A strange mistake at the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix resulted in the race ending early, with Lewis Hamilton clinching victory.
12 years ago today, Lewis Hamilton won the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix, solidifying Mercedes’ dominance in the turbo-hybrid era. However, the race became infamous for a marshalling mistake that ended the event prematurely. An overzealous steward mistakenly waved the chequered flag two laps too soon, causing confusion on track. Despite the error, Hamilton was declared the winner as per FIA regulations which dictate that once the flag is shown, the race is deemed finished. The premature end led to a controversial decision that nullified Kamui Kobayashi’s late overtake on Jules Bianchi, impacting the final standings. Despite the chaotic finish, Hamilton’s victory stood, with teammate Rosberg in second and Alonso in third place on the podium.
