F1 apologises to model Harlow after flag blunder at Canadian Grand Prix

Ross Brawn has apologised to model Winnie Harlow on the behalf of Formula One after a mix-up in communications meant that the chequered flag was waived a lap too early during the Canadian Grand Prix.

Charlie Whiting had explained after the race had concluded that the mistake wasn't down to Harlow but was instead due to a misunderstanding in communication about when exactly the flag needed to be displayed.

Brawn also confirmed that the mistake wasn't down to the guest in the gantry but rather crossed wires.

“She was asked to wave the chequered flag, but was told to do so after 69 of the 70 laps had been completed,” he said in a statement from FOM.

“I was sad to see her so heavily criticised when, as race director Charlie Whiting explained, it was all down to a misunderstanding between two officials. Winnie simply followed the instructions she was given and I want to apologise for the grief she received and thank her for supporting Formula 1.

“Something similar happened in China in 2014, but in that instance it wasn’t a celebrity waving the flag. As the saying goes, ‘to err is human’ and all of us – drivers, managers, engineers, mechanics, journalists and fans – make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them and try to prevent them happening again in the future.”