McLaren has stoutly denied any rumours Audi have acquired total equity of the company.
First word Audi had supposedly bought out the McLaren Group circulated during the early hours of the morning New Zealand time.
The reports claimed Audi will take complete control over McLaren’s racing and road car operations.
Essentially, it meant Audi would join the Formula 1 grid in the space currently occupied by McLaren.
Joining F1 is something Audi has said they have seriously considered.
Hours after the rumour mill churned out the report, McLaren dismissed everything said as “wholly inaccurate.”
They added there had been “no change in the ownership structure of the McLaren Group.”
However, Audi, and to a similar extent Porsche, is actively chasing a possible F1 entry in 2026.
Audi and Porsche’s parent company Volkswagen are considering what the best way to approach an F1 entry is.
Autosport says VW’s best options at the moment is with Audi through McLaren or a Porsche tie-up with Red Bull.
If VW decides to make a new F1 team, they must fork up a hefty $200 million entry free. Plus, they risk being uncompetitive, as most new teams have been the past few seasons.
VW and Audi have not acknowledged what was reported about the McLaren takeover.