FIA Court of Appeal Defends Judge Impartiality After Briatore Claims

The governing body for international motorsport asserted the impartiality and integrity of its judges on Saturday, responding directly to sharp comments from Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore. The dispute centers on the fallout from a recalculated result at the Monaco Grand Prix held last June, which dropped Alpine driver Pierre Gasly from third place down to seventh some three months after the event.

The revised classification handed a podium spot to Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar while also benefiting McLaren, as Australian driver Oscar Piastri moved up from fifth to fourth place. Briatore voiced his frustrations during an official Formula 1 team boss press conference at Monza on Friday, pointing toward alleged ties between McLaren and one of the judicial panel members who decided Case ICA-2026-06-07-08-09.

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His comments prompted McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella to warn his Alpine counterpart of the consequences of such claims, according to racing industry reporting.

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The escalating war of words forced the International Court of Appeal to take steps to defend the judicial process publicly. The court emphasized that questioning panel independence undermines the institutional mechanisms designed to keep motorsport arbitration fair and transparent.

How the International Court of Appeal Defends Its Judicial Process

In a detailed response issued during the race weekend in Italy, the ICA outlined the rigorous appointment procedures governing all cases. The institution noted that its judges are elected by FIA General Assemblies, with some members appointed upon the proposition of a group of at least five Formula 1 teams in accordance with FIA Statutes.

Furthermore, the court highlighted that all participating judges must adhere to strict confidentiality and independence guidelines outlined in the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules. Panel members make annual disclosures of interests to the FIA Compliance Officer and must sign a case-specific declaration of independence for every dispute they oversee.

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“The FIA Courts are aware of public comments questioning the independence and impartiality of the judges of the panel that decided Case ICA-2026-06-07-08-09.”

Laurent Anselmi, Rui Botica Santos, Waltraud Wünsch, and Gérard Martin, International Court of Appeal statement

The ICA statement also stressed the deliberate effort to form panels featuring individuals from diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds. This multi-traditional approach is designed to guarantee a variety of legal perspectives and reinforce public trust in sports arbitration.

Procedural Objections and the Silence During the Monaco Review Hearing

Beyond structural safeguards, the appeals court pointed out that Alpine’s representatives raised no procedural red flags while the case was actively under review. The ICA maintained that all participating parties had ample opportunity to challenge the composition of the court or the handling of witnesses before any ruling was rendered.

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“At both the beginning and conclusion of the hearing, the parties were invited to raise any issue concerning the proceedings or the composition of the Court. None did so. No objection was raised during the hearing concerning the manner in which the Court questioned the witness or conducted the proceedings.”

Laurent Anselmi, Rui Botica Santos, Waltraud Wünsch, and Gérard Martin, International Court of Appeal statement

While the ICA acknowledged that any judicial outcome remains open to legal debate and differing interpretations regarding its merits, the court expressed total confidence in the integrity of its panel. The official response was signed by Laurent Anselmi, President of the ICA and of the FIA Judges Congress; Rui Botica Santos, President of the IT and Vice-President of the Judges Congress; Waltraud Wünsch, Vice-President of the ICA; and Gérard Martin, Vice-President of the IT.