Pierre Gasly of Alpine saw his podium finish from the June Monaco Grand Prix erased for a second time after the penalties that had originally been applied to him were reinstated following a successful appeal by McLaren and Red Bull. The reversal means that Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar regains the third‑place position on the official results, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moves back into fourth place. Gasly is now classified in seventh place, with Racing Bulls teammates Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad occupying the fifth and sixth slots respectively. The race on June 7 was 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 was immediately demoted after the chequered flag when stewards applied two five‑second penalties for alleged pit‑lane speeding that had not been served during the race. The initial provisional order after the 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) Drivers shown in bold were those whose positions changed after the International Court of Appeal (ICA) issued its verdict on September 4. Five days after the race, Alpine lodged a right‑to‑review request, presenting new evidence that the stewards had miscalculated the distance in the pit lane. The FIA accepted this as a "significant and relevant new element," concluding that Gasly had not actually exceeded the speed limit, and his original third‑place finish was reinstated.
However, McLaren and Red Bull promptly appealed the reinstatement to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal. A hearing was held in Paris on August 25, and the court ultimately decided to uphold the original penalties, thereby removing Gasly from the podium a second time. The court’s decision also clarified that other drivers—Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ George Russell (who had his penalty converted to a drive‑through during the race), and Oscar Piastri—had already served their respective speed‑limit penalties, so those sanctions could not be retroactively applied.
In a formal statement after the ICA ruling, the FIA explained that it would be reviewing 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‑to‑review and appeal mechanisms, to ensure fairness and consistency across the sport. The FIA reiterated its support for the stewarding process, emphasizing the independence and objectivity of the panels that oversee race incidents. It noted that stewards operate in a different environment from the Court, which has access to extensive legal counsel, arguments, and additional evidence.
The organization stressed that stewards continuously review their processes and engage in professional development, and that every ICA decision is carefully scrutinised to promote ongoing improvement. Alpine issued a brief but pointed statement following the verdict, expressing disappointment and frustration with the outcome. The team maintained that car #10 had not exceeded the pit‑lane speed limit at any point during the Monaco Grand Prix, but acknowledged the court’s decision.
Alpine’s spokesperson added that, despite feeling unjustly penalised, the team remains focused on improving performance on track and staying competitive in the championship battle. The result of the appeal 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 losing the three points associated with a podium finish.
Conversely, Red Bull welcomed the reinstatement of Hadjar’s third place, marking his first podium for the team and adding three valuable points to both the driver’s and the team’s season tallies. Team principal Laurent Mekies commented that the decision was important not just for the driver but for the sport as a whole, emphasizing the need for consistent enforcement of speed‑limit rules so that teams can focus on racing rather than post‑race legal battles. The controversy highlights ongoing challenges in Formula 1 regarding the accuracy and transparency of timing and speed‑monitoring systems, especially in high‑pressure environments like Monaco’s tight pit lane.
Critics argue that inconsistencies in penalty enforcement can undermine the integrity of race results, while proponents of strict regulation stress the importance of safety and fairness. The FIA’s promise to review its timing methodology suggests that further technical upgrades or procedural changes may be on the horizon, potentially involving more precise GPS‑based tracking, real‑time data verification, or enhanced communication between stewards and teams during races. Looking ahead, the sport shifts to Italy for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Ferrari’s home circuit, where the championship battle will continue to intensify. Fans can watch the race live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, offering flexible contracts and the ability to cancel at any time.
The Monza event will provide another opportunity for drivers and teams to earn points, and for the FIA to demonstrate any improvements to its regulatory processes following the Monaco dispute. Overall, the Gasly incident serves as a reminder of how technical regulations, stewarding decisions, and legal appeals intersect in modern Formula 1.
While the immediate outcome was disappointing for Alpine and its supporters, the episode may catalyse reforms that benefit the sport’s competitive fairness and operational clarity in the long run.