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 promotes Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar back onto the third step of the podium, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moves up to fourth place. Gasly drops to seventh in the official classification, with Racing Bulls teammates Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad occupying fifth and sixth respectively. The race on June 7 was won by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finishing second.
Initially, Gasly crossed the line in third position, but two five‑second penalties for exceeding the pit‑lane speed limit were applied after the chequered flag, demoting 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 had their positions altered after the International Court of Appeal (ICA) ruling on September 4. Alpine later filed a right‑to‑review request, arguing that the stewards had miscalculated the distance in the pit lane and that Gasly had not actually broken the speed limit. The review panel accepted Alpine’s evidence as a "significant and relevant new element" and temporarily restored Gasly to third place.
However, McLaren and Red Bull appealed this reinstatement to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal, which held a hearing in Paris on August 25. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the appeal, reinstating the original penalties and confirming Gasly’s seventh‑place finish. It is worth noting that other drivers – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ George Russell (whose penalty was later converted to a drive‑through), and Oscar Piastri – also received the same speeding infraction during the race.
Because they had already served their penalties on track, the court could not retroactively remove those sanctions. The FIA released a statement after the ICA decision, indicating that the governing body will review the timing system and related regulations, as well as the procedural aspects of the right‑to‑review and appeal mechanisms. The statement emphasized the FIA’s support for the stewarding process, the independence of the stewards, and the need for continuous improvement in how decisions are made. It highlighted that the court has access to extensive legal counsel and evidence that stewards do not, underscoring the different environments in which each body operates.
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 accepted the court’s decision. Alpine stressed 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, which had been three points behind Racing Bulls in the fight for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship, now finds itself 16 points adrift after the adjustment. Conversely, Red Bull welcomed the reinstatement of Hadjar’s third‑place finish, which not only marks his first podium for the team but also adds three valuable points to both the driver’s and the constructor’s tallies. Team principal Laurent Mekies commented that consistency in enforcing speed‑limit rules is essential for the sport’s integrity, noting that some cars complied while others did not, and that a clear, uniform approach is necessary to avoid post‑race disputes.
The controversy highlights the complexity of modern Formula 1 regulations, where split‑second decisions in the pit lane can have championship‑changing consequences. The FIA’s commitment to reviewing its timing and penalty systems suggests that further refinements may be on the horizon, potentially involving more precise speed‑monitoring technology or clearer procedural guidelines for appeals. Looking ahead, the F1 calendar moves to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home race, where the championship narrative will continue to evolve.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract. The ongoing debate over pit‑lane penalties serves as a reminder that in Formula 1, the battle is fought not only on the track but also in the regulatory corridors that govern the sport.