The FIA court of appeal has publicly refuted claims by Alpine boss Flavio Briatore that one of its judges was biased towards McLaren, calling the accusation an attack on "the independence and impartiality of the judges." The dispute stems from a case brought by McLaren and Red Bull that saw the court reinstate a penalty on Alpine's Pierre Gasly for pit-lane speeding in the Monaco Grand Prix, demoting him back to seventh and promoting several rival drivers up the standings.

Briatore alleged the judge in question had "links" with McLaren, citing his attendance at a 2018 California charity auction to which he claimed McLaren had donated cars, and said Alpine only learned of the connection after the hearing. The FIA responded that judges make annual conflict-of-interest disclosures and sign case-specific independence declarations, and noted that no party raised objections about the court's composition either before or after the hearing. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who was present when Briatore made the remarks, called them "insulting" and said Briatore would have to take responsibility for the allegations.