McLaren Group CEO Says F1 Team To Start 2014 Season Without Title Sponsor

McLaren Group CEO Ron Dennis said that "McLaren will start the Formula One season without a title sponsor but still expect to have one this year," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. McLaren was sponsored by mobile telecom company Vodafone "until the end of last year." It "had planned to reveal a new title partner in December but the appointed day came and went without any announcement." Dennis "painted a bright financial future for the team" and compared McLaren to currently ailing ManU. Dennis said, "Inevitably when you have a run of poor results, people try and push the rate card down. I won't accept that" (REUTERS, 3/6). In London, Roger Blitz reported Dennis "has instructed Morgan Stanley to search for new investors as he plots to revive the Formula One team’s ailing fortunes and expand its technology division." The team "has held exploratory talks with Chinese investors." Dennis: “The net is cast wide" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 3/9).