A restructure of the McLaren Group, lead by Ron Dennis, has seen the 61-year-old walk away from F1 completely. This follows January’s news that Dennis handed over the running of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team to Martin Whitmarsh.
In his role as Executive Chairman of McLaren Automotive, Dennis will lead the the new sports car business. Effective immediately, Dennis has handed his responsibility as Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing to Martin Whitmarsh. This is in addition to Whitmarsh’s role of Team Principal of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
Dennis, pictured above, at the McLaren Technology Centre with Richard Lapthorne, Non-Executive Chairman of McLaren Group, reflected on his F1 career at a press conference earlier today, “I admit I’m not always easy to get on with. I admit I’ve always fought hard for McLaren in Formula 1. I doubt if Max Mosley or Bernie Ecclestone will be displeased by my decision. But no-one asked me to do it. It was my decision.
“Equally, I was the architect of today’s restructure of the McLaren Group. Again, no-one asked me to do it. It was my decision.
“I feel enormously enthused about the prospects for the McLaren Group and for McLaren Automotive, and have no qualms about leaving Martin to report to the board regarding matters connected with Formula 1.”
[Source: BBC & McLaren.com]