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Model waves checkered flag too soon at F1's Canadian Grand Prix

MONTREAL — Formula One said on Sunday it will review its procedures after the Canadian Grand Prix ended in confusion and embarrassment when a celebrity waved the checkered flag a lap too soon. The gaffe did not affect the outcome of the race, which was won by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, but the German said he was left double-checking his lap counter while checking in with his pit before carrying on to run the full 70 laps. "Fortunately we had radio, fortunately I had the lap count in the car, and the pitboard was accurate — but if you lose radio and maybe the pitboard is not there, then you back off," said Vettel after notching his 50th career win. "I was just worried, I told them also on the last lap, then people don't jump on the track, waving flags and celebrating, because we're still going at full pace." The official results were later determined based on the 68th lap to avoid any impact the early flag might have had. Formula One race director Charlie Whiting said the error was caused by simple miscommunication between the official starter and crew in the starter's tower, which resulted in model Winnie Harlow — a friend of Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton — waving the flag prematurely. "It was a miscommunication between the start platform and the guy they call the starter here," explained Whiting. "He thought it was the last lap and asked them at the top to confirm it, they confirmed it. "They thought he was making a statement when in fact he was asking a question. "He told the flag waver to wave it a lap early. It was as simple as that, it wasn't anything to do with the fact it was a celebrity flag waver. "The celebrity was not to blame." Celebrities are often given the honor of waving the checkered flag at motor races, which has occasionally resulted in unintended flubs. Brazilian soccer great Pele famously reacted too late when Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit in 2002, brandishing the flag instead as the later finishers appeared. While the incident on Sunday produced shrugs and even a few chuckles, there were also very real safety concerns, as course workers often come out of their safety areas to stand alongside the track waving flags. "We need to review procedures and make sure we have a very simple procedure for every circuit," added Whiting. "We're dealing with different human beings, different countries, different languages and it's not always absolutely perfect.

The Ferrari GTC4Lusso T ditches the V12 and AWD for a turbo V8 and rear drive

Ferrari continues to turbocharge its lineup with the latest addition – the GTC4Lusso T. This car has the same body as the four-seat GTC4Lusso, but features a turbocharged V8 and sends power only to the rear wheels, a recipe that might just make the gorgeous, elongated hatchback even better to drive. Aside from the addition of the T badge, the majority of the updates were made under the car's body. Gone is the beastly naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V12, and in its place is a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8. The new engine is similar to the one found in the California T, but it has been revised to make a little more power: The 3.9-liter in the GTC4Lusso T puts out 602 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. That's a 78-hp decrease from the GTC4Lusso's V12 motor, but 46 lb-ft more. View 17 Photos While some will see the decrease in power as a downgrade, which it kind of is, the GTC4Lusso T is rear-wheel-drive only and, according to Ferrari, lighter. Much of that weight savings comes from removing the trick all-wheel-drive gearbox that sits in front of the V12 GTC4Lusso's engine, and its absence also shifts the vehicle's weight bias towards the rear, with a 46:54 split. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Ferrari claims the GTC4Lusso T's turbocharged V8 has been engineered for everyday driving with modular torque delivery and a muted exhaust note at low speeds. The vehicle's dynamic systems have also been updated with the 4WS (rear-wheel steering) and Side Slip Control (SSC3) now more responsive to steering wheel inputs. No performance figures for the turbocharged V8 model have been released, but the GTC4Lusso T should manage to get close to the GTC4Lusso's 0-to-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds, but have a lower top speed than the V12 model, which tops out at 208 mph. Already missing the naturally aspirated V12 and all-wheel drive? Don't fret, as a Ferrari spokesperson confirmed that the automaker will continue to sell the GTC4Lusso alongside the GTC4Lusso T. The new model will make its world debut at next week's Paris Motor Show. Related Video: Related Gallery 2017 Ferrari GTC4Lusso T News Source: FerrariImage Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Paris Motor Show Ferrari Coupe Hatchback Wagon Performance Supercars 2016 paris motor show

Ferrari posts record profits on restricted volume

Most automakers are after one thing and one thing only: selling more cars. Because, after all, selling more cars means making more money. Right? Well that's usually the case, but Ferrari has taken a different approach. Rather than try and sell more cars, Ferrari intentionally sold fewer models in 2013, yet it made more money.
The move was implemented after 2012 emerged as the strongest year in the company's history. Instead of pushing to sell even more cars, it opted to maintain a level of exclusivity by selling fewer - 5.4 percent fewer than the year before, to be specific - thereby ensuring that those it did sell were worth more. As a result, in 2013, Ferrari logged record turnover, profits and finances: on 2.3-billion euros of revenue (up 5 percent from the previous year), Ferrari recorded 363.5 million euros in profit last year - that's roughly $500M USD.
Before you go jumping to conclusions, though, bear a few factors in mind. For one, Ferrari's stakeholders aren't pocketing all that cash - they're reinvesting it into the company: over the course of the same year, Ferrari invested some 337 million euros - 464 million dollars - in research and development. And while the company's extensive merchandizing efforts continue to bring in more cash, at 54 million euros ($74M) raised last year, the branding operation still doesn't account for a sixth of overall revenues. Still, it's little wonder that the experts at Brand Finance have named Ferrari the world's most powerful brand for the second year running.