Appeals court has decided: Pierre Gasly loses Monaco podium again!

– The International Court of Appeal (ICA) of the FIA, the world governing body for motorsport, has made a decision in the dispute over Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s Monaco podium: The two penalties against the Frenchman, which were initially withdrawn after an appeal by Alpine, will now remain in place!

Read more Clear statement: Aprilia works «8 days a week» for the MotoGP title

This means Gasly drops back from third to seventh place and loses his podium position, which is now awarded to Isack Hadjar (Red Bull). Both Red Bull and McLaren had protested against the withdrawal of Gasly’s penalty – and have now actually been proven right.

Gasly was one of several drivers penalized in the principality for speeding in the pit lane. However, after the race, it emerged that Formula One Management (FOM), the official timekeeper of Formula 1, had made a measurement error.

Because the speed in the pit lane is not measured by a classic radar trap, but by timing loops. Between the first two timing loops, there was a deviation of 77 centimeters – an error that led to the unusually high number of penalties.

Alpine requests review – and gets it after all

While Piastri and Russell lost positions because they had to serve their penalties during the race – in Russell’s case the penalty was served incorrectly, resulting in the Mercedes driver receiving a drive-through penalty afterwards – Gasly’s two five-second penalties were added to his race time. This caused him to drop from third to seventh place.

Alpine was able to request a review and initially won before the next race in Barcelona: The penalties against Gasly were withdrawn and the Frenchman got his third place back. As a result, Hadjar and Piastri each dropped back one position.

Both teams therefore appealed the decision, supported by Racing Bulls, whose two drivers had each lost a place. The appeals court decided on Friday that the penalties will now remain in place. Gasly thus falls back to seventh place again.

This is the official reasoning of the appeals court

Part of the reasoning of the International Court of Appeal (ICA) was that Alpine could not prove with complete certainty that Gasly had traveled a longer distance in the pit lane than the (inaccurately) measured distance.

His shorter time between the timing loops could therefore also be due to “a shorter path, a higher speed, or a combination of both.”

However, the ICA confirmed that the fact that other drivers had already served their penalties “cannot be an obstacle to the removal of an unlawful sanction, as these penalties were served at the discretion and decision of the team.”

“Allowing the opposite on the grounds that this would create sporting injustice would, in turn, be incompatible with sporting fairness.”

This is Alpine’s reaction to the appeal decision

Alpine has also already reacted to the current ruling and expressed “disappointment and frustration” over the decision. The team continues to maintain that Gasly did nothing wrong and did not deserve any penalties.

“The team expresses its disappointment and frustration over the outcome reached by the FIA International Court of Appeal regarding the result of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix,” said the team in a statement.

Photo gallery: Formula 1 fails: These rule changes were a flop

“Although we do not agree with the decision and continue to firmly believe that car number 10 did not exceed the pit lane speed limit at any time during the race, the team acknowledges the decision of the panel of judges from the recent hearing in Paris.”

Read more First Formula 1 Practice in Monza: Ferrari in Positions 1 and 2

“Although the result is not what we had hoped for, as we believe we were unfairly penalized, the team remains fully focused on improving its performance on track and remains in a close and highly competitive championship battle.”

“This result will not deter the team’s efforts and motivation to achieve its goals until the end of the season.”

“Neither good for Formula 1 nor for the spectator”

The current decision is causing discussions in the Monza paddock. “This is always difficult for Formula 1,” says Sky expert Ralf Schumacher, for example. The possible shortcut in the Monaco pit lane is well known. “We always did that too.”

“That means, from my point of view, it should not have been penalized,” says the former Formula 1 driver. “Then you just have to design the pit lane differently or calculate it differently. But that’s actually nonsense, honestly.”

“I thought it was great that they admitted it and took the penalties away and he then got his trophy. But now in, now out – I don’t know, neither good for Formula 1 nor for the spectator. I don’t know what this is all about.”

However, Schumacher admits that the appeals court had to reconsider and make a decision after the protest from McLaren and Red Bull. “Yes, that’s how it is, you have to accept it, but it’s not good for the sport.”

World governing body wants to “review methodology and timing system”

The FIA meanwhile emphasizes in a statement that their stewards are not necessarily responsible for having made a wrong decision, although the federation has promised to review its procedures.

“The FIA acknowledges today’s decision of the International Court of Appeal (ICA) in connection with the hearing on Tuesday, August 25 (case ICA-2026-06-07-08-09),” the statement says.

“The ICA’s decision upholds the appeals of the McLaren F1 Team and Red Bull Racing against the stewards’ decisions in document 99 of the Monaco Grand Prix and thus effectively overturns these decisions.”

“The FIA is reviewing the methodology and operation of the current Formula 1 timing system as well as the associated regulatory matters. It will also review further judicial procedures and processes, including the right to review and appeal procedures.”

“The FIA fully supports the stewards’ process as well as the independence and objectivity of the various steward panels, which are an integral part of global motorsport.”

“The stewards’ decisions are made in a different environment than those of the court, while the court has access to extensive additional legal advice as well as arguments and evidence.”

“The FIA stewards continuously review their procedures and participate in extensive training measures. Every ICA decision is carefully examined by the FIA stewards to ensure a process of continuous improvement.”

Read more Formula 1 live ticker: The first practice in Monza now live!