Stella calls for FIA Right of Review changes after Gasly podium saga

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has called for changes to the FIA's Right of Review system after Pierre Gasly's Monaco podium was stripped three months after the race. The lengthy process, which concluded with Gasly's time penalties being reinstated following a successful appeal from McLaren and Red Bull, has exposed flaws in how the sport handles post-race disputes.

Why it matters:

The Monaco saga dragged on for three months after the chequered flag, leaving a podium result in limbo and raising questions about the efficiency of F1's judicial processes. With the sport's credibility at stake, Stella's call for reform could prompt the FIA to overhaul how Right of Review cases are handled.

The details:

• Stella outlined three key areas for review in the aftermath of the FIA International Court of Appeal decision.
• Steward support: Stella emphasized that stewards work under immense time pressure and need better conditions to make decisions.
• Right of Review criteria: He suggested the conditions under which a Right of Review should be accepted need clearer definition.
• Measurement consistency: The 29-page ruling highlighted inconsistencies in how measurement methodologies are applied across different scenarios, from pit lane speed to car weight checks.

Between the lines:

The press conference turned heated when Alpine boss Flavio Briatore accused one of the judges of McLaren bias — an allegation Stella dismissed as "insulting." Ferrari's Fred Vasseur, however, defended the Right of Review process as "quite robust," arguing it serves its purpose when new evidence emerges after the initial 30-minute stewards' window.

What's next:

With McLaren and Red Bull's successful appeal setting a precedent, the FIA may now be forced to examine whether the current system needs refinement. Stella's three-point proposal could serve as a starting point for meaningful reform.