FIA Court of Appeal Rejects Flavio Briatore Impartiality Claims

Monza Press Conference Sparks Judicial Defense

The governing body for motorsport found itself defending its legal wing in Monza, Italy on September 5, 2026, after Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore targeted a member of the International Court of Appeal during a team principals’ media session. Briatore questioned the fairness of the panel that reviewed a contested case concerning pit-lane speeding penalties applied to French driver Pierre Gasly.

The underlying dispute dates back to the Monaco Grand Prix, where initial penalties dropped following the event were subsequently reinstated in a June ruling brought by rival teams McLaren and Red Bull. The appeal court’s final determination demoted Gasly from a podium finish down to seventh place.

Flavio Briatore’s Allegations and 2018 Auction Claims

Speaking to reporters, the 76-year-old Italian executive asserted that one of the appellate judges exhibited a clear bias toward McLaren. To support his argument, Briatore pointed to an old charitable event.

“The 76-year-old Italian’s claims were based on a charity auction held in California in 2018 which the judge in question had attended and to which he claimed McLaren gave two, three McLaren cars. This was quite unfair,” Briatore said. One of the judges was linked with a team that was protesting us.

When questioned about why Alpine failed to raise these concerns while the appeal was actively proceeding, Briatore stated that the team discovered the alleged connection only after the hearing concluded.

The International Court of Appeal Responds

The International Court of Appeal issued a formal statement dismissing the accusations as baseless and reaffirming that its panels operate in strict accordance with established judicial guidelines. The governing body emphasized that its judges are bound by strict ethical standards.

All panel members are elected by FIA General Assemblies, make annual financial and interest disclosures to the FIA Compliance Officer, and execute a specific declaration of independence for each individual case. Furthermore, the court stressed that participants in the proceedings had ample opportunity to voice concerns.

“At both the beginning and conclusion of the hearing, the parties were invited to raise any issue concerning the proceedings or the composition of the court. None did so. No objection was raised during the hearing concerning the manner in which the court questioned the witness or conducted the proceedings. The court is confident in the soundness of the proceedings and the integrity of the judges.”

International Court of Appeal, via Reuters

McLaren Demands Accountability for Public Claims

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella voiced sharp condemnation of Briatore’s remarks during the shared media appearance, branding the accusations as damaging to the sport’s institutional reputation.

Stella made it clear that airing such serious grievances without prior formal objection crosses a professional line. Privately, the McLaren organization completely rejected the assertions, maintaining that the entire judicial review followed proper regulatory standards.

“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. 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.”

Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal

The administrative fallout from the Monaco review also reshuffled lower-scoring positions in the standings. While Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar returned to third place, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moved up to fourth, and Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad claimed fifth and sixth positions behind a demoted Gasly.