Briatore's bombshell: Alpine hints at new fight over Monaco podium

Flavio Briatore has turned the Monaco podium controversy into a full-blown war of words, accusing one of the judges who ruled against Alpine of having links to McLaren. The Alpine executive advisor's explosive press conference on Friday came just hours after the FIA's International Court of Appeal stripped Pierre Gasly of his Monte Carlo top-three finish, upholding appeals from McLaren and Red Bull.

Why it matters:

Briatore's allegations strike at the integrity of F1's judicial process. If Alpine pursues a right of review, it could drag the saga on even longer and cast a shadow over the FIA's handling of high-stakes appeals.

The details:

• Briatore specifically targeted judge Filippo Marchino, claiming he was 'very nasty' and acted like a 'prosecutor' during the hearing.
• He alleged Marchino is 'very linked with McLaren', pointing to a 2018 speech at McLaren's Beverly Hills facility and a charity auction for the One Drop Foundation, where McLaren donated cars. Marchino sits on the foundation's board.
• McLaren team principal Andrea Stella responded angrily, calling the insinuations 'insulting' and demanding accountability. He insisted the ICA hearing was conducted to the 'highest standards'.
• Briatore hinted Alpine may take further action: 'Just pass the weekend and after that we think about it.'

What's next:

Alpine's legal options are narrow. The ICA is the final authority, and its decisions cannot be appealed. But a right of review is possible if 'important new evidence' emerges that was unknown during the case. Briatore claims Alpine only discovered Marchino's alleged links after the hearing.

The FIA's vetting process, however, is designed to prevent conflicts. The ICA has a roster of 36 legal experts, with at least eight selected for a pool per case. That pool is communicated to parties in advance, allowing recusal requests. Alpine raised no objections. Marchino was nominated by teams in 2023 and passed due diligence checks. The final panel make-up is kept secret until the hearing day.

Whether Briatore's information meets the threshold for a review remains unclear. For now, the paddock waits to see if Alpine will escalate the fight.