Williams have voiced their support for the two teams planning to appeal the stewards’ decision to cancel Pierre Gasly’s penalties from the Monaco Grand Prix.
Gasly was promoted to third place after the stewards removed two five-second time penalties he had originally received after the race.
The pit lane speed limit is determined by dividing the measured pit lane distance by the time taken to traverse it. The stewards concluded Gasly’s penalties should be rescinded because the pit lane distance used in calculating his speed was measured incorrectly.
That decision does not automatically apply to other drivers who served the same penalties during the race. In George Russell’s case, he received an even harsher sanction for failing to serve his penalty at a pit stop.
Williams team principal James Vowles said he was “surprised we have the reinstatement, being frank about it.”
“It doesn’t really affect us personally,” he told Sky, “he was ahead of us whichever way you do that. Obviously it’s a championship position.
“I think it’s more it creates a bit of a mess now: what do you do with George? What do you do with Piastri that also in that circumstance should have then been on the podium as a result? That’s the mess that I don’t feel comfortable about.”
McLaren, whose driver Oscar Piastri was among those penalised, and Red Bull, whose driver Isack Hadjar lost his podium finish to Gasly, have formally notified the FIA of their intention to appeal the stewards’ decision. Vowles said they have “good reason” to do so and added: “I would support them in that, absolutely.”
While the stewards acknowledged the pit lane distance mismeasurement contributed to the speeding violations, Vowles emphasised teams still have responsibility to adhere to the rule. Five drivers were caught speeding during practice, including Williams driver Alexander Albon, prompting Williams to reduce the speed they targeted through the pit to ensure compliance.
“You can shortcut the pit lane,” Vowles explained. “If you watch onboard, you’ll see they’re not driving within the white lines, they’re driving across the white line, so you’ve shortened the distance.
“If you look back as well at Monaco, we received a speeding fine on Friday and we had a look into it and went, ‘ah, this is what’s happened’ and tuned down our speed limit as a result of it, because that is the regulation.
“However they set it [the pit lane distance], we’re aware of the fact that no one tunes their car’s pit speed limit at 60 kilometres an hour. It’s always below that in function to how you drive.
“My advice to anyone is drive the way you’re going to drive on Friday, Saturday, the way you’re going to drive on Sunday. Don’t change your line, which is what catches you out.”
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2026 Monaco Grand Prix
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- Gasly “proud” of FIA after penalties rescinded: “It’s a massive step forward for our sport”
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- Official: McLaren and Red Bull to appeal overturning of Gasly’s Monaco GP penalties
- Updated championship standings after Gasly regains Monaco podium finish
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