FIA Defends Judicial Integrity Against Briatore's Claims

The FIA’s highest court has hit back hard at Flavio Briatore, rejecting his claim that a judge involved in Alpine’s failed appeal over Pierre Gasly’s Monaco penalty had improper links to McLaren and calling out any suggestion that its panel lacked independence.

In a rare and firm public statement, the FIA Court of Appeal said Briatore’s comments “question the independence and impartiality of the judges” and moved swiftly to defend both the process and the people behind the decision that cost Alpine valuable points.

FIA closes ranks around its judges

Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor, had alleged on Friday that one of the Court of Appeal judges behaved “like a prosecutor” and was “very linked with the McLaren company” during the hearing into Alpine’s challenge over Gasly’s pit-lane speeding penalties at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The FIA’s legal body pushed back, setting out the framework it says protects its judicial integrity. Court of Appeal judges, it stressed, are bound by “independence and confidentiality requirements” under FIA judicial and disciplinary rules, must file annual declarations of interest with the FIA compliance officer, and sign a specific declaration of independence for each individual case.

The message was blunt: the system is built to prevent exactly the kind of conflict Briatore suggested.

The court also underlined that both Alpine and the protesting teams had every chance to raise concerns about the panel before and after the hearing. None did.

“The parties to the dispute were invited both before and after the hearing to raise any issues concerning the proceedings or the composition of the court. None did so,” the statement read. It went on to note that “no objection was raised during the hearing concerning the manner in which the court questioned the witness or conducted the proceedings”.

The court accepted that its rulings can be debated on legal grounds. That, it said, is part of the game. But it drew a line at attacks on integrity.

“A court’s decision can leave room for various interpretations and comments as for its legal merits; that is fair and accepted by all the judges,” it said. “The court is confident in the soundness of the proceedings and the integrity of the judges. The FIA courts remain committed to the independence and impartiality of their judges and to the integrity of the judicial process.”

The governing body also reiterated that the Court of Appeal “operates independently” of the wider FIA organisation, a reminder aimed at those who see politics in every verdict.

Briatore’s allegation – and its thin foundation

Briatore’s accusation centred on a charity auction in California in 2018, which the judge in question attended. The 76-year-old Italian claimed McLaren had provided “two, three McLaren cars” to the event, arguing that this created an unacceptable link between the judge and the team that, along with Red Bull, had protested Alpine’s case.

“This was quite unfair,” Briatore said. “One of the judges was linked with a team that was protesting us.”

Pressed on why Alpine had not raised the issue during the hearing itself, Briatore said they only discovered the supposed connection after the fact. “We found out, after the meeting, logically, not before, we found out this guy was linked with the McLaren team. This is what I think.”

Notably, Briatore made no mention of Red Bull, despite the fact that Red Bull joined McLaren in bringing the case that ultimately reinstated Gasly’s penalties.

The sporting fallout: Gasly shuffled back, rivals move up

The appeal revolved around two pit-lane speeding penalties for Gasly in Monaco that had initially been dropped. McLaren and Red Bull challenged that decision, and the Court of Appeal sided with them, reinstating the sanctions.

The ruling pushed Gasly back to seventh place and reshuffled the order in favour of Red Bull-linked drivers and McLaren.

• Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was restored to third place
• McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moved up to fourth
• Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad climbed to fifth and sixth

Alpine’s sense of grievance, sporting and political, has grown ever since.

McLaren bristle at public accusations

If Briatore expected his comments to fade away, McLaren’s reaction made sure they did not.

Within the team, the claims have been dismissed outright. There is anger that what they regard as unfounded allegations of bias were aired on a public stage, dragging McLaren’s name into a row over judicial integrity.

Team principal Andrea Stella, who shared the same news conference platform as Briatore when the remarks were made, did not hold back.

“I find that this conference going in this direction is quite insulting for McLaren, for the reputation of a team that deserves a lot of respect,” Stella said. “And if anybody makes these kind of allegations – which seem quite serious – they are going to have to take the responsibility for what they are saying in a public forum.

“The hearing, the whole International Court of Appeal, was conducted to the highest standards and we should not question this phase as has been done.”

The FIA has now drawn its own line in the sand. Alpine and Briatore must decide whether to keep pushing a narrative of perceived injustice, or accept a verdict that has already reshaped the Monaco result and sharpened tensions up and down the paddock.