Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore publicly accused an FIA International Court of Appeal (ICA) judge of a conflict of interest on Friday, September 4, 2026. The allegations were made during a press conference at the Italian Grand Prix. This follows the ICA’s decision to reinstate penalties for Pierre Gasly, stripping him of his Monaco Grand Prix podium.
The FIA International Court of Appeal announced its verdict on Friday, September 4, 2026. It ruled in favour of appeals lodged by McLaren and Red Bull. This decision reimposed two five-second penalties on Alpine driver Pierre Gasly from the Monaco Grand Prix.
Gasly had initially finished third at the Monaco Grand Prix in June. He was subsequently demoted to seventh place due to two five-second time penalties for speeding in the pit lane.
Alpine successfully challenged these penalties through a Right of Review. The team argued that an errant timing loop and inaccurate pit lane measurements were responsible. This led to the penalties being rescinded and Gasly’s third-place finish being reinstated on June 12, 2026.
However, McLaren and Red Bull then appealed this decision to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal. The hearing for this appeal took place in Paris on August 25, 2026.
The ICA’s ruling means Gasly is now officially classified in seventh position for the Monaco Grand Prix. Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar has been promoted to third place, marking his first podium for Red Bull. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moves up to fourth.
Briatore specifically targeted Filippo Marchino, one of the four judges on the ICA panel. He claimed Marchino acted as a ‘prosecutor’ during the hearing.
Briatore presented a piece of paper during the press conference, citing a photograph of Marchino at a McLaren Special Operations (MSO) event in Beverly Hills in 2018. He also alleged that McLaren had donated two or three cars to Marchino’s One Drop Foundation.
‘We accept the decision, but what is very strange is, of the four judges on the panel, one of the judges acts like a prosecutor. The problem is that he’s very linked with McLaren, the company, because we have a nice picture of this guy at the speech for McLaren in 2018 at McLaren Special Operations in Beverly Hills. He has a foundation – it’s called the One Drop Foundation – and McLaren gave two or three McLaren cars. And I think this was quite unfair, that one of the judges was linked with a team protesting us.’
Filippo Marchino is an American and Italian trial attorney with a background in aerospace engineering. He is listed as a member of the FIA International Court of Appeal and serves as a board member for the One Drop Foundation.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella, who was present at the press conference, dismissed Briatore’s accusations. Stella stated that the allegations were ‘insulting’ to McLaren’s reputation.
Stella affirmed that the ICA hearing was conducted to the highest standards. He suggested that such serious allegations should not be made without responsibility.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur was seated between Briatore and Stella during the heated exchange. Vasseur reportedly attempted to de-escalate the situation.
The FIA has issued a statement indicating it is reviewing the methodology and operation of the current Formula 1 timing system. This review also includes related regulatory matters and judicial procedures.
The governing body reiterated its full support for the stewarding process. It also emphasized the independence and objectivity of the diverse panels of stewards integral to global motorsport.
Isack Hadjar, who now gains the Monaco podium, is currently sidelined due to a wrist injury. He is missing the Italian Grand Prix, with Liam Lawson stepping in to replace him at Red Bull.
