At which racer did the late Pele wave the chequered flag at the 2002 Brazilian GP after initially failing to do so?
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Pele waves the chequered flag at the 2002 Brazilian GP
Pele is an icon. The Brazilian changed the way we see the Beautiful Game. Thus, Pele was loved across the globe as a sensation worldwide. Formula 1 has a ritual of inviting celebrities to wave the chequered flag at the end of the race. The flag is waved at the race leader and marks the F1 race victory. As such, Pele too was invited to do the honors at the 2002 Brazilian Grand Prix as he was the local hero.
However, things did not go as planned. Michael Schumacher crossed the finish line in the race lead but was not met by the chequered flag. Pele had failed to wave the flag on time but quickly realized his mistake. But the damage was done, by the time the Brazilian did wave the flag, it was Takuma Sato in the Jordan who crossed the line, albeit Sato was a lap down to the race leaders.
Despite Schumacher finishing the 71 laps in the first place. One could argue that it was Takuma Sato who actually won the race since the Japanese driver was the first to cross the chequered flag. Although, this did not happen and the results were given in the order of the finishers. It was definitely a fail on Pele’s behalf and maybe the Brazilian learnt a lesson that day. But we cannot blame the Brazilian completely, as even in 2022, we’ve had celebrities failing to wave the flag at the finish.
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Formula 1 mourns the death of Brazilian legend, Pele
Pele passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82. This saddened the world, as the former striker had been one of the biggest names in Football. The Brazilian died after a hard-fought battle with cancer in Sao Paulo. Various sportspersons paid their respects and the F1 paddock was no different. Lewis Hamilton expressed his condolences and mentioned, “Pele’s legacy will inspire us forever and always.”
Formula 1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali gave a heartfelt tribute to Pele. Domenicali stated, “Very sad to hear the news that Pele, one of greatest footballers ever has passed away.” Stefano mentioned how the Brazilian had inspired millions of people even outside of his home country. the F1 CEO said, “He was a shining light for Brazil and millions around the world. His skill, smile and brilliance will live on forever.”
It indeed is a tragic time in the sporting world. The loss of Pele has made hundreds of millions of fans across the world heartbroken. But this is the cycle of life. Death is inevitable and even if you are invincible on the field, you are no match for time. We are deeply moved by the passing of one of the greatest players the world has ever seen. But Pele’s legacy will be carried on for decades to come.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2310 Articles Published)