Piastri ‘mind-blown’ by FIA’s murky Gasly Monaco podium reversal

Oscar Piastri has delivered a sharp public response to the FIA’s decision to cancel Pierre Gasly’s Monaco penalties, calling the outcome “murky” and warning that it risks creating a troubling precedent for Formula 1 results being settled away from the race track.

FIA ruling restores Gasly to third

The case stems from inaccurate Monaco pit-lane speed limit timing loops, with one zone found to be 77cm shorter than expected. Gasly had not served his penalties during the race, meaning the reversal immediately changed the final podium order.

Piastri questions penalty precedent

Piastri, who received the same sanction and served it during the race, finished fourth on the road before being pushed down to fifth once Gasly’s podium was reinstated. Because he was within five seconds of Gasly, he argues that he could have claimed third had the penalty effects been erased equally.

“I am pretty mind-blown by the decision, because how can you reverse a decision that was ultimately wrong, but when other people have been penalised for the same thing, and served the penalty in the race?” Piastri said.

“How you can then change one penalty, knowing that probably five or six other races have been impacted by that, is astonishing. So, I mean, you know, I've obviously lost the position, but you can only imagine how George is feeling, so I could not believe my eyes for that.”

Russell’s case adds another layer. The Mercedes driver received a drive-through after not serving his initial five-second penalty correctly and eventually finished 12th. Piastri noted that, on one reading, Russell could also argue he had been on course for third.

‘Who wants to go racing like that?’

Piastri’s central concern is not only the loss of position, but the competitive logic the ruling may encourage.

“I lost the position because I served the penalty, so technically I should be P3, but then technically George should be P3, and the whole thing is now a mess,” he said.

“Now the precedent as it is is you don't serve the penalty, you take it to court, wait probably a few months to decide the race, and who the hell wants to go racing like that?”

Summing up his view, Piastri added: “Perplexed is the word I will use.”