Pierre Gasly of Alpine saw his podium finish from the June Monaco Grand Prix erased for a second time after the penalties that had been applied to him were reinstated following a successful appeal by McLaren and Red Bull. The appeal decision reshuffled the top ten, promoting Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar back onto the podium in third place, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moved up to fourth.
Gasly, who had originally been classified seventh, was pushed down the order as Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad claimed fifth and sixth positions respectively. The race on 7 June had been won by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finishing a close second.
Gasly had crossed the line in third position on track, but the stewards immediately applied two five‑second penalties for exceeding the pit‑lane speed limit, dropping him out of the podium before the chequered flag was even waved. The provisional finishing order after those penalties read as follows: 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).
The drivers highlighted in bold were those whose positions changed after the International Court of Appeal (ICA) issued its verdict on September 4. Alpine initially won a right‑of‑review case five days after the race, presenting new evidence that the stewards had miscalculated the distance travelled in the pit lane. The team argued that the timing data showed Gasly had not broken the speed limit, and the stewards accepted this as a "significant and relevant new element," restoring his third‑place result.
However, McLaren and Red Bull lodged an appeal against Alpine’s reinstatement, taking the matter to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal. The hearing took place in Paris on 25 August, and the court ultimately ruled in favor of the appellants, reinstating the original penalties. It is worth noting that several other drivers – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ George Russell (who had his own penalty converted to a drive‑through during the race) and McLaren’s Piastri – were also flagged for the same pit‑lane speeding infraction. Because they had already served their penalties on track, those sanctions could not be retroactively applied, which left Gasly as the sole driver to lose his podium as a result of the appeal.
After the verdict, the FIA released a statement confirming that it would review the timing system used in Formula 1, as well as the procedural rules governing the right‑of‑review and appeal mechanisms. The governing body emphasized its support for the stewarding process and the independence of the panels that oversee race incidents.
It also highlighted the difference between the environment in which stewards operate – limited to the information available at the circuit – and the broader evidentiary resources available to the Court of Appeal, which can draw on extensive legal counsel, arguments, and supplementary data. Alpine responded with a press release expressing disappointment and frustration at the outcome. The team reiterated its belief that Gasly’s car had not exceeded the pit‑lane speed limit at any point, but it also acknowledged the authority of the ICA’s decision. Alpine’s statement underlined the team’s focus on improving performance for the remainder of the season, despite feeling unjustly penalised.
The loss of the podium had a tangible impact on the Constructors’ Championship: Alpine fell from three points behind Racing Bulls in the fight for fifth place to a 16‑point deficit. Red Bull, on the other hand, welcomed the reinstatement of Hadjar’s third‑place finish, which marked his first podium for the team. Both the driver and the team benefitted from an additional three points in the championship tally.
Team principal Laurent Mekies commented that consistency in enforcing the speed‑limit rule was essential for the sport’s integrity. He argued that teams should not have to question the validity of a penalty after a race, and that a clear, uniform approach would allow everyone to focus on racing. The controversy underscores the growing complexity of modern Formula 1 regulation, where sophisticated timing equipment, data analysis, and legal procedures intersect.
As the sport moves forward, the FIA’s commitment to reviewing its timing methodology and appeal processes suggests that further refinements may be on the horizon to prevent similar disputes. Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar now turns to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home race. Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW.
The championship battle remains tight, and the recent developments in Monaco add another layer of intrigue as teams continue to fight for every point in the tightly contested 2026 season.