McLaren and Alpine F1 teams at odds after Briatore outburst over appeal

Briatore on the attack over Monaco GP decisionAccusation of judge’s bias towards McLarenA furious row has broken out in the buildup to the Italian Grand Prix between the Alpine team executive adviser and de facto team principal, Flavio Briatore, and the McLaren…

Originally published by The Guardian4 September 2026, 16:56Full licensed article

Briatore on the attack over Monaco GP decision
Accusation of judge’s bias towards McLaren

A furious row has broken out in the buildup to the Italian Grand Prix between the Alpine team executive adviser and de facto team principal, Flavio Briatore, and the McLaren principal, Andrea Stella, after Briatore made extraordinary allegations about McLaren’s influence on an FIA court of appeal decision against his team, claims which Stella dismissed as “insulting”.

Early on Friday a decision was released by the court of appeal, finding in favour of McLaren and Red Bull appeals against the result of the Monaco GP, prompted by a series of pit lane speeding penalties that were incorrect. The pit lane at Monaco had been incorrectly measured, leading to the penalties, including two for Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. Alpine appealed against those and they were successful, with the Frenchman subsequently awarded third place.