No deal as McLaren title sponsor talks end - report

McLaren is likely to contest the rest of the 2014 season without a title sponsor, according to Italy’s blogf1.it.

Last month, in the wake of former main backer Vodafone’s departure, rumours emerged that the Woking team was in talks with a Japanese giant called Rakuten, the Tokyo based owner of buy.com and play.com.

It was said the deal could be worth $60 million per year to McLaren, a grandee British team that has struggled for competitiveness in 2013 and so far in 2014.

However, blogf1.com claims the talks to bring Rakuten to McLaren in 2014 have not resulted in a deal, adding that it is possible Lotus could now secure an agreement instead.