Toro Rosso on Friday lost its appeal against a stewards' decision, the FIA and the Spyker team confirmed on Saturday.

Vitantonio Liuzzi actually crossed the line in eighth place ahead of Spyker's Adrian Sutil in the rain-soaked Japanese grand prix, but stewards imposed a 25-second penalty on the Italian because he had allegedly overtook Sutil under yellow flags.

Toro Rosso is believed to have argued in Paris on Friday that marshals failed to wave a green flag for Liuzzi and Sutil after the yellow-flag zone, despite the fact that the stricken Super Aguri was more than a kilometre behind them.

Toro Rosso reportedly also argued that no flags at all - green or yellow - were being waved at the point at which Liuzzi passed Sutil.

"Having heard the explanations of both parties and having examined the various documents and other evidence, the Court confirmed the decision of the Panel of the Stewards of the Meeting," a statement issued by F1's governing body read on Saturday, without giving further detail.

Spyker boss Colin Kolles commented in a statement issued by the Dutch team: "We felt our case was without doubt, and the FIA had no objections to our evidence."

Source: GMM