Pierre Gasly addresses F1 rivals' feelings of 'injustice' in penalty change defence

Pierre Gasly has supported the decision to erase his Monaco Grand Prix penalties, which initially denied him a podium, but can "completely understand" why Oscar Piastri and George Russell may harbour feelings of "injustice" over Alpine's successful Right of Review.

Team Enstone submitted the petition after the French driver was dropped from third to seventh at the chequered flag in Monte Carlo for twice speeding in the pit lane.

A problem with the measurements of the pit lane speed limit timing loops meant that six drivers were erroneously sanctioned during the 78-lap race, with the average speed check being taken across a distance later found to be 77m too short.

Other drivers, such as Piastri and Russell, had already served their subsequent punishments for the same supposed infraction during the event, which propelled Gasly into the podium positions.

Whilst there were suspicions of an issue with the pit lane speed limit across the weekend in The Principality, the frequent infringements during the race led Alpine to exercise caution, and ultimately not pit the one-time grand prix winner to serve his 10 seconds' worth of penalties.

This enabled the French squad to launch the Right of Review process, whilst McLaren and Mercedes were hamstrung by having already taken Piastri and Russell's punishments, as there is no mechanism in the F1 regulations to reverse a served penalty.

Now well-trodden ground, it culminated with Gasly being returned to the rostrum at the expense of Isack Hadjar, with McLaren and Red Bull now appealing that outcome.

When asked what he would like to see learned from the situation, Gasly expressed his pleasure at the steps already taken to correct "unfairly given" sanctions.

"I think for the good of the sport, we don't want to see what happened again in the future," the 30-year-old told media, including RacingNews365. "There was a mistake made during that weekend, and I think it's important we all learn from it.

"And at the same time... if a mistake was made and can be corrected, because it's been unfairly given for no wrongdoing — so in that case, in our situation, if you have a chance to correct it — I think it's the right thing as a sport to do it. 

"I must say, I was very pleased by the actions and the outcome of the decision post-race, but obviously, from McLaren, Oscar, and George's situation, I completely understand that for their own performance, I've got nothing to do with their results, but they probably feel some sort of injustice from what's been done to them."

Nonetheless, Gasly was keen to underline that if there is something that can be done about one driver's situation, then that should be done regardless of more entangled equivalent predicaments.

The Alpine driver was clear that whatever happens now, with McLaren and Red Bull's cases likely headed to the International Court of Appeal (ICA), they should be viewed separately from his team's successful Right of Review.

"But that has nothing to do with Alpine or our own race, and I think that's something they need to sort out on their side," he added.

"But I do think if you can correct a mistake which was made, it's the right way of approaching it to come back on it, and that's what I'd like to [continue to] see in the future. Obviously, we don't [want to] see this situation, but if eventually a mistake is made, I think it's the right way to correct it."