The crisis gripping Formula One will enter a crucial stage on Tuesday in Paris after Ferrari applied for an injunction to prevent proposed rule changes.
FIA president Max Mosley, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone and team representatives were locked in talks yesterday at a Heathrow Airport hotel but there was no solution to the row over new regulations, with another meeting due within a fortnight.
Mosley also revealed afterwards that the FIA, the governing body, would sanction any breakaway series if it went that far, although whether that would ever happen may depend on Ferrari being successful with their injunction next week.
‘During the meeting it became apparent that Ferrari have made an application to the French courts to apply for an injunction to stop us doing what we want to do,’ Mosley said. ‘When people start bringing proceedings it is very difficult to negotiate with them.’
Ferrari are among the teams who have all threatened to withdraw at the end of this season unless fundamental revisions are made to the new regulations. Central to the argument is the optional £40million budget cap to be imposed for next year that could create a two-tier F1.
