The official Japanese Grand Prix results will not include the final lap of the race due to an error with the chequered flag signal.
The results of the race have been taken based on the end of lap 52 instead of the full 53-lap race distance.The error means Sergio Perez, who crashed on the final lap of the race, has been classified in ninth place. Nico Hulkenberg is classified 10th instead of ninth while Lance Stroll will not score a point, finishing 11th instead of 10th.
Last year’s Canadian Grand Prix was accidentally ended a lap early because the chequered flag was shown too soon. Following that, the FIA changed the rules for 2019 which stated the chequered light panel, not the flag, would be the official signal that the race has finished.
“A chequered light panel will be the end‐of‐race signal and will be shown at the Line as soon as the leading car has covered the full race distance,” states the FIA Formula 1
Sporting Regulations.
“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.”
This article will be updated.
Don't miss anything new from RaceFans
Follow RaceFans on social media:
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2019 F1 season
- Crying in the Melbourne car park at 2019 grand prix was my career low – Ocon
- McLaren Racing reports reduced £71 million loss in 2019
- Kvyat: Hockenheim podium last year was “my biggest achievement” so far
- How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
- “He smashed my office door”: 23 must-see moments from ‘Drive to Survive’ season two
Kiran Nesarajah (@nesarajah)
13th October 2019, 8:16
I’m sorry but how does this happen ?
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
13th October 2019, 10:03
The frequency this happens is embarrassing. Each time its brushed off and just a simple mistake (or blame a local celebrity).
Last time, they made rules to make sure this would never happen again. They have extra stupid digital displays to “guarantee” it doesn’t happen again with human error and a flag. Well this failed too, so once again, full confidence in F1 to get the simple things right.
If you can’t run a race without the Start and Finish being correct, you shouldn’t run a race!
But harsh, but it’s so basic. The drivers know when the finish is. Leave em to it!
Kiran Nesarajah (@nesarajah)
13th October 2019, 14:49
+1
Mark
13th October 2019, 17:55
F1 what a joke. First off how’s about letting people watch mid field passes live instead of a replay. And how do you mess by letting a crashed car revive points??
Chaitanya
13th October 2019, 8:16
Didnt something similar happen in China couple of years back? Though then there was not driver to score point in such bizzare manner.
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
13th October 2019, 8:49
And even more recently in Canada.
zomtec (@zomtec)
13th October 2019, 8:17
Amazing they still let 14th century technology influence the races.
Will Jones
13th October 2019, 8:20
You won’t believe it, but those engines rely on technology invented in the Neolithic era.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
13th October 2019, 8:46
Also they run on literally Dinosaurs
Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
13th October 2019, 10:26
Good one that :D
RetardedF1sh (@retardedf1sh)
13th October 2019, 9:23
@zomtec In case you are refering to the actual flag, that was shown correctly. It was the 21st century timing system that had the glitch.
Yaru
13th October 2019, 11:56
It wasn’t the flag, it was the checkered flag signal.
bosyber (@bosyber)
13th October 2019, 8:17
Oh, man. Stroll deserves more, Hulk too, but I guess only Renault loses out as a team, and Gasly is happy with the extra position. They must be glad Hamilton didn’t manage a last gasp overtake then though, lol!
bosyber (@bosyber)
13th October 2019, 8:20
Oh, right, no, Gasly is still 8th, indeed only Hulk then loses out, and RP actually gains that point, but now with Perez.
Solischi
13th October 2019, 9:27
Also Serio Perez deserves more..but is what it is…
PaulK (@paulk)
13th October 2019, 8:18
Again? Ridiculous.
Klon (@)
13th October 2019, 8:19
I think the children call that a “bruh moment”.
Roope Pöyry (@robben)
13th October 2019, 8:20
“End-of-race signal: The traditional chequered flag is still shown as well, but the official end-of-race signal is now a chequered light panel at the finishing line.”
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-rules-and-regulations-what%27s-new-for-2019.2DIt7TEs9YqI8IY6mEcwsM.html
So, they made a rule to change for this year to prevent this kind of thing and still managed to do it. I guess sometimes F1 is a yoke.
DAllein (@)
13th October 2019, 8:23
Look, the just s didn’t foresee someone setting the chequered light panel on)
Next year they will have two panel, a flag and a badger, who will have to run across the track to mark the end of the race!
No one will be able to tell it is not entertaining)))
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
13th October 2019, 10:07
Can I apply for the job as F1s official badger handler?
Would it be a honey badger is Australia?
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
13th October 2019, 8:37
The TV cameras still show only the person waving the Chequered Flag. It would be much better if we could see the Chequered Flag screens as well, then if there’s some sort of argument about the waving and display of the flag we’d all see it on the video.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
13th October 2019, 10:06
Or you know, they just get it right and there is no need for arguments!
DAllein (@)
13th October 2019, 8:21
*facepalm*
I got concerns when I saw Chequered Flag in Live Timing… but… really… lack of words.
Perez must be happy though.
Jose Lopes da Silva
13th October 2019, 8:52
I dislike Stroll, so I’m very happy with this.
ColdFly (@)
13th October 2019, 11:49
Feel free to like/dislike, but try to be a real ‘racefan’ when commenting on this site.
Jere (@jerejj)
13th October 2019, 9:07
But shouldn’t the final results be taken from the end of lap 51 instead since the flag-display came out at the end of 52? In Canada last year, it was lap 68 after the flag got shown at the end of lap 69 (the respective penultimate lap of that race) and the same in China in 2014.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
13th October 2019, 9:42
Yes, it should. I’d like to hear the stewards reasoning for this decision.
Lancer033 (@lancer033)
13th October 2019, 16:15
“the race will be deemed to have finished when the leading car last crossed the Line before the signal was given.”
based on that line without going back to look and see exactly when the signal was shown, if Bottas had already crossed the line and started the last lap when the flag signal came out, then they would have the call correct.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
18th October 2019, 6:12
@jerejj That rule changed at the end of 2003 due to the Brazillian Grand Prix proving the two-lap countback was too complicated for the FIA. (Hardly surprising, if today and Canada last year indicates that one-lap countback is beyond the same people’s ability).
Steve Rogers (@yossarian)
13th October 2019, 9:20
Does this now mean that the stewards now can’t penalise Gasly even if they wanted to as technically the incident with Perez didn’t happen? Like a penalty decision being overturned because the player was off-side.
Yaru
13th October 2019, 11:59
In theory yeah, but between them screwing up the jump start and this, who knows.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
18th October 2019, 6:13
No, it means it’s classed as a cooldown lap procedure. Which, were it not for the mitigating circumstances, would be worse for whoever caused it…
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
13th October 2019, 9:24
It’s a good job Lewis didn’t get past Seb on the last lap.
His reaction would be unprintable!
David (@davidjwest)
13th October 2019, 11:01
Farcical, is this a professional “sport”?
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
18th October 2019, 6:14
Yes. It’s also technology-centred, and having the results depend on a technical failure or lack of same is very apt for this.
Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
13th October 2019, 11:26
I can imagine there being a lot of mixed feelings in Team Stroll. This mess-up has benefitted the team overall (2 pts instead of 1), but left Lance Stroll out of a point.
Bulgarian (@bulgarian)
13th October 2019, 12:05
This is a cherry on the cake! Stewarding today was the worst in F1 history!
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
14th October 2019, 17:19
Yes, you’re right, the Stewards displayed less than their usual competence.