Formula 1 could see further developments after the FIA restored Pierre Gasly’s podium at the Monaco Grand Prix. Mercedes confirmed that it is consulting its lawyers to assess whether there is any possibility of reviewing the result involving George Russell.
Russell was one of the drivers penalized for speeding in the pit lane during the Monte Carlo race. Like Gasly, the Briton received a five-second penalty, but his situation became more complex when he failed to properly serve the sanction during the race, which resulted in an additional drive-through penalty and removed him from the points positions.
The discussion gained momentum after the stewards acknowledged that there was an error in measuring the length of the Monaco pit lane. The mistake led to Gasly’s penalties being annulled, reinstating the Alpine driver to third place. According to Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, the team is now trying to understand whether the decision could also have implications for Russell.
“I just got out of a discussion with our lawyers to assess what we can do for George,” Wolff said. The executive acknowledged that the chances of a change to the result are small, but stressed that the team intends to explore any possibility. “If there is even a millimeter of chance, we need to try,” he added.
Wolff described the whole situation as frustrating and highlighted the impact that the episode had on Russell’s race. According to him, the driver managed to recover after a difficult qualifying and could have finished much further up the order without the penalties. Nevertheless, Mercedes made clear that it does not intend to appeal the decision that benefited Gasly, focusing its efforts solely on exploring possible avenues to review Russell’s case.
