The FIA International Court of Appeal has reiterated the independence of its panel after Flavio Briatore demanded proof that no judge had ties to McLaren.
Gasly’s Penalties Reinstated by the ICA
When McLaren and Red Bull challenged the stewards’ decision that had erred on Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s pit‑lane speeding penalty at Monaco, the ICA sided with the teams and restored the sanctions. Gasly had originally lost a podium finish, only for Alpine to overturn the decision in a right‑of‑review. The ICA upheld the reinstatement, leaving Alpine frustrated.
Briatore’s Public Allegations
During the Italian Grand Prix press conference, Briatore launched a furious critique, claiming that the judge appointed to the case had links with McLaren. He cited Filippo Marchino’s charity role and an event appearance in Beverly Hills as evidence of a conflict.
Judge Filippo Marchino’s Background
Marchino served as CEO of the One Drop Foundation, a charity founded by Cirque du Soleil’s Guy Laliberte. The foundation had once received several McLaren road cars from late shareholder Mansour Ojjeh, donated for auction fundraising. The 2018 event hosted by McLaren Special Operations featured Marchino as a speaker, unrelated to the F1 club.
ICA’s Response to the Allegations
The ICA issued a statement confirming that the judge’s appointment followed FIA judicial procedures, citing the IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest. “All judges are elected by the FIA General Assemblies, often by a group of at least five F1 teams, and must submit annual disclosures to the FIA compliance officer,” the statement read.
It added that neither the teams nor the public had raised objections before or during the hearing, and that judges from diverse legal backgrounds are intentionally chosen to enhance impartiality and credibility.
Maintaining Judicial Integrity in Motorsport
The ICA emphasized that its procedures mirror “the highest standards of international arbitration” and that the court remains committed to “independence, impartiality, and the integrity of the judicial process.” It confirmed that the case‑by‑case declaration of independence was signed by every judge involved.
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Getty Images
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
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