Coulthard's disqualification stands

David Coulthard has lost his appeal against disqualification from last week's Brazilian Grand Prix. The International Court of Appeal in Paris yesterday rejected McLaren's appeal against the stewards' decision to exclude Coulthard from second place because of an illegal front wing on his car.

Coulthard said: "Today's result isn't what I had hoped for, but it's Imola this weekend. That is what I am now concentrating on."

The decision means Britain's Jenson Button keeps sixth place and becomes the youngest driver to score a grand prix point. "It's a world championship point but not the way I would have wanted to win it," Button said. "I am pleased for the team, but I do not take any personal accolade. And I feel sorry for David."

McLaren claimed at the hearing that the front wing was made illegal because of the bumpy Interlagos track in São Paulo. That was rejected by the five-man panel, part of whose statement said: "All the competitors...had been subjected to the rigours of the circuit from the first practice session onwards, and that all steps could thus have been taken to make the necessary adjustments to the cars to allow them to cope with these difficulties."