McLaren get £200m cash boost with links to F2 racer Latifi - report

McLaren's coffers have been swollen by a £200million investment, according to reports. The team have struggled to attract sponsorship through their travails in recent seasons, however, they have been boosted by a new investor with apparent links to Formula 2 driver Nicholas Latifi.

Racefans.net reports that Nidala Limited has purchased 888,135 shares in McLaren Group, costing a huge "203.8million.

It is claimed that Michael Latifi, father of Nicholas, has interests in Nidala, whose name is potentially a portmanteau of his full name - Nicholas David Latifi.

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Nicholas Latifi is currently serving as Force India's test driver and featured last week in Barcelona.

He has one podium finish to is name in this year's F2 championship, but has been largely outperformed by his DAMS team-mate Alexander Albon, who sits second in the championship after three rounds, behind McLaren junior driver Lando Norris.

Though McLaren's car remains mostly bare in 2018, team boss Zak Brown says they are not in trouble financially.

"If you look at the sponsorship that's come in to Formula 1 teams this year we've brought in more new partners than anyone else," he said.

"They're patient, understanding, know the sport. We all want to bring in as many sponsor partners as possible, but they also know it's not that easy.

"They give us what we need to go racing. They continue to invest in the racing team. So the more we bring in the more we can get. But we're not strapped for money."

It remains to be seen whether the cash will lead to Latifi taking a race seat at McLaren in the future, although their line-up for 2019 remains a mystery.

Fernando Alonso is yet to commit his future to F1, despite Brown's insistence that the Spaniard wants to remain.

Stoffel Vandoorne is reportedly fighting for his future after being outqualified and finishing behind Alonso at all five grands prix in 2018 so far. No other driver has been so comprehensively outperformed by his teammate this year.