Alpine Formula One team has lodged a petition to review the pit lane speeding penalties handed to Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix last May 28, which demoted him from third to seventh place on the final classification [1, 2].
Gasly was penalized for exceeding the 60 kph pit lane speed limit, with official timing recording his speeds at 60.1 and 60.4 kph, just above the limit [1, 2]. Alpine contends that the penalties were unjustified and submitted new evidence suggesting timing loop issues affected the accuracy of speed measurements [1, 2].
The team provided data showing Gasly activated the car's speed limiter before entering the pit lane and claims he stayed within the speed limit at all times [1, 2]. Alpine also argued that Formula One Management and the FIA knew about problems with timing loops ahead of the race, but the stewards were not informed [1, 2].
According to Alpine, the official timing supplier overestimated Gasly's speed by miscalculating distances used to measure pit lane velocity [1, 2]. The team’s petition was deemed admissible by the race stewards on June 11 after they reviewed the newly presented evidence that was not available during the initial penalty decision [1, 2].
Gasly expressed his disappointment in a statement, saying he was "absolutely heartbroken to have a lifelong dream of a Monaco podium taken away from me for reasons which I just cannot comprehend" [1].
The review process will continue ahead of the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona-Catalunya, where the stewards are expected to reach a decision on the petition.