FIA ICA defends judicial process after Briatore claims

The International Court of Appeal (ICA) of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) issued a formal statement on September 5, 2026, defending the integrity of its judicial process following public comments by Flavio Briatore, the executive advisor for the Alpine Formula 1 team. The statement came after Briatore, at a press conference at the Monza circuit, questioned the impartiality of one of the judges who oversaw the appeal concerning Pierre Gasly's penalties from the Monaco Grand Prix. The controversy stems from the ICA's decision, announced on the morning of September 5, to overturn a stewards' decision that had rescinded time penalties imposed on Alpine driver Pierre Gasly during the Monaco race. The ruling reinstated the penalties, demoting Gasly from third to seventh place and promoting Red Bull's Isack Hadjar to the podium. The appeal had been brought by McLaren and Red Bull to seek clarity on sporting fairness and judicial equality. Later that day, Briatore named an individual judge at the FIA press conference, alleging a conflict of interest.