Mercedes exploring legal options after Monaco penalty controversy

Mercedes is set to examine its legal options to explore potential redress opportunities following the Monaco Grand Prix.

George Russell was one of six drivers to be given a time penalty for speeding in the pitlane; an offence that may not have actually occurred, as Pierre Gasly’s successful Right of Review appeal restored him to the podium.

Mercedes weighs legal options over George Russell Monaco penalty

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Gasly was returned to the podium after Alpine successfully appealed his two speeding offences, a breach Mercedes’ George Russell also fell foul of.

Six drivers were found to have breached the pit lane speed of 60 km/h but it was only Alpine and Gasly that submitted a right of review petition to the stewards, due to the French driver having been awarded the penalties by way of a post-race time addition, rather than serving the penalties in-race.

The French outfit successfully argued that new evidence had emerged after the official timekeeper admitted there was an error in how the speed was measured, with the average speed between the timing loops being used as the method of measurement, rather than any instantaneous speed reading.

But, while Gasly and Alpine can enjoy a podium, other teams have been left frustrated, having been unable to lodge similar petitions for review due to having already served their penalties in-race.

PlanetF1.com understands McLaren and Red Bull intend to challenge the stewards’ decision to rescind Gasly’s penalties, and have communicated to do so with the FIA stewards, while Racing Bulls has decided against pursuing the same action.

As for Mercedes, Russell was hit with a drive-through penalty after failing to serve his initial speeding penalty correctly, and he ended the race in 12th as a result –  a potentially disastrous result in the bigger picture of the championship, having been third on the road before his drive-through.

PlanetF1.com now understands that Mercedes is evaluating all its legal options with an eye to potential redress, now that the Gasly outcome has revealed the possibility that none of the teams involved actually committed the crime that triggered its penalties.

The team’s intent is not yet clear, although one paddock source suggested that the Brackley-based squad is bringing in “serious legal firepower” in order to weigh up potential options.

While the FIA, as the governing body, is the party that meted out the penalties and carried out the due process hearings that have resulted in the change of outcome, the timing systems are managed by Formula One Management, with the FIA merely being the end data user of the systems.

Wolff said the now revealed to be incorrect pit lane speed assessment had “massive implications” for Russell and the outcome of his race.

“It was a very unfortunate situation,” he said in Barcelona. “And clearly we can all learn from that.

More on the Gasly decision

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Gasly podium under new threat as rivals prepare to appeal

“Because you know that wasn’t something that just came up on Sunday, that suddenly 10 cars that were in breach of pit lane speeding, it’s something that was flagged before for us as a team, and especially for George, massive implications.

“He had difficult qualifying sessions, but he moved all the way back up there, and clearly, without the penalty, without us not serving it correctly, it would have been a totally different outcome for his race.

“Whether he would have made the podium or just not is a different question, but a different outcome would have had an impact on his championship situation, and that’s that’s why it’s unfortunate.”

Asked about his reaction to the Gasly overturn, Wolff said Mercedes had a “right to be annoyed” and would be asking the FIA about possible “remedies.”

“Now we are assessing, as we speak, what the Gasly situation does for George. Obviously, there’s certain timing restraints, we wouldn’t appeal the Gasly results, certainly, but we would like the FIA to look at what could be the remedies for George’s race.

“I think we are having some timing limitations. That, and some other legal constraints, but definitely we have a reason to be annoyed, and I wish we could have had those conversations before the race on Sunday.”

Wolff did though concede there was not a realistic chance of Russell’s penalties being overturned but they had to try even if there was only “a millimetre of chance.”

“I just left when we were on the phone with our lawyers to look at what can we do.

“For George, drive through if it didn’t happen at the end, is equivalent of 20 seconds race time. What would 20 seconds race time have meant for his result?

“Do we think that we realistically have a position, a chance of reverting the result? I don’t think so, but we definitely have to give it a go if we see that there is a millimetre of chance to do so and bring him back to whatever it was before.”

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