Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn was in no doubt yesterday that her marque would be able to live within their means if given a much-needed cash handout by Formula One’s paymasters.

The sport descended into civil war during the course of the United States Grand Prix last weekend, sparked by Caterham and Marussia being forced to go into administration in the build up to the event.

Determined to highlight their plight given the disparity in revenues between the bigger, more powerful teams and their smaller cousins, Sauber, Force India and Lotus considered boycotting the race.

Only intervention from Donald Mackenzie, co-chairman of the sport’s commercial rights holders in CVC Capital Partners, prevented what would have been an unmitigated disaster for F1.

On the table now for Mackenzie to consider is a proposal whereby the smaller teams are given an additional pot of money to top up existing annual payments based on their final position in the constructors’ championship.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has already argued such funds would not solve the problems of the more minor marques.

Kaltenborn naturally disagrees as she feels an additional $20 million (£12.5m) per team — the figure understood to have been put forward — will suffice.

It is hoped the details of the proposition will be finalised ahead of this weekend’s race in Brazil, with the F1 circus having quickly decamped from Austin to Sao Paulo over the past few days.

Kaltenborn said: “I believe the figures we have been discussing amongst us are at a decent level and can allow us to be in the sport decently.

“That’s all we say, the rest is up to us. We’re not asking for a solution whereby dreams come true and we have a comfortable, cushy life.

“No, all we say is you have to be allowed, from the income the sport generates, to have a decent living so you’re not struggling every month, every year to make ends meet.”