Appeal Abandoned

The Williams team dropped its appeal against the one-race ban for driver Jacques Villeneuve, giving Michael Schumacher a one-point lead going into the season’s final race.

As a result, Villeneuve lost the points earned in last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, which he competed in while appealing the ban he received for ignoring a yellow flag in practice.

The action came one day after FIA president Max Mosley suggested the Canadian driver could be banned for the season-ending European Grand Prix in Jerez, Spain, on Oct. 26 unless Williams withdrew its appeal.