The mood amongst the teams over cost-cutting in F1 improved after a positive meeting between chiefs and F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone in Austria.

Ecclestone had responded to the calls from smaller teams about the spiralling costs in F1 and wanted to discuss not only the proposals already raised such as the banning of in-season testing but also new proposals that Ecclestone with consultation had put together, notably a new restriction on the technology adopted in the cars.

The new suggestions were met more favourably by the upper chiefs which marks a shift in attitude. Previously heavyweights such as Frank Williams and Ron Dennis had poured scorn on the in-season testing ban idea while men like Eddie Jordan, the eponymous team boss who recently laid off 15% of his workforce, were all for it.

The inseason test ban has not been passed by the F1 Commission but FIA President Max Mosley had given it some backing.

Paul Stoddart, the straight-talking owner and boss of Minardi, F1’s smallest team, said he was pleased with how attitudes and the mood had improved.

‘For me it was very pleasing to see 11 people, 12 with Bernie, sitting there with no rancour trying to move the sport forward for everyone,’ he said. ‘It will take some time to solve the problems; Rome wasn't built in a day.

‘It's hard to find consensus without compromise and we are in the first stages of working on a consensus that will end up with everybody better off. I think we are on the right road to healing it.’