Lauda defiant over engine payments

Lauda, who is the boss of Ford's Premier Performance Division of which Cosworth forms a part, said that he has given Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw enough time already to pay the $4.5 million his company owes.

"I did all I could to help but I have to look after the interests of Cosworth," said the Austrian. "If he pays the money to me then he will race - and I would like to see him race."

When asked if he would be prepared to accept the payment after the weekend, Lauda replied: "I can't. We've done that thing in the past and he still hasn't paid."

The team's cars did not make it to British Grand Prix scrutineering this afternoon at Silverstone. Arrows has been granted an extension by the scrutineers, which expires at 1000 (BST) tomorrow. If it fails to make the deadline it will not be allowed to enter the GP.

But the engine debt is only part of the trouble. Former shareholder Morgan Grenfell is demanding compensation before a stake in Arrows can be bought from new investors headed by Red Bull energy drinks boss Dietrich Mateschitz.

The team looks set to become the second Formula 1 outfit this year to go out of business, following Prost's demise before the start of the season.