Pierre Gasly of Alpine has once more been deprived of his third‑place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix held in June, after the penalties that had originally been applied to him were reinstated following a successful appeal by both McLaren and Red Bull. The reversal of the earlier decision means that Red Bull’s rookie Isack Hadjar now occupies the third spot on the podium, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moves back up to fourth place. Gasly, who had briefly been restored to the podium after a review, is now classified seventh, with Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad taking fifth and sixth respectively. The Monaco race on 7 June was won by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finishing second.
Gasly had initially crossed the line in third position, but two five‑second penalties for alleged pit‑lane speeding were applied after the chequered flag, dropping him down the order. The provisional top ten 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 original report indicated those whose positions changed after the International Court of Appeal (ICA) verdict on September 4. Alpine had initially succeeded in a right‑of‑review request five days after the race, arguing that a miscalculation of the distance in the pit lane meant Gasly had not actually exceeded the speed limit.
The stewards accepted the team’s evidence as a "significant and relevant new element" and temporarily reinstated Gasly to third place. However, McLaren and Red Bull lodged an appeal against that reinstatement, bringing the case before the FIA’s International Court of Appeal in Paris on 25 August. The appeal was successful, and the original penalties were reapplied.
It is worth noting that other drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ George Russell (who later had his penalty converted to a drive‑through), and Oscar Piastri, had also been penalised for the same pit‑lane speeding infraction. Because they served their penalties during the race, those sanctions could not be retroactively altered. Following the Court of Appeal’s decision, the FIA issued a statement explaining that it would review the methodology and operation of the current Formula 1 timing system, as well as the related regulatory framework. The governing body also said it would examine the broader judicial procedures, including the right‑of‑review and appeal processes, to ensure fairness and consistency across the sport.
The FIA emphasized its support for the stewarding system and the independence of the panels that adjudicate on‑track incidents, while acknowledging that the court operates in a different environment with access to extensive legal counsel, arguments, and evidence. Alpine released its own reaction shortly after the verdict, expressing disappointment and frustration. The team reiterated its belief that Gasly had not exceeded the pit‑lane speed limit at any point, but it also accepted the court’s decision.
Alpine’s statement highlighted the team’s continued focus on performance improvement and its commitment to the championship battle, despite feeling unjustly punished. The outcome has significant implications for the Constructors' Championship.
Alpine, which had been only three points behind Racing Bulls for fifth place, now finds itself 16 points adrift after the loss of points from Gasly’s demotion. Conversely, Red Bull welcomed the reinstatement of Hadjar, noting that it not only gave the young driver his first podium for the team but also added three valuable points to both the team’s and driver’s season tallies. Team principal Laurent Mekies remarked that consistency in enforcing speed‑limit rules is essential for the sport’s integrity, and that teams should not have to question the validity of such checks after a race. Looking ahead, Formula 1 is now heading to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home event.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. The Monza race will be another opportunity for the championship contenders to close gaps or extend leads, especially after the recent reshuffling of points caused by the Monaco appeal saga. The situation also underscores the importance of precise timing and penalty enforcement in modern F1, where fractions of a second can determine not only race results but also the broader championship narrative.
In summary, Pierre Gasly’s brief taste of a podium in Monaco was erased after McLaren and Red Bull successfully challenged Alpine’s review, reinstating the original penalties. The decision reshaped the top‑three finishers, boosted Red Bull’s points haul, and widened the gap between Alpine and its rivals in the Constructors' standings.
The FIA’s commitment to reviewing its timing and adjudication processes suggests that further refinements may be on the horizon to prevent similar controversies in future races.