Gasly stripped of Monaco P3 as Briatore alleges McLaren-linked judge

Pierre Gasly has been stripped of his third-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix after the International Court of Appeal ruled against Alpine, a decision team boss Flavio Briatore slammed as "very unfair" and compromised by a judge's alleged links to McLaren. McLaren's Andrea Stella welcomed the ruling, saying it brings clarity to the FIA's sporting code and reinforces sporting equality.

Why it matters:

The ruling not only costs Alpine two championship points but also raises questions about the impartiality of F1's judicial process. Briatore's allegations, if proven, could undermine trust in the sport's governance. On track, the decision adds another twist to a tightly contested season, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes separated by slim margins heading into Monza.

The details:

• The controversy: Briatore claims judge Filippo Marchino had a "working relationship" with McLaren, citing a 2018 appearance at McLaren's Beverly Hills facility and a charity connection. He insists the panel should be fully independent.
• McLaren's view: Stella called the allegations "insulting" and defended the ICA process as having been conducted to the highest standards. He stressed the decision clarifies Article 1.1.1 and the need for consistent measurement methodologies.
• Ferrari's take: Fred Vasseur said the case was not easy to judge and understood the frustration, noting Ferrari also received penalties in Monaco.
• Ferrari's engine upgrade: Vasseur confirmed the new PU spec ran well in FP1 but cautioned that they are still a long way behind Mercedes on the engine side. "It's step by step," he said.
• McLaren's Monza challenge: Stella admitted straight-line speed is not the MCL40's strength, but upgrades are being introduced to address drag. He called Monza an interesting benchmark for the title fight.
• Alpine's driver plans: Briatore confirmed Franco Colapinto will stay for 2027, citing consistency as key for the team.

What's next:

Briatore said Alpine will consider its next steps after the weekend, but no immediate judicial review is planned. The FIA has already pledged to review its judicial processes, including the Right of Review. On track, all eyes are on qualifying at Monza, where Ferrari's upgraded engine and McLaren's low-drag package will be put to the test. With 500 points still available, Vasseur insists the championship is far from decided.