Formula One remained in financial crisis yesterday after talks between supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the teams came to nothing.

Ecclestone spent two-and-a-half hours discussing the two major topics that have engulfed the sport of late and are threatening civil war.

Numerous ideas were thrashed around on the subject of soaring engine costs, following the introduction this year of the 1.6-litre V6 turbo-charged power units.

In replacing the old V8s, the additional financial burden has led to the smaller teams now struggling to make ends meet.

Marussia went out of business on Friday, while Caterham are also faced with extinction and will be on the scrapheap by next weekend if talks aimed at their salvation come to nothing.

Their demise has led to three other cash-strapped teams in Lotus, Force India and Sauber demanding a more equitable distribution of the funds handed out by CVC, F1’s commercial rights holder.

But it was glum faces that emerged from the meeting in the paddock at Interlagos ahead of yesterday’s Brazilian grand prix.

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff said: “Nothing was agreed on anything.

“The situation is unchanged on everything, the money side, engine side.”

Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya has confirmed Ecclestone is to now return to London to discuss the issues with Donald Mackenzie, the co-owner and co-chairman of CVC.

Asked whether the situation could be resolved before the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi from November 21-23, Mallya said: “How do we know how long this discussion with Donald is going to take?

“He just said ‘I’ll talk to Donald next week and get back to you’. That’s it.

“He at least recognises the three smallest teams require more money in one form or another.

“We presented our case and he said he’d talk to Donald and get back to us. I’ve heard this before, so the option is to wait.”