THE Formula One crisis is set to spill into the courtroom after it emerged Ferrari have applied for an injunction to proposed rule changes.

FIA president Max Mosley, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone and team representatives were locked in talks 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.

It is scheduled to be heard in Paris on Tuesday.

‘‘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.’’ Mosley was told of the injunction by text message during the discussions, with Ferrari dismissing suggestions team principal Stefano Domenicali was not aware of the situation before he attended the meeting.

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 £40m budget cap to be imposed for next year that could create a two-tier F1.

Ferrari claim the new rules being introduced was a breach of a ‘‘technical veto’’ they had concerning any amendments to regulations.

‘‘We say that is no longer in place,’’ said Mosley, who confirmed the FIA would appeal if the injunction was successful.

‘‘It would be our contention they walked away from that some time ago.’’ The FIA were refusing to compromise on their new regulations.

‘‘It was a friendly meeting but the teams have gone off to see if they can come up with something better than the cost cap,’’ Mosley said.

‘‘The regulations are as published. We have explained that we want everyone to race under the same regulations.’’ Mosley explained that the teams were looking for a ‘‘Halfway House’’ on the cost cap.

He added: ‘‘I’m saying to them ‘what is wrong with the cost cap?’ The only real objection is that you cannot enforce it. We say that our people can satisfy yours that we can.’’ Mosley remains confident Ferrari will not walk away from F1, although he insists they are not essential for the sport to survive.

‘‘I would be very surprised in the end of they do, they have been saying they are going to leave, then they seek an injunction to try to prevent the rules being changed. If they were going to leave, you would think they would just leave,’’ he said.

‘‘The idea they are indispensable is nonsense. It’s a little bit like poor (Ayrton) Senna. He was the most important driver in ’94 but when he sadly was killed, Formula One went on.’’ Mosley confirmed that the FIA would sanction a breakaway, adding: ‘‘If they did a breakaway they could write their own rules and we’d check them for safety.”