FIA Rejects Briatore Bias Claims After Gasly Loses Monaco Podium

Posted : 05 September 2026

The FIA International Court of Appeal has rejected suggestions that one of its judges lacked impartiality after Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore questioned the panel's decision to reinstate Pierre Gasly's penalties from the Monaco Grand Prix. The dispute has added another layer to the fallout from a ruling that restored Isack Hadjar's podium finish.

Briatore made the comments during Friday's team representatives' press conference at the Italian Grand Prix. He questioned the involvement of judge Filippo Marchino and claimed the judge had connections with McLaren through a 2018 event and his work with the One Drop Foundation.

The Alpine adviser described the ruling as unfair but said the team would accept the decision. He also claimed Marchino had behaved like a prosecutor during the hearing and questioned why Alpine had only become aware of the alleged connections after the proceedings.

The FIA Courts responded by defending the selection of the four-member panel. The governing body said the appointments followed established judicial procedures and standards based on international conflict-of-interest guidelines.

The FIA also said judges must disclose their interests annually and sign a separate declaration of independence for every case. The parties involved were given opportunities to raise concerns about the panel before and after the hearing, but no objection was made.

The controversy began with Gasly's two five-second penalties for pit-lane speeding at the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7. The Alpine driver originally finished third, but the penalties dropped him to seventh and promoted Hadjar to the podium.

Alpine later secured a successful Right of Review after presenting new evidence linked to the timing system. Gasly's penalties were removed and his third place restored, prompting McLaren and Red Bull to appeal the decision.

The International Court of Appeal subsequently overturned that review decision. It ruled that both five-second penalties should stand, sending Gasly back to seventh and restoring Hadjar to third. McLaren's Oscar Piastri moved to fourth, while Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were promoted to fifth and sixth.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella strongly rejected Briatore's accusations. Stella described the comments as insulting and defended the integrity of both the court and McLaren.

The ruling also returned a significant milestone to Hadjar. His third-place finish is now officially recognized as his first podium with Red Bull, adding further importance to a case that has continued well beyond the Monaco race itself.

FIA Rejects Briatore Bias Claims After Gasly Loses Monaco Podium

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics