Lewis/McLaren snub Ron Dennis?
Discussion
From the normally reliable Planet F1:
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_526771...
An edited quote:
"Ron Dennis was reportedly snubbed by Lewis Hamilton when the McLaren driver rejected a request to pay tribute to the man who had mentored him for many years at Thursday's Sport Industry Awards. No one for the McLaren 'family' was present to honour Dennis with only two past McLaren drivers, Mika Hakkinen and Alain Prost, on hand. From the Daily Mail: Hamilton turned down repeated requests to attend the function at the Battersea Evolution or even send a short tribute to his former team boss. McLaren did not send a single representative to Dennis's big night and the McLaren table printed on the guest list was withdrawn at the last minute with none of the 10 reserved places filled.' "
If it is only half true, it is dreadful. A slur on the sport. I'd say a slur on RD but I don't think that's possible from people willing to belittle themselves.
One of the all-time greats of F1 - and he is equalled by les than half a dozen and surpassed by none - and no-one from the team he built went? Lewis is just a driver, and they come and go. But the team?
Even if this is, as suggested in the article, political - presumably something to do with the FiA/Mosley? - there are times when you must, as a man, make a stand.
If this is true, which I certainly hope it is not, then it's just as well the 10 guests didn't turn up as they'd be unfit to share the same table as RD.
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_526771...
An edited quote:
"Ron Dennis was reportedly snubbed by Lewis Hamilton when the McLaren driver rejected a request to pay tribute to the man who had mentored him for many years at Thursday's Sport Industry Awards. No one for the McLaren 'family' was present to honour Dennis with only two past McLaren drivers, Mika Hakkinen and Alain Prost, on hand. From the Daily Mail: Hamilton turned down repeated requests to attend the function at the Battersea Evolution or even send a short tribute to his former team boss. McLaren did not send a single representative to Dennis's big night and the McLaren table printed on the guest list was withdrawn at the last minute with none of the 10 reserved places filled.' "
If it is only half true, it is dreadful. A slur on the sport. I'd say a slur on RD but I don't think that's possible from people willing to belittle themselves.
One of the all-time greats of F1 - and he is equalled by les than half a dozen and surpassed by none - and no-one from the team he built went? Lewis is just a driver, and they come and go. But the team?
Even if this is, as suggested in the article, political - presumably something to do with the FiA/Mosley? - there are times when you must, as a man, make a stand.
If this is true, which I certainly hope it is not, then it's just as well the 10 guests didn't turn up as they'd be unfit to share the same table as RD.
1 said:
Plant F1 said:
And, according to the Daily Mail it wasn't for tying as 'Hamilton turned down repeated requests to attend the function.
Plant F1 quoting the Daily wail, FFS it must be a slow news day. 
I've just told my wife, another F1 fan, and she was really taken aback. She has little time for drivers, although she does like LH, so his behaviour was seen very much as the norm, but she was disgusted by McLaren's attitude. It would appear that if this is true then I've got to support another team. Can't say it would be any big deal for me.
If it's true then I agree it is a disgrace.
I've found that since Ron Dennis has reduced his involvement in McLaren so my interest in their success has declined also, to the point, were as he is no longer involved I don't really care how McLaren are doing. The only thing I can draw from that is that I'm a closet Ron Denis fan and I didn't even realise it myself.
Interestingly enough now that I've been set thinking, I guess my enthusiasm for F1 has declined along with the decline of the 'true racer' such as the disapperance of Tyrell, the poor fortune of Williams allied with their 'corporate' persona during the BMW years. Even the loss of characters like Paul Stoddart, Jackie Stewart and Jordan make it less interesting.
The interference and clear bias for and against certain teams by Bernie and the FIA (Mosley) has removed all the innovation and real racing for fear of some ridiculous penalty for what used to be called a 'racing incident'
The drivers and team management, with one or two exceptions have become 'corporate representatives' with no personality what so ever (bring back Eddie Irvine and Niki Lauda) and the recent behaviour of Hamilton has rendered my interest in him to an all time low. That he is a talented racer of that there is no doubt, but he's plainly had all the right tools at his disposal and now he's struggling in an uncompetative car his limitations are apparent. With regards to that incident he's shown himself to be a spineless puppet and I'm sorry to say a liar. He didn't have to do as he was told and the fact that he then blames everyone around him speaks volumes.
All in all I bet Ron Denis will think he's well out of it, many things he may have been hard, ruthless and uncompromising being some but a liar isn't one of them and the level of disloyalty shown by the actions of Team McLaren just shows how low the 'sport' has become. The loss of Ron is just another nail in the coffin of F1.
I've found that since Ron Dennis has reduced his involvement in McLaren so my interest in their success has declined also, to the point, were as he is no longer involved I don't really care how McLaren are doing. The only thing I can draw from that is that I'm a closet Ron Denis fan and I didn't even realise it myself.
Interestingly enough now that I've been set thinking, I guess my enthusiasm for F1 has declined along with the decline of the 'true racer' such as the disapperance of Tyrell, the poor fortune of Williams allied with their 'corporate' persona during the BMW years. Even the loss of characters like Paul Stoddart, Jackie Stewart and Jordan make it less interesting.
The interference and clear bias for and against certain teams by Bernie and the FIA (Mosley) has removed all the innovation and real racing for fear of some ridiculous penalty for what used to be called a 'racing incident'
The drivers and team management, with one or two exceptions have become 'corporate representatives' with no personality what so ever (bring back Eddie Irvine and Niki Lauda) and the recent behaviour of Hamilton has rendered my interest in him to an all time low. That he is a talented racer of that there is no doubt, but he's plainly had all the right tools at his disposal and now he's struggling in an uncompetative car his limitations are apparent. With regards to that incident he's shown himself to be a spineless puppet and I'm sorry to say a liar. He didn't have to do as he was told and the fact that he then blames everyone around him speaks volumes.
All in all I bet Ron Denis will think he's well out of it, many things he may have been hard, ruthless and uncompromising being some but a liar isn't one of them and the level of disloyalty shown by the actions of Team McLaren just shows how low the 'sport' has become. The loss of Ron is just another nail in the coffin of F1.
V8 GRF said:
If it's true then I agree it is a disgrace.
I've found that since Ron Dennis has reduced his involvement in McLaren so my interest in their success has declined also, to the point, were as he is no longer involved I don't really care how McLaren are doing. The only thing I can draw from that is that I'm a closet Ron Denis fan and I didn't even realise it myself.
And me. I've been a fan of RD since the start of the MP4 days and was thrilled with their succes and overwhelmed by their engineering standards (with the possible exception of their manual gearboxes). I was in the pits post qually at Silverstone one year, after a particularly impressive lap by Senna in a car that was not class of the field, and this has proved to be the highlight of my F1 fandom.I've found that since Ron Dennis has reduced his involvement in McLaren so my interest in their success has declined also, to the point, were as he is no longer involved I don't really care how McLaren are doing. The only thing I can draw from that is that I'm a closet Ron Denis fan and I didn't even realise it myself.
I'm a big Massa fan and before that a pretty big Schumi fan (I know, I know I should be ashamed etc. 
) but i've got a huge amount of respect for RD and if this is like many have said, even partially true it is a great shame, almost betrayal on behalf of the team.
) but i've got a huge amount of respect for RD and if this is like many have said, even partially true it is a great shame, almost betrayal on behalf of the team.Edited by mchammer89 on Saturday 2nd May 18:47
Derek Smith said:
From the normally reliable Planet F1:
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_526771...
An edited quote:
"Ron Dennis was reportedly snubbed by Lewis Hamilton when the McLaren driver rejected a request to pay tribute to the man who had mentored him for many years at Thursday's Sport Industry Awards. No one for the McLaren 'family' was present to honour Dennis with only two past McLaren drivers, Mika Hakkinen and Alain Prost, on hand. From the Daily Mail: Hamilton turned down repeated requests to attend the function at the Battersea Evolution or even send a short tribute to his former team boss. McLaren did not send a single representative to Dennis's big night and the McLaren table printed on the guest list was withdrawn at the last minute with none of the 10 reserved places filled.' "
If it is only half true, it is dreadful. A slur on the sport. I'd say a slur on RD but I don't think that's possible from people willing to belittle themselves.
One of the all-time greats of F1 - and he is equalled by les than half a dozen and surpassed by none - and no-one from the team he built went? Lewis is just a driver, and they come and go. But the team?
Even if this is, as suggested in the article, political - presumably something to do with the FiA/Mosley? - there are times when you must, as a man, make a stand.
If this is true, which I certainly hope it is not, then it's just as well the 10 guests didn't turn up as they'd be unfit to share the same table as RD.
Very, very sad, I always thought Ron was McL and he deserved better than this.http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_526771...
An edited quote:
"Ron Dennis was reportedly snubbed by Lewis Hamilton when the McLaren driver rejected a request to pay tribute to the man who had mentored him for many years at Thursday's Sport Industry Awards. No one for the McLaren 'family' was present to honour Dennis with only two past McLaren drivers, Mika Hakkinen and Alain Prost, on hand. From the Daily Mail: Hamilton turned down repeated requests to attend the function at the Battersea Evolution or even send a short tribute to his former team boss. McLaren did not send a single representative to Dennis's big night and the McLaren table printed on the guest list was withdrawn at the last minute with none of the 10 reserved places filled.' "
If it is only half true, it is dreadful. A slur on the sport. I'd say a slur on RD but I don't think that's possible from people willing to belittle themselves.
One of the all-time greats of F1 - and he is equalled by les than half a dozen and surpassed by none - and no-one from the team he built went? Lewis is just a driver, and they come and go. But the team?
Even if this is, as suggested in the article, political - presumably something to do with the FiA/Mosley? - there are times when you must, as a man, make a stand.
If this is true, which I certainly hope it is not, then it's just as well the 10 guests didn't turn up as they'd be unfit to share the same table as RD.
Good show from Alain Prost.
Maybe it's a ploy and Ron's in on it - who knows the truth. On the face of it it does't seem very gracious but given the current F1 climate, surely better to concentrate on the war. In fact, what better way to demonstrate "new Mclaren" values to the FIA.
Maybe it's a ploy and Ron's in on it - who knows the truth. On the face of it it does't seem very gracious but given the current F1 climate, surely better to concentrate on the war. In fact, what better way to demonstrate "new Mclaren" values to the FIA.
Edited by dom180 on Saturday 2nd May 19:16
My read on the situation would be that the other suits deemed it best to keep away from Ron given the crap that's been flying around in the press allied to Dave Ryan vis a vis Lewis Hamilton and a spot of iffy over/under taking.
Ron is a character of the utmost integrity, though I'm surprised that Whitmarsh wasn't there. Perhaps it's a case of keeping the whole affair (and everyone associated with it) at arms length to save any further embarrassment thanks to any paps or tabloid journo's who were bound to be there.
It's a case of "Damned if you do, damned if you don't!!"
So, not a snub I'd say.
Ron is a character of the utmost integrity, though I'm surprised that Whitmarsh wasn't there. Perhaps it's a case of keeping the whole affair (and everyone associated with it) at arms length to save any further embarrassment thanks to any paps or tabloid journo's who were bound to be there.
It's a case of "Damned if you do, damned if you don't!!"
So, not a snub I'd say.
I'm not saying that this is so, or that he deserved such treatment, but it is not uncommon for the founder of a company to be regarded by employees as both someone to respect, as well as to fear.
When Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple, Chief Scientist, Larry Tesler, felt that the soul of the company was leaving but was also relieved as he, and many others, had been "terrorized" (his words) by him for many years--and the feeling ran through the company.
When Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple, Chief Scientist, Larry Tesler, felt that the soul of the company was leaving but was also relieved as he, and many others, had been "terrorized" (his words) by him for many years--and the feeling ran through the company.
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