Mercedes Drops Monaco Review Bid as Rivals Press On

Mercedes has formally withdrawn its petition for a right of review over the result of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, abandoning its challenge to Pierre Gasly's reinstatement to third place. The team was due to appear before FIA stewards on Saturday but pulled the plug less than 48 hours before the hearing, conceding it could not produce the "significant and relevant new element" required to reopen the case.

Why it matters:

The withdrawal avoids a contentious hearing but does little to resolve growing doubts about regulatory consistency. Mercedes sought answers after George Russell was hit with a drive-through penalty for a procedural error, while Gasly's post-race sanctions were erased despite a pattern of other drivers serving similar penalties during the race.

The details:

• Gasly's case: Alpine successfully argued its driver never exceeded the speed limit during the race, prompting stewards to annul penalties that had briefly dropped him off the podium.
• Russell's penalty: A five-second sanction for speeding was not served correctly, triggering a subsequent drive-through that derailed the Mercedes driver's afternoon.
• Wolff's view: Toto Wolff admitted the appeal was always a "long shot," stating the team filed primarily to secure a seat at the table when decisions were made.
• FIA confirmation: The governing body issued a brief statement Thursday confirming Mercedes had withdrawn its petition regarding Car 63 and Article B1.6.3a of the F1 regulations.

What's next:

McLaren and Red Bull are pressing ahead with their own challenge, taking the matter to the FIA's International Court of Appeal. Their persistence indicates several top teams remain unsatisfied with the stewards' reasoning, keeping the door open for further judicial scrutiny of the Monaco result despite Mercedes stepping away.