Why are McLaren and Red Bull looking to appeal FIA Decision?

McLaren and Red Bull have lodged intentions to appeal the FIA’s decision to rescind Alpine’s Monaco Right of Review, but why?

Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool

According to multiple reports, McLaren and Red Bull have lodged notices of their intention to appeal the FIA decision, which saw the FIA rescind Pierre Gasly’s pitlane penalties at the Monaco Grand Prix and award the Frenchman third place.

Their notices were reportedly issued within an hour of the result of Alpine’s successful review, which is part of the formal process, and it will give them 96 hours to decide whether they wish to follow through with their intention to appeal.

The question becomes: why? Alpine and several other drivers were impacted by the same issue, and they didn’t lodge a right to review. However, the answers may lie in the consistencies and ‘well-known’ risks of the Monaco weekend.

Mercedes ‘assessing’ after Gasly Monaco P3 is reinstated

In the document, representatives from eight other F1 teams were also in attendance, including McLaren and Red Bull Racing.

According to Red Bull’s Stephen Knowles, they claimed that the timing issues were consistent all weekend and confirmed the method for calculating the pitlane speed was ‘imperfect.’

Knowles argued that the normal process was followed, and teams adjusted their systems in accordance with the process in place.

Similarly, McLaren’s William Courtenay supported these issues, confirming there was a ‘well-known risk of discrepancies’ in the calculations with pit lane speed, placing the onus back on the teams to coach their drivers to manage the issue.

They also claimed all the teams adjust their processes, whilst pointing out conjecture on the issue of ‘shortest distance.’

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: the full F1 schedule and times

During the hearing, it was found that Formula One Management made an error in the first and second loops, with their Light Detection and Ranging, which was 77cm less. As such, it was revealed that it would increase the shortest distance a car could travel, even by a small amount, as it doesn’t take into account the width of the car.

Both McLaren and Red Bull were impacted by the FIA’s decision to rescind Gasly’s time penalties, as Isack Hadjar, of Red Bull, was demoted to fourth after finishing third, on the podium. Whilst McLaren’s Oscar Piastri dropped to fifth after originally taking fourth.

Whether Red Bull and McLaren decide to follow through with their appeal remains to be seen, but we will keep you up to date as this story develops.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Mercedes ‘assessing’ after Gasly Monaco P3 is reinstated
• Pierre Gasly elated despite ‘challenging’ practice at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
• Honda set to lose $3million in upgrades as Aston Martin miss out on ADUO boost.
• Norris fastest by 0.009s ahead of Russell at Barcelona-Catalunya GP
• Russell tops first practice ahead of Piastri at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
• Pirelli remain F1 tyre supplier until 2028
• Drama In The Principality: The Monaco Grand Prix Did Not Disappoint

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.