Flavio Briatore, a former Formula One team principal, has accused Filippo Marchino, a judge on the FIA’s International Court of Appeal, of bias and having a working relationship with McLaren. Briatore made the allegations during a press conference ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, stating that Marchino acted as a prosecutor during a recent hearing.

The controversy stems from a decision by the International Court of Appeal that demoted Alpine driver Pierre Gasly from third to seventh place in the Monaco Grand Prix. The court reinstated two five-second time penalties for speeding in the pit lane, which had been applied to Gasly. Alpine had sought a review after it was found that officials had incorrectly measured the pit lane speed, affecting multiple drivers.

"He is very linked with McLaren," Briatore stated. "This I notice. So whatever (Andrea) Stella (McLaren’s team principal) said, the judge needs to be independent. And not somebody doing the speech for McLaren and somebody using the McLaren car in his One Drop Foundation charity."

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella responded to Briatore's comments, calling the press conference "quite insulting" to his team. Stella asserted that the International Court of Appeal operates to the "highest standards" and that such allegations should not be questioned.

McLaren boss Andrea boss Andrea Stella, right, claimed the press conference had been 'quite insulting' to his team and insisted the hearing had been 'conducted to the highest standards'

Briatore, whose involvement in orchestrating the result of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix led to a period of FIA sanction, said that while his team accepts the court's decision, the panel should be entirely independent.

Briatore made the claim after Alpine's Pierre Gasly was demoted from his third place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, after a court judgement reinstated two five-second penalties

Briatore indicated that his team is considering further actions. The FIA, in response to the allegations, stated that the eligibility of candidates for the International Court of Appeal is checked by an Eligibility Assessment Committee and candidates are elected by the FIA General Assembly.

In unrelated track news, George Russell led the practice session, seeking to close the 59-point gap to his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in the championship standings. Antonelli will start from the back of the grid due to a new engine component.