Williams driver Ralf Schumacher has lost his appeal following a crash at the German Grand Prix, the sport's ruling body (FIA) confirmed today.
But the FIA imposed a fine of $50,000 instead of the original penalty, which would have meant Schumacher dropping 10 positions from his qualifying spot at the start of his next race, the Hungarian Grand Prix this Sunday.
The German collided with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari as the three cars left the grid at the start of race.
Three other cars were caught up in the wake of the crash and forced to abandon the race at Hockenheim, which was won by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya in a Williams.
Schumacher appealed against his penalty at a FIA hearing in Paris yesterday, claiming the crash was not his fault.