Coulthard Supports Decision to Run Qualifying

Scot David Coulthard said after Friday's Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying that the sport's governing body, the FIA, were right to allow the session to go ahead as planned.

Some of the drivers drew up a petition in a bid to delay or cancel the session after fears grew during the morning practice that it was not safe to run in torrential rain with only intermediate tyres available to them.

But the rain eased off between practice and qualifying and Coulthard, who finished fourth for McLaren-Mercedes, admitted: "In the end the conditions were okay for running."

Coulthard, who as head of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association was one of the main instigators of the petition, admitted that it was unlikely they could have done anything to stop the session going ahead.

In the end there was no battle between them and the FIA, and Coulthard added: "In the morning session there was a lot of standing water and lots of drivers going off.

"I don't think there was really any question from the FIA (about running the session) but from the drivers point of view, earlier this morning during practice, there was. In the end, it was alright."