(McLaren Mercedes)
This weekend's Singapore Grand Prix see's the FIA implement the somewhat controversial ban of some messages between the teams and drivers. Already during the final free practice session while Sahara Force India's Sergio Perez was in the garage getting ready to go out on track his race engineer came over the radio to tell him something but stopped himself saying: 'Oh, I'm not allowed to say'
While at the Caterham F1 Team they could face the first penalty for not observing the communication ban as Kamui Kobayashi was told something over the radio that he shouldn't have been.
This new ban means that engineers will have to check themselves as to what they can and cannot say which in the high paced world of Formula One should not be happening as it is a major safety issue. If a driver is having an issue with their car it could cause an accident if the team are not allowed to communicate certain issues.
Bernie Ecclestone has also stated that the teams could also face further restrictions for example, a restriction in the data being set from the car to the pit-wall in terms of the telemetry.
The ban also has the potential for fans to turn their back on Formula One at a time when the sport is desperately trying to bring in new fans. It also comes at a bad time for Formula One as Formula E showed last weekend that it has the potential to match and indeed be a better spectacle then Formula One.
The radio communications between the driver and his team are often what adds to the excitement of the sport and it will now take away from the sport.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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