Supermodel’s MAJOR Flag Screw Up Ends Formula One Race Early

Winnie Harlow is best known for being a supermodel with vitiligo and changing standards of beauty…or whatever.

Love this: Beauty is what we decide it is. It’s no longer just blonde-haired, blue-eyed, tall and thin women. https://t.co/l1lHhbVLq7

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) June 10, 2018

Well… apparently she’s ALSO changing the standards of Formula One racing.

F1 race director explains why chequered flag was waved a lap early in #CanadianGP –> https://t.co/u6TDj6wYVP pic.twitter.com/kGty7G4tcf

— DRIVETRIBE (@DRIVETRIBE) June 11, 2018

So um… this is a bit awkward.

According to Fox News:

The Formula One Canadian Grand Prix ended a lap early on Sunday, but not because of an accident or the weather. The race officials just messed up.

Canadian supermodel Winnie Harlow waved the checkered flag at the end of lap 69 of a scheduled 70, throwing race leader Sebastian Vettel for a loop.

“I was a bit confused. I told them [his team] I don’t think the race is over yet,” Vettel said after the race, noting that the lap counter in his car read 69.

Some F1 fans took to Twitter to blame the mishap on Harlow, but a Formula One spokesman said that there was a communications issue between race control and the starter on the stand with her, who was responsible for telling her when to wave the flag.

When you tell @WinnieHarlow to wave the chequered flag too early 🙈

Miscommunications happen!#NoHarmDone pic.twitter.com/3uWCl6zMbG

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 10, 2018

YIIIIIKES.

Here’s the thing, even if it WAS completely her fault… I think they’d say something like this to cover for her. They wouldn’t throw her under the bus, would they? That would make them look bad.

I imagine when they say “miscommunication” it went something like this:

F1 People: Winnie, wave the flag on the next lap.

WH: Wave the flag?!

F1 People: Yes.

WH: *wildly waves flag*

“Miscommunication.”

The situation was potentially dangerous, as race staff and team members often enter the track immediately following the completion of an event, assuming the cars have slowed down. In this case, the cars were still going full speed on what should have been the final lap as the drivers waited for clarification on the situation. Fortunately, no one was harmed.

Harlow, a model with vitiligo who rose to fame as a contestant on “America’s Next Top Model,” tweeted after the race, “‘It wasn’t me’ *SHAGGY VOICE*” — a reference to a song by the Jamaican singer.

“IT WASNT ME” *Shaggy Voice* when they tell you to wave the flag a lap too early 😂😩😡🏁🏁 but I’m so grateful no one was hurt! 🙏🏽🏎 @F1 pic.twitter.com/2wBmH3SDOP

— ♔Winnie Harlow♔ (@winnieharlow) June 10, 2018

So. Freaking. AWK.

I bet there are A LOT of annoyed drivers and fans right about now…