Tag: Ron Dennis

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Formula 1 McLaren

Big Ron back on deck at McLaren

Ron Dennis

There’s been big changes at McLaren with expectations the bloodletting has only just begun. First, Ron Dennis returns to the role of McLaren Group CEO, a position he left in 2012. In doing so he has displaced Martin Whitmarsh, the man who replaced him.

Dennis comes with a promise to “undertake a thorough and objective review” and to “implement the organisational structure” required to achieve his new world order.

For now Whitmarsh keeps his role as McLaren’s Team Principal but you don’t have to look too hard to find plenty of speculation that Whitmarsh will soon be freed from the tight constraints of Woking.

While we’re riding a few bandwagons let’s get on board the wagon carrying Ross Brawn, right into Whitmarsh’s Team Principal role. At lest that’s the opinion now being shared by The Telegraph.

So what’s driving these changes? The relentless and ruthless chase for success. McLaren, one of the most successful F1 teams of all time, did not score a single podium in 2013. Worse, it hasn’t won a constructor’s championship for almost 15 years. And it’s now five years since Lews Hamilton won the driver’s crown.

There hasn’t appeared to be a groundswell of disharmony coming from Woking, but with their tightly controlled ship who really knows. Certainly the return of Dennis, announced with a stirring speech from 66-year-old, seems to have captured the staff’s imagination.

“So inspired by Ron speech yesterday! Let’s start exciting new chapter in McLaren again! #BelieveInRon,” tweeted design engineer Giovanni Banzola.

While Clare Martin, head race and test coordinator, added: “Think it’s safe to say today’s news was received well! #BelieveInRon”.

How serious are the claims of Brawn’s return to Formula 1, just a few weeks after departing Mercedes? Well, he probably didn’t expect the possibility of an opportunity opening up with McLaren. Is Brawn’s relationship with Honda, who will power McLaren’s cars again in 2015, such that it could be contributing factor in joining McLaren. Or will a mutual respect and a recent conversation with Dennis be enough for that?

We should have answers to all of these questions, and perhaps even more, before the Australian Grand Prix in mid-March.

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McLaren

Highlights from McLaren Automotive launch

McLaren Automotive launch

If you haven’t read all 30,000+ words from the press release on the McLaren Automotive launch, and who could blame you, then you can watch a four and a half minute highlights package straight after the break. In fact, you’d probably be well advised to watch this, and if any of the MP4-12C‘s technology grabs your fancy you can refer back to the full press release and read some more detail.

For example, the Seamless Shift Gearbox uses a semi-pressed state to prime the transmission prior to its next change, in much the same way a digital SLR camera will auto focus with a light press of the shutter release. Then there’s Brake Steer technology. Not to mention the on-board diagnostics system that can contact McLaren headquarters as soon as a fault arises, and the list goes on.

McLaren has initial plans to set up a dealer network in 19 countries, including Australia. No official pricing on the company’s first model, the MP4-12C, has been announced yet, other than to say the twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8 powered coupé will be priced between £125,000-175,000 (AU$205,000–287,000). Similarly, no official performance figures have been declared, but during the launch Managing Director Antony Sherrif did reveal the 12C’s expected key performance data.

There is little doubt this latest development for the Woking-based company is the realisation of a life goal for Executive Chairman Ron Dennis. He uses the term “pure McLaren” quite a lot when describing the new venture. Dennis is one that often polarises opinion, but, like him or loathe him, you have to admire the drive and passion he has invested in creating Britain’s newest automotive manufacturer.

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Formula 1

Ron Dennis quits Formula One

Ron Dennis quits F1

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]

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz News

McLaren launches title defence with MP4-24

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launched the title defence of Lewis Hamilton’s world championship by revealing their 2009 car, the MP4-24. This is the first McLaren to wear the number 1 since Mika Hakkinen in 2000, following his 1999 championship.

With limits on in-season development during the 2009 season, Ron Dennis explains some of the challenges in building the car, “The biggest problem is the concept of the car because if you have the wrong concept you are locked into an uncompetitive car.”

Lewis Hamilton is refreshed heading into the new season, “I feel more relaxed going into the season simply because I’m come off a great season. I feel I have reset my goals, and reset my targets back to when I started in Formula One. I want to be world champion. I don’t sit here saying I am world champion; I sit here saying I want to be world champion.”

Heikki Kovalainen, too, is ready for the challenges ahead, “Well obviously there are many big changes coming to the season and there are still a few unknown things like the qualifying format that could spice up the things. But I think it is a big challenge for everybody. The cars will feel a little bit different and we need to adjust and adapt the driving style a little bit. Maybe the set-up will be a little bit different, and there are a lot of questions we need to answer before Melbourne.”

More images below and full media access on the launch of the MP4-24 is available at the McLaren website.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz News

Ron Dennis to step down as McLaren team principal

McLaren's Ron Dennis hands over to Martin Whitmarsh

Yesterday, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launched their new car for the 2009 F1 season, but perhaps the biggest news from this event was nothing to do with the cars at all. Ron Dennis announced that he would be stepping down as Team Principal, effective from 1 March. The position will be filled by Martin Whitmarsh, currently McLaren’s Chief Operating Officer.

Ron Dennis: “Let me make one thing clear: this is very definitely not retirement. In fact, I intend to work even harder from now on. And it’s because I intend to work even harder … that I’ve decided to pass the role of Team Principal of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to Martin.”

Martin Whitmarsh: “Ron and I have had many discussions about this over the past few weeks and months, but eventually it became clear that Ron’s decision was final. Everyone knows what an incredible career Ron has had to date; his legacy is huge. As such, I remain hugely mindful of the responsibilities I assume as team principal – it’s a daunting yet exciting prospect.”

Full release below.

Source: McLaren.com (Thanks to Dylan for the tip.)

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Formula 1

Stepney-gate: The scandal that rocked Formula One

Wired: The scandal that rocked Formula OneWIRED magazine’s website has an excellent article written by Mark Seal about ‘Stepney-gate’, the spy scandal that embroiled Formula One in 2007. It involved the leaking of vital information between Ferrari and McLaren, principally from Ferrari’s Nigel Stepney to McLaren’s Michael Coughlan. The article explores Ron Dennis’ dislike of Team Red as well as the apparently innocent, if ultimately foolish, errand that brought Ron Dennis’ McLaren team to its knees. One of the introductory paragraphs reads:

“It was June 2007 in sleepy Surrey County, and Coughlan, a statuesque blonde, sauntered through the door of the shop holding a sheaf of 780 pages. Scan them onto two CDs, she told the clerk, a forgettable middle-aged guy in a forgettable office park in the middle of nowhere. Nothing strange about the order, unless you happened to be a Formula One fan and happened to take a close look at the material: schematic drawings, technical reports, pictures, and financial information — enough insider dope to design a Formula One race car. Each page was emblazoned with one of the most famous logos in the world: the prancing black horse of Ferrari.”

Click HERE to read the rest of the article.