491 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

Autosport ‏@autosport  1m1 minute ago

Ron Dennis set to leave McLaren top job when contract expires http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126728 …

 

McLaren chief Ron Dennis is set to leave his role as chairman and CEO of McLaren Group, Autosport can reveal.
Dennis, 69, will not have his current contract renewed when it expires at the end of this year.
His departure will end an association with the Formula 1 team stretching back to 1980 and leave open the role of CEO, McLaren Technology Group, which comprises McLaren Racing, McLaren Marketing and McLaren Applied Technologies.
McLaren Automotive, the separately-constituted road car division, is not affected by any change of leadership at McLaren Technology Group.

 

 

[minime]

Where's the popcorn, this ought to be good.

[Marklar]

Rob to take over?

[SophieB]

Slowly but surely, all the bits of F1 that made it something I was interested in or cared about get dismantled and carried away.

[Nobody]

All good things come to an end

[myattitude]

Is he sacked or leaving? I wonder what he'll do next. Whatever he does I'm sure it will be of the highest standards. I'm one of the few who likes Ron. Top bloke.

[pacificquay]

Very sad news.

However, he is still a substantial shareholder in the company so he won't disappear

[SenorSjon]

Where's the popcorn, this ought to be good.

 

Why? It is just a retirement. Ron is almost 70 years old and I think he don't want to be the next Ecclestone, hanging around until the world ends.

[TecnoRacing]

Why? It is just a retirement. Ron is almost 70 years old and I think he don't want to be the next Ecclestone, hanging around until the world ends.

 

Are you sure? The article (and the relationship with the various McLaren groups is quite confusing) But it sounds as if he is being ousted...

 

When contacted for comment, a McLaren spokesperson told Autosport: "In response to your question, Ron Dennis responded by stating categorically that he is not stepping down.

[Nemo1965]

Slowly but surely, all the bits of F1 that made it something I was interested in or cared about get dismantled and carried away.

 

There is nothing new that interests you? I find that Lewis vs Nico, the ascendancy of Mercedes, the entrance of Max Verstappen, the hybrid-engines have rekindled my interest for F1 somewhat...

 

Anyway, Ron Dennis I will miss. He is quite a character. (And now I wish I could find and post Stephen Fry's explanation about coded language in obituaries.)

[LeClerc]

Where is Martin Whitmarsh in all this? 

[FullOppositeLock]

I'm a bit meh about this. Ron has been a hugely important figure in F1 since I started watching in the early nineties, but in the last couple of years he's almost become a caricature of himself. I think it will be good for McLaren to have some new ideas come from the very top.

[scuderiaknob]

Ron has been like a constant bed rock the whole time ive watched f1, this kinda hurts, wonder what went on.

[Amphicar]

I'm guessing that this is related to Ron's attempt to put together the finance to re-purchase majority control of McLaren. My understanding is that he had a time-limited window to do so that closed recently. If he was unable to get the backers to complete the buy-out, stepping down may be inevitable as he has burned too many boats with the current owners.

[thez]

Making way for Apple takeover ;)

[CommanderShepard]

I thought people hate Ron.

[Joseki]

Are you sure? The article (and the relationship with the various McLaren groups is quite confusing) But it sounds as if he is being ousted...

 

When contacted for comment, a McLaren spokesperson told Autosport: "In response to your question, Ron Dennis responded by stating categorically that he is not stepping down.

 

Well this is so McLaren-ish of them: I've read a press release and a statement and I still have no clue of what Ron is gonna do next year. 

[Kristian]

I thought people hate Ron.

 

I think his anality has become more endearing over the years. 

 

I'll miss him, for sure [/massa]

[Talisman]

I'm guessing that this is related to Ron's attempt to put together the finance to re-purchase majority control of McLaren. My understanding is that he had a time-limited window to do so that closed recently. If he was unable to get the backers to complete the buy-out, stepping down may be inevitable as he has burned too many boats with the current owners.

 

That is my understanding as well and may lead to some strategic changes at the company though probably little that will affect the F1 team.  I thought the agreement always was that a failure to find backers would lead to a withdrawal from the company so in a way it isn't news.

[scuderiaknob]

Poor indictment of f1 that the 2nd most famous team cant find backers in nearly 3 years.

[Amphicar]

That is my understanding as well and may lead to some strategic changes at the company though probably little that will affect the F1 team.  I thought the agreement always was that a failure to find backers would lead to a withdrawal from the company so in a way it isn't news.

Indeed - of course it may still technically be true that Ron is not "stepping-down" (which implies something done of his volition) - it may be that his contract is simply not renewed. It is also quite likely that the buy option he had gave the current owners the chance to buy Ron's shares, should he not be able to complete.

[Lights]

After months of searching for a job, a suitable vacancy finally appears.

[SophieB]

There is nothing new that interests you? I find that Lewis vs Nico, the ascendancy of Mercedes, the entrance of Max Verstappen, the hybrid-engines have rekindled my interest for F1 somewhat...

 

Anyway, Ron Dennis I will miss. He is quite a character. (And now I wish I could find and post Stephen Fry's explanation about coded language in obituaries.)

 

I like Max, indeed I suspect he's the future but nah, he doesn't make up for all that's going/gone. I don't care about any of the rest of that at all but plainly some do so good luck to 'em.

 

If this is it, then I will really miss Ron for his unusual style of communication that was often parodied but rarely matched or bettered in terms of sheer idiosyncrasies and imagination, but most of all for his sheer passion for racing. It has been painful for me watching McLaren's decline and somehow with it, Ron has seemed a little diminished with it, almost fading away at times.

 

Nevertheless, he remains a true titan of the sport, who knew what he wanted from his team in a vision of diamond clarity. I will miss him.

[TyreSmokeDownshift]

Maybe this could be where James Allison could be going (as I said in a previous thread, he apparently turned down Renault and RB denied his involvement)...

[Amphicar]

There is nothing new that interests you? I find that Lewis vs Nico, the ascendancy of Mercedes, the entrance of Max Verstappen, the hybrid-engines have rekindled my interest for F1 somewhat...

 

Anyway, Ron Dennis I will miss. He is quite a character. (And now I wish I could find and post Stephen Fry's explanation about coded language in obituaries.)

Found this on the QI website - is it what you meant?

 

If an obituary read, "He was a tireless raconteur, who gave colourful accounts of his exploits, but did not suffer fools gladly. An uncompromisingly direct ladies' man, he was affable and hospitable at every hour, but he did not uphold the highest ethical standards of the City" then you could tell the person who died was horrid.

 

The terms used are all euphemisms. "Tireless raconteur" means "Crashing bore"; "Affable and hospitable at every hour" means "A drunk"; "Uncompromisingly direct ladies' man" means "Serial groper"; "Gave colourful accounts of his exploits" means "Liar"; "Did not uphold the highest ethical standards of the City" means "Fraudster"; and "Did not suffer fools gladly" means "Intolerant".

[RA2]

So Jost Capito moves up?

[Nemo1965]

I like Max, indeed I suspect he's the future but nah, he doesn't make up for all that's going/gone. I don't care about any of the rest of that at all but plainly some do so good luck to 'em.

 

If this is it, then I will really miss Ron for his unusual style of communication that was often parodied but rarely matched or bettered in terms of sheer idiosyncrasies and imagination, but most of all for his sheer passion for racing. It has been painful for me watching McLaren's decline and somehow with it, Ron has seemed a little diminished with it, almost fading away at times.

 

Nevertheless, he remains a true titan of the sport, who knew what he wanted from his team in a vision of diamond clarity. I will miss him.

 

The most endearing thing about Ron is something that would disenchant me with most others: that he absolutely did not wanted to be reminded of his humble beginnings as a simple mechanic. It is so... Ron Dennis.

 

[jstrains]

I always thought McLaren = Dennis like Williams = Frank... this is how I perceived F1 until now. Well nothing will be like before...

[Fastcake]

Wow, this is actually major news. Ron Dennis has been a fixture in Formula One for decades, and has been so integral to McLaren he almost outshines Bruce himself. He's very nearly the last of the old-style racers standing, and the paddock won't be the same without Ron.

[GreenMachine]

An opening for Ross Brown perhaps?

[discover23]

Don't let the door hit you on your way out. It was about time someone else took charge of that team.

[HP]

Poor indictment of f1 that the 2nd most famous team cant find backers in nearly 3 years.

Is it? Ron Dennis 2.0 leading the McLaren F1 team wasn't as successful as he wanted. Inbetween 1.0 and 2.0 was Whitmarsh. The last top highlight was Hamilton winning the championship. That's 8 years in the past, Hamilton went to win more championships. Even Ron Dennis can't bridge 8 years of not being at the top. And don't forget spygate. Yes McLaren could survive it financially, but they needed more than that.

 

Still, there are not many people of the calibre of like Ron Dennis. He was and is a hard worker, but there's a limit what hard work can achieve. For me I think it's good for Ron Dennis to focus on other things, F1 and Ron Dennis aren't the best match anymore, and I doubt that it is Ron Dennis at fault.

[HP]

Don't let the door hit you on your way out. It was about time someone else took charge of that team.

The first time I wish there is a dislike button on this forum software. I really are no fan of him, but as I showed above I do respect him. Without him there, McLaren would be long belong F1 folklore of the past. Whitmarsh couldn't fill the shoes of Dennis and it remains to be seen what his new successor can achieve.

[Gary Davies]

Nigel Roebuck wrote this of Ron Dennis in 2007 (in Autosport): "In the course of covering FI for more than 30 years, I've come across a good many dubious characters in the paddock, but Dennis is probably the only team principal who has never told me anything that ... subsequently proved to be untrue, let's put it that way. There have been occasions when he's been very careful with the precise wording of an answer, but as far as I'm aware he has never lied to me, and there are precious few of whom I could say that."

[Laura23]

Dennis is nearly 70 years old so retirement is inevitable sooner or later.

 

His performance as McLaren boss since he ousted Whitmarsh has been uninspiring to say the least as well. Sure he's an F1 legend, but his style of management doesn't fit into modern F1. He's an old dog who seems uninterested in learning new tricks. McLaren NEED to replace him with someone who gets this F1. 

 

I personally didn't miss him when he stepped aside for the road division last time. I felt he'd come to a natural conclusion in F1 then.

 

I do also wonder if Dennis leaving now as part of Capito's deal and could be key to keeping Alonso beyond 2017.

[discover23]

The first time I wish there is a dislike button on this forum software. I really are no fan of him, but as I showed above I do respect him. Without him there, McLaren would be long belong F1 folklore of the past. Whitmarsh couldn't fill the shoes of Dennis and it remains to be seen what his new successor can achieve.

Lost total respect for him after spygate. Sorry

[Clatter]

Don't let the door hit you on your way out. It was about time someone else took charge of that team.

Could wish you the same sentiment.

[sopa]

Big news, though somewhat reminds me of Luca di Montezemolo's departure back in 2014.

 

You may be a legendary man with a great CV, but long-term lack of success has finally caught up with him by now. Now there is no-one else to blame, be it Whitmarsh or somebody else. The time is up, but a great journey it was for Ron!

[blacky]

Dennis --> not able to buy out the other shareholders

 

obviously the other shareholders want to exit

Apple new 75% owner next year?

[SophieB]

Nice Ron posts, HP.
 

F1 and Ron Dennis aren't the best match anymore, and I doubt that it is Ron Dennis at fault.

 
"You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big."

" I am big. It's the pictures that got small."

[PlatenGlass]

He disappeared from F1 for a few years previously anyway, so I don't really see why this is such a big deal. Like Michael Schumacher retiring the second time after very little success.

[Christophe77]

Autosport article is not entirely correct:

 

"McLaren Automotive, the separately-constituted road car division, is not affected by any change of leadership at McLaren Technology Group."

 

I think not, McLaren Automotive is definitely a part of McLaren Technology Group.

http://www.mclaren.c...echnologygroup/

[blacky]

Autosport article is not entirely correct:

 

"McLaren Automotive, the separately-constituted road car division, is not affected by any change of leadership at McLaren Technology Group."

 

I think not, McLaren Automotive is definitely a part of McLaren Technology Group.

http://www.mclaren.c...echnologygroup/

 

McLaren Automative operates as a seperate operation. Bahrain owns 57 percent, McLaren technology group not more than about 4 percent, Dennis 11 percent. Mike Flewitt is CEO.

Edited by blacky, 19 October 2016 - 12:23.

[ralphrj]

Autosport article is not entirely correct:

 

"McLaren Automotive, the separately-constituted road car division, is not affected by any change of leadership at McLaren Technology Group."

 

I think not, McLaren Automotive is definitely a part of McLaren Technology Group.

http://www.mclaren.c...echnologygroup/

 

The website is misleading. McLaren Technology Group don't own any part of McLaren Automotive.

[redreni]

I thought people hate Ron.

 

Yeah, with considerable zeal. It's gonna be a lot harder to hate him when he's gone. God, I'll miss him...

[Andy35]

Interesting that the road car business is not connected with the F1 various entities so he can carry on with that. I thought they were more closely linked.

The road car business is doing well, more so than F1.  If he concentrates on that, Ferrari should worry 

 

Andy

[AustinF1]

WeWillSee.

 

I think this is far from a done deal.

[Riverside]

#Ronspeakforever 

[mclarensmps]

He'll find a way to stay, and I'll be happy when he does.

[Tenmantaylor]

"Autosport understands that deadlines by which Dennis was required to raise the capital in order to complete the buyout have not been met."

 

If true, it mirrors the trouble Dennis has had at putting sponsors on the car.