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Bahrain’s Mumtalakat and Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings took full ownership of McLaren Racing Tuesday in a deal some media reports said valued the reigning Formula One champions at more than $4bn.No financial details were given in a McLaren Group statement confirming the purchase of all shares held by MSP Sports Capital, funds managed by O’Connor Capital Solutions, Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment funds and Caspian Funds.Sky News earlier reported the sale of the 30% stake would value the team at more than £3bn ($4.05bn).Bahrain sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat will remain the majority shareholder with CYVN, majority-owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, having a non-controlling stake.CYVN created McLaren Group Holdings last April after completing its acquisition of sportscar maker McLaren Automotive.McLaren Racing runs teams in Formula One, US-based IndyCars and will enter the World Endurance Championship from 2027.US-based investment group MSP and others took a significant minority stake in 2020, when McLaren were in need of funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.The deal, for a maximum 33% stake by 2022, valued the British racing outfit at £560mn at the time. Since then McLaren have emerged as a dominant force in the sport, winning the constructors’ title last year for the first time since 1998 and on course to win both titles this season.“Our suite of minority investors came on board in 2020 and we thank them for their tremendous support over the past few years as we set McLaren Racing on a path to commercial growth and financial stability,” said McLaren Group Executive Chairman Paul Walsh.He said the simplified ownership structure “strengthens our ability to future-proof the business and capture new growth opportunities.”MSP Sports Capital CEO Jeff Moorad and chairman Jahm Najafi will vacate their seats on the McLaren Racing board.Ares Management said in a statement the proceeds from the transaction “will be used to return capital to investors and further strengthen its position as an experienced investor across the sports ecosystem”.

Formula One ends its August break and goes straight back to the beach at Zandvoort this weekend, with Max Verstappen’s rowdy orange army cheering the home Dutch hero against McLaren domination.McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri and teammate Lando Norris, nine points behind after 14 of 24 races, have finished the last four races one-two.Norris, triumphant last year in Zandvoort, will be chasing his fourth win in five races. Few would bet against a fifth successive one-two for the papaya-liveried team as they get back on track after the mandatory summer shutdown, with Zandvoort followed on immediately by Italy’s Monza to round out the European season.“The atmosphere at the Dutch Grand Prix is always mega. Last year here was special, so I’m hyped to be returning,” said Norris, who can take his career tally to 10 wins.“We’re competitive, and ready to continue where we left off, so I’m confident I’ll be fighting out front again.”Australian Piastri has six wins to Norris’ five this season - with Verstappen on two and without a podium appearance since Canada in June - but he did finish fourth last time out in the Netherlands.He can be expected to be far more competitive as he and Norris renew what would normally be considered hostilities, with a title at stake, but has so far been a remarkably sporting duel.Verstappen cannot be counted out either, whatever recent results would suggest.No driver has a relationship with Zandvoort like the home hero, with the Red Bull driver always starting on the front row and winning from pole in 2021, 2022 and 2023 before having to settle for second last year.PARTY TIMEOf the 288 Formula One laps raced there in his lifetime, Verstappen has led 200 and his fans have never lacked an excuse for a party.If he can put his car on pole position again then it is definitely game on.“It is always a special race for me; the atmosphere is amazing and we always have such great support. Driving past a sea of orange when you are racing is an incredible feeling and I am looking forward to being back,” he said.“It will be a tough race and it looks like the weather might make things tricky but let’s see what happens.”Ferrari, second in the constructors’ standings but a mighty 299 points behind McLaren, and Mercedes will also be looking to get in on the action.Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton can expect plenty of attention after suggesting in Hungary before the break that he was useless and Ferrari should consider finding a replacement.The Briton will return well-rested and likely more upbeat.“There’s a lot I’ve been meditating on,” Hamilton posted on Instagram this week in a cryptic message alluding to individual and global issues. “We can’t look away. We have to keep going, even when it’s difficult.”Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said his team and drivers were recharged and ready for a good weekend. “That means starting right from qualifying, which is particularly crucial at Zandvoort, given how difficult overtaking can be at this track,” he added.