Thursday 16th April 2009
Ron Dennis is reportedly set to announce his complete retirement from McLaren later today as the CEO falls on the sword to save his team ahead of their upcoming hearing with the WMSC.
The announcement is bound to be linked to McLaren's on-going battle with the FIA, with Dennis' role in the Liargate scandal expected to be examined closely on April 29 when the team appear in front of the governing body.
And although Dennis is no longer the man calling the shots at McLaren, having handed the reigns to Martin Whitmarsh at the start of the season, the 61-year-old is ready to take the fall for McLaren's latest scandal.
The British newspapers are all reporting that Dennis will speak to the staff at McLaren headquarters in Woking today to inform them that his 40-year career in Formula One is over.
The decision is meant to be a pre-emptive strike that will not only lessen McLaren's punishment but also ensure that the team holds onto Lewis Hamilton, as his father/manage Anthony is still debating whether to move his son to another team.
The Daily Mail claims that 'his withdrawal will also meet with approval in the Hamilton household. Lewis's father and manager, Anthony, finds Dennis prickly and arrogant. They have not seen eye to eye for some time.
'It is understood that Hamilton Snr and Mosley have been in contact over the last few days, with both keen to see Dennis leave the sport. The Hamiltons have sided with Whitmarsh since the scandal broke prior to the Malaysian Grand Prix a fortnight ago.
'The fact that they have effectively won the battle means that Lewis is now unlikely to seek to leave.'
McLaren, though, are expected to spin Dennis' retirement from F1 as the CEO rather wanting to switch his attention to the road-car side of the company.
Source : Planet F1
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