Ecclestone backs Schumacher

Ecclestone warned Coulthard not to take his grievance with Michael Schumacher into court because he could be in danger of losing his case.

Schumacher accused Coulthard of blocking him during the championship-deciding race at Suzuka.

He claimed he had been prevented from mounting a challenge against Coulthard's team-mate Mika Hakkinen for the race win.

He also brought up a past incident between the two at Spa in 1998 [when Schumacher crashed into the back of Coulthard's car during the Belgian Grand Prix] and questioned Coulthard's motives during that encounter.

'I am not sure whether I should believe that what happened at Spa last year wasn't done purposely the way he behaved today,' he said.

Coulthard denied the claim and later warned the German that he was considering legal action.

However, Ecclestone has now stepped into the row, claiming that Coulthard should have been black-flagged for his actions.

'Michael was right to say what he did,' said Ecclestone.

'There was no way Coulthard should have held him up.

'Maybe it would be possible for David to take legal action but, in the case, he would have to prove that what Michael said was incorrect and he could find that difficult.

'He would be ill-advised to take that to court. Michael had an opinion to express and he said it. David was out of order.'