After the Canadian Grand Prix checkered flag fiasco, here is why the Formula 1 rule about checkered flag blunders needs to change.
In a Canadian Grand Prix that saw no lead changes around the 14-turn, 2.710-mile (4.361-kilometer) Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the highlight (or lowlight depending on how you choose to look at it) of the race, which was the seventh race of the 21-race 2018 Formula 1 season, was the checkered flag fiasco.
With one lap to go in the 70-lap race, supermodel Winnie Harlow waved the checkered flag despite the fact that the race was not yet over and race leader and eventual race winner Sebastian Vettel was nowhere near the finish line.
By rule, the race was considered complete at that point, and the results were reverted to the running order from one lap before Harlow waved the checkered flag. Therefore, the race was scored as having been completed even with only 68 laps of the scheduled 70 having been run.
It is not hard to see that this rule stating that the race is complete when the checkered flag flies, even if by accident, and the results of the race are based on the running order of the previous lap could pose a major problem in the future for Formula 1 with a points finish, a podium finish, a race win or even a championship on the line (think Felipe Massa vs. Lewis Hamilton in the 2008 season finale).
Fortunately, the only things that this blunder affected were the battle for 13th place between Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Perez and the fastest lap of the race, which was recorded on lap 70 by Daniel Ricciardo but not deemed official because it happened after the race was considered complete.
However, something needs to be done.
When the checkered flag flies, drivers inherently slow down after they have crossed the finish line whether they are on the lead lap or they aren’t. Why would they keep racing if the race has been completed? If some drivers are aware that the checkered flag flew by mistake while others aren’t, there is a huge risk of accidents that could be disastrous.
More from Formula One
- Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
- Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
- Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
- Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
- Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points
Rarely does a situation like this occur. However, “rarely” is not rare enough, especially since it has now happened twice in the last five seasons, as it happened in the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix when Lewis Hamilton took the checkered flag when it was flown one lap prematurely. This needs to be eliminated completely.
So what needs to change to eliminate it completely?
If the checkered flag waves prematurely, it should not affect the outcome of the race. The error has nothing to do with the drivers. I understand the safety risks, but there are ways to combat those as well simply by allowing drivers to be more aware of the number of laps completed and remaining in the race.
This is the 21st century. Formula 1 cars are worth millions and millions of dollars. The fact that the sport still relies on a black and white cloth to tell drivers that a race is ending seems ridiculous. I have nothing against the checkered flag itself being used, but wouldn’t it be better and a lot more convenient if the drivers had some kind of lap counter in the car that they could reference to avoid confusion as well if a situation like this ever takes place again?
Even in the slight change that confusion still managed to arise, there would be no excuses for “falling for” a “fake” checkered flag. Racing is a team sport for a reason. Having a team in the pits to communicate with in an odd scenario such as this one, even without a lap counter, is something that drivers need to take advantage of. There should be never be any excuses unless the radio fails.
Next: Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time
Do you believe that the checkered flag rule in Formula 1 needs to change following the fiasco in the Canadian Grand Prix?