, that's where you're losing time to him". That's literally what happened at some point. That's what the majority of fans wanted banned. 

 

Then the FIA overreacted and banned far too much, including helping drivers when they had serious mechanical issues. That's never what the fans intended.

 

So they removed this ban again. 

[noikeee]

I don't mind it at all. I thought that was hilarious. Maybe I'm a little concerned that Vettel might be starting to lose the plot whilst in charge of a car that goes 370kph, but I don't tend to be offended by words.

You guys are also all forgetting they're packed full with adrenaline. This leads to dumb reactions and to saying stupidly aggressive crap on international TV that they'll regret 1 hour later. This is why most drivers can be aggressive to their engineers on the radio, even though the engineers are on the same side.

[Nonesuch]

FOM has full control over what we get to hear and what we don't. And people think they're not selecting these messages to create drama or shape a narrative?

 

Has nobody paid any attention to what Bernie Ecclestone keeps saying about drama and excitement?

 

On the other hand, if the FIA race director can't handle being shouted about (not at!) once every decade perhaps he should retire. He should anyway, but this could be a good excuse.

[David1976]

I am not offended by the profanities at all. In fact I like all the emotion but Seb totally lost the plot on Sunday which isn't a good sign for him. People are talking about this more than anything else.

[Lights]

FOM has full control over what we get to hear and what we don't. And people think they're not selecting these messages to create drama or shape a narrative?

 

Has nobody paid any attention to what Bernie Ecclestone keeps saying about drama and excitement?

 

On the other hand, if the FIA race director can't handle being shouted about (not at!) once every decade perhaps he should retire. He should anyway, but this could be a good excuse.

 

Well... “Here is a message for Charlie: F*** off! F*** off! Honestly”

 

Vettel did everything he could do deliver it to Charlie personally, but there's only so much he can do from the car.

[screamingV16]

"Won't someone please think of the children!"   Seriously, whilst Vettel's outburst and over-excitement was probably detrimental to his focus in the car, I thought it was hilarious. F1 drivers are being criticised for being bland PR drones, yet as soon as they show a bit of personality, hysteria breaks out. Even more hilarious considering the deification amongst fans of the behaviour of James Hunt and the like.

[Lights]

Even more hilarious considering the deification amongst fans of the behaviour of James Hunt and the like.

 

Well yeah, by you obviously, but not everyone is like that.

[Giz]

Why is acceptable in F1 but not in other sports?

 

Giz

[screamingV16]

Well yeah, by you obviously, but not everyone is like that.

 

Oh please do find some of my posts doing just that, or are you just making assumptions based on my avatar?

[GrumpyYoungMan]

I agree with op - its not allowed in other sports that don't even have microphones / radios attached to every 'player' never mind just broadcasting it with an often quite badly timed bleep over the top

 

Yes we want drivers to show personality but Alonso manages that very well whilst still showing respect for the sport

 

Giz

Not all Team radio is broadcast, it is picked and chosen so this is no accident - it also isn't broadcast "live"...

Edited by GrumpyYoungMan, 31 October 2016 - 09:06.

[Giz]

Not all Team radio is broadcast, it is picked and chosen so this is no accident - it also isn't broadcast "live"...

 

Who siad it was?

[Rich]

Why is acceptable in F1 but not in other sports?

 

Giz

 

Because, you know, F1 is special.

[CoolBreeze]

I'm fine with it. It's at the heat of the moment, just like the GP2 engine comments, which can be disrespectful if you think of it. If they are concerned, then stop broadcasting the radio live.

[Christbiscuit]

You're hearing the snippets of 22 continual coversations which FOM want you to hear and insert into the Global feed. What better way to make a truly mediocre, processional snoozefest of a race sound exciting than broadcast a four-time champion swearing a few times? You know he wasn't the only one. I'd say Checo had some choice words to say stuck behind a Williams the whole race but you can't have the local hero swearing when the sponsors are listening.

They're not live comments, they're chosen for broadcast, bleeped if necessary and then replayed to all.

Welcome to the world of tabloid sports coverage where sensation is used to mask the absense of substance in order to stop viewers ever asking themselves "Why am I watching this crap?"

Edited by Christbiscuit, 31 October 2016 - 09:12.

[PlayboyRacer]

Honestly if Vettels rant really upsets you that much.....I suggest retiring from the sport along with Charlie Whiting.

 

Sure bleep out the profanities if you like. That aside....I have no issue and love the human aspect of this sport. An aspect which has diminished with every passing decade. Don't kill it completely for the love of God.

 

Go watch croquet if your offended 

Edited by PlayboyRacer, 31 October 2016 - 09:14.

[ANF]

I enjoyed it. What I don't like is the ****ing bleeps.

[Raest]

This is a total non issue... 

I am sure Vettel is the first driver to use expletives about stewards/other drivers over the team radio. Senna never said a bad thing before he climbed out the car and punched them, 

Schumi told his engineer that he was going over to the McLaren garage for " a chat with DC" while driving on three wheels and DC himself whispered "I am sorry Michael" while he was giving him the middle finger in Canada... 

Because drivers don't ever swear on team radios while talking to their mechanics, or at other drivers... Ever...