Several Formula 1 drivers received pitlane speeding penalties during the Monaco Grand Prix due to minor infringements of less than one kilometre per hour. The FIA reviewed its systems and concluded that the issue stemmed from drivers slightly cutting the pitlane entry rather than any measurement errors. Race control had warned teams about the risk before the start.
The penalties affected drivers including Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, with some excesses as small as 0.1 km/h. Lewis Hamilton also received a five-second penalty but still finished second. The FIA found no irregularities in its timing equipment after the race. Officials believe the measurement began when the front-left wheel entered the fast lane, which occurred when drivers took a shortcut at the kink in the pitlane entry. Hamilton said in the post-race press conference that he was shocked by his penalty and attributed it to the line taken into the pitlane, a path used for years. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella noted the team advised Piastri to avoid shortcutting too much after the issue became clear. Alpine has requested a right of review, with Pierre Gasly claiming he was robbed of a podium finish. The FIA had advised teams beforehand to take the wider entry line.
