A personal rift and a buyout bid by Chinese investors are seemingly behind Ron Dennis's sudden exit from Formula 1 and McLaren.

Although the 69-year-old's ousting has only now been confirmed, rumours of a falling out between his long-time ally and fellow shareholder Mansour Ojjeh, and McLaren's Bahraini co-owners, have been circulating for some time.

"There has been a fall out and Ron's style of management didn't quite suit people who owned the company," former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan told Irish broadcaster RTE.

According to reports, things turned sour when Dennis presented a buyout bid by a group of Chinese investors to Ojjeh and Bahrain.

"There is no doubt the Chinese bid, which is very real, is behind all this," an unnamed source told China Daily.

"The Bahrainis don't want to sell and that's what caused the problem."

Dennis's exit - beginning with 'gardening leave' until his current contract expires in January - is now official, but the common refrain in F1 circles is that it is a shame.

"The trouble is that this whole thing is personal," F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said. "Once people fall out, it becomes difficult.

"But I hope they can get together and work something out for everyone's sake. Ron is a big shareholder and he can still have his say."

At the moment, any reconciliation appears likely, especially as Dennis fought Ojjeh and Bahrain to the death through the court system.

"It is a shame the way he has left, going to the high court, trying to defy it and not accepting it," said Jordan.

"Ron should have left in the highest applause, just like we saw Massa being applauded by the people in Brazil."

Dennis had been McLaren team principal since 1981.