Ron Dennis throws in the towel?

Ron Dennis would have given up his role as director of the McLaren-Mercedes team in 2008 and would be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Martin Whitmarsh, claims a Spanish newspaper.

The sports daily Marca adds that this decision, made amicably between McLaren and its partner Mercedes-Benz, will soon be confirmed through a press release.

Marca also admits that Mercedes was annoyed by Dennis’s actions during the espionage case in which McLaren was involved last year, costing the team a $100 million fine and both titles.

Furthermore, Dennis, who has been leading McLaren since the early 1980s, could be assigned to a new position. This latter position is not a crucial decision-making role.

Dennis holds 15% of the shares in the company, with Mercedes, a Bahraini company, and Mansour Ojjeh sharing the rest.

Story to follow, then…