Sebastian Vettel revealed there were a few moments of concern inside his cockpit after the chequered flag was waved one lap too soon at the end of the Canadian GP.
With supermodel Winnie Harlow given the distinction of bringing the race to a close, the FIA blamed a miscommunication between the starter accompanying Harlow and race control with a question from the starter asking if it was the final lap mistaken for a statement and leading to the premature flag.
Under the regulations, the race was counted back to lap 68 rather than original 70 but the impact was negligible with none of the points scorers changing position and only Daniel Ricciardo losing the fastest lap he set to Max Verstappen.
However, at the moment of it happening, Vettel admits he was left in a brief state of flux as well as other worries.
“I was just worried, I told them on the last lap, so people don’t jump on the track, waving flags and celebrating, because we are still going at full pace,” he said.
“I even watched on TV [on a trackside big screen] and after I saw the chequered flag it said ‘FINAL LAP’ so then I was a bit confused.
“I told them that I think the race isn’t over yet, and they said, ‘no no no, keep pushing’.
“Some of the marshals were already celebrating – they peaked a bit early.”
Nowadays drivers don’t have to depend on flags to know exactly when the race ends but as the four-time champion added: “If you lose radio and maybe the pit board is not there, then you back off, and being in the lead, you hope all the others back off as well!”
