McLaren - Ron Dennis set to leave McLaren F1

[SpeedBall]

Likes Fast Cars said:

CraigyMc said:

Frank would never treat people like this.

Haven't many drivers including a reigning WDC, said the opposite?

x2. I remember a friend who knew someone who worked at Williams; said Frank was a bit of a tyrant. Going back to Ron, I recall reading an interview with him (during the Senna years) where he basically said that if anyone (a team/designer/engineer) had any info that McLaren might have benefited from then he would have got hold of it - whatever it took. I just remember thinking the guy sounded like he bled McLaren. I know we'll probably never know why it has happened, but to oust him in this way, seems completely disrespectful.

[Adrian W]

RYH64E said:

This isn't particularly a boardroom battle, it's the shareholders who have ousted RD not his fellow directors.

That statement is a little misleading, exactly how many shareholders are involved?

[rev-erend]

CraigyMc said:

There's a vast gaping chasm between that and the sort of personal bitterness between Ron, Mansour and Ron's ex wife, Lisa. This McLaren Ron-ectomy isn't just business.

Nail. Head.

This really looks to boil down to a personal feud, without success on the race track to sweeten the feud.

It's a very sad day for us McLaren followers. Under Ron they have had great success. I think it takes great leadership and people under them to have the vision to be successful and to stay successful is even harder.

It's probably impossible to be a nice guy and have a high level of success.

Edited by rev-erend on Wednesday 16th November 11:35

[Vaud]

Interesting.

https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/noteboo...

Joe Saward suggests (in the comments) that the personal conflicts were around going to Bahrain (or not) with Ron against but outvoted.

[rev-erend]

McLaren website .. out of date

I guess they are in denial or expect a Ron fight back.

http://www.mclaren.com/technologygroup/about/peopl...

"Ron Dennis is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Technology Group, and the Chairman of McLaren Automotive."

[suffolk009]

^^^ Well it's at least part correct. He remains chairman of McLaren Automotive.

[RYH64E]

Adrian W said:

RYH64E said:

This isn't particularly a boardroom battle, it's the shareholders who have ousted RD not his fellow directors.

That statement is a little misleading, exactly how many shareholders are involved?

Misleading in what way? As I understand it, it's the shareholders who have ousted him not the Directors, as would be suggested by 'boardroom battle'.

Interestingly, it would appear that RD has 20 active directorships, of which 10 companies have names beginning 'McLaren', I wonder if he's been ousted from all of them.

[suffolk009]

^^^ He's still chairman of McLaren Automotive.

[skwdenyer]

RYH64E said:

Adrian W said:

RYH64E said:

This isn't particularly a boardroom battle, it's the shareholders who have ousted RD not his fellow directors.

That statement is a little misleading, exactly how many shareholders are involved?

Misleading in what way? As I understand it, it's the shareholders who have ousted him not the Directors, as would be suggested by 'boardroom battle'.

Interestingly, it would appear that RD has 20 active directorships, of which 10 companies have names beginning 'McLaren', I wonder if he's been ousted from all of them.

The shareholders appointed extra Directors, who then voted against Ron. So it was in the boardroom that the deed was done, I believe.

[stemll]

Not good to see things happen in this way but I have never been able to support the man or his team for his seemingly endless need to plunder Williams' success. First TAG (maybe he regrets that right now) then Honda and then Adrian Newey.

Ron is the type of person that makes me doubt we have seen the last of him in F1 unless he personally decides he can't be bothered. Maybe he'll take his Chinese backers to another team and beat the other shareholders on the track and so in their wallets. A way for Mallya to pay off his loans maybe? Force India already comfortably ahead of McLaren.

[rubystone]

Interesting commentary from Peter Windsor confirming it's 'personal' suggests also that the falling-out may well pre-date the Whitmarsh sacking...

https://youtu.be/a5Zhw5lK6dc

[American iv]

Joe Saward has a great piece on the split: https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/ron-den...

[MartG]

[cjm]

I assume the new technology fund he is going to launch will buy a big chunk of McLaren and he will be back in charge.

[rev-erend]

Perhaps he is going to build his own supercar brand..

The 'Dennis'

[VolvoT5]

I'm getting a bit irritated with all these f1 insiders and commentators hinting at the 'personal' element to this story but not having the balls to actually elaborate on it.

Although it seems to me given McLaren's performance over the last few years and the lack of success in gaining sponsors and so on there are plenty of legitimate reasons to question Ron's leadership ability. Perhaps times have changed? - Mercedes ditched Ross Brawn in favour of having multiple managers rather than one dictator.

[mjb1]

Wonder what will happen to Ron's 25% share holding then? On the one hand I can't see him being happy with 25% equity stuck in a business that he has no longer has any direct involvement in managing, on the other McLaren is his baby and maybe he'd be happy to hold his share in line with some wildly optimistic hope of buying himself a majority again in the future. I'm sure he'll find it difficult to sit on the sidelines.

Presumably the other shareholders can't force him to sell it (to them or a new investor)? Would they have to approve any new investor that Ron tries to sell his share to?

If I was Ron, I'd want to have my investment liquidated asap (either to buy up some other racing interest or sail off into the sunset for a quiet retirement), because I can't see McLaren being front runners in F1 any time soon. Even with a big improvement to the Honda engine that might come next season. My instinct says that there's a good chance Ron was the glue holding the whole organisation together (it is, afterall, built on his ethos). I wonder how many McLaren employee's are loyal to him and unhappy about the way he's been treated? He must have been a 'love him or hate him' kind of boss. If he went somewhere else in high level motorsport I wonder if he'd take a few defectors with him.

If I was McLaren, I think I'd already have Ross Brawn on speed dial.

[Vaud]

VolvoT5 said:

I'm getting a bit irritated with all these f1 insiders and commentators hinting at the 'personal' element to this story but not having the balls to actually elaborate on it.

American iv said:

Joe Saward has a great piece on the split: https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/ron-den...

^^^^^
It's here, it's about Bahrain and a question of ethics.

[hairyben]

rubystone said:

dobly said:

McLaren has changed - Ron doesn't fit the current model. Add to that he is soon to be 70.
McLaren is no longer at all British or Kiwi - the only British thing about it is the location of the facilities.
While Ron was still around McLaren had a link to its past - no longer
I think a name change is required to reflect this, and to protect the history and heritage of what was McLaren. Probably not going to happen as the brand has so much value.

What makes you say it has changed?

Why doesn't Ron fit the current model?

What does age have to do with it? Ecclestone is 85, after all.

Why do you think it isn't British?

Why do you think anyone would think it was wise to change the name of a brand with so much heritage? Ferrari hasn't won a championship since 2007. Should they change their name?

I think comparing bern/ron ages is misleading. Bern was/is the incumbent ringmaster, in a postion of immense power and while he has competition and enemies none of it is on equal terms.

If Ron Dennis starts afresh he'll be not only starting again but has to work to prove his position against his peers, and his resumes most recent additions dont exactly sell him.

[GCH]

rev-erend said:

Perhaps he is going to build his own supercar brand..

The 'Dennis'