Pierre Gasly has successfully reclaimed his third position in the Monaco Grand Prix following an appeal by his Alpine team. This appeal challenged a penalty he received for speeding in the pit lane, which had initially dropped him to seventh place.
Pit Lane Penalties Impact Race Results
During the race, Gasly was handed a five-second penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit by a mere 0.1 km/h. He was among five drivers who faced similar penalties, marking an unusual occurrence in the race. The penalties included those for Mercedes driver George Russell and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, among others.
Successful Appeal by Alpine
The Alpine team’s appeal was based on a ‘right of review’ hearing, where they argued that cars could legally take a shorter route in the pit lane than what race officials had measured. After reviewing the evidence, the stewards agreed that Gasly had not surpassed the 60 km/h speed limit, restoring his position.
- Gasly’s original penalty: 5 seconds for pit-lane speeding.
- Initial race placement: 7th place after penalty.
- Reinstated placement: 3rd place after successful appeal.
- Other penalized drivers:
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
Consequences for Other Drivers
The reinstatement of Gasly’s third place significantly affected other drivers. George Russell, who was demoted from third to thirteenth after receiving a drive-through penalty, faced a substantial setback. Additionally, Oscar Piastri lost three positions while serving his penalty, leaving him in fifth place.
Stewards’ Findings on Pit-Lane Speeds
The stewards remarked on the unusually high number of speeding penalties issued during the race. They indicated that five out of six penalties were for speeds measured at 0.1 km/h over the limit. The report revealed that modifications to the pit lane this year resulted in a shorter measured distance, impacting speed calculations.
In conclusion, the stewards determined that Gasly did not violate the pit-lane speed limit, allowing him to reclaim his rightful position in the Monaco Grand Prix. This decision underscores the importance of accurate measurements and regulations during competitive racing.
