As expected, Ron Dennis has confirmed that he is taking a step away from Formula One to lead the McLaren Automotive road car business, in a move many have seen as being pre-empted by the current saga that followed the stewards’ enquiry in Australia.
Dennis had already handed control of the race team to Martin Whitmarsh, and was not present at the recent Malaysian Grand Prix.
In this morning’s statement Ron Dennis said:
"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.
"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.
"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."
It is no secret that there is some animosity between Dennis and the FIA President Max Mosley, and through the recent saga’s that surrounded the dispute between McLaren and Ferrari, which resulted in a $100,000,000 fine over ‘stolen’ IP, many in the sport believed that it was Mosley’s intention to drive Dennis from the sport.
The above statement appears to say that this has been an independent decision by Dennis alone, yet it is difficult to dismiss the belief that Mosley has achieved the intended.
Written: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:25:03
[ Print View ][ E-Mail Article ]
- December 10, 2009No F1 return for Ron Dennis
- November 02, 2009Dennis linked to McLaren future
- July 01, 2009Dennis possible for FIA president
- April 16, 2009Dennis Leaves F1
- January 27, 2009Dennis will not run FIA
- January 16, 2009Dennis to step down as team boss
- January 16, 2009MP4-24 joins new car line up
- June 22, 2008Hamilton drive-through penalty wrong - Dennis
- June 12, 2008Dennis contradicts breakaway denial
- April 03, 2008Dennis quiet on Mosley scandal
- (April 16, 2009)View all headlines from this date
