The Japanese Grand Prix officially ended one lap before it was supposed to due to a glitch with Formula One’s timing system, allowing Sergio Perez to score points despite crashing out of the race.
The Suzuka race was supposed to run for 53 laps but the chequered light was displayed on timing screens at the end of the 52nd. F1’s rules are strict on this, with Article 43.2 saying: “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.”
The error did not change the order at the front of the field, where Valtteri Bottas recorded his first win since April ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Everyone down to eighth-placed Pierre Gasly remained unchanged.
However, on the 53rd lap, Sergio Perez crashed out of the race after tangling with Gasly at the entry to the Essess complex. Perez’s crash initially promoted Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg into ninth and the Mexican’s Racing Point teammate, Lance Stroll, into tenth, the final points-paying position in the order.
However, as the result was declared at the end of lap 52 Perez has kept ninth position. While it denied Stroll a point, it ensured Racing Point will leave Suzuka with two points for ninth rather than one point for 10th.
A similar gaffe occurred after the 2018 Canadian Grand Prix, when supermodel Winnie Harlow waved the chequered flag one lap early, on what was supposed to be the penultimate lap of the race.