FIA Under Fire Over the Monaco Grand Prix: After Mercedes, McLaren Files an Appeal
The Monaco Grand Prix continues to spark debate and draw a barrage of criticism from most of the teams caught up in the chaos surrounding the penalties handed out in Monte Carlo. However, the real spark was ignited when the FIA restored third place to Alpine—and specifically to Pierre Gasly—who had crossed the finish line behind winner Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. This unexpected turn of events had already prompted a reaction from Mercedes, and McLaren has since joined in.
The reversal of Gasly’s ten-second penalty, in fact, caused Oscar Piastri to lose a position. And McLaren isn’t having it, as evidenced by the appeal filed on Tuesday. “While we fully respect the FIA’s judicial proceedings and the position of the race stewards,” reads a statement issued by the Woking-based team, “we believe this case raises important issues concerning sporting fairness, consistency of the rules, and the integrity of the competition.”
““In every incident that occurred during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend,” McLaren added, “all teams complied with the regulations and procedures regarding speed limits in the pit lane. The subsequent revocation of the penalties disadvantages those who acted in accordance with the rules and the stewards’ decisions. This risks creating sporting unfairness and may undermine confidence in the consistent application of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.” Piastri, for his part, had found himself in fifth place precisely because he had served a penalty similar to the one for which Gasly was acquitted. Things had gone even worse for George Russell, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff announcing that the team would “do everything possible” to restore at least some points to its driver.
Meanwhile, the Formula 1 World Championship has continued, and the Barcelona Grand Prix helped further reshape the standings. At the Montmelò circuit, Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory as a Ferrari driver—his 106th career win—finishing ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris. It was a dominant victory for the Briton, who finished nearly twenty seconds ahead of the runner-up, reigniting the battle for the world title in a big way.
However, the Catalan race also held some bitter moments for Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli, the standout performer in Monaco, was forced to retire just three laps from the checkered flag due to a technical issue with the battery—the same fate that had befallen Russell earlier in the race. This double retirement prompted Toto Wolff to openly reflect on the team’s strategy: “Here in Barcelona, we may have lost the race because we didn’t want to issue a team order. It’s an issue we’ll have to address,” the Austrian manager told Sky Sport in the post-race interview. These comments suggest that, starting with the Austrian Grand Prix, the two Mercedes drivers may no longer have the freedom to battle each other on the track.
For Charles Leclerc, too, the Catalan weekend was one to forget: after crashing into the barriers during qualifying, the Monegasque driver had to throw in the towel during the race due to a steering failure. A bitter ending, made all the more stinging by teammate Hamilton’s triumph. “I don’t want to take any credit for today. I don’t think I contributed much to the team. I believe Lewis and the team earned this victory on their own,” Leclerc commented with great honesty to Sky Sport.
Amid the post-Monaco controversy and the outcomes in Barcelona, the question of Pierre Gasly’s future at Alpine remains unresolved. According to rumors circulating in the Catalan paddock, Flavio Briatore’s team is reportedly considering a sensational return for Fernando Alonso—who is currently struggling with Aston Martin—for 2027. A move that, if it were to materialize, could further shake things up at Alpine, just as Gasly has returned to the center of attention—and controversy—due to the Monte Carlo penalty incident.
