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Yuki Tsunoda’s Miscommunication During Qatar Grand Prix

During the recent Qatar Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda experienced a mix-up over a radio communication regarding track conditions that sparked a bit of amusement. The driver, competing for Red Bull, mistakenly interpreted a warning about a loose mirror on the circuit as a message concerning a beaver.

Tsunoda had a challenging race at the Losail International Circuit, where he started off well but struggled to maintain his position, ultimately finishing in 13th place. This disappointing result was compounded by a strategic decision to switch to soft tires towards the end of the race, which did not yield the expected benefits.

After the race, Tsunoda spoke candidly about the moment of confusion when he spoke to Motorsport.com. He recounted his bewilderment when the pit crew alerted him about a ‘beaver,’ leading him to question how such an animal could possibly be found in the Middle East. “My engineers said: ‘There’s a beaver.’ But why is there a beaver in the Middle East? Like how is it possible a beaver is in the Middle East?” he remarked, humorously connecting the situation to the unexpected effects of global warming.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner chimed in, playfully acknowledging the mix-up by highlighting the stark difference between a beaver and a mirror. Tsunoda later confirmed that he had not seen the mirror but felt that not all drivers adhered to the double yellow flags that had been raised due to the incident.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris faced consequences of his own, receiving a 10-second stop-go penalty in the race, which he accepted responsibility for. He noted the inconsistency in driving behavior among competitors regarding the observed flags, calling for a review in future drivers’ briefings to address the issue, stating: “That’s very unfair.”

Challenges on Track

Tsunoda described the race as particularly difficult, stating that he never experienced such a poor race pace before. After an impressive start where he found himself in the top 10, he struggled significantly as the race progressed. “Yeah, I had a good start as well and I was P9, able to overtake [Fernando] Alonso as well after the safety car,” he stated. “But I never had like that much of a bad pace. I just gave it everything, you know, I was not even managing the tyres.”

He further elaborated on the challenges of overtaking in Qatar, emphasizing how other cars seemed to have no difficulty in passing him, which underscored his team’s overall lack of pace during the race. His teammate, Liam Lawson, also faced difficulties and finished 14th after a spin while contending with Valtteri Bottas.

Looking Ahead

The team will need to regroup and analyze their performance as they prepare for upcoming races. The experience gained from Tsunoda’s miscommunication and race difficulties can provide valuable insights into improving race strategy and driver communication moving forward.

Source
www.motorsport.com