Briatore Alleges FIA Judge Bias; Stella Defends McLaren

Tensions erupted in the Formula 1 paddock at the Italian Grand Prix on September 4, 2026, after Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore leveled serious accusations against a judge involved in the FIA International Court of Appeal, prompting a sharp rebuke from McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella. The confrontation followed the court's decision to reinstate Pierre Gasly's 10-second time penalty from the Monaco Grand Prix, a ruling that altered the race's final classification. The dispute centers on the FIA court's ruling, which overturned a previous decision to remove Gasly's penalty. The penalty had originally been issued for a pit lane speed limit breach at the Monaco Grand Prix. Alpine had successfully won a right of review after discovering the pit lane measurement was inaccurate by 77 centimeters. However, McLaren and Red Bull appealed the subsequent removal of the penalty, and the International Court of Appeal sided with them, reinstating the time penalty. As a result, Gasly and Alpine lost their podium finish from Monaco, with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar returning to third place in the final classification.