ICA defends Monaco appeal judges after Briatore's bias claims

The FIA's International Court of Appeal has defended the judges who reinstated Pierre Gasly's Monaco Grand Prix penalties, hitting back at Alpine boss Flavio Briatore's claims of bias. In a rare statement, the ICA said the panel was chosen under strict procedures and no objections were raised during the hearing. The appeal, brought by McLaren and Red Bull, had overturned Gasly's initial escape from punishment.

Why it matters:

Briatore's accusations threaten to undermine trust in F1's judicial system. The ICA's response aims to reaffirm the integrity of an appeals process already under scrutiny after a controversial decision.

The details:

• Briatore questioned judge Filippo Marchino's ties to McLaren, citing his past role with a charity that received McLaren cars and a 2018 speaking event.
• The ICA said judges are elected by FIA General Assemblies, disclose interests annually, and sign independence declarations for each case.
• It noted that both parties were invited to raise concerns about the panel before and after the hearing, but none did.
• The court also defended its practice of selecting judges from diverse legal and cultural backgrounds to strengthen credibility.

What's next:

The statement may not silence Briatore, who has called for more transparency. But the ICA has drawn a line, and the focus now shifts back to the track.