Ron Dennis has confirmed that he will no longer be involved in the running of the McLaren Formula One team as he takes on a new role leading McLaren’s sports car business.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh insisted that Lewis Hamilton will not be leaving McLaren in the wake of the lie-gate scandal, while revealing that his own offer of resignation was turned down by McLaren’s team board.
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has warned that the diffuser row could cause a split amongst the teams. He was joined by BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen.
McLaren and Renault will sport their own version of the double-decker diffuser at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai after the FIA declared the device legal at Tuesday’s Court of Appeal hearing in Paris.
Heikki Kovalainen has described the mood in the McLaren as “positive” and is optimistic he and teammate Lewis Hamilton can progress to the top ten in qualifying, despite the distractions of the lie-gate scandal taking its toll on the team.
Felipe Massa has insisted that Ferrari are still capable of winning the championship this year despite their slow start to the season, and the ruling on diffusers going against the team.
