If, or when, you find yourself frustrated by VAR at this summer’s World Cup, just think: ‘It could be worse, at least this isn’t Formula 1’. Because even though football’s much-maligned video refereeing system is constantly infuriating and often takes an age, its problems pale in comparison to those in the ‘pinnacle of motorsport’.

Over here in F1, your result isn’t safe for hours or even days after the end of a race. We learned that on Friday when the stewards confirmed Alpine’s Right of Review against Pierre Gasly’s penalties in Monaco last Sunday was successful.

They came to the right decision, but it was obvious even during the race that there was clearly an issue with the pit lane speed measuring system given penalties were being dished out left and right. The stewards can only go by the regulations but why is there not some sort of force majeure clause built into them which would have allowed an investigation on the day, rather than this ridiculous, drawn-out process?

The end result is that Gasly gets extra points, but the Frenchman was denied the chance to celebrate his podium – only his sixth in 183 F1 starts, and a first at the sport’s most iconic venue. Poor Isack Hadjar, who did celebrate in front of the Royal Family in Monte Carlo, has been stripped of what he thought was his first Red Bull podium and only the second of his career, and must now give his trophy back.

And there is fury up and down the grid, especially from those teams whose drivers also copped speeding penalties, given they aren’t allowed to lobby for their own punishments to be rectified despite this outcome. So beyond Alpine gaining a few extra world championship points, no-one wins.

Least of all F1 itself, which has managed to outdo even VAR in terms of how ridiculous its rule application is.

The FP1 driver who shouldn’t have been there

Speaking of ridiculous situations, the fact Colton Herta was driving the Cadillac car as a ‘rookie’ in FP1 on Friday shows how frankly stupid the FIA’s superlicence system is. The American is a nine-time IndyCar race winner and finished second in that very competitive championship in 2024.

He’s obviously quick and competent, yet he’s reduced to racing with kids in Formula 2 this season and an FP1 programme just to scrape together the points he needs to be eligible to race in F1.

All because the FIA is so desperate to funnel talent through its own championships that, until it was recently pressured into change, it previously gave more licence points to a child driver finishing fifth in Formula THREE than fourth in IndyCar, an actual series for grown-ups.

From the archive

Title-chasing Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will do well to avoid the fate suffered by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in Barcelona 10 years ago, when they took each other out of the race.

Fast fact

No driver has yet scored a point or even finished their home race on the lead lap this year, which doesn’t bode well for Fernando Alonso or Carlos Sainz this weekend. Oscar Piastri didn’t start in Melbourne, Lance Stroll started the Montreal race from the pit lane and finished four laps down, while Charles Leclerc crashed out late on in Monaco last Sunday.

Inside track

Fernando Alonso admitted this could be his last Barcelona race even if he extends his F1 career beyond this year, given the circuit won’t be on the 2027 race calendar.