Why did the Canadian GP only have 68 laps instead of 70?
The eagerness of model Winnie Harlow to wave the checkered flag signifying the end of the Canadian Grand Prix one lap earlier could have impacted the race outcome, with the final standings being taken into account... at the 68th lap.
The incident did not go unnoticed, not even by Sebastian Vettel, who promptly reported it to his team via radio: the checkered flag signaling the end of the race was waved a lap early, on the 69th of the 70 laps of this Canadian Grand Prix.
If it would be easy to blame the celebrity entrusted with this symbolic task, namely the Canadian model Winnie Harlow, it is in fact a miscommunication between the race management and the staff at the starting platform that is the cause, as highlighted by Charlie Whiting after the race: « There was a communication error between the starting platform and the guy they call here “the starter,” the guy who starts and finishes the race. He thought it was the last lap, he asked race management to confirm, they confirmed. They thought he was informing them when in fact he was asking a question. He told the person responsible for waving the flag to do it one lap early, so it has nothing to do with it being a celebrity, clarified the Race Director.
“IT WASNT ME” *Shaggy Voice* when they tell you to wave the flag a lap too early 😂😩😡🏁🏁 but I’m so grateful no one was hurt! 🙏🏽🏎 @F1 pic.twitter.com/2wBmH3SDOP
— ♔Winnie Harlow♔ (@winnieharlow) 10 juin 2018
But as the regulations stipulate, since the checkered flag was waved one lap earlier, it’s the standings from the previous lap that were taken into account, that of the 68th lap: « If, for any reason, the end-of-race signal is given before the lead car has completed the scheduled number of laps […], the race will be considered finished at the moment the lead car last crossed the finish line before the signal was given. » explains Article 43.2 of the sporting regulations.
An anecdote without consequence for the Canadian Grand Prix but that could have changed the race standings if actions and overtakes between drivers had occurred in the 69th or 70th laps.
Certain pilots, like Nico Hülkenberg, even amused themselves on their Twitter accounts, gently teasing the Canadian for her mishap.
Not much going on today.. but @winnieharlow thanks for finishing after 68 of 70 laps 😉😁
P7! #RSspirit #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/KHHftoLyc9— Nico Hülkenberg (@HulkHülkenberg) 10 juin 2018
