Formula One:Ron Dennis has today brought his 43-year association with Formula One to an end. Confirming a restructuring of the McLaren Group, Dennis has stepped down as chief executive officer of McLaren Racing, passing on all responsibility to team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
The 61-year-old is to focus on the automotive side of the company, with the aim to launch a new McLaren sports car in 2011.
It was earlier this year that Dennis handed the reins of McLaren Racing boss over to Whitmarsh, a role he had occupied since 1981.
Although Dennis attended the season-opening Australian Grand
Prix last month, he then chose not to attend the subsequent race in Malaysia, the first time he had not been present for many years.
To his surprise he found he did not miss the buzz of being around F1, especially given the furore surrounding the team in the wake of the ‘lie-gate’ scandal.
Given his complex character, Dennis also appreciates he will not be missed either, in particular by FIA president Max Mosley given their mutual dislike of one another.
“I passed the role of team principal to Martin on January 16th, the day of the launch of our new Formula One car,” said Dennis.
“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 grand 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 One.
“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 One.”