McLaren and Red Bull win FIA appeal as Pierre Gasly’s Monaco penalties reinstated
- Alexa Bageas
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
McLaren and Red Bull have won their appeal against the decision to overturn Pierre Gasly’s penalties from the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, with the FIA International Court of Appeal ruling that the original sanctions must stand.
The decision, announced by the FIA on Friday, September 4, follows a hearing held in Paris on August 25, where the Court considered appeals lodged by McLaren Racing and Red Bull Racing against the Stewards’ decision to rescind two five-second penalties handed to Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix.
Gasly was initially handed two five-second penalties after being recorded travelling at 60.1 km/h and 60.4 km/h in the pit lane, exceeding the permitted speed limit of 60 km/h.
On June 7, Alpine submitted two petitions for review under Article 14 of the FIA International Sporting Code, arguing that a significant and relevant new element had become available which had not been accessible to the Stewards when the original penalties were imposed.
The Stewards accepted the petitions on June 12, determining that a significant and relevant new element had been presented. Both five-second penalties were subsequently rescinded, with the race classification amended and the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship points recalculated.
McLaren and Red Bull challenged that decision on June 16, lodging appeals with the International Court of Appeal.
FIA Court overturns Stewards’ decision
Following the August 25 hearing, the International Court of Appeal has now ruled in favour of McLaren and Red Bull.
The Court declared both appeals admissible and granted them, setting aside the Stewards’ decisions from June 12 which had rescinded Gasly’s penalties.
The Court further ruled that the original five-second penalties imposed on Gasly should stand, exercising its powers under Articles 14.12.1 and 14.12.2 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.
As a result, the FIA has ordered the competent Sporting Authority to amend the revised final race classification and championship points to reflect the reinstatement of the penalties.
Gasly’s penalties reinstated
The original penalties were imposed after Gasly was found to have exceeded the pit-lane speed limit during the Monaco Grand Prix.
While Alpine’s petitions for review had initially succeeded in having both sanctions removed, the International Court of Appeal has now overturned that decision.
The Court’s ruling means Gasly’s two five-second penalties are reinstated, reversing the changes made to the Monaco classification in June.
The FIA confirmed that the relevant sporting authorities must now draw the consequences of the ruling, including amending the revised final race classification and championship points.
The decision therefore brings an end to the appeal process surrounding the penalties, with the original sanctions once again forming part of Gasly’s Monaco result.
What does the decision mean?
The ruling is significant beyond Gasly’s individual result, as the Stewards’ June decision had altered both the Monaco race classification and the championship points awarded following the Grand Prix.
With the penalties now reinstated, those changes must once again be recalculated.
The case also provides clarification on the FIA’s handling of petitions for review under Article 14 of the International Sporting Code, particularly when a team presents evidence it argues constitutes a significant and relevant new element after an initial Stewards’ decision.
For McLaren and Red Bull, the successful appeal means the classification changes resulting from the June decision will now be reversed.
The International Court of Appeal was presided over by Michael Grech of Malta, alongside Tomas Borec of Slovakia, Luigi Fumagalli of Italy and Filippo Marchino of the United States and Italy.
With the Court’s ruling now issued, the original penalties imposed on Gasly stand and the Monaco classification and championship points will be amended accordingly.
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