The FIA has called Mercedes to a hearing as the final results of the Monaco Grand Prix could face further changes following the controversy surrounding Pierre Gasly’s podium finish.
Gasly originally crossed the finish line in third place but was later dropped to fourth after receiving a five-second penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit. Several other drivers were also penalized for marginally exceeding the limit, some by as little as 0.1 km/h, after the FIA introduced a revised 60 km/h speed restriction for the Monaco event.
The penalty cost Gasly a podium place, promoting Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar to third. However, almost a week later, the FIA overturned Gasly’s penalty after reviewing Alpine’s appeal. The governing body concluded that the pit lane had been incorrectly measured, with officials calculating it as 77 metres longer than drivers could actually travel. As a result, Gasly’s penalty was cancelled, his third-place finish restored, and the race classification amended.
The decision sparked further controversy, with other teams arguing that their drivers had also been unfairly penalized. Among them was George Russell, who received a 10-second drive-through penalty after incorrectly serving an earlier speeding sanction. Mercedes believes Russell may have challenged for a podium finish had he not been affected by the penalties.
The situation has since escalated, with Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull all questioning the FIA’s reversal of Gasly’s punishment. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed in Barcelona that he had consulted the team’s legal advisers about possible next steps, stressing the need to defend Russell’s interests even if additional changes to the race result appeared unlikely.
During the break before the Austrian Grand Prix, the FIA formally summoned Mercedes representatives to a hearing regarding the team’s own request for a review of the Gasly case.
According to an FIA document issued on June 17, the stewards received Mercedes’ petition for review on June 12 concerning their decision relating to Gasly’s Monaco Grand Prix penalty. Team representatives have been instructed to attend a virtual hearing on June 20.
The process will take place in two stages. First, the stewards will determine whether Mercedes’ request is admissible. If it is accepted, they will then examine whether any significant and relevant new evidence exists that was unavailable when the original ruling was made.
Should the stewards conclude that such new evidence is present, a second hearing will be scheduled shortly afterward to consider the matter further, potentially opening the door to yet another revision of the Monaco Grand Prix results.