Red Bull react to Isack Hadjar Monaco GP podium reinstatement

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has expressed his happiness at Isack Hadjar having his Monaco Grand Prix podium finish returned after Pierre Gasly's time penalties were reimposed.

Originally, the Alpine driver, who crossed the line third in Monte Carlo, took two five-second time penalties at the chequered flag for speeding in the pit lane, which dropped him to seventh.

However, Team Enstone lodged a Right of Review into the results, with that subsequently establishing that those punishments were in error, and Gasly returned to his finishing position on the road.

The problem with that outcome was that multiple drivers, including Oscar Piastri, who finished fifth behind Hadjar, had already served their own penalties for the same issue.

In response to the altered results, Red Bull and McLaren protested the verdict of Alpine's Right of Review, which is what has caused the results to change again, with the initial classification now adopted.

Following confirmation from the FIA Court of Appeals, Mekies responded to the development, which came as FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix got underway.

"Look, first of all, very happy that the court reinstated Isack's podium," the Frenchman told Sky Sports F1.

Not only was the boss of the Milton Keynes-based squad pleased for his driver, but he was also keen to stress the virtue that the outcome has for F1.

"It's important for Isack, but we also did it because we felt it was important for the sport — we don't really think we want to go racing and have to worry after the race about whether the speed limit check is correct or not correct," he added.

"We felt that a lot of cars have complied with the regulations in Monaco on the speed limit, and some cars were overspeeding. Some of them served the penalty; some of them didn't. And it was important that we have a consistent way to go racing.

"So we are happy with the result of the court. It's the very reason why we took it to the [FIA] Court of Appeal. It's because we felt it was important for the sport and, of course, for Isack — it was his first podium with us."

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