Lauda defends Arrows deal

Niki Lauda is looking forward to competing with Arrows

Niki Lauda believes letting Arrows use the Cosworth V10 engine next year will improve the performance of his Jaguar team.

Jaguar and Arrows will use exactly the same engine in both their cars and the Austrian is convinced that the competition will spur his team on.

"If the Arrows are quicker than we are, it's our own fault because then their car is better," said the Jaguar boss.

"To not give an engine or give a bad engine to somebody doesn't mean that we are going to go quicker.

I want to get Cosworth competitive on its own and with this system it's easy, because you have four cars running with the same engine

Niki Lauda

"It's not the Olympic Games, it's not enough just to be part of it, it is to win. And in my view it's quicker and more motivating with somebody else having the same engine."

Lauda claims that developing the Cosworth replacement will be easier with four cars to monitor.

"I want to get Cosworth competitive on its own and with this system it's easy, because you have four cars running with the same engine," he said.

"Reliability, horsepower and all these sorts of things, you can then check in half the time."

It is not just engines that the two teams will share as Lauda confirmed that Arrows and Jaguar will also use the same traction control system.

"Whatever effects the engine will be part of it," said Lauda.

"You can't give them stuff to make it run and then not give them traction control. It would be ridiculous."