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‘SURREAL MOMENT’ – Yuki Tsunoda Mishears ‘Mirror’ as ‘Beaver’ in Qatar GP Chaos

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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‘SURREAL MOMENT’ – Yuki Tsunoda Mishears ‘Mirror’ as ‘Beaver’ in Qatar GP Chaos

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - December 1, 2024 RB's Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

In a bizarre moment of miscommunication, Yuki Tsunoda revealed he misunderstood a critical radio message during the Qatar Grand Prix, mistaking a warning about a loose mirror on the track for an alert about a “beaver.” The Red Bull junior driver’s misinterpretation added a surreal twist to an already chaotic race at the Lusail International Circuit.


Tsunoda’s Hilarious Radio Confusion

The incident occurred mid-race when Tsunoda’s team warned him about Alex Albon’s stray wing mirror on the track. However, the Japanese driver misheard the call, believing his engineers had spotted a beaver—a highly improbable scenario in the Middle Eastern desert.

“Was it a mirror? I heard beaver,” Tsunoda said, laughing. “My engineers said: ‘There’s a beaver.’ I was like, ‘Why is there a beaver in the Middle East? How is it possible?’ But okay, maybe global warming is bringing some surprises.”

Even Red Bull boss Christian Horner couldn’t resist poking fun at the situation, quipping, “That is quite a change—from mirror to beaver!”


Yellow Flag Confusion

Tsunoda admitted he never saw the loose mirror that triggered the double yellow flags but raised concerns about inconsistent adherence to the rules.

“There was a double yellow, and some cars didn’t really follow it,” he noted. “We need to address this in the next drivers’ briefing. It’s unfair when some drivers respect it, and some don’t.”

McLaren’s Lando Norris was notably penalized with a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to slow down during the yellow flag, an incident that Tsunoda felt exposed the need for stricter enforcement.


A Tough Day on Track

Beyond the radio miscommunication, Tsunoda endured a grueling race, finishing 13th after briefly breaking into the top 10. Despite a strong start that included overtaking Fernando Alonso, his car lacked the pace to maintain position.

“I’ve never experienced such bad race pace before,” Tsunoda admitted. “I gave it everything—I wasn’t even managing the tires. Normally, it’s hard to overtake here, but cars found it very easy to pass me. It wasn’t even close.”

Meanwhile, his teammate Liam Lawson finished 14th after a spin while battling Valtteri Bottas, adding to the team’s lackluster weekend.


A Race of Challenges

The Qatar Grand Prix proved to be a test of endurance and adaptability for drivers, with bizarre incidents and penalties dominating the narrative. Tsunoda’s humorous mix-up might have lightened the mood, but it underscored the frustrations faced by drivers navigating a chaotic race weekend.

Heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Tsunoda and his team will be looking for redemption—and perhaps a clearer line of communication on the radio.

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