Flavio Briatore, former team principal of the now‑defunct Benetton and Renault outfits, has renewed accusations that the FIA’s Court of Appeal was biased in its handling of the Monaco Grand Prix appeal that saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen stripped of a win in 2023. In a detailed statement, the FIA refuted the claims, emphasizing the independence and transparent selection of its judges.
FIA’s official response
According to Motorsport.com, the governing body explained that the Court of Appeal is composed of three senior officials appointed by the FIA President and ratified by the World Motor Sport Council. The statement stressed that each judge is required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and that no member of the panel had any direct involvement with the parties involved in the Monaco case.
The Race echoed the FIA’s position, noting that the appeal panel’s composition follows the same procedures used for all high‑profile disputes, from technical infringements to driver penalties. The FIA also highlighted that the appeal’s decision was reached by a majority vote, with each judge providing written reasoning that is publicly available on the FIA website.
Background to the controversy
The controversy stems from the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, where Verstappen’s victory was revoked after a post‑race investigation into a track‑limit infringement. Briatore, who has a long‑standing rivalry with Red Bull’s leadership, argued that the appeal process was rushed and that the judges were predisposed against Red Bull. He claimed that the panel’s composition favoured the sport’s governing elite, effectively sidelining independent scrutiny.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, in the statement, reiterated that the appeal process adhered to the sport’s sporting code and that any suggestion of bias undermines the integrity of the sport’s adjudication system. He invited any party with genuine concerns to submit a formal request for a review, which would be considered by an entirely separate panel.
For Indian fans
Indian viewers can follow the full FIA statement and the appeal judgment on the official FIA website, with English translations available. The controversy will likely feature in the upcoming F1 season preview shows on FanCode, where analysts will discuss its potential impact on future appeals and the sport’s governance. All timings for FIA press releases are listed in GMT; for Indian Standard Time (IST) add 5½ hours – meaning the FIA’s statement released at 14:00 GMT was available at 19:30 IST.
Source: Motorsport.com
