Pierre Gasly reclaims ‘lost’ Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix podium after the FIA stewards rescinded both pit-lane speeding penalties that cost the Alpine driver third place.
Following Sunday’s “heartbreaking” outcome in Monaco, Alpine invoked its Right of Review in a bid to restore Gasly’s hard-fought podium finish.
Yesterday, the FIA accepted Alpine’s Right of Review after new evidence emerged regarding Monaco’s pit-lane speed calculations. After a detailed hearing involving Alpine, the FIA, FOM and representatives from rival teams, the stewards concluded that the Alpine driver had not exceeded the 60km/h pit-lane speed limit during either of the incidents for which he was penalised.
Alpine’s case not only included evidence from Gasly’s car. But also used telemetry data from their rivals, Mercedes and Ferrari, to support their case. The evidence presented to the stewards inevitably convinced the stewards to rescind the penalties.
Gasly was subsequently restored to third place, demoting fellow Frenchman Isack Hadjar to fourth.
Gasly originally received two five-second penalties after the timing system recorded him at 60.1km/h and 60.4km/h during the race. However, evidence presented showed the system used an incorrect distance between timing loops in the first pit-lane sector. Post-race measurements found the shortest route through the section was 77 centimetres shorter than the distance used to calculate speeds.
With the shorter distance, the recorded speeds were 58.7 km/h and 58.8 km/h, respectively. Those figures placed the Frenchman comfortably below the speed limit.
Alpine welcomed the decision
In a statement following the ruling, Alpine accepted the decision and thanked all parties for their cooperation throughout the process.
“We welcome the decision made by the FIA to deem our Right of Review as admissible following the final classification of last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. As a result, the Stewards have rescinded the two five-second penalties imposed on Car #10, which reinstates the team’s third place finish.
“We would like to thank the FIA and Formula One Management for its transparency and co-operation throughout the Right of Review process and for reaching this decision.”
The team added that its focus has already shifted to this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
“The team’s focus is now very much on this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and striving for the best possible result with both of its cars.”
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