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[irons_4_ever]

He may have not retired but from everything I have read his direct involvement with the F1 team has been severed.

He has he still works for mclaren but designing road cars

[8-ball]

Ron should have gone a lot earlier. It had become pretty clear that he is disliked by everyone in the top tier of the FIA and as a result McLaren suffered. I doubt that Anthony Hamilton had anything to do with it, I think Ron has too much pride too let Anthony (who thinks he is more important than he really is) force him out of the operation he has built up.

End of an era at McLaren. Hopefully Martin Whimarsh doesn't wind up Max Moseley as much as Ron did

[darwin dali]

Some good things have been said here and I agree with many of them. Re. RD stepping down to deflect the wrath of the WMSC in the upcoming meeting: entirely possible. And he wouldn't have to show his mug in the trial as he's not in F1 anymore = positive. Him taking the fall for somebody else (e.g., Whitmarsh) however, is somewhat unlikely. Those other top level people would still have to appear at the court if called in and they better not try to lie in their testimonies because they can't rely on the Hamiltons keeping mum about it.
Re. Haug: I've been saying for a long time that NH would be a good choice as team principal. His other involvements could easily be delegated to new talents in wait at Mercedes.

[McLaren Fan]

When I brought the Hamiltons into things, I was not suggesting they were the only factor. Rather, they are one of several issues which have been mounting up for some time now.

In terms of evidence for the Hamiltons wanting to leave, you've only to look at the Hamilton's track record of attempts to call McLaren's bluff, threats to leave, attempts to actually leave and occasions on which Hamilton Junior has disobeyed the team. The latest reports don't seem all that doubtful when you put them in their proper context.

McLaren do not need this kind of bullpoo, and I'm fed up with seeing Hamilton receive special privileges. I do rate Hamilton very highly as a driver. Ideally, I would like to see McLaren take him down a peg or two or for the Hamiltons to take their heads from their arses, meaning Hamilton could remain at the team. Even with Dennis having completely stepped aside, I still don't envisage a change in this area, however. Whitmarsh, too, gets on well with Hamilton and seems to value him more than he's really worth.

Re. Haug: I've been saying for a long time that NH would be a good choice as team principal. His other involvements could easily be delegated to new talents in wait at Mercedes.

I'd like to see Haug taking. He's the only guy from within McLaren who knows what he's doing, and at the same time he's not really a member of the team per se. McLaren could get the best of both worlds, whereby somebody cut out for running the team is running the team and the FIA would be slightly placated, with all members of Dennis' era not playing crucial roles in the team.

There would have to be some rejigging of things at Mercedes, but Whitmarsh could hold the fort until Haug could take over; it's not as though 2009 is going to be a vintage season of McLaren, so it's not like he can wreck something else.

One thing is for sure, Whitmarsh's role, or non-role, in this latest fiasco defies all common sense. After being groomed by Dennis for so long and being a man of intellect, there is no excuse for it. If he hasn't picked up such basic management skills by this stage, he never will. Rather than being given more responsibilities, he should be demoted back to his former position as soon as a suitable replacement (i.e. somebody like Haug) is ready to take over.

[racechick]

When I brought the Hamiltons into things, I was not suggesting they were the only factor. Rather, they are one of several issues which have been mounting up for some time now.

In terms of evidence for the Hamiltons wanting to leave, you've only to look at the Hamilton's track record of attempts to call McLaren's bluff, threats to leave, attempts to actually leave and occasions on which Hamilton Junior has disobeyed the team. The latest reports don't seem all that doubtful when you put them in their proper context.

McLaren do not need this kind of bullpoo, and I'm fed up with seeing Hamilton receive special privileges. I do rate Hamilton very highly as a driver. Ideally, I would like to see McLaren take him down a peg or two or for the Hamiltons to take their heads from their arses, meaning Hamilton could remain at the team. Even with Dennis having completely stepped aside, I still don't envisage a change in this area, however. Whitmarsh, too, gets on well with Hamilton and seems to value him more than he's really worth.

Re. Haug: I've been saying for a long time that NH would be a good choice as team principal. His other involvements could easily be delegated to new talents in wait at Mercedes.

I'd like to see Haug taking. He's the only guy from within McLaren who knows what he's doing, and at the same time he's not really a member of the team per se. McLaren could get the best of both worlds, whereby somebody cut out for running the team is running the team and the FIA would be slightly placated, with all members of Dennis' era not playing crucial roles in the team.

There would have to be some rejigging of things at Mercedes, but Whitmarsh could hold the fort until Haug could take over; it's not as though 2009 is going to be a vintage season of McLaren, so it's not like he can wreck something else.

One thing is for sure, Whitmarsh's role, or non-role, in this latest fiasco defies all common sense. After being groomed by Dennis for so long and being a man of intellect, there is no excuse for it. If he hasn't picked up such basic management skills by this stage, he never will. Rather than being given more responsibilities, he should be demoted back to his former position as soon as a suitable replacement (i.e. somebody like Haug) is ready to take over.

I agree with you on your Whitmarsh and Haug comments but I think you get the Hamilton thing way out of proportion.

Im with DD on this one.

[headless]

I don't think the Hamiltons have anything to do with him stepping down, but hasn't Martin Whitmarsh mentioned leaving over liegate.

[darwin dali]

I'd like to see Haug taking. He's the only guy from within McLaren who knows what he's doing, and at the same time he's not really a member of the team per se. McLaren could get the best of both worlds, whereby somebody cut out for running the team is running the team and the FIA would be slightly placated, with all members of Dennis' era not playing crucial roles in the team.

There would have to be some rejigging of things at Mercedes, but Whitmarsh could hold the fort until Haug could take over; it's not as though 2009 is going to be a vintage season of McLaren, so it's not like he can wreck something else.

One thing is for sure, Whitmarsh's role, or non-role, in this latest fiasco defies all common sense. After being groomed by Dennis for so long and being a man of intellect, there is no excuse for it. If he hasn't picked up such basic management skills by this stage, he never will. Rather than being given more responsibilities, he should be demoted back to his former position as soon as a suitable replacement (i.e. somebody like Haug) is ready to take over.

[Gilles 27]

I'm only going with the Hamilton thing because its sounds like a reasonable thing for Hamilton Sr to have attempted given that he has talked to Max Mosley about Ham boy leaving McLaren and because the Times seemed fairly confident that this had something to do with it. As for a takeover by Haug, I can't see Mercedes increasing their involvement in McLaren given that they are reviewing their participation in F1 due to them hemorrhaging massive amounts of money

[headless]

I'm only going with the Hamilton thing because its sounds like a reasonable thing for Hamilton Sr to have attempted given that he has talked to Max Mosley about Ham boy leaving McLaren and because the Times seemed fairly confident that this had something to do with it. As for a takeover by Haug, I can't see Mercedes increasing their involvement in McLaren given that they are reviewing their participation in F1 due to them hemorrhaging massive amounts of money

And the Times are always right

[Gilles 27]

Well yes obviously anything that is owned by Murdoch is going to be full of sh*t, racism and right wing propaganda but in this case i am willing to believe it until i hear a better explanation. Just for the record, I don't believe that Hamilton Sr is the entire cause, I just feel that his potential involvement has greater implications than if it were simply to do with the WMSC meeting

[McLaren Fan]

Well yes obviously anything that is owned by Murdoch is going to be full of sh*t, racism and right wing propaganda but in this case i am willing to believe it until i hear a better explanation. Just for the record, I don't believe that Hamilton Sr is the entire cause, I just feel that his potential involvement has greater implications than if it were simply to do with the WMSC meeting

I think he means correct, rather than where The Times lies on the political spectrum (which isn't really right, to be honest).

[Hanwombat]

Mclaren just isn't the same anymore

[McLaren Fan]

From Planet F1:

Whitmarsh: Both Lewis and I are staying
Thursday 16th April 2009

Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh has insisted that Lewis Hamilton won't be leaving McLaren and revealed that his offer to resign in the wake of the Liargate scandal was declined by the team's board at the weekend.

McLaren have already had two reshuffles in the wake of the Liargate scandal as sporting director Dave Ryan was given the boot while it was on Friday announced that Ron Dennis would be stepping down as McLaren CEO. Although the latter announcement was not publicly linked to the scandal, according to reports it came in the wake of Hamilton's relationship with Dennis breaking down.

Whitmarsh, however, has denied rumours of tension between departing CEO Dennis and the Hamiltons, and went on to insist that that the 24-year-old would not be leaving McLaren.

"I haven't asked Lewis what his relationship is with Ron, but I don't think it's quite as you're characterising it," he told Autosport.

"I told Lewis half an hour ago what was happening. I think he naturally has a certain amount of affection for Ron. We all do. I didn't detect any different human reactions other than what I would have expected from someone who has known Ron as long as Lewis has known Ron.

"I think he has certainly expressed his support for this team consistently, and he has very kindly expressed his support for me. I think and I hope that I have a good relationship with Lewis and I think he is committed just as we are to restoring the good fortunes and competitiveness of this team in the future."

As for his own future, Whitmarsh revealed that while he did offer his resignation to the board in the wake of the scandal, it was turned down.

"At the moment, as has been pointed out, this team has gone through some interesting and challenging times. I did offer my resignation after the weekend, that was graciously declined," he said.

"I offered it to the shareholders, and that was declined. The reality is that in the future it will be the new chairman's decision, which is normal in any business.

"So if the view is that I am doing a reasonable job then hopefully I will keep it, and if I am not I won't. And that's how it should be."

[7UpJordan]

Something tells me we're not going to see the entire truth about "Liargate" for quite some time...

[texasmr2]

Mclaren just isn't the same anymore

Neither is life and you will realize that more with each passing day.

tex

PS,
Where TF are my pics????
Oh sorry I should have PM'd that!!!