Mika Hakkinen was crowned unofficial world motor-racing champion last night after the Ferrari team was disqualified in a stunning aftermath to the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Ferrari pair Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher were celebrating their one-two finish when F1 chiefs announced their cars did not conform to technical specifications.
They were disqualified and victory was awarded to reigning champion Hakkinen - who had finished third in his McLaren-Mercedes - giving the Finn an unassailable lead in the drivers' championship with only the Japanese Grand Prix left.
Ferrari said it would appeal, but did not contest the ruling that the bodywork on the cars was illegal. Officials of the sport's ruling body said the cars' deflector panels - used to improve aerodynamics - were 10mm wider than allowed.
The sensational events eclipsed what had been a brilliant comeback by former world champion Schumacher, who thought he had shepherded the Briton to the brink of the title.
The German grabbed the lead at the start, then allowed Irvine through and bottled up Hakkinen in third place. Schumacher, who broke his leg at the British Grand Prix in July, regained the lead before easing off three laps from the end to allow Irvine through.