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Did Ron stand down due to pressure?

Started by MWM , Apr 16 2009 14:46

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34 replies to this topic

#1 MWM

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 14:46

There seem to be a lot of people here doubting Ron has stood down as his own volition from his CEO role.

I'm no fan of Ron, but I believe he is his own man, and won't have stepped down due pressure from Max, Bernie, Lewis or Anthony Hamilton or even Mercedes and other shareholders.

What do others think?

#2 Gareth

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 14:50

No way they planned for him to step down as CEO so soon after he stepped down as team principal. They'd have taken both steps at once, rather than do them a month apart.

Something has derailed the plan.

#3 Ricardo F1

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 14:56

He'd ALREADY stepped down from his F1 duties. Or did nobody notice that?

#4 Gareth

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 14:58

He had already stepped down at team principal. Today he announced he would step down as CEO. Or did you not notice that?

#5 TickTickBooom

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 14:59

Haven't read the other replies, so I'm sorry if this is repetitive.

I voted no, but I do think the timing of his announcement is designed to remove him from Liegate and any further dirt that emerges as a consequence.

#6 BMW_F1

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:00

pressure

#7 Gilles4Ever

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:01

pressure to save someones little butt

#8 AyePirate

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:05

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
He'd ALREADY stepped down from his F1 duties. Or did nobody notice that?

He was at the races. Probably too much for his nemesis to take.

#9 klover

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:15

I doubt we'll ever find out the whole truth. I wouldn't put it past Max and his extortionist scheming nature, the Anthony Hamilton bit seems a bit far fetched even though Ed Gorman is convinced about it.

#10 MWM

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:16

Originally posted by Gareth
He had already stepped down at team principal. Today he announced he would step down as CEO. Or did you not notice that?

Thanks. To be fair, I hadn't said he stepped down as team Principal...that happened a while back. I have, however, clarified, for those who weren't clear, that today's decision was from his CEO role, but I assumed folk would have understood that already.

#11 JPW

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:17

It's like Gareth says, the two stepping downs are way too close to one another.

Something came-up be it Lie-gate, the Hamilton situation, shareholder-pressure, something we don't know about (yet), or a combination of things but this was not in the plans a month ago, this wasn't of his own volition.

So pressure it must be.

#12 Red ITC

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:19

Both. I am stunned that it has come to this. I have always disliked his media persona but greatly respected his incredible achievements at the same time. He certainly earned a K, and what he has built at McLaren will stand for years. But he had a Gerald Ratner moment when he allowed his team to steal and use Ferrari data in such a cavalier way, and I personally believe he compounded it by hiring freelance MI5 honeytrappers to suborn the head of the FIA. It may be that he doubled his bad bet with the Oz stewards and has given Mosley his revenge on a plate. And if I were Mosley, I'd take it as well.

#13 Owen

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:19

Seems apparent that Ron made the decision before someone else 'forced' the issue with him. So yes, it was Ron's decision before it was made for him.
This is how Max likes to run things... No doubt you approve MWM

#14 dnbn

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:21

Even if he was considering stepping down he would not have done that now due the controversy (wouldn't want the rumors to fly) unless it is done exactly due to that.

#15 hunnylander

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:22

Originally posted by Gilles4Ever
pressure to save someones little butt

Saying that you suggest someone (called Max) has blackmailed/pressured him to do it.

So you bad-mouth the holy FIA and its sacred moral president. :eek:

And all of this car manufacturing factory building thingy is only a masque to save a little butt. :up:

#16 Ricardo F1

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:50

Originally posted by AyePirate

He was at the races. Probably too much for his nemesis to take.

A race.

#17 Ricardo F1

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 15:50

Originally posted by Gareth
He had already stepped down at team principal. Today he announced he would step down as CEO. Or did you not notice that?

Yup. Bigger fish to fry.

#18 blackgerby

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:08

Originally posted by AyePirate

He was at the races.

He was at the first race. I suspect he didn't enjoy not being in charge any more, and then when he didn't go to Malaysia and everything went pear-shaped, he realised that actually he didn't miss being part of that, and he wanted a new challenge.

#19 Direct Drive

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:18

He's a giant in our sport and brough McLaren back where they always belonged.
I think its a credit to a person to be disliked by both Bernie and Max, not what you'd call fair and ethical men.
Good luck to him in his new endeavors.

#20 undersquare

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:29

Originally posted by Direct Drive
He's a giant in our sport and brough McLaren back where they always belonged.
I think its a credit to a person to be disliked by both Bernie and Max, not what you'd call fair and ethical men.
Good luck to him in his new endeavors.

#21 Andy35

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:44

Originally posted by Gareth
No way they planned for him to step down as CEO so soon after he stepped down as team principal. They'd have taken both steps at once, rather than do them a month apart.

Something has derailed the plan.

But that's not answering the question, the question is whether he jumped or was pushed. No chance on Ron Dennis being pushed, he made the decision. Now whether he would have made that decision if the court case had been coming up is another matter, but that is not what was asked here.

Regards

Andy

#22 AyePirate

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:44

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
A race.

Right you are. I do remember Windsor sticking a mic in his face during the grid walk and thinking "Max is going to throw his whip at the screen when he sees this"

#23 ademm

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:45

He said he will not leave losing, and he didnt until he won it despite the immense pressure of the last 9 years he couldnt win.
My sincere thanks to this man who had great influence for last three decades of F1.
I hope he finds peace and happiness in his new life.

#24 Gareth

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:47

Originally posted by AndyW35

But that's not answering the question, the question is whether he jumped or was pushed. No chance on Ron Dennis being pushed, he made the decision. Now whether he would have made that decision if the court case had been coming up is another matter, but that is not what was asked here.

Don't see the question in that way myself. Ultimately, the only people that could "push" Ron are the shareholders of McLaren as they are the only people that can remove him from his post. And I am pretty certain that has not happened. So on your idea of "jumped or pushed", I agree that he jumped.

To me, though, the question was getting at whether this was entirely what Ron wanted to do, for him and McLaren, or whether something has forced his hand in this. To me, it was definitely not planned a month ago when he stepped down as team principal. So something has happened in that month to accelerate his plans to step down as CEO. So, to me, that thing has pushed him out of that role.

#25 ademm

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:49

Originally posted by AndyW35

But that's not answering the question, the question is whether he jumped or was pushed. No chance on Ron Dennis being pushed, he made the decision. Now whether he would have made that decision if the court case had been coming up is another matter, but that is not what was asked here.

Regards

Andy

He spent the most money in formula 1 in 9 years , didnt win anything and despite that didnt quit. What make you think anything or anybody would be able to force him to do anything he didnt want?

IMHO he didnt want to quit losing like he said and when he at last won it he called it. So simple.

#26 deedee

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 16:52

Ron stood down from all McLaren F1 duties by his own will only. The fact this happened exactly now, is pure coincidence.

You gotta believe what Ron Dennis is telling you, he is a man of honour.

Cheers

#27 MWM

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 17:36

41/41 at present. We seem to be split down the middle.

#28 metz

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 19:11

Since Ron will not hire any German drivers, Mercedes, the largest shareholders, have asked him to step down from running the racing team. :cool:

(makes as much sense as any other wild theory)
This clears the way for Vettel or Rosberg.

#29 EthanM

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 22:11

I think he stepped down because the alternative was to lose control of the team completely. I m sure the FIA would have gone after both Ron and Whitmarsh who's basically Ron's man in the team, by stepping down he might save Whitmarsh

#30 Korben82

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Posted 16 April 2009 - 22:30

There's a saying over here that goes "retiring at time equals a victory". I think that's what happened. Ron knows Spanky is after him, and won't ever stop till he gets him, so he may have decided this was a good time to call it quits, since it's obvious that what the future had for him wasn't exactly a victory.

#31 aditya-now

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 00:35

I honestly don't know what to make of this, and I don't know if it's been already posted in any of the other Hamilton threads, but if true this is slowly blowing the fuse with me: "A question that must be asked"

"It is understood that Hamilton Snr and (Max) Mosley have been in contact over the last few days," McKevoy continues, "with both keen to see Dennis leave the sport".

It is then claimed that the Hamiltons have "sided with (Martin) Whitmarsh since the scandal broke prior to the Malaysian Grand Prix", however it is not made clear who they were siding with the McLaren team principal against. That said, McKevoy tells us: "The fact that they have won the battle means that Lewis is now unlikely to seek to leave".

It would be wrong to start making accusations regarding Mr Hamilton. However, it would be nice to think that if there is no truth to the claims in the article, particularly in light of Ron Dennis' highly impressive record, and the fact that without his support Lewis might never have got to F1, far less the World Championship title, Mr Hamilton will speak out and say so.

However, if what Mr McKevoy writes is correct..."

If the implication is true, than it is hard for me to discern who of them is the worst villain: Spanky, Dennis, Hamilton snr., Mr. Badly Advised or Martin Withmarsh.

I really sympathize with Dave Ryan, who is the most decent of them all but had to be the scapegoat.

Again, if already posted elsewhere, please would you be kind enough to merge. And, how much credibility can be taken from a Daily Mail article? Probably they just want to milk the occasion.

#32 deedee

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 00:57

Originally posted by aditya-now
I honestly don't know what to make of this, and I don't know if it's been already posted in any of the other Hamilton threads, but if true this is slowly blowing the fuse with me: "A question that must be asked"

If the implication is true, than it is hard for me to discern who of them is the worst villain: Spanky, Dennis, Hamilton snr., Mr. Badly Advised or Martin Withmarsh.

I really sympathize with Dave Ryan, who is the most decent of them all but had to be the scapegoat.

Again, if already posted elsewhere, please would you be kind enough to merge. And, how much credibility can be taken from a Daily Mail article? Probably they just want to milk the occasion.

The content of that information is very credible. One thing that is completely not known is what Ryan really did or did not do. Ryan certainly got a very tight muzzle by McLaren, especially should have the 2nd lying being initiated by Lewis Hamilton, which would, if made public, end his F1 career soon.

Will be interesting what the loyal people will do next, should McLaren get a hefty penalty which also affects Lewis.
Then they must play their cards, i just wonder where they obviously could leave for within F1 during season.

#33 holiday

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 01:21

The Hamiltons making Dennis leave? You must be utterly joking, they have absolutely no leverage on Dennis. His switch to the sports car branch was long planned, and has nothing to do with current events.

#34 Raelene

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 01:24

Originally posted by holiday
The Hamiltons making Dennis leave? You must be utterly joking, they have absolutely no leverage on Dennis. His switch to the sports car branch was long planned, and has nothing to do with current events.

Whilst I don't think the Hamiltons forced it (I agree they have no leverage on Dennis)...and RD may well have long planned it, I think the current events bought this forward.

#35 Snap Matt

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Posted 17 April 2009 - 11:34

Quick, someone get on YouTube and look through all clips of Ron speaking over the last few years to see if any word he threw in to any sentence proves that he has actually been forced down!

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