Whitmarsh is officially team principal of McLaren
Martin Whitmarsh began his new career today as the team principal of the McLaren-Mercedes team, revealing in the process that it wasn’t his first chance to lead a Formula 1 team. The 50-year-old Briton, who for 20 years was Ron Dennis’s right-hand man within the Woking team, officially took up the position this Sunday at […]
Martin Whitmarsh began his new career today as the team principal of the McLaren-Mercedes team, revealing in the process that it wasn’t his first chance to lead a Formula 1 team.
The 50-year-old Briton, who for 20 years was Ron Dennis’s right-hand man within the Woking team, officially took up the position this Sunday at the helm of McLaren F1, allowing Ron Dennis to focus on his new role as Chairman of the company.
Even though he joined in 1989, Whitmarsh made a point of telling journalists that other teams had approached him in the past to lead them.
« I received offers from rival teams, but McLaren is the greatest racing team in the world and I wouldn’t feel comfortable anywhere else, » he explained.
Whitmarsh and Dennis share a perfectionist approach to their work and have similar approaches to F1. This is why there will be very few changes at McLaren in 2009 and beyond.
« Ron and I share common viewpoints, but I have never been his robot, » added the Briton.
« On the fundamental questions of our presence in motor racing, we have very similar views. »
