Edit: After not noticing until this race and being informed in the comments, I decided to find out what’s behind this phenomenon.
Here’s an article about it.
I also wanted to know when those double chequered flags started, so I had a look at both 2025 and 2024 race finishes, and as far as I could determine, the first time this occurred was at Abu Dhabi 2024. Every other race in 2024 looked to only have the official flag.

  • Microw@piefed.zipEnglish
    7·
    2 days ago

    Oh wow, I never knew this. But of course, it makes sense that a) the FIA would not allow a celeb to actually end the race and b) that FOM would sell that if they could

    • SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world
      4·
      2 days ago

      Well in the past it used to be one flag and they did let celebs wave it. In 2018 during the Canadian GP Winnie Harlow waved the checkered flag a lap too early and thus the race had to end a lap earlier. It wasn’t her fault though, she was instructed to wave it. Guess they don’t trust the stewards anymore to not be distracted by the presence of a celeb. I mean I would if I was standing next to Ana de Armas