Gasly Reclaims Monaco Podium as Faulty Pit Timing Sparks F1 Controversy

Pierre Gasly has been promoted back to third place in the Monaco Grand Prix after Alpine successfully overturned a post-race penalty for pit-lane speeding. The French driver had originally been dropped from third to seventh following two five-second penalties, which stewards issued for allegedly exceeding the pit-lane speed limit during the race. His reinstatement comes after a formal “right of review” hearing that re-examined how pit-lane speeds were calculated.

At the centre of Alpine’s case was the claim that the timing method used by race officials was inaccurate. The team provided data showing that the shortest legal route through Monaco’s pit lane was shorter than the distance used in official speed calculations. According to Alpine, this meant Gasly never actually exceeded the 60km/h limit. After reviewing the evidence, the stewards agreed, concluding that the measurement discrepancy invalidated the original penalty.

Flawed Pit-Lane Speed Penalties Change Race Results and Anger Top Drivers

The decision reshaped the final classification and had major consequences for several drivers. Mercedes’ George Russell was the most significantly affected, as he had also received a drive-through penalty for pit-lane speeding while running in a podium position. That penalty dropped him to 13th at the finish, and the revised ruling does not restore his lost result. Mercedes did not formally challenge the original decision, although team principal Toto Wolff later suggested the team was exploring potential options with the FIA, despite acknowledging that reversing the outcome would be difficult due to regulatory constraints.

Gasly Reclaims Monaco Podium as Faulty Pit Timing Sparks F1 Controversy

Other drivers were caught up in the same enforcement wave. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto were all penalised for pit-lane infractions. Piastri lost multiple positions after serving his penalty, while Hamilton’s sanction had no impact on his finishing position because it was served during a safety car period that neutralised the effect on track placement.

Discrepancy in Pit-Lane Timing Loops Sparks Potential Appeals From Rival Teams

The stewards’ report highlighted that multiple drivers were recorded just marginally over the limit, including several at 0.1km/h above the threshold. Gasly’s own recorded breach was 0.4km/h over. The unusually high number of similar penalties prompted officials to re-examine the data, leading them to consult timekeepers and reassess the accuracy of the measurement system.

A key contributing factor was a change to Monaco’s pit-lane layout this season, which affected the spacing between timing loops. The stewards ultimately found that this alteration created a 77-centimetre discrepancy in the calculated distance, which influenced speed readings and contributed to the erroneous penalties.

With Gasly reinstated, attention has now shifted to possible further appeals. Both McLaren and Red Bull have indicated they may challenge the revised decision, suggesting the dispute over pit-lane enforcement could continue beyond the race weekend.