Isack Hadjar has lost his first Red Bull podium finish after Alpine successfully appealed the decision a few days post the Monaco Grand Prix. The stewards have overturned two five-second penalties imposed on Pierre Gasly, reinstating him in third position and pushing Hadjar down to fourth in the final race results.
Gasly, along with other drivers, received penalties during the race for speeding in the pit lane. Gasly contended that he had activated his speed limiter promptly and was disheartened by losing third place and missing out on a podium finish opportunity.
Following the race, Alpine confirmed they had submitted a Right of Review request with the FIA. The hearing, held in Barcelona, verified the admissibility of Alpine’s request based on new and significant evidence presented.
Formula One Management provided evidence revealing inaccuracies in the distance between the timing loops used to measure car speeds, leading to overestimations in Gasly’s speed and that of several other drivers during the Grand Prix.
As the sole team to file a Right of Review, Gasly’s penalties were the only ones subject to being overturned. Subsequently, after the conclusion of the hearing, it was announced that Alpine had succeeded in having Gasly’s third-place finish reinstated.
In a statement, the Alpine team expressed gratitude for the FIA and Formula One Management’s transparency and collaboration throughout the Right of Review process. They emphasized their focus on the upcoming Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and achieving the best possible results with both their cars.
The stewards explained their decision to rescind Gasly’s penalties, stating that after careful review, they found no evidence that Car 10 had exceeded the pit lane speed limit. The penalties were lifted, and Gasly’s race time was adjusted accordingly.
Although the timing system fault affected multiple drivers, only Gasly’s penalties were overturned due to Alpine’s appeal. Other penalties remain in place as served penalties cannot be appealed retroactively, and no other team utilized the Right of Review option.
The stewards clarified that while other cars were penalized, served penalties could not be reversed. They noted that no other party had petitioned for a Right of Review within the allowed time frame.
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