Should the track marshalls be allowed to help the driver restart?

Question

Should the marshalls be allowed to push start a driver who spins out? Wouldn't that be better than drivers exiting the race because they spun out? In the road races in NASCAR if a driver beaches the car he can be towed out with a one lap penalty.

Answer 1

The rules state they can push the car back on the track ONLY if the car is still running. If it stalls or is shut off, it's a DNF. This happened in Australia, last year I think, when Hamilton was cleared from a gravel trap but kept his car running.

Answer 2

Absolutely not. There'll be uproar over this. Just imagine if the marshals decide to help only their local hero and not the other drivers. There'll be a huge load of unfairness. Fans and drivers would make a h**l of noise and once again the FIA will be blamed for one thing or another.

There was an incident years ago when Schumi went off track. The marshalls helped pushed him back on track. But when the same thing happened to Trulli, they refused to help. This was questioned and marshalls were labellede as being biased. TO avoid anymore situations like this, the FIA then decided that marshalls are not allowed to push the cars back on track. If the driver can't get out of it himself or the engine stalls, it's a DNF

Answer 3

This causes all sorts of arguments. One prime example is Michael Schumacher spun out and lost traction, but his engine was still running and was pushed back on to the track and won. Several races later, Alonso did exactly the same thing except this time the marshalls refused to push him back onto the track. I think there is a rule which says that the car can be pushed back on to the track if its position is hazardous, but again, this causes arguments because Michael Schumacher did exactly that ... and got a points finish (I don't think he won that race).  

As a spectator, the driver and car, as in most other races, are expected to complete the required distance un-aided (pit stops excluded).

So while it seems unfair to have a team spend two weeks preparing a car, them getting a good place on the grid, then to spin out, get stranded, and then not be allowed to continue; whatever system you use has to be easy to interpret and is fair to all the drivers. As such, to me the fairest way is the driver should be able to get back onto the track unaided, otherwise he is receiving assistance.