FIA Courts hit back at Briatore's ICA judge allegations

The FIA's International Court of Appeal has publicly defended the integrity of its judges after Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore accused one panel member of being too closely linked to McLaren. The controversy erupted after the ICA reinstated Pierre Gasly's Monaco time penalties, dropping the Frenchman to seventh and promoting Red Bull's Isack Hadjar to the podium.

Why it matters:

Briatore's allegations strike at the heart of F1's judicial independence, questioning whether a judge with alleged ties to a rival team should oversee a case. The FIA's response stresses that all judges are vetted, elected, and sign independence declarations for every case, and that no objections were raised during the hearing.

The details:

• The ICA ruled on the joint appeal from McLaren and Red Bull, overturning the stewards' decision to rescind Gasly's penalties from the Monaco Grand Prix.
• Briatore claimed one of the four judges acted "like a prosecutor" and had historic links to McLaren, citing a 2018 keynote speech and a foundation associated with the team. He did not raise concerns during the hearing.
• McLaren team principal Andrea Stella called the comments "insulting" and insisted the ICA proceedings were conducted to the highest standards.
• The FIA Courts confirmed that parties were invited to raise objections at both the start and end of the hearing, but none were made. The statement also cited the IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest as inspiration for its procedures.

What's next:

Briatore's comments have been flagged with the FIA's legal department. McLaren is unlikely to escalate the matter, but the judge in question—who has a strong legal background—may pursue redress. The FIA stands by its process, with the statement signed off by senior ICA figures not including the judge named.