Chinese GP ended two laps early after chequered flag blunder

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China.

The Chinese Grand Prix ended two laps earlier than it was supposed to at the Shanghai International Circuit today after the checkered flag was waved at the end of lap 55, instead of 56.

“That was very strange. I was thinking ‘am I seeing things?’,” race winner Lewis Hamilton admitted afterwards acknowledging the blunder. “I looked up, I was coming across the line expecting to do another lap and all of a sudden I looked for a split second and I saw the flag.”

“Then I saw there was no-one on the wall so I kept going. I did lose a second or so but when I asked the team, they said ‘No’ and I just kept going. It was very strange.”

According to Sky Sports, it was a clerk’s mistake who had unfurled the flag only to test it. However, to everyone’s surprise, there was just a single change of position with Jules Bianchi taking up the 17th place ahead of Kamui Kobayashi who had overtaken Bianchi in the final moments of the race.

The corrected result:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:36:52.810.2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, + 00:18.686.3. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 00:25.765.4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, + 00:26.978.5. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 00:51.012.6. Nico Huelkenberg, Force India, + 00:57.581.7. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, + 00:58.145.8. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, + 01:23.990.9. Sergio Perez, Force India, + 01:26.489.10. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1 lap.11. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1 lap.12. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1 lap.13. Kevin Magnussen, McLaren, 1 lap.14. Pastor Maldonado, Lotus, 1 lap.15. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1 lap.16. Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, 1 lap.17. Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1 lap.18. Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham, 1 lap.19. Max Chilton, Marussia, 2 laps.20. Marcus Ericsson, Caterham, 2 laps.21. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 28 laps.21. Adrian Sutil, Sauber, 51 laps.

In an official note released by the Federation, it was stated, “Result declared at end of Lap 54/56, in accordance with Article 43.2 of sporting regulations. Checkered flag was shown to leader at end of Lap 55.”

Article 43.2 basically states that, “Should for any reason the end-of-race signal be given before the leading car completes the scheduled number of laps, or the prescribed time has been completed, the race will be deemed to have finished when the leading car last crossed the line before the signal was given.”