Breaking news
Formula 1
Dennis vows to restore McLaren 'focus'
"I strongly believe we are (like) Manchester United," - Ron Dennis.
GMM
Edited: Mar 7, 2014, 9:39 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Mar.7 (GMM) Ron Dennis is unapologetic as he vows to take McLaren back on the road to winning.
With the great British team just fifth overall in 2013, 66-year-old supremo Dennis wrestled back control from Martin Whitmarsh and trotted out the old line about even second place being "the first of the losers".
"Of course, I have a lot of respect for the people in our team but they were distracted, not focused enough," he told reporters.
Some believe Whitmarsh, who it is believed is not speaking to the media while his payout is negotiated, was regarded as 'too nice' to effectively run a F1 team.
"Martin is a friend," Dennis insisted. "We did not fall out. Some decisions you take in life are not that easy, and I will not elaborate."
What Dennis has found in Whitmarsh's wake, however, is the loss of Lewis Hamilton and title sponsor Vodafone, and Whitmarsh's new management pick, Eric Boullier.
Dennis insisted, however, that he separately also approached Frenchman Boullier, the former Lotus boss.
"For some time I had been discussing with the shareholders that things were not working," he said.
Another perhaps not entirely Dennis-esque choice was the rookie Dane Kevin Magnussen, son of the erratic former McLaren test driver Jan.
"I had reservations (about Kevin)," Dennis admitted.
"I'm not a great believer in sons of drivers," he added, but he thinks Kevin's "steely determination" will result in "an exceptional career".
So the new Dennis era has begun, and a first major input has been to turn down some "stopgap" solutions following title sponsor Vodafone's exit.
"I strongly believe we are (like) Manchester United," he said.
"Inevitably, when you have a run of poor results, people push the rate card down.
"But I know what this company is and what this Grand Prix team can achieve, and that requires the correct recognition from and close relationship with a principal sponsor," said Dennis.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article India GP wants meeting to pursue 2015 return
Next article New era 'completely overshadows' drivers - Alesi
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Lewis Hamilton
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
20 h
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
McLaren
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
McLaren’s 2027-spec front wing is making its F1 car more predictable
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
22 h
McLaren’s 2027-spec front wing is making its F1 car more predictable
Latest news
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
54 min
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
3 h
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe