Alpine’s fresh appeal to the FIA, aiming to erase two 5‑second pit‑lane penalties that wiped out Pierre Gasly’s Monaco podium, will be heard virtually this Thursday.
On Tuesday, the governing body confirmed that Alpine has filed two separate petitions for review concerning the five‑second deductions handed to Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix. The hearing is scheduled for the virtual session at 1 pm CET on Thursday.
Alpine’s challenge: proving new evidence
Alpine must first convince stewards that a “significant and relevant new element”—unavailable during the race—was overlooked. Article 14 of the FIA International Sporting Code explicitly requires this threshold before any penalties can be reconsidered.
Under that rule, the review will unfold in two phases. First, Alpine will present all evidence and arguments that a new element exists. Only if the stewards accept that evidence will they proceed to re‑examine the merits of the penalties.
Monaco penalties: how the system worked
Gasly’s third‑place finish days earlier was overturned after two separate five‑second infractions for exceeding the 60 km/h pit‑lane speed limit by 0.1 km/h and 0.4 km/h, respectively. The Monaco pit‑lane configuration and its speed‑monitoring system triggered a high volume of alerts.
Rather than relying on instantaneous readings, the FIA calculates the average speed through the so‑called “fast lane” by using transponders and timing loops embedded in the track surface. Drivers who cut through the curved pit‑lane short‑ened the distance between timing points, creating an average below the allowable limit even though they did not cross the 60 km/h threshold at any instant.
Impact on race standings
When the 10 seconds were added to Gasly’s time, he dropped from third to seventh in the final classification. Isack Hadjar was promoted to the podium, and Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad gained positions ahead of Gasly.
Alpine’s success therefore hinges on overturning both penalties. One or only one penalty reversed would not restore Gasly to third.
Gasly’s reaction and Alpine’s next move
After the race, Gasly said he felt “robbed” and described the penalty as an unjust removal of a hard‑earned podium. He underlined the importance of that moment after years of effort.
For Alpine, the upcoming hearing looms as a decisive battle. The team will now submit whatever evidence—such as unpublished telemetry or onboard footage—could meet the FIA’s strict requirements for a right of review. Success is rare; the only notable reversal in recent memory came last year when Williams’ onboard footage led to the rescission of a collision penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz.
Whether Alpine can expose a “significant and relevant new element” remains to be seen, but the verdict will shape how penalties are handled in future races.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Pierre Gasly, Alpine – Photo by Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
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