Alpine’s Right of Review has been opened after the Monaco Grand Prix revealed that a flaw in the official timing system triggered an unprecedented wave of pitlane speeding penalties.
Alpine Seeks Correction After Gasly’s Podium Fall
Frenchman Pierre Gasly was handed two separate five‑second penalties for pitlane speeding, a single lap displacement that pushed him from a Christian finish in third to seventh place. Alpine responded by filing a Right of Review, hoping the penalties could be rescinded.
Faulty Timing System Lays the Groundwork
During the stewards’ initial ruling, Formula One Management disclosed that the distance used to calculate pitlane speed was inaccurate. The error, reported as a problem with the “official timing system”, was deemed both significant and unavailable when the original penalties were issued, granting Alpine’s request the green light.
Other Drivers’ Outcomes Remain Unchanged
While the penalties have cost Gasly a podium, the overall race result for other drivers is unlikely to shift. Winners Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton were only marginally affected, whereas George Russell, already penalised earlier in the event, suffered more dire consequences.
George Russell’s Double Penalty: A Compound Loss
Mercedes’ Gordon Russell received a five‑second pitlane speeding penalty. A miscommunication during the safety‑car stop caused him to miss the required procedure, leading the stewards to issue a drive‑through penalty. Russell attempted to avoid the drive‑through after the red flag, arguing that a later penalty amendment could salvage his position. However, regulations forced the drive‑through upon the race’s restart, costing him several grid places.
Key Reactions from Drivers
Oscar Piastri, penalised yet finishing fourth, noted “there was something wrong” during the race and underscored how the penalties forced him to pit again. He added that even if Gasly’s result were restored, the ripple effects of the penalties would linger for everyone involved.
Implications for the Spanish Grand Prix
The stewards will deliver a final decision during the Spanish weekend. Gasly’s penalties, being added as time post‑race, can theoretically be removed. In contrast, Russell’s drive‑through penalty was physically served during the event, rendering any attempt to restore his lost positions far more complex.
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
"