Red Light

A Red Light in motorsport refers to a false start or jump start, where a driver begins moving before the official race start signal is given. This infraction is most notably seen in drag racing, where it results in immediate disqualification.

In drag racing, a specialized starting system called a "Christmas Tree" displays a sequence of lights, and if a driver accelerates before the green light appears, their lane will display a red light indicating the violation. In Formula 1 and other circuit racing, sensors detect if a car moves before the start lights go out, resulting in time penalties.

The term "Red Light" can also refer to warning signals around a track indicating dangerous conditions, or to the red warning lights on the back of race cars that flash during wet conditions or when a vehicle is operating at reduced speed.