McLaren hit back at 'insulting' Flavio Briatore allegations

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has hit back at the allegations made by Alpine boss Flavio Briatore, who questioned the impartiality of the hearing process surrounding the Monaco Grand Prix results.

In late August, a panel of four judges heard the arguments of those involved as McLaren and Red Bull sought to have Pierre Gasly's five-second time penalty for pit lane speeding reimposed.

Gasly crossed the line in third place but was dropped to seventh, before Alpine successfully overturned the penalty as it cited a concern around the timing loops in the Monaco pit lane.

However, McLaren and Red Bull lodged their protest, creating a process that lasted several months before the ruling was finally made this week.

But in a spectacular accusation, Briatore took issue with one judge on the panel - Mr Filippo Marchino - claiming that he was “nasty” and has ties to McLaren through the McLaren Special Operations division.

Stella, however, is far from impressed with the allegations that the judge ruled with a bias toward McLaren.

“I find that this conference, going in this direction, is quite insulting for McLaren,” Stella told media including RacingNews365.

“For the reputation of a team that deserves a lot of respect and if anybody makes those kind of allegations, which seem quite serious, they are going to have to take the responsibility for what they are saying in a public forum.

“The hearing, the whole International Court of Appeal was conducted to the highest standards, and we should not question this phase like it's been done.”

The decision reinstated Red Bull's Isack Hadjar to the podium, while Oscar Piastri found himself boosted up to fourth place for the Woking-based squad.

While the ruling offered a points boost for McLaren, Stella insisted the decision was important to offer F1 a sense of clarity.

“It's a decision that we definitely welcome,” he said. “It's important because, first of all, it adds clarity in relation to the application of Article 1.1.1 of the International Sporting Code which is foundational.

“It's foundational for anything that derives from there. We appealed because we wanted to make sure that this clarity was sought. 

“We had concerns which were beyond the fact that we might have lost two championship points. We were concerned about the application of sporting quality and fairness, and this is important. 

“This is not only important for McLaren. In fact, not only Red Bull, but all teams were present in the hearing because this was a very important moment, in terms of clarification as to how we apply the rules, as to how we apply consistency.

“Also in the specific case, consistency is related to the methodologies that are valid throughout our race weekend.”