Penalty chaos in Monaco: Red Bull Racing/McLaren v Alpine on 25 August

How embarrassing, how embarrassing for the FIA: On 12 June, the race stewards had to admit that the Monaco pit lane had been measured incorrectly – by 77 cm – meaning that numerous time penalties, including two imposed on Pierre Gasly and Alpine, at the Monaco Grand Prix (7 June) were invalid.

The French team were able to prove that Gasly had not exceeded the maximum permitted speed of 60 km/h at any point in the pit lane; consequently, the penalties were subsequently declared null and void, and Gasly secured his sixth podium finish of his F1 career – his first since Brazil 2024.

Gasly is therefore not seventh, but quite rightly third. However, this also means that Isack Hadjar (Red Bull Racing) is not third but fourth; Oscar Piastri (McLaren) is not fourth but fifth, followed by the two Racing Bulls drivers, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.

As RBR and McLaren have lost points, it was to be expected what would happen next: they lodged an appeal with the FIA against this decision; they want their positions back.

The date for the hearing before the FIA’s International Court of Appeal has now been set: 25 August – the Tuesday following the Dutch Grand Prix – in Paris.

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McLaren had justified the appeal as follows: “Our decision to lodge an appeal is not directed against any particular competitor. Rather, it reflects our belief that the championship benefits from rules that are applied consistently, transparently and fairly to all participants. McLaren remains committed to working constructively with the FIA, Formula 1 and other competitors to protect the integrity of the sport and maintain confidence in its regulations.”

“In our view, the retrospective lifting of the penalties creates a situation in which some participants are disadvantaged because they have complied with the rules and the decisions of the race stewards. Such an outcome risks creating sporting inequality and undermining confidence in the consistent application of the FIA Sporting Regulations.”

No easy task for the appeal judges.