Richard Lapthorne appointed as non-executive chairman at McLaren

So McLaren have gone from having a proper racer as their boss in Ron, to having Richard Lapthorne, who was boss of Cable & Wireless. Jobs for the boys!

Along with the ex aerospace boss Whitmarsh, I can see McLaren becoming even greyer and corporate than they used to be.

Could be the start of a long decline...

Toyota proved in past years that F1 teams still need to be a racing unit to win, not a fancy portfolio of shares and an impressive CV. Lapthorne was last seen paying himself huge bonuses in the City and were investigated at Cable & Wireless by a judge! Maybe they hired him because he'd be good in court? http://business.time...icle1896059.ece

Originally posted in The Times by Jeannie Drake, deputy general-secretary of the Communication Workers Union Is there no limit to Mr Lapthorne’s cheek and to shareholders gullibility? Last year they agreed to a huge reward system for top executives to deliver a programme they had failed to deliver the previous year. Now they’ve got to pay Mr Lapthorne an additional £10 million to do his job enthusiastically I should think the morale of the actual workforce must be in freefall.

Interesting.

He's not the boss of the F1 team you twit, troll, etc, etc...

Originally posted by P123
He's not the boss of the F1 team you twit, troll, etc, etc...

I didn't say he was, you rude idiot. As a non-executive chairman he's a part timer really, but has a very powerful position, offering advice directly to Whitmarsh in all matters political and organisational.

A non-executive chairman is often the political figurehead of an entire organisation.



I just dislike the influx of big-industry figures into F1. Whitmarsh has hardly even met him yet. It should be about racers, guys who have built their way up through the ranks in motorsport, not people just just sail into a top job because they're rich and well connected.

I actually liked the "UO" title for this thread. It made it unique.

Oops

Richard Lapthorne appointed as non-executive chairman at McLaren is less exciting isn't it.

But hang on regarding big industry figures, Flavio comes from a corporate T-shirt background and Montezemolo from the corporate side of the Cinzano drinks company.

See my point????

Montezemolo from the corporate side of the Cinzano drinks company

and just happened to be team manager of Ferrari at age 25, during which they won a couple of championships - probably was just a relaxing gap year job...

Originally posted by BrawnsBrain

I just dislike the influx of big-industry figures into F1. Whitmarsh has hardly even met him yet. It should be about racers, guys who have built their way up through the ranks in motorsport, not people just just sail into a top job because they're rich and well connected.

Hopefully he is a complete bastard.

McLaren's issues haven't been racing related lately they have been political. Max is a ******* lawyer who is good at moving the goalposts and outflanking a bunch of guys who care about racing. Maybe a soulless hard-man without a racing background is what they need to slay ze prez.

Originally posted by AyePirate


Hopefully he is a complete bastard.

McLaren's issues haven't been racing related lately they have been political. Max is a ******* lawyer who is good at moving the goalposts and outflanking a bunch of guys who care about racing. Maybe a soulless hard-man without a racing background is what they need to slay ze prez.

Thats a good point - bring in a political big wig to play hard ball with Spanky.