BARCELONA : Alpine cleared the first stage of its attempt to overturn the pit lane speeding penalties that cost Pierre Gasly a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix after Formula One stewards agreed on Thursday to review the case.
Stewards said Alpine’s petition for a review was admissible and that the team had presented a significant new element that had not been available when the original decisions were made during last Sunday’s race.
The case now moves to a second stage following a virtual hearing held ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
In a written submission, Alpine argued that both Formula One Management (FOM) and governing body the FIA were aware before the race of a potential issue with pit lane timing loops, information that was not available to the stewards when the penalties were imposed.
The Renault-owned team also presented data showing that Gasly activated his speed limiter before entering the pit lane and remained within the prescribed speed limit.
According to Alpine, FOM, acting as the championship’s official timekeeper, supplied evidence indicating that the distance used in calculating the official timing data was inaccurate, resulting in an overestimation of the speed recorded for Gasly’s car.
Gasly crossed the finish line third in Monaco, a result that would have delivered the French driver his first podium of the season and a landmark result for Alpine. However, he was relegated to seventh place after receiving two five-second penalties for exceeding the 60 kph pit lane speed limit.
The stewards had determined that Gasly recorded speeds of 60.1 kph and 60.4 kph during separate pit lane entries.
Several drivers were penalised for similar infringements during the race, but Gasly’s sanctions proved particularly costly.
The 30-year-old said after the race that he was “absolutely heartbroken” by the decision, adding that losing a Monaco podium for reasons he could not understand was difficult to accept.
No decision has yet been announced on whether the penalties will ultimately be rescinded.
