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Ron Dennis steps down from McLaren role

Ayrton Senna (BRA) (Left) and Alain Prost (FRA) (Right) the McLaren Honda team celebrate winning
Ayrton Senna (BRA) (Left) and Alain Prost (FRA) (Right) the McLaren Honda team celebrate winning both constructors and drivers championship in record breaking style. McLaren team principal Ron Dennis (GBR) is standing behind Senna. Australian Grand Prix, Adelaide, Australia,13 November 1988. © Sutton Motorsport Images
Estoril, October 1984: Niki Lauda pictured with McLaren team mate Alain Prost (left) and team boss
Estoril, October 1984: Niki Lauda pictured with McLaren team mate Alain Prost (left) and team boss Ron Dennis (centre). Lauda would take the world championship by just half a point from Prost. © Schlegelmilch
Ron Dennis (GBR) McLaren Executive Chairman and Niki Lauda (AUT) Mercedes AMG F1 Non-Executive
Ron Dennis (GBR) McLaren Executive Chairman and Niki Lauda (AUT) Mercedes AMG F1 Non-Executive Chairman at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Singapore Grand Prix, Race, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Sunday 20 September 2015. © Sutton Motorsport Images
L to R: Winner David Coulthard, Norbert Haug(GER) Mercedes Motorsport Boss, Mika Hakkinen and Ron
L to R: Winner David Coulthard, Norbert Haug (GER) Mercedes Motorsport boss, Mika Hakkinen and Ron Dennis (GBR) Mclaren boss celebrate their 1-2 victory French GP, Magny Cours, 2 July 2000 © Sutton Motorsport Images
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren and Ron Dennis (GBR) McLaren Team Principal on the podium. Formula
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren and Ron Dennis (GBR) McLaren Team Principal on the podium. Formula One World Championship, Rd 6, Monaco Grand Prix, Race Day, Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Sunday 25 May 2008. © Sutton Motorsport Images

Ron Dennis has been forced to relinquish his position as chairman and chief executive officer of the McLaren Technology Group (MTG), following a meeting of shareholders on Tuesday.

Dennis, who has been part of McLaren since 1980, helping lead the F1 team to 17 world championship titles, was placed on gardening leave until his current contract expires in January. He remains on the board of MTG and a shareholder.

The news follows ongoing disagreement between Dennis and the group’s majority shareholders over management style and the future path of the business.

Dennis, whose F1 career started in the 1960s as a mechanic for Cooper, took control of the McLaren team in 1981 and remained team principal until early 2009, when he handed over the reins to Martin Whitmarsh in order to concentrate on the group’s other business interests.

During his tenure as team leader, McLaren enjoyed several periods of F1 domination, with Dennis guiding the squad to no less than 10 drivers’ crowns, with Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and - most recently - Lewis Hamilton.

In a statement on Dennis’s departure, McLaren said: “Over the past 35 years Ron’s contribution to the success of McLaren has been colossal. During his tenure the team won 17 world championships and 158 Grands Prix, making him the most successful leader in Formula One history. Like the company’s founder, Bruce McLaren, Ron is and will always be one of the true greats of the sport.”

Dennis intends to launch a new technology investment fund once his contractual commitments with McLaren expire.

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