Radio Ban in Formula 1 Racing

A couple of years ago, the Federation Internationale De I’automobile (FIA) introduced the highly controversial radio ban which suggests that Formula 1 drivers drive the car alone and unaided. The ban came into full effect this 2016 season, and any violation of radio rules results in a time or grid penalty for the driver.

However, incidents at recent races has brought the stupidity of the radio rules into the limelight. At the inaugural Baku Grand Prix in Azerbaijan a month ago, the race engineer was not able to communicate the right engine mode to Lewis Hamilton, a three-time world champion. Instead, Hamilton had to figure out the right engine mode out of more than 200 possible permutations while accelerating at a top speed of 375 kph! Another incident occurred a week later when Force India, a mid-tier team, was not able to communicate a break failure to their driver Sergio Perez at the Austrian Grand Prix. Perez crashed into the gravel as a result on the penultimate lap.

From the FIA point of view, they have imposed the radio clampdown because they want to prevent driver coaching. Previously, race engineers used to tell drivers which gears to use at specific corners, which engine mode to use, and which brake balance to use. This made racing monotonic and robotic.

Though I understand that F1 drivers should not be coached, I do not believe that banning almost all communications is good for the sport. One, the safety risk. Sergio Perez would not have had a freak crash into the gravel if he had known that his brakes were going to fail; team knew it as they get live telemetry data, but couldn’t communicate. Two, Formula 1 cars are very complex. Here is a look at Lewis Hamilton’s steering wheel. Drivers shift gears up to 4,000 times in a race and adjust close to all 35 knobs on their 50,000 pounds steering wheel (Wired). It is impossible for drivers to know the exact mechanical issues their car has while throttling at over 350 kph down the circuit. They are racers, not engineers. Third, if a driver is behind the wheel figuring out the issue, and losing performance as result, he’s not competitive. This takes away the spectacle of the race. It’s an insult to fans who pay so much money to see overtaking and drivers going at it.

I feel that the radio ban is absolutely rubbish and should be modified as soon as possible. FIA should at least relax the ban and permit instructions to fix mechanical issues. If not, Formula 1 will lose the pinnacle of the sport.