FIA stewards have authorised a review into the pit‑lane speeding penalties that
knocked Pierre Gasly from third place to seventh at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Gasly’s podium loss and the two‑five‑second penalties
Gasly crossed the finish line in third during the 2024 Monaco GP, but the stewards applied
two separate five‑second penalties for exceeding the 60 km/h pit‑lane limit. The infractions reduced him
to seventh and joined five other drivers who had been sanctioned for pit‑lane speeding.
The incident raised questions about the dating system that records speed within the
pit‑lane network, an issue that many teams and drivers contested.
A right‑of‑review and fresh evidence from the governing body
Alpine lodged a right‑of‑review on Sunday night and the FIA admitted the request on Thursday.
The stewards will now determine if the penalties should be wiped.
At the review conference, Alpine and other teams presented evidence that the
system used to manage pit‑lane speeds had been “inaccurate and over‑estimated the speed”
of Gasly’s car, as confirmed by Formula One Management (FOM).
FOM supplied the data on Wednesday, which was unavailable to the stewards when
the penalties were first issued. The timing information had to meet the three key hallmarks
required for a right‑of‑review before the referee can accept the appeal.
Alpine’s claim of prior awareness versus stewards’ denial
Alpine argued that the FIA and FOM were aware before the race that the pit‑lane looping
hardware was defective, whereas representatives from the parties denied this.
When the stewards were queried after the third speeding penalty, they confirmed that
race control had not been alerted to the timing issue.
The discrepancy underscores the difficulty of synchronising race‑control data and on‑track sanctions.
Consequences for other top contenders
The pit‑lane problem rippled beyond Gasly. Mercedes star George Russell missed the points after
receiving a penalty and a subsequent drive‑through for not stopping the full five seconds.
The penalty decisions also altered the lead‑pack, demonstrating the wider impact of the faulty loop.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar celebrated on the iconic Monaco podium as Gasly’s future standings were adjusted.
Looking ahead: Implications for the rest of the Formula One season
The FIA’s decision to review the Alpine penalties will set a precedent for handling technical discrepancies that affect race outcomes.
Teams will likely scrutinise timing systems more closely in the coming rounds,
and any immediate changes could reshape championship standings for the remainder of the 2024 season.
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