The chatter around the F1 Monaco GP controversy continues, as McLaren and Red Bull have finally taken action. The Zak Brown-led team has released an official statement, confirming it has filed an appeal against the FIA’s decision to reinstate Pierre Gasly's podium.

A report by Motorsport.com claims that Red Bull has also done the same. However, we are yet to see a statement from the Laurent Mekies-led team.

This comes after Mercedes filed a right of review, and team principal Toto Wolff also revealed he was consulting the team lawyers, since George Russell was also negatively affected by the same penalties as Gasly.

As for McLaren's statement, which comes because Oscar Piastri was also affected by the same speeding penalty, an excerpt from it read: 

"Throughout the Monaco Grand Prix weekend and in every event – all teams operated according to the regulations and established standard practices for what concerns the speed limit in the pit lane as they were applied at the time. Competitors adjusted their procedures accordingly and, where required, accepted and served penalties imposed under those regulations.

"In our view, the subsequent removal of penalties creates a situation in which some competitors are disadvantaged by having acted in accordance with the rules and the Stewards’ decisions. Such an outcome risks creating sporting inequity and undermining confidence in the consistent application of the FIA Sporting Regulations."

At the Monaco GP, Gasly had crossed the finish line in third, but was demoted to seventh due to two five-second penalties for speeding in the pit lane. However, a few days later, he got reinstated to P3 following the team’s submission of a Right To Review the penalties.

In the hearing that took place on the Thursday before the Barcelona race weekend, the FOM provided evidence that showed an error in the distance-measuring system. It overestimated the speed of Gasly and other drivers’ cars in the pit lane. The team also showed evidence of Gasly staying under the 60 km/h speed barrier. 

As a result, Isack Hadjar, who stood on the Monaco podium, was pushed to fourth, which should explain why Red Bull also followed through with an appeal.

Oscar Piastri: “The Whole Thing Is Now a Mess”

Oscar Piastri was one of the drivers penalized for speeding in the pit lane, and after Gasly’s reinstatement, he was pushed down to fifth.

Gasly's third-place could be reinstated because he hadn't served the penalty during the race, while the others did during subsequent pit stops. The FIA has no provision for rescinding penalties that have already been served.

Speaking to Racingnews365, the McLaren driver feels that such a decision sets a bad precedent for future F1 races.

“I lost the position because I served the penalty, so technically I should be P3, but then technically George (Russell) should be P3, and the whole thing is now a mess," said Piastri.

The Aussie failed to see how the FIA would dig itself out of this hole, as he added:

"It's quite the predicament they've got themselves into, and I don't know how you get yourself out of that one, because now the precedent as it is is you don't serve the penalty, you take it to court, wait probably a few months to decide the race, and who the hell wants to go racing like that?"

Do you feel there are more outcomes expected from the F1 penalty fiasco at Monaco?

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Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Yash Kotak