Schumacher's GPDA role not in danger

Schumacher has been on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism from rival drivers and team members after he was judged to have deliberately stopped his car on the track during the final moments of qualifying on Saturday.

The race stewards punished him by moving him from pole position to the back of the grid.

And after former world champion Jackie Stewart suggested before the race that he had heard rumours that Schumacher's place in the GPDA was under threat because of the incident, Coulthard has moved to play down the controversy.

"First of all I've heard the rumours and there has been no discussion among the directors of the GPDA," said Coulthard, who is a director.

"Maybe there have been discussions among individual members of the GPDA. No members of the GPDA have been in contact with the GPDA office, and our secretary is here.

"The role of the GPDA is for driver safety and track safety and not to be involved in political issues like stewards decisions. The two are completely separate.

"And, irrespective of any individual driver's view on Michael's actions, he does remain one of the most active members on track safety and one of the main funders of the GPDA over the years. So you have two separate things."