Push the Car

Pushing a car that has stopped due to mechanical trouble is prohibited for whatever reason.

In the kart race, a kart that has stopped on the gravel may be pushed back into the course by hand, or a kart that has stopped due to mechanical trouble may be pushed out of the track to a safe place by hand.

It is prohibited in automobile motor sports.

As it is a very dangerous situation for the driver to be on the course during the race, it is considered that the action of pushing the car is prohibited by regulations for safety reasons.

If the car stoped due to mechanical trouble just before the finish line, it may be cool to push the car and receive the checkered flag, but it may be judged as a violation and penalized.

1984 FIA Formula 1 Round9 US Grand Prix

At the FIA Formula 1 Round 9 US Grand Prix held on the city course in Dallas in 1984, Nigel Mansell of Lotus hit the wall before receiving the chequered flag and stopped the car.

Nigel Mansell pushed the car forward to receive the checkered flag, but fell down in front of the finish line due to heat stroke.

Under current regulations, it is prohibited for such driver to push the car.

2015 FIA Formula 1 Round 10 Hungarian GP

At the 2015 FIA Formula 1 Round 10 Hungarian Grand Prix held at Hungaroring, McLaren Honda’s Fernando Alonso stopped the car at the pit road entrance due to machine trouble during Q2 of qualifying Q2.

The red flag was waved and the session was suspended. Fernando Alonso pushed the car back into the pits to record a lap time.

With the help of Course Marshall on the way, he was able to get the car back into the pits. However, due to the regulations that driver had to return to the pit with the engine running in order to run for the remaining time, he was not allowed to rejoin the session.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE Appendix L

CHAPTER IV - CODE OF DRIVING CONDUCT ON CIRCUITS
3. Cars stopping during a race

f) Pushing a car on the track is prohibited.

Pushing the car by marshall may be admitted.

If the car stops, driver need to make sure it is not in danger to other drivers. However, regulations describe that the course marshall can assist if the driver is unable to move the stopped car.

Normally, in case the car does not have the damage but does not move due to stuck on the gravel, the marshall move the car to safe place using a wheel loader or caterpilar vehicle etc.

After that, driver can restart the engine and run on the lawn to the course to return. In rare cases, marshall may push the car out of the gravel if it can be pushed by hand without heavy equipment.

Engine stall at race start

At the start of the race, if the engine stalls and driver cannot start the race, marshall will push the car to a safe place to the out of the course.

At this time, if the engine is started by push start, driver can rejoin to the race.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE Appendix L

CHAPTER IV - CODE OF DRIVING CONDUCT ON CIRCUITS
3. Cars stopping during a race

b) Should a car stop outside the pit lane, it must be moved as soon as possible so that its presence does not constitute a danger or hinder other drivers.
If the driver is unable to move the car, it shall be the duty of the marshals to assist. If such assistance results in the driver rejoining the race, this must be done without committing any breach of the regulations and without gaining any advantage.

2003 FIA Formula 1 Round 9 European Grand Prix

At the FIA Formula 1 Round 9 European Grand Prix held at the Nürburgring in 2003, Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and Williams’ Juan Pablo Montoya, who were competing for second place, came into contact and Michael Schumacher spun.

At this time, the engine of Michael Schumacher’s car was not stopped, but the rear tire was in the gravel and he could not escape by himself.

Several course marshalls rushed in and pushed Michael Schumacher’s car from behind to return to the course. Thanks to that, Michael Schumacher was able to rejoin to the race without retiring.

In case of stopping the car, driver must be stopped in a safe place to avoid danger.

However, if the driver himself cannot move the car, the course marshall may assist. However, it is not allowed to help start the engine. Therefore, regarding Michael Schumacher, it can be said that he was fortunate that the engine did not stop.