Isack Hadjar can finally breathe a sigh of relief. His third-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, which had been briefly taken away by Alpine's successful appeal, is now officially back in the hands of the Red Bull driver after the FIA's International Court of Appeal ruled to reinstate Pierre Gasly's penalties.
The decision, announced on Friday, is a resounding victory for Red Bull Racing and Hadjar, whose off-track battle has paid off. He had experienced the feeling of standing on the podium alongside race winner Kimi Antonelli and second-placed Lewis Hamilton, but now that achievement is officially recorded in the history books.
Legal Dilemma That Shook the Paddock
The dispute began when Gasly received two five-second penalties for speeding in the pit lane, dropping him to seventh place. Alpine then filed a right of review and successfully reinstated the Frenchman to third.
But Red Bull and McLaren did not back down. They took the case to the highest legal authority in FIA-sanctioned motorsport, the International Court of Appeal. The hearing took place in August, and the final decision came on Friday: Gasly's penalties were valid, so Hadjar moves back up to third.
Gratitude Amid Financial Stakes
Hadjar expressed his relief. "It's great to get the podium back," he said. "I've always said you could never take away the feeling of standing on the Monaco podium, no matter the result, but to have it officially in the record books is sweeter."
"A big thanks to Laurent (Mekies) and the team for fighting hard off-track to get this one back, my first in these colours," added the French driver. This is his first podium with Red Bull and the second of his career, a milestone now permanently etched in history.
The ICA decision not only changes the historical record but also underscores that behind the glitz of racing lies a legal battleground just as fierce. For Red Bull, this is a double victory: on the track and in the courtroom.
Read Also
Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 F1 title as its youngest champion after finishing third in Mexico, while Max Verstappen claimed a dramatic race win.
Stefano Domenicali has hailed Kimi Antonelli's 2026 F1 title as the beginning of an extraordinary legacy after his historic Mexico City GP triumph.
Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 F1 world championship after the Mexico City GP, while Max Verstappen moved up to second in the drivers' standings.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!