Monaco GP news: Pierre Gasly left 'heartbroken' as drivers question pit-lane speeding penalties
Pierre Gasly says he is "heartbroken" after losing a Monaco Grand Prix podium amid growing controversy surrounding a series of pit-lane speeding penalties that dramatically altered the outcome of Sunday's race.
The Alpine driver crossed the line in third position but was later demoted following a penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Multiple drivers, including George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, also questioned the sanctions after receiving penalties of their own during the chaotic race.
Alpine have since requested a review of Gasly's penalty as debate continues over whether a software issue contributed to the incidents.
Gasly devastated after losing podium
Gasly struggled to hide his frustration after seeing one of the best results of his Formula One career slip away.
"Right now honestly I'm just heartbroken. I don't have the words. I have too much emotions to process. I just can't get my head around what happened. It just doesn't sound fair," Gasly told Sky Sports F1.
The Frenchman insisted he had followed the correct procedures entering the pit lane.
"Triple checking with the team they set the right speed in the car. On both occasions, I've put the pit limiter way before the line."
Gasly also highlighted the significance of the result, particularly in front of a large French contingent at Monaco.
"We're all working so hard for these moments. 10 years I do this, 10 years I've tried to grab every opportunity, I have five podiums, which is nothing in my career.
“And we pass the road in third position in front of all the French people and it gets taken away from us."
Alpine are expected to challenge the decision following the race.
READ MORE: F1 news: Lewis Hamilton hails Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari progress after Monaco GP podium
Russell questions severity of punishment
Mercedes driver George Russell was another high-profile casualty of the penalties.
The Briton initially received a five-second penalty before later being handed a drive-through penalty after discussions with race control regarding how the sanction would be served.
"Firstly, I'm not too sure why we got a penalty because I was on the pit limiter before the line. I released it after the line. But clearly there's a problem in the software and many drivers got penalties," Russell said.
The Mercedes driver also questioned whether the punishment matched the offence.
"The punishment doesn't fit the crime. So, P3 down to P14."
Russell estimated the incident cost him a potential podium finish and valuable championship points.
"It's two races in a row - could have won the race last week, could have maybe been P3-P4 today, it's 40 points down the drain for things outside of my control."
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Hamilton calls for investigation
Lewis Hamilton echoed many of the concerns raised by Gasly and Russell after receiving a penalty of his own.
The Ferrari driver maintained he had activated the pit limiter correctly and suggested the issue may stem from the layout of Monaco's pit entry rather than deliberate speeding.
"I wasn't speeding. I think it's just the way the pit lane is," Hamilton said.
"I've done this pit lane for years. It's not like I came in and didn't press a button or something like that."
Hamilton believes the governing body should examine the incidents more closely after multiple drivers fell foul of the same rule.
"I think it's the distance and something that we really need to look into because I heard lots of people got that today and they probably weren't really speeding."
FIA scrutiny intensifies
With Alpine seeking a review and several leading drivers publicly questioning the penalties, the Monaco Grand Prix controversy appears unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
While Kimi Antonelli celebrated a record-breaking victory at the front of the field, much of the post-race discussion has centred on the pit lane and whether a stricter review of the penalties could yet alter the final classification.
