Checkered flag fiasco 'not my fault' says Winnie Harlow

Super model Winner Harlow has exonerated herself from any responsibility for waving the Canadian Grand Prix checkered flag one lap early.

Harlow, a close friend of Lewis Hamilton, was entrusted with the honorary but important task of ending the race, and promptly did so on lap 69 instead of at the end of the scheduled 70 laps.

While many believe the young woman didn't wave the flag a moment too soon, so boring and uneventful had been the race, the mishap was still a breach of the sporting rules, and required that results be based on drivers' positions at the end of lap 68.

Canadian Grand Prix: Sunday's action in pictures

Fortunately, with the exception of the fastest lap, attributed to Max Verstappen instead of Red Bull team mate Daniel Ricciardo, the results were not impacted by the flag blunder.

Harlow took to social media to post a picture of her flag-waving-self, expressing her gratitude to be able to perform the duty but insisting she did it when she was told by a race official.

“When they tell you to wave the flag a lap too early! You had one job sir!” she wrote on Instagram.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.