REPORT: Formula 1 fixture Ron Dennis quits McLaren Racing
by Jonathon Ramsey on Apr 16th 2009 at 10:28AM 
McLaren F1 doesn't need to cheat to win, but for some reason they keep on doing it – cheating, that is. The team's most recent snafu is being called Liargate, and it has resulted in a McLaren sporting director being sacked, Lewis Hamilton talking of switching teams, Martin Whitmarsh fumbling to right the ship, and everyone expecting the FIA to sock McLaren with a scorching penalty.
The next act in the soap opera involves Ron Dennis. After 43 years in in the sport, the 61-year-old has just announced that he is exiting the company's racing operations, although he is reportedly adamant that the timing of his leaving the team is "purely coincidental." Buzz around the F1 campfire would indicate otherwise, with some suggesting that the move may be designed in part to curry favor with the FIA in hopes of showing the team some mercy during its hearing later this month.
Dennis isn't leaving the McLaren clan altogether, however. He will now work as executive chairman of McLaren automotive, which has been long rumored to be pursuing a new range of sports cars. The first model is still expected to arrive for 2011.
It is a regrettable way for Dennis to end four decades at the second winningest team in F1 history. However, in addition to trying to help the team avoid the FIA's wrath, the move is also expected to make Hamilton and his father much more amenable to remaining in the fold.
[Source: BBC | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dean 10:38AM (4/16/2009)
"...the move is also expected to make Hamilton and his father much more amenable to remaining in the fold."
Incredible how important Hamilton's father has become. You'd think he was the one driving the car sometimes.
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Alex 10:46AM (4/16/2009)
He is Lewis' manager so, yeah, he is pretty important.
ken_aisin 2:32PM (4/16/2009)
"Incredible how important Hamilton's father has become. You'd think he was the one driving the car sometimes."
Well, this is what happens when he's behind the wheel.....
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1247589.ece
mapoftazifosho 10:48AM (4/16/2009)
Managers are typically family or friends...
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Dean 10:50AM (4/16/2009)
Sure, he's his manager. But how often have Massa's, or Raikkonen's, or Button's, or Webber's managers or even Willi Webber in the Schumacher days been mentioned explicitly in press releases as people considered important enough that a team would hope they remain in the fold?
He just seems to have a presence in the media and during TV coverage that seems out of proportion.
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2millers2 11:49AM (4/16/2009)
It's just another case of polical correctness making yet another aspect of the modern world irrelevant. Who would ever have thought F1 would be in such a state...
Todd 11:09AM (4/16/2009)
The other reason is the FIA has called Dennis into court along with Hamilton with the Liargate incident so if he is no longer a F1 team employee the FIA no longer have jurisdiction (ie Dave Ryan) against any wrong doing he might have been accused of..
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6spd 7:09PM (4/16/2009)
I suppose we will never know just how the events unfolded within the McLaren team, but it seems very unfortunate that Ron Dennis has to "take one for the team" for the sake of Hamilton's reputation. Wasn't it Dennis who gave Hamilton his break(s)!
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Jsams4131 8:12PM (4/16/2009)
ur probably right but i wonder why no one ever could see it as Merc-Mclaren wanting lewis so much that they would be willing to do anything for him so to spek...but give the guy some credit he's not where he is today solely due to ron dennis he can drive too.
ImSteevin 12:30PM (4/16/2009)
Considering the history between Dennis and Lewis, I think the fact that "the move is also expected to make Hamilton and his father much more amenable to remaining in the fold" is one of the clearest signals of just how bad the situation at McLaren has gotten... It's really kind of a shame.
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Jsams4131 12:38PM (4/16/2009)
Didn't Ron Dennis announce at the beginning of the season that he wouldn't be partaking in the Formula 1 team? This is not NEW news.. sounds like people are just trying to stir up the rumor mill.
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The FedEx Man 12:43PM (4/16/2009)
My thoughts entirely!
ken_aisin 2:32PM (4/16/2009)
I hate to see him go. He had done a lot for the sport, and I hope we can address him as Sir Ron in the near future.
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hyundaifans.com 11:52PM (4/16/2009)
Pretty sad to see him go but i could have sworn that earlier in the year he already announced that he would not be taking part in the racing side of McLaren.
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