The final results of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix may not be fully settled yet after the FIA officially confirmed that a review hearing involving Alpine will take place ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend. The French team is attempting to overturn the penalties handed to Pierre Gasly during the dramatic Monaco race, penalties that ultimately denied the driver a podium finish.
Gasly originally crossed the line in third position on the streets of Monte Carlo after delivering one of his strongest performances of the season. The Alpine driver managed to stay out of trouble in a race filled with incidents, red flags, pit lane confusion, and several steward investigations. However, celebrations inside the Alpine garage were cut short after race officials handed the Frenchman two separate five-second penalties for pit lane speeding violations.
Those penalties dropped Gasly from third place all the way down to seventh in the official classification, turning what looked like a memorable podium into a frustrating and emotional setback for both the driver and the team.
Following the race, Alpine immediately expressed dissatisfaction with the stewarding decisions and formally requested a “Right of Review” from the FIA. That process allows teams to challenge a ruling if they can present a significant and relevant new element that was not available when the original decision was made.
The FIA has now confirmed that the hearing will take place virtually on Thursday before the Formula 1 paddock action begins in Barcelona. The first stage of the hearing will focus entirely on whether Alpine has discovered enough fresh evidence to justify reopening the case. If the stewards agree that the new material is important and relevant, a second phase of the review process will immediately follow, where the actual penalties could potentially be reconsidered.
The controversy centers around Gasly’s alleged speeding in the Monaco pit lane. According to official timing data, the Alpine driver exceeded the speed limit twice during the race. The first incident reportedly showed him traveling at 60.1 km/h, while the second incident registered 60.4 km/h in a pit lane limited to 60 km/h. Although the margins were extremely small, the FIA still applied standard penalties under the regulations.
Alpine, however, believes the data does not accurately reflect what happened. The team argues that Gasly engaged his pit limiter correctly and that there may have been technical or procedural inconsistencies that affected the readings. The squad is now attempting to convince the FIA that the penalties should either be removed or reconsidered due to newly discovered evidence.
The incident became even more controversial because several other drivers also faced pit lane speeding investigations during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. Drivers including George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, and Franco Colapinto were all involved in various pit lane incidents or investigations throughout the race. That led to wider discussions within the paddock about whether the FIA’s systems or regulations may have contributed to confusion during the chaotic event.
Gasly himself was devastated after the race. Speaking to the media shortly after the penalties were announced, the Frenchman admitted he was heartbroken by the outcome. He explained that he genuinely believed he had secured a Monaco podium, one of the most prestigious achievements in Formula 1. Instead, the penalties completely changed the final result.
The emotional reaction from Gasly highlighted how important the result would have been for Alpine. The team has struggled for consistency throughout the season, and a podium in Monaco would have represented a major boost in confidence and momentum. Monaco remains one of the most iconic races on the calendar, making podium finishes there especially valuable for drivers and teams alike.
Formula 1’s “Right of Review” system is known for being extremely difficult to win. Teams must present evidence that was genuinely unavailable during the original hearing process. Simply disagreeing with the stewards’ interpretation is not enough. The FIA requires something substantial and new before agreeing to revisit a penalty decision.
There have been very few successful cases in recent years. One notable example involved Williams, who successfully challenged a decision after new camera footage emerged that changed the interpretation of an on-track incident involving Carlos Sainz Jr. However, many other review requests have failed because the FIA determined that no genuinely new evidence existed.
Because of that history, Alpine faces a difficult challenge in Barcelona. The team must convince the FIA that the evidence it now possesses could have significantly influenced the original ruling had it been available at the time.
If Alpine succeeds, the Monaco Grand Prix classification could change once again. Gasly could potentially regain the podium position he lost after the penalties were applied. Such a decision would also alter the championship standings and possibly affect other drivers who benefited from the revised race result.
The FIA’s confirmation of the hearing has already generated massive debate among Formula 1 fans online. Some supporters believe the penalties were too harsh considering the tiny margin by which Gasly exceeded the speed limit. Others argue that the regulations are clear and must be enforced consistently regardless of how small the infringement may appear.
Monaco itself was already one of the most dramatic races of the 2026 season before this controversy emerged. The event featured crashes, red flags, strategy confusion, multiple penalties, and intense battles throughout the field. Several drivers experienced race-changing moments during the chaotic afternoon, adding to the sense that the final classification remained uncertain long after the chequered flag fell.
Now, all attention turns to Thursday’s hearing in Barcelona. Alpine will present its case to the FIA stewards via video conference, hoping the governing body agrees to reopen the matter. Whether the result ultimately changes or not, the situation has already become one of the biggest talking points in Formula 1 heading into the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
For Gasly, the hearing represents one final opportunity to reclaim a podium finish that seemed secure only moments after he crossed the finish line in Monaco. For Alpine, it is a chance to restore what the team believes was unfairly taken away after one of its best races in recent memory.
