Nico Hulkenberg became the first F1 driver to be disqualified during race in over 17 years when he was shown the black flag during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Not since Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella received DSQs at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix has the FIA actively stopped a driver competing mid-race, but when the marshals helped the German's stricken Haas on its way, the stewards intervened.
On lap 27 of 69 (shortened from the original 71), car no 27. became beached on the outside of Turn 1, after Hulkenberg helplessly spun onto a ridge on the edge of the circuit.
It turned out to be a lip from a drain that had caught the Haas, but the 37-year-old was unable to get moving without outside assistance.
The virtual safety car was eventually deployed with Hulkenberg looking set for retirement. It was at that point that four marshals pushed him free.
Five laps later, Franco Colapinto's heavy crash brought the race to a halt. It was during the red flag stoppage that Hulkenberg learned his fate.
However, having asked his team whether it was okay to be assisted at the point of being stranded, it evidently did not come as much of a surprise to him.
In the stewards wording, and therefore within the regulations, why was Hulkenberg disqualified from at Interlagos?
Quite simply, according to the official decision document provided by the FIA, he "received outside assistance before the car continued."
This is a direct breach of Article 53.2 of the F1 sporting regulations, which is displayed below.
Article 53.2 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations
Except for the circumstances described in Article 26.7d) or Article 57.3, any driver whose car stops in any area other than the Pit Lane during a sprint session or race and receives physical assistance resulting in the car re-joining may be disqualified from that sprint session or race.
It should be noted that the two articles mentioned within the pertinent article to Hulkenberg's disqualification are not relevant in his case.
Article 26.7d covers "Team personnel when assisting marshals to remove a car from the grid after the start of the sprint session or the race", whilst Article 57.3 refers to when a car cannot return to the pit lane due to a track blockage.
However, what is interesting, is that the wording in Article 53.2 suggests the stewards "may" disqualify a driver on the outlined grounds, not that they must do so.
Although, some might argue it is worded in that way to accommodate the two aforementioned exceptions to the rule - or that may in this instance simply means will.
Either way, Hulkenberg's example was a slam-dunk case of outside assistance and the stewards rightly showed him the black flag.
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