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SPYING IN FORMULA 1: How teams eavesdrop on radio conversations

Graham Watson, team manager of Toro Rosso, speaks quite openly about how his team listens to the radio conversations of rivals and they do so in a legal way.

Photo: HB Press

From the famous spy affairs from the summer 2007, has become anything research and eavesdropping in Formula 1 a rather sensitive matter. Nevertheless observes competitors on every step. Thanks prohibition of barriers, this work will even be made easier for the teams at this year's pre-season tests. During the race however, there is a lot of interest in radio conversations competitors. “We have a special room in our factory,”Is a colleague from Motorsport-Total.com explained Graham watson, addressed to eavesdropping on radio conversations in Formulas 1.

Graham Watson, team manager of Toro Rossa (now AlphaTauri) spoke candidly about how teams legally eavesdrop on radio conversations with each other.

In his role team manager pri To Toro Rosso, which is called this year Alpha Tauri, knows all the processes in the team, even how best to you eavesdrop on a competitor. "We also have people on the racetrack who listen to all the radio channels.“A total of twelve people are running racing weekend in charge of this task only. And how it works "espionage“? "We usually assign two or three teams to each person so they can keep an eye on the keywords as well. Because there is, understandably, also a lot of irrelevant communication. Because of this, they only listen to keywords."

The teams are most interested in what the direct competitor is doing in the race and intends to do - Photo: HB Press

And this is done entirely on legal way. Because all teams listen too official FOM channel. "All teams have the ability to eavesdrop on other teams.”But this is just an example racing weekends, because in winter testing in Barcelona this option will not exist. For Toro Rosso is, not surprisingly, the most interesting strategy of other teams. "At the race, of course, you want to hear if they will come to a stop or if they have any problem with the race car. It is also interesting to know whether they have to handle tires or brakes carefully or save fuel,”He explained Watson.

The Mercedes team, which is constantly in the lead, is not interested in teams like Toro Rosso. - Photo: HB Press

It's mostly about being obtain a review, what competitors do. Here it is, of course direct competition significantly more important than that top teams at the top. “You can imagine focusing earlier on the team we are in a direct match with.“What does he do Mercedes in leadership, this usually does not concern the team. “But we are certainly interested in what Racing Point, Haas or Renault are doing.”V of the past they were still in full use different methods, recalls the 52-year-old. That’s when it could have happened that some team directly involved to a competitor’s radio station. This is no longer possible today, because team radio communications are coded. "We use a digital system for this purpose, each team has its own coded radio link. Because of this, we would not be able to eavesdrop without official channels. If so, you are in luck in this case, but let me stress that we are not actively following this."

The radio connection was first tested in 1983 in Toleman, but only at the Goodwood Festival. It was not until the 90s that this technique was finally established.

Although he has to Watson to admit that it would be in great help, if I could uncensored hear the full course of radio conversations of other teams, especially at the beginning of the season when power ratio has not yet actually crystallized. “This would be a great help, because on one fast lap it is always difficult to say how much fuel a car is on the track." By the way: Radio connection was first used experimentally for years 1983 at Toleman. But the British with Johnny Cecott behind the wheel it new technique they did not initially test the racetrack, but at an event in Goodwood. Later, v 90s, but it really dealt with spying, remember Watson. "Yes Yes! One hundred percent! People tried to break into other channels and eavesdrop on other teams. Yes, that happened,”He says with a smile Watson.

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