Teams fail to resolve customer cars row

The teams met with Ecclestone for almost two hours to try and hammer out a solution on the issue that has overshadowed the start of the season.

Although several ideas were put forward, including sharing television revenue between all 12 teams rather than the current ten, in the end the teams reached no agreement on how to move the situation forward.

With it clear that there was no consensus despite what one team boss called 'constructive' talks, Ecclestone instead agreed that he would go away and come up with a proposal that he would like the teams to support.

It is believed the proposal will provide an official definition of what a 'constructor' is and what an 'entrant' is. There will also be details of how F1's television money will be distributed between the two categories.

The current arguments have revolved around Spyker's belief that Super Aguri and Scuderia Toro Rosso should not score constructors' championship points as they do not believe they are constructors. This claim has been disputed by both teams.

The proposal put forward by Ecclestone is set to be evaluated at a new team principals' meetings that has been scheduled for before the Spanish Grand Prix, where technical directors are also expected to get involved.

Although no solution was found in today's meeting, despite high hopes beforehand, Spyker team principal Colin Kolles said he was satisfied with the way talks appeared to be progressing.

"I don't think we are closer to sorting the situation out, but we will see what proposal Bernie comes up with," said Kolles. "But one thing is for sure - we will go to the end to make sure it is sorted.

"I think at least everyone now realises that there is an issue. I have to protect our company and obviously now the wheels are in motion."