Formula One: McLaren lost their appeal to have Lewis Hamilton reinstated as the Belgian Grand Prix winner today which leaves the English driver just one point clear in the championship with four races remaining.
Unsurprisingly, McLaren's appeal into the retrospective 25-second drive-through penalty handed to Hamilton after the Belgian Grand Prix earlier this month was ruled inadmissible.
The five who sat in judgment on McLaren and Hamilton at yesterday's five-and-half-hour hearing in Paris simply applied the letter of the FIA law in reaching their verdict.
There is no doubt, though, a finger of blame should be pointed at the trio of stewards who handed out the punishment two hours after a thrilling conclusion to the race at Spa 16 days ago.
The world at large had witnessed Hamilton take the chequered flag in enthralling circumstances as he and reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen fought for the victory.
The incident that culminated in today's verdict, Hamilton cutting the Bus Stop chicane on lap 42 of the 44-lap race and gaining an advantage, has long been debated.
The stewards could have served up a degree of common sense with their penalty by appreciating Hamilton comfortably won the race after Raikkonen had crashed out on the penultimate lap.
Instead, they sparked the controversy, and now with the judges' ruling that is likely to enamour further those who already feel there is an anti-McLaren bias
within the FIA.
As Hamilton had previously stated, with the stewards penalising in such a way, it is likely to make any driver think twice before he embarks on an overtaking manoeuvre.
Reflecting on today's ruling, Hamilton said: "People will probably expect me to be depressed about the result, but that isn't me.
"All I want to do now is put this matter behind me and get on with what we drivers do best - racing each other.
"We're racers, we're naturally competitive and we love to overtake.
"Overtaking is difficult, and it feels great when you manage to pull off a great passing manoeuvre.
"If it pleases the spectators and TV viewers, it's better still. So I'm disappointed, yes, but not depressed."
Hamilton maintains he was forced to cut the chicane otherwise he and Raikkonen would have collided.
Although he immediately handed the advantage back to the Finn, he opted to pass again on the run down to the subsequent La Source hairpin.
Race director Charlie Whiting gave his blessing to the move later on lap 43, twice confirming it was 'okay' after being asked by a member of the McLaren pit wall.
Although Hamilton was in the dock for an hour, the argument that raged for three and a half in total and ultimately proved academic.
Instead, the judges sided with the regulations that a drive-through penalty is "not susceptible to an appeal".
Although Hamilton obviously did not pass down the pit lane to take his penalty, it was applied retrospectively.
FIA regulations make it clear if such a punishment is handed out in the final five laps, or after the end of a race, the 25 seconds will be added to a driver's race time.
The rule was brought in a few years ago to prevent a repeat of what unfolded when Michael Schumacher won a race in the pit lane while serving a drive-through penalty.
Although McLaren lawyer Mark Phillips QC argued the penalty in this instance was one of time - which can be appealed against - rather than a drive-through, it fell on deaf ears.
McLaren F1 boss Martin Whitmarsh said: "We are naturally disappointed with today's verdict, and to have received no ruling on the substance of our appeal.
"No-one wants to win a grand prix in court, but we felt Lewis won the Belgian Grand Prix on track, and in an exciting and impressive manner.
"Our legal team and witnesses calmly explained this, as well as our belief the appeal should be admissible, to the FIA International Court of Appeal.
"It nonetheless decided our appeal was inadmissible, so we will now concentrate on the remaining four races of the 2008 Formula One season."
Instead of a potential seven-point lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa heading into the final four races, starting in Singapore this weekend, Hamilton now has only a one-point cushion.
This latest decision is likely to fuel Hamilton's determination to be crowned champion come the end of another rollercoaster season.