It has emerged that Irvine, who left Malaysia soon after the race, has not yet been informed of the judge's decision.

His father Edmund Senior, who is in Malaysia, said the news may not yet have reached him.

Mr Irvine said: "Everybody, especially all the mechanics and Eddie is probably the same, are all disappointed at what has happpened.

"But the rules are rules. I would say it has not been broken to him yet, he is still in the air.

"He is flying from Malaysia to Hong Kong, so he does not know he did not win it."

Irvine's Ferrari team-mate, Michael Schumacher, who was second was also disqualified.

Judges ruled that part of the bodywork of the Ferrari cars does not conform to the technical specifications for Formula One.