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What's happened to Martin Whitmarsh?


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#351 PAGATRON

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Posted 10 June 2015 - 14:53

Heard about that on Ted's Notebook, he said Berger was planning something big.



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#352 Pete_f1

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Posted 10 June 2015 - 15:30

My gosh, that would be a upset 



#353 Dunc

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Posted 11 June 2015 - 10:52

isn't there a rumor floating around that Ojeh & the Bahrainis are jostling to parachute Berger in and kick Ron out?

 

(rumors are by definition bs, don't assume I 'm implying it's fact)

 Berger might be a good choice as new boss.  He likes McLaren, has some experience as a team boss and may even be able to accommodate Ron in some way, allowing him to save a bit of face.  While I know Nigel Mansell isn't always the most reliable of sources there is a part of his autobiography which deals with his brief time at McLaren where he says the team was not what it was because Ron had diversified it so much that it wasn't focused enough on F1.  Nige also blames Senna wanting out on this.  That was in 1995 and since then it has just diversified more so maybe the moustached one was onto something.

 

I would love to see Whitmarsh back in F1 somehow, it seems unreal someone with his talents can't get a job doing something.  



#354 oetzi

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Posted 12 June 2015 - 16:12

People who build companies are rarely very good at running them in the long term

Absolutely. It requires a completely different outlook.

#355 garagetinkerer

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Posted 12 June 2015 - 16:31

Well, what did he do that he deserved to go? He wasn't given the proper timing to work things out. He made some silly decisions (Perez), but overall, time was never on his side. 

 

Ron came in, and look how it;s working out now. They don't even have a bloody sponsor most probably because of his arrogance. 

It wasn't a silly decision. Last time they snuck a driver that Ferrari were scouting, that worked out quite well for them. It is a different matter that the same driver went on to win a WDC for Ferrari later on. :D

 

isn't there a rumor floating around that Ojeh & the Bahrainis are jostling to parachute Berger in and kick Ron out?

 

(rumors are by definition bs, don't assume I 'm implying it's fact)

It would be both a sad day, and a day for a lot of chuckles for a lot of ex-McLaren lot. Sad, as he's rather a decent sort who helps out employees with their troubles. Chuckles for drivers, and so on...



#356 oetzi

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Posted 12 June 2015 - 16:53

isn't there a rumor floating around that Ojeh & the Bahrainis are jostling to parachute Berger in

You could just see Gerhard arriving like that :)

#357 Dunc

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Posted 12 June 2015 - 17:57

It wasn't a silly decision. Last time they snuck a driver that Ferrari were scouting, that worked out quite well for them. It is a different matter that the same driver went on to win a WDC for Ferrari later on. :D

 

It would be both a sad day, and a day for a lot of chuckles for a lot of ex-McLaren lot. Sad, as he's rather a decent sort who helps out employees with their troubles. Chuckles for drivers, and so on...

It certainly wasn't.  Perez had a great season in 2012 and didn't actually perform that badly in 2013, he's still a driver I think could be a WDC some day.



#358 BRG

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Posted 12 June 2015 - 20:23

Absolutely. It requires a completely different outlook.

Problem was that Whitmarsh had neither the outlook to build a company nor to run one.


Edited by BRG, 12 June 2015 - 20:24.


#359 taran

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 10:48

Problem was that Whitmarsh had neither the outlook to build a company nor to run one.

 

Is it really fair to say that?

 

I don't know if Whitmarsh ever had the desire to build a company? If not, can you now blame him for not having that desire? He certainly worked his way up at McLaren over decades, its not as if he was parachuted into the company.

Secondly, Whitmarsh certainly had a vision for McLaren (and F1 in general) when he was CEO. Obviously, that vision failed but it was there. A matrix system instead of a single (visionary) technical director. Strangely, RB apparently also opted for that doctrine post-Newey and is now also learning its perhaps not the best way to go in F1. Ultimately, Whitmarsh failed and he deservedly was held to account but he wasn't clueless or out of his depth. If not for Ron wanting a return to the helm, Whitmarsh would have remained in charge.



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#360 BRG

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 11:04

Is it really fair to say that?

 

No, but neither is the frequently expressed view on this forum that Ron Dennis is a klutz who couldn't organise a p.........party in a brewery.  People have desperatly short memories and forget that Ron started as just a mechanic, set up several teams, built a reputation for excellence, took over the floundering McLaren and turned it into a winning machine, made himself a fortune, and is now building a genuine supercar manufacurer to rival Ferrari and the rest.  All pretty good work for a useless dork.



#361 Felix

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 11:17

No, but neither is the frequently expressed view on this forum that Ron Dennis is a klutz who couldn't organise a p.........party in a brewery.  People have desperatly short memories and forget that Ron started as just a mechanic, set up several teams, built a reputation for excellence, took over the floundering McLaren and turned it into a winning machine, made himself a fortune, and is now building a genuine supercar manufacurer to rival Ferrari and the rest.  All pretty good work for a useless dork.

set up several teams - three of which went bankrupt pretty spectacularly

 

took over the floundering McLaren and turned it into a winning machine - with an endless stream of tobacco cash, and when that dried up, look what happened

 

 building a genuine supercar manufacurer to rival Ferrari and the rest - which many have done, but the trick is to turn a profit from doing so



#362 Widefoot2

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Posted 14 June 2015 - 18:11

Actual news on what Whitmarsh has been up to from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2...&iref=obnetwork

 

It's from a week ago, but I haven't seen anyone else post it.  He looks much more relaxed in the accompanying photo than he did on the pit wall...



#363 LORDBYRON

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Posted 14 June 2015 - 18:56

Its only a matter of time before Berger and a gang oust him out which might include Martin Whitmarsh who knows what the future holds.

 

What seems apparent is he cant afford to buy the shares now as there was meant to be a deal in place to buy by xx date this year



#364 Tenmantaylor

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Posted 14 June 2015 - 20:10

Concerns grow for Whitmarsh

 

Whitmarshlaugh.jpg

 

http://sniffpetrol.c...h/#.VX3fhM9VhtM


Edited by Tenmantaylor, 14 June 2015 - 20:11.


#365 f1RacingForever

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Posted 14 June 2015 - 23:12

Concerns grow for Whitmarsh

Whitmarshlaugh.jpg

http://sniffpetrol.c...h/#.VX3fhM9VhtM

:-D that face

#366 Henrytheeigth

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 10:27

I don't know where he is now, but here he was in the 90's, on keyboard :clap: -

 

 

wahaha! :rotfl: couldn't resist...


Edited by Henrytheeigth, 07 July 2015 - 10:28.


#367 oetzi

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 22:10

Concerns grow for Whitmarsh

Whitmarshlaugh.jpg

http://sniffpetrol.c...h/#.VX3fhM9VhtM

How many years was he at McLaren?

It is unsurprising he may need to shed a significant mirth imbalance.

#368 Marklar

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Posted 04 October 2015 - 15:42

kzj585yi.jpg

He is alive! (Love the comments by the way :lol: )

#369 condor

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Posted 28 February 2016 - 13:00

Was great to see Martin Whitmarsh this morning being interviewed after Ben Ainslies America Cup brilliant world series win in Oman. 

I remembered this thread so have searched to resurrect it :D

 

Great to hear that Martin is doing so well as CEO of the Landrover Bar team :up: He looked great and really happy  :)



#370 KnucklesAgain

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 06:27

Former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh breaks his silence on Formula 1



#371 myattitude

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 07:29

I wish he'd just say what really happened. He seems a class bloke, I don't know why Ron exorcised him completely from McLaren, a simple change in his post would have sufficed, somebody of his skills and experience was surely a benefit to the team, and a very loyal guy.



#372 SonJR

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 07:47

I wish he'd just say what really happened. He seems a class bloke [cut]

Probably why he won't say what happened. That and a NDA and iirc, multi-million dollay payout for termination of services. Plus, Ron aside, as a team he probably has no ill will for McLaren.



#373 F1matt

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 13:56

There was a great interview with him in Motorsport a while back, talking about the Americas cup project and his time in F1, he still keeps in touch with a couple of journos apparently.



#374 DS27

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Posted 22 June 2016 - 20:33

I always thought he seemed to have too much integrity to belong at McLaren. He almost made me like the team - in moments of weakness.



#375 Lotus53B

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Posted 19 July 2016 - 22:08

He's having fun:-
 
Flying boats, forsooth

 

EDIT:  Use the link function, not paste...


Edited by Lotus53B, 19 July 2016 - 22:09.


#376 jimjimjeroo

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Posted 27 November 2017 - 20:51

He returns!!
https://www.autospor...ns-new-fe-board

#377 SophieB

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Posted 16 January 2018 - 19:49

He's back, back, back! He's an advising machine!

 

https://www.autospor...urn-in-fia-role

 

Former McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is to return to a role in Formula 1 after accepting a temporary consultancy position with the FIA, Autosport can reveal.

 

The FIA's F1 head of communications Matteo Bonciani confirmed: "Whitmarsh has accepted an invitation to work with the FIA on a temporary basis in order to support it in defining financial regulations for fair and sustainable competition in the FIA F1 world championship."

Further details about Whitmarsh's appointment and role are expected to be made clear following a Strategy Group meeting between the FIA and teams on Thursday.

 



#378 Mc_Silver

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Posted 16 January 2018 - 21:49

Next big news will be Ron returns as FIA president :D

#379 Fastcake

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Posted 16 January 2018 - 21:54

Just waiting for Sam Michael to return and we can party like it's McLaren 2012. :D



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#380 jjcale

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Posted 16 January 2018 - 22:22

Always thought he would be a good fit at either FOM or FIA ... a good consensus builder .... I also thought he would have been good in Brawn's job (though I prefer Brawn for his sheer "get-it-done-ness").



#381 OvDrone

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Posted 16 January 2018 - 22:39

Just waiting for Sam Michael to return and we can party like it's McLaren 2012. :D

 

https://www.theguard...s-hamilton-nose

 

 

Good times.



#382 SophieB

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Posted 17 January 2018 - 08:27

Just waiting for Sam Michael to return and we can party like it's McLaren 2012. :D


Return of the Mack (laren)

#383 GoldenColt

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Posted 17 January 2018 - 19:41

Return of the Mack (laren)

Much more importantly... the return of TOONED.



#384 kevinracefan

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Posted 17 January 2018 - 20:35

he went to a party.. did some networking... found a job.. the end.. LOL



#385 kevinracefan

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Posted 17 January 2018 - 20:36

Much more importantly... the return of TOONED.

caricatures of Ross Brawn and Jean Todt?



#386 jimjimjeroo

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Posted 21 September 2021 - 16:21

Here he is.

Hide and seek champion 2021

https://www.skysport...ly-created-role

#387 SophieB

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Posted 21 September 2021 - 17:02

Well that about wraps up the mystery of the missing Martin.