Report: Dennis set to buy 50% stake in McLaren F1

Ron Dennis has taken an increasingly prominent role in the running of McLaren's F1 team as its second era of partnership with Honda begins, and according to Forbes.com, the team's chief executive's personal stake could soon include a controlling interest in the team.

Forbes quotes F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone as saying that Bahrain's Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund has sold a 50% stake in the McLaren team to Dennis.

"[Mumtalakat] are nothing more to do with the race company anymore," Ecclestone told Forbes. "They have sold the shares to Ron. He has got to pay for them by a certain date. If he doesn't pay he will obviously take them back but at the moment Ron would own the company."

The Forbes report claims a McLaren spokesman confirmed that discussions were under way about a possible deal but said that no shares have changed hands. "No transaction has taken place, but the shareholders have had discussions on how to best facilitate and enhance the future growth of the McLaren Group," McLaren's spokesman said. "When and if a transaction takes place, it is not envisioned that the current shareholders will exit McLaren completely, and announcements would be made at the appropriate time."

Read the full Forbes.com report here.