Team says Honda not planning to buy McLaren

McLaren on Thursday denied reports Honda is looking at buying into the Woking based team.

Rumours in Japan this week said the Japanese carmaker, returning to formula one next year as McLaren’s works engine supplier, might also be contemplating buying the 50 per cent team share currently held by the Bahrain-owned Mumtalakat company.

Initially, a team source played down the speculation by saying any transfer of shares would have to be agreed to by McLaren’s other co-owners, Ron Dennis and Mansour Ojjeh.

And a McLaren spokesman told us on Thursday: "Contrary to recent media reports, Honda has informed us that it has no intention to buy into McLaren.

"All of Honda’s focus is on the development of its new formula one power unit," he added.