McLaren appeal Monaco GP result with concerns over 'sporting fairness'

McLaren have announced they are appealing the result of the Monaco Grand Prix after Alpine successfully overturned Pierre Gasly's penalties that saw him return to third, having been demoted to 10th; Red Bull yet to confirm if they will also appeal the race classification

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>McLaren have appealed the Monaco Grand Prix result after Alpine driver Pierre Gasly was reinstated to the podium, highlighting concerns over "sporting fairness" and "integrity".

>Gasly was one of five drivers - including Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Mercedes' George Russell - who received five-second time penalties for speeding in the pit lane in the race earlier this month.

>Alpine successfully appealed Gasly's penalties and provided evidence that Monaco's pit lane distance was incorrect, thus the drivers' speed was also being measured incorrectly.

>As a result, Gasly returned to third and bumped down Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and McLaren's Piastri to fourth and fifth, with Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad down to sixth and seventh.

>At the weekend, Mercedes requested a right of review from the FIA of the results of the Monaco Grand Prix where they will need to present new, significant and relevant evidence to the original stewards of the race.

>But, McLaren have submitted an appeal with the FIA International Court of Appeal - where an independent panel will review the Woking-based team's case.

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>McLaren and Red Bull lodged their intention to appeal on Friday but the latter are yet to confirm if they will join McLaren in appealing.

>McLaren said in a statement: "While we fully respect the FIA's judicial processes and the role of the Stewards, we believe this case raises important questions concerning sporting fairness, regulatory consistency and the integrity of competition.

>"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.

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>"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.

>"Our decision to appeal is not directed at any competitor. Rather, it reflects our belief that the Championship benefits from regulations that are applied consistently, transparently and fairly to all participants.

>"McLaren remains committed to working constructively with the FIA, Formula One and fellow competitors to protect the integrity of the sport and maintain confidence in its regulatory framework."

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>Mercedes' right of review case is likely to be heard first where the Silver Arrows will meet with the Monaco race stewards and present evidence that was not available to the stewards at the time of the original penalty.

>The incorrect pit lane measurement and the stewards' decision to overturn Gasly's penalty are set to be part of Mercedes' argument.

>Their argument is complicated by Russell being given a drive-through penalty after Mercedes failed to serve his five-second time penalty for speeding.

>The drive-through penalty saw Russell drop to 12th when he was on course for a likely podium, where he would have scored 15 championship points.

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>Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described the Silver Arrow's right of review as a "long shot".

>"To be honest, I'm not sure if this is a realistic outcome because you open up a can of worms," Wolff added to Sky Sports F1.

>"Normally if you have a drive-through penalty and you don't do it, it's 20 seconds (added after the race) and those 20 seconds would put George back to P4."

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>McLaren going through the FIA International Court of Appeal is unusual as there are few cases of teams using F1's highest appeal body in the history of the sport.

>Alfa Romeo in 2019 were the last F1 team to use the FIA International Court of Appeal in Paris after they protested penalties regarding a start infringement. The case was declared not admissible.

>The FIA are yet to announce a date for McLaren's appeal but it could be several weeks away as their case is a bigger and longer and process.

>Piastri told Sky Sports F1 after Sunday's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: "I kind of see they have admitted there was something wrong with the pit lane but when you have five or six cars penalised for that, because I was not speeding either, and you change one penalty and you don't change any of the others, it creates a tough situation for everybody.

>"For me, it's not about the points, I just don't think that's how we should be looking through things and it sets a very awkward precedent because now it incentivises finishing where you want on track, not taking penalties, then arguing about it later, rather than having the race result when we should."

>Formula 1's European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix on June 26-28, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime