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[texasmr2]

Although seperate team's are involved and not team mate's the fight imho for the WDC is between just two driver's, Kimi and Lewis.

Only 11 day's to go woo hoo!!!

Don't discount FM...

Dont get me wrong I dig FM and he alway's has my support because I honestly like him as a driver but he has shown, albeit in the past, that he does not deal with pressure as well as Kimi does. If he start's midfield that's were he stay's although he is in one of the best car's on the grid. As I had mentioned month's ago if FM is not in the first four on the starting grid he seeem's to be relagated to that position for the entire race, he is mentally only as good as his grid position. He has not shown himself to be a 'shark' on the track which is imho the only mental barrier that is keeping him from becoming a WDC champion.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Dennis has 'full support' from Mercedes

By Pablo Elizalde Friday, March 7th 2008, 09:55 GMT

Norbert Haug and Ron DennisMcLaren team boss Ron Dennis has the full support of partners Mercedes, the German company's motorsport boss Norbert Haug has said.

Speculation has been rife in recent weeks about Dennis's future, as the 60-year-old is believed to be increasingly keen to step aside from his role as head of the F1 team.

The rumours also suggested there was pressure from engine partners Mercedes, who own 40 percent of the Formula One team, for Dennis to step aside.

But Haug has insisted Dennis has the full backing of Mercedes and praised the Briton's input in the team.

"I'm now in my 14th year of working with Ron, and during this time only one other team has been more successful than ours has ," Haug told Bild magazine. "As team boss, Ron has played an immense part in achieving that success.

"Any negative statements appearing in the media are mere speculation and originate outside the company. We stand by Ron and are continuing to work with the same management structure."

Haug admitted there were always ongoing talks about the possibility of buying a majority stake in the team.

"Options for the future development of the company are under discussion all the time," Haug added. "But it's clear that we don't need to own more than 50% of the shares in order to ensure that we're listened to as much as we want to be."

McLaren has been surrounded by controversy since last year's spying affair, which cost the team all their constructors' points and a record $100 million fine.

Haug believes the negative reports will stop as soon as the team start the 2008 season.

"Hopefully in around two weeks' time after the first race, he said. "We've conducted extensive testing and our cars have proved reliable and fast. Whether they're fast enough we won't know until after the Australian GP."

[texasmr2]

Nobert should run for public office .

[deMuRe]

So they've decided to let Ron run for another term, I think I remember reading a few years back Ron wanted to retire after he's returned McLaren to winning ways...

[racechick]

Ron does want to retire, he has done for sometime, but last year will have delayed his decision. He will go when he is good and ready and not be pushed by people like Mosely. He has always had and continues to have full support from Mercedes.

[McLaren Fan]

To be honest, I think the media ran the story and sensationalised it to get at McLaren and create something that was not really happening. There's no doubt Dennis was looking to retire around about 2007, give or take a year; If I was aware of this, I'm sure the top brass at McLaren and Mercedes were. From the point of view of just looking at McLaren, I don't think Dennis should step down in any way until at least the end of the season. It would be silly to start changing roles just before the start of what is going to be a very long and competitive season, and it would send out the wrong messages about why Dennis stepped down; it was not because of the spy scandal, but because he had planned too anyway. I also feel he has the right not to go out on such a low and has the strength and ability to make a comeback with McLaren.

[bud]

a logical person would put 2 and 2 together.
2. staying on for another year or more leading to.. 2. his break up with his wife

the way everyone was talking a week ago Dennis had stepped down already! still waiting!!

[McLaren Fan]

The wait is over everybody, and it's great news!

From autosport.com:

Dennis says he will not step down

By Jonathan Noble and Simon Strang Tuesday, March 11th 2008, 12:38 GMT

Ron DennisRon Dennis has ended weeks of speculation over his future by confirming that he will stay on as team principal of McLaren-Mercedes in 2008, autosport.com can exclusively reveal.

It is understood that Dennis, 60, addressed staff at McLaren's Technology Centre in Woking just prior to leaving for Melbourne, and promised them he would not be stepping down.

Dennis, who took over McLaren in 1980 and has since led the team to multiple world titles, the last of which came in 1999 with Mika Hakkinen, has endured a difficult 12 months.

McLaren were fined $US100 million and lost of their constructors' points over the spy scandal last year.

Dennis was also criticised for his handling of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in 2007, after the double world champion split acrimoniously with the team after just one-year of a three-year deal.

Dennis currently holds three positions within the TAG McLaren Group: Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group and McLaren team principal.

More to follow.

[racechick]

Great news

[texasmr2]

Great news

Yes that is very good new's and honestly I will be very worried for the team when Ron does step down and no longer has a hand in the day to day operation's.

[darwin dali]

"There are things I have to sort out in my life and I am in the process of doing that. I am 60 years old, and there are many other things I want to do outside Formula One," he added.

[racechick]

"There are things I have to sort out in my life and I am in the process of doing that. I am 60 years old, and there are many other things I want to do outside Formula One," he added.

Yes? And?

[McLaren Fan]

Here are Ron Dennis' remarks:

From autosport.com:

Dennis feels he can still contribute

By Jonathan Noble and Simon Strang Thursday, March 13th 2008, 07:11 GMT

Ron DennisMcLaren boss Ron Dennis says he still has much to contribute to the team, after talking for the first time on Thursday about why he has decided to stay on as team principal in 2008.

Dennis, whose role as chief of the McLaren Formula One team operation was subject to intense speculation over recent weeks, informed staff before leaving for Australia that he has no intention of stepping down.

Speaking for the first time about his decision during an event on St. Kilda beach, Dennis explained that while he questioned if he should stay on as team boss again, he realised he was not ready to quit racing in Formula One.

"There are lots of things that people don't really understand that happened over the last few months," Dennis said. "I thought pretty much at the beginning of last season it would be my last season of going to races, purely because of how long I have done it.

"But there were other things that came along and made me think. I didn't feel I had to share that with anybody, and I don't understand why it became such a public issue.

"It is a process I go through every year and for some reason it got a bit more publicity. My effort, dedication and focus is to grow McLaren as a brand. [My decision to stay on] is something that has become a much bigger issue than it really is.

"I am just a guy who enjoys going motor racing and if I don't feel I have something positive to contribute then I won't be here."

Dennis pointed out that while he is seen as the figurehead at the McLaren team, his responsibilities extend far beyond his immediate F1 commitments.

He drew attention to the growing role F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh, who Dennis has groomed as his successor for several years, plays in running of the team.

"I am continuing as team principal," he explained, "but it is the smallest part of my job - and a part that Martin [Whitmarsh] has definitely wanted to have for a while. But he will have to wait a little bit longer. I will approach it slightly differently to before."

He added: "I think people don't fully understand what my job is. We are running a group of companies and the winter is when I really concentrate on those other aspects of the group. This year I have concentrated very hard to position the group and each of the companies.

"Martin, as always, has been working with me on that process and you only have to look at his job titles to realise how big his jobs are. He is COO of the group, he is CEO of the F1 team and we have been sharing the workload for many years - and I give him more each year.

"It was just one of those moments on whether it was the right or wrong thing for him to become team principal but it was a conversation that we had and at this moment in time, my intention is to stay in all three jobs.

"And you have to remember I am not an employee."

Asked if he was happy to go into the season having put the winter's speculation and last season's troubles behind him, Dennis replied: "We don't think about the past any more, we are looking to the future.

"We have made a very good racing car, the guys have done a great job, we are here to compete at the Australian Grand Prix and all our efforts and focus will be on this race."