FIA accepts Mercedes review request over Russell’s Monaco GP penalty

FIA opens door to Mercedes challenge

The FIA has accepted Mercedes’ request for a Right of Review into the Monaco Grand Prix result and the penalties that derailed George Russell’s race, with a hearing scheduled for Saturday.

A document published by the FIA on Wednesday confirmed that Mercedes has formally petitioned for a review of the decision made by the Monaco stewards. The move follows Alpine’s successful challenge against Pierre Gasly’s pitlane speeding penalties, a ruling that has already reshaped the final classification and left the result under renewed scrutiny.

Mercedes had already moved to challenge the outcome, as covered in our earlier report on the team’s request for an FIA review of the Monaco GP result after Russell’s penalty. The latest step means the case will now enter the formal review process.

Two-stage hearing to decide Russell case

Under the regulations, the hearing will first determine whether Mercedes has produced a significant and relevant new element that was unavailable when the original decision was made. Only if that threshold is met will the stewards proceed to a second stage, where the substance of Mercedes’ challenge will be examined.

The background is the dramatic reversal of Gasly’s two five-second penalties. Alpine presented evidence that the distance used by the official timing system in one pitlane timing sector was incorrect for the Monaco layout. Formula One Management acknowledged the system had been set up incorrectly, prompting the stewards to rescind both sanctions and restore Gasly to third place.

That decision immediately raised questions over other drivers penalised in similar circumstances, including Russell.

Russell’s costly penalty sequence

Russell was initially given a five-second penalty for pitlane speeding. He attempted to serve it during a pitstop, but the stewards later ruled it had not been served correctly. That triggered an additional drive-through penalty, which he served after the final restart.

The sequence dropped Russell out of the points, turning a strong afternoon into a scoreless finish. The impact also carried championship significance, with Russell losing ground in his contest against Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

Toto Wolff has acknowledged Mercedes faces a difficult task, but said the team must pursue any available route. “A drive-through, if it didn’t happen at the end, is equivalent of 20 seconds race time,” Wolff said. “Do we think that we realistically have a position, a chance of reverting the result? I don’t think so, but we definitely have to give it a go if we see that there is a millimetre of chance.”

Monaco result remains provisional

Mercedes is not alone in contesting the fallout. McLaren has confirmed it has protested the decision to overturn Gasly’s penalties, while Red Bull is understood to have done the same as it seeks to restore Isack Hadjar’s podium finish.

For now, the Monaco Grand Prix result remains clouded by procedural and sporting uncertainty. Saturday’s hearing will decide whether Mercedes can move beyond the first hurdle — and whether Russell’s lost points can still be put back into play.