Pierre Gasly’s Monaco Grand Prix podium finish remains at the centre of controversy after the FIA called Mercedes to a hearing, raising the possibility of further changes to the race classification.
Gasly initially finished third on track but was later demoted to fourth after being handed a five-second penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit. The Monaco race featured a revised 60 km/h pit lane limit, and several drivers received penalties for marginally exceeding the threshold, in some cases by just 0.1 km/h.
However, after Alpine submitted an appeal, the FIA reviewed the case and determined that the pit lane distance had been measured incorrectly. Officials found that the pit lane was calculated as being 77 metres longer than the section drivers could actually use, meaning Gasly’s speeding penalty was based on inaccurate data. As a result, the FIA revoked the penalty, reinstated Gasly’s third-place finish, and updated the official race results.
The reversal prompted criticism from rival teams, who argued that other penalties issued during the race may also have been affected by the same measurement error. Among those impacted was Mercedes driver George Russell, who received a 10-second drive-through penalty after incorrectly serving an earlier speeding sanction. Mercedes believes the penalties significantly compromised Russell’s race and may have cost him a chance to fight for a podium finish.
The dispute has since intensified, with Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull all questioning the FIA’s decision to overturn Gasly’s punishment. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend that the team had sought legal advice to assess its options and protect Russell’s interests.
The FIA has now formally summoned Mercedes representatives to a virtual hearing after the team submitted a request for a review of the Gasly decision. According to an FIA document released on June 17, Mercedes filed its petition on June 12, challenging the ruling that restored Gasly’s podium result.
The hearing, scheduled for June 20, will first determine whether Mercedes’ request meets the criteria for review. If the stewards deem the application admissible, they will then examine whether there is any significant new evidence that was not available when the original decision was made.
Should such evidence be identified, a second hearing could follow, potentially leading to another revision of the Monaco Grand Prix results and extending one of the season’s most contentious disputes.
