Lewis Hamilton has lost his appeal to have his win at the Belgian Grand Prix reinstated after the FIA ruling body confirmed a 25-second sanction against him.
Hamilton, the current Formula One championship leader, appeared before the Paris tribunal on Monday to defend his actions after the British McLaren driver was adjudged to have cut a chicane during a duel with Finnish rival Kimi Raikkonen in the closing laps.
Race officials overturned his win and demoted him to third in the belief that he had thereby gained unfair advantage.
"People will probably expect me to be depressed about today's result, but that isn't me," Hamilton said on McLaren's website after the decision.
"All I want to do now is... 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."
The confirmation of Hamilton's third place means rival Felipe Massa of Ferrari claims a win which slashes the Briton's lead in the drivers' championship to a single point.
