Formula 1 News

Ron Dennis leaves McLaren F1 Racing 

Dennis to lead McLaren Automotive

It has been rumoured since Wednesday, but the confirmation came on Thursday: long time McLaren Racing CEO Ron Dennis has handed his responsibilities to Martin Whitmarsh, who will be responsible to the board for the activities of McLaren Racing in addition to his role of Team Principal of the McLaren Mercedes F1 team.

Ron Dennis, will lead the growth of the new sports car business, McLaren Automotive, which will become an independent company later this year and which is planning to launch the first model of McLaren sports cars in 2011.

“I passed the role of Team Principal of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to Martin Whitmarsh on January 16th, the day of the launch of our new Formula 1 car. That day I was asked many times whether I would attend the 2009 Australian Grand Prix. My answer was “yes”. I duly attended it – albeit not as the person in charge of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. It was, I admit, a strange feeling,” said Dennis during a press conference at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.

“The next race, the Malaysian Grand Prix, I watched on TV in the UK – an activity I found surprisingly easy. I’d expected to be more emotional about it, after an unbroken run of attending so many grands prix for so many years. 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,” he explained.

“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″, he added.