McLaren's Ron Dennis quits Formula 1

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

From BBC Sport:

Ron Dennis has handed over complete control of McLaren Racing to team principal Martin Whitmarsh, ending his 43-year involvement in Formula 1.

The 61-year-old stepped down as world champion Lewis Hamilton's team boss on 16 January, but stayed involved in F1. Dennis will now concentrate solely on McLaren's new sports car project.

"I am the architect of this restructure of McLaren. I have no qualms about leaving Martin to look after all matters connected to F1," said Dennis. "I feel enormously enthused about the prospects for both the McLaren Group and for McLaren Automotive."

As executive chairman of McLaren Automotive, Dennis will lead the group's project to develop a range of pure McLaren sports cars, with the launch date for the first model set for 2011.

And with McLaren set to face the sport's governing body, the FIA, on 29 April to answer charges of breaching the International Sporting Code, Dennis admits his departure will be welcomed by two of F1's biggest names.

"I admit I'm not always easy to get on with. I admit I've always fought hard for McLaren in Formula 1," he said. "I doubt if (FIA president) Max Mosley or (F1 supremo) Bernie Ecclestone will be displeased by my decision."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8001425.stm

 

[miro]

At least Ron Dennis has the sense to realise that it is no longer any fun and now is the time to move on to something which can be fun.

The F1 bosses are well past their used-by-date and horribly out of touch. The sport is shrinking in its appeal and they have made the cars look like Formula-Renault machines.

The interference from the sidelines has decapitated a heroic sport. The drivers no longer take centre stage. Long after the cars have left the track the weekly court actions begin, in order to determine the outcome of the race.

Globally F1 is now mocked. All of this has happened in few years. And is it any wonder that it stands for nothing more than grumpy old men being in a sport for young men with passion and drive.

I can only thank Ron Dennis. He at least knows that the sport is eating its own arms off and is getting out of the way.

 

[Mactech]

...then almost immediately Lewis goes quickest in the first practice in China
Could thre be a link?

 

[wemorgan]

From a personal perspective I hope McLaren Automotive succeed and developed a good new range of cars, as there are few other UK OEMs expanding right now.