In a directive sent to the teams earlier this week, Charlie Whiting, race director, spelled out a list of allowed messages – largely regarding safety, and pit stop strategies – as well as those which are now banned. These include where a team-mate or competitor is quicker, or instructions about saving fuel, which have irked many who feel the gladiatorial image of F1 drivers has been tarnished. The FIA also clarified that coded messages will not be tolerated.

Rosberg is widely regarded as one of the drivers who has made best use of the ability to ask race engineers for almost any piece of information, including where his team-mate Lewis Hamilton might be faster or where he should conserve fuel on any given lap.

But that has not stopped him praising the FIA’s sudden move before Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, one of the most demanding on the calendar.

Rosberg, who leads Hamilton by 22 points in the drivers’ standings, tweeted: “Great day in simulator. Practising Sochi and getting used to no radio communication. Its good, the racing becomes more pure.”