Pierre Gasly of Alpine saw his third‑place finish from the Monaco Grand Prix in June erased once more after the penalties originally imposed on him were reinstated following a successful appeal by McLaren and Red Bull. The reversal means that Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar regains the third spot on the podium, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moves back into fourth place. Gasly, meanwhile, is now classified seventh, with Racing Bulls teammates Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad occupying the fifth and sixth positions respectively.
The June 7 race had been won by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finishing second. Gasly had crossed the line in third place on the track, but the stewards immediately demoted him after the checkered flag due to two unserved five‑second time penalties for allegedly exceeding the pit‑lane speed limit. The provisional order after the penalties read: 1) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 2) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 3) Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), 4) Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 5) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), 6) Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), 7) Pierre Gasly (Alpine), 8) Alex Albon (Williams), 9) Esteban Ocon (Haas), 10) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin). Drivers shown in bold in the official report had changed positions after the International Court of Appeal (ICA) ruling on September 4.
Alpine subsequently filed a right‑to‑review request five days after the race, presenting new evidence that the stewards had miscalculated the distance in the pit lane. The team argued that the data demonstrated Gasly had not actually exceeded the speed limit.
The stewards accepted this "significant and relevant new element" and temporarily reinstated Gasly to third place. However, McLaren and Red Bull lodged an appeal against that reinstatement, taking the case to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal in Paris. The hearing took place on August 25, and the court ultimately upheld the original penalties, restoring the order that placed Hadjar on the podium and dropping Gasly to seventh. It is worth noting that other drivers – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ George Russell (whose own penalty was later converted into a drive‑through) and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – also received the same speeding sanction during the race.
Because they had already served their penalties on track, those sanctions could not be retroactively removed. After the court’s decision, the FIA issued a statement emphasizing that it is reviewing the timing system and related regulatory procedures, as well as the broader appeal and review mechanisms.
The governing body expressed full support for the stewarding process, highlighting the independence and objectivity of the panels that oversee race incidents. The FIA noted that stewards operate in a different environment from the court, which has access to extensive legal counsel, arguments and additional evidence. It also stressed that stewards continuously refine their processes through professional development and that every ICA decision undergoes careful scrutiny to promote ongoing improvement. Alpine responded with a statement expressing disappointment and frustration at the outcome.
The team reiterated its belief that Gasly had not exceeded the pit‑lane speed limit at any point, but it acknowledged the court’s ruling. Alpine emphasized that, despite the setback, the team remains focused on improving performance and staying competitive in a tightly contested championship battle. The points implications are significant.
Alpine had been three points behind Racing Bulls in the fight for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship, but the reversal now leaves them 16 points adrift. Conversely, Red Bull welcomed the decision, as it restores Hadjar’s first podium finish for the team and adds three valuable points to both the driver’s and the constructor’s tallies. Team principal Laurent Mekies remarked that consistency in enforcing speed‑limit regulations is crucial for the sport, noting that while some cars complied, others were penalised, and a uniform approach is essential for fair competition.
Looking ahead, Formula 1 moves to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home race, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can stream the event via NOW without a long‑term contract, with the option to cancel at any time.
The Monza weekend promises further drama in the championship, as teams and drivers continue to battle for points while the regulatory framework around penalties and appeals remains under close scrutiny by the FIA and the broader motorsport community.