Category Archives: Grand Prix News

Ron Dennis has returned to the role of CEO of the McLaren Group, a job he held from 1982 to 2012, replacing Martin Whitmarsh.

More recently Dennis has been chairman, and he will also retain that title.

Last year there were rumours that Dennis would have more of a hands-on role again as McLaren tried to get its racing programme back on track, and inevitably questions are now being asked about the future of F1 team principal Whitmarsh.

Explaining his role Dennis said: “My fellow shareholders have mandated me to write an exciting new chapter in the story of McLaren, beginning by improving our on-track and off-track performance. Over the coming weeks I intend to undertake a thorough and objective review of each of our businesses with the intention of optimising every aspect of our existing operations, whilst identifying new areas of growth that capitalise on our technologies, and where appropriate further investing in them.

“During February, I will articulate a new Group strategy and implement the organisational structure best suited to achieving it. I am excited by the prospect of returning to the role of Group Chief Executive Officer and working with my many colleagues and fellow shareholders to fulfil our objective – which is to win at whatever we do.”

NASCAR team owner Gene Haas is behind a US effort to gain an F1 entry for 2015.

Today Haas said in a statement: “We have responded to the FIA’s ‘call for expression of interest’ regarding a Formula One entry on behalf of Haas Racing Development. We respect the FIA’s evaluation process and will share more details in the coming weeks.”

On December 11 the FIA announced a formal tender process, with a very short lead time, suggesting that interested parties had already been in contact. Late last year there were rumours of a potential F1 project in the USA.

The deadline for expressions of interest was January 3, with February 10 noted as the closing of full formal applications.

Three teams are believed to have started the process, with Haas joined by Stefan GP and a Romanian project involving Colin Kolles (see separate story).

The intention is that the Haas operation will be run by former Toro Rosso boss Guenther Steiner. Steiner, who runs a composite facility in North Carolina – ironically very close to the site of the failed US F1 effort – was an interested observer in the paddock in Austin in November. Haas apparently plans to utilise a Ferrari power train and initially a Dallara-built chassis.

The 61-year-old Haas owns one of the world’s leading CNC companies, and also owns the Wind Shear wind tunnel, also in North Carolina, which has been used by F1 teams. He first entered the NASCAR world in 2002, and latterly has been in partnership with Tony Stewart. Together they won the 2011 Sprint Cup title.

Bernie Ecclestone said this week that he had been in contact with two candidates.

More info on the selection process can be found here: http://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/basicpage/file/131112_12th%20Team%20Call%20%28final%29_clean.pdf

Bernie Ecclestone has relinquished his role as a director of the F1 Group and thus left the board of the organisation.

He will continue to have his day-to-day responsibilities, but will be subject to closer monitoring than previously.

The decision follows today’s confirmation that Ecclestone will stand trial on bribery charges in Germany in April, which led to a meeting of the board of Delta Topco, the holding company of the F1 Group.

A statement from the F1 Group read: “Mr Ecclestone has reassured the board that he is innocent of the charges and intends to vigorously defend the case which will commence in April 2014.

“After discussion with the board, Mr Ecclestone has proposed and the board agreed that until the case has been concluded, he will step down as a director with immediate effect, thereby relinquishing his board duties and responsibilities until the case has been resolved.

“The board believes that it is the best interests of both the F1 business and the sport that Mr Ecclestone should continue to run the business on a day-to-day basis, but subject to increased monitoring and control by the board. Mr Ecclestone has agreed to these arrangements.

“The approval and signing of significant contracts and other material business arrangements shall now be the responsibility of the chairman, Mr Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, and the Deputy chairman, Mr Donald Mackenzie.”

Bernie Ecclestone is to face bribery charges, the Munich state prosecutor has confirmed.

The charges relate to the now infamous $44m payment Ecclestone made in 2005 to former banker Gerhard Gribkowksy, who is currently serving an 8 1/2 year jail sentence. Gribkowsky, who was chief risk officer at BayernLB, was found guilty of tax evasion and bribery.

Bernie’s view has always been that he was a victim of a ‘shake down’ and had made the payment to stop Gribkowsky triggering a time consuming UK tax investigation.

A statement from the prosecutor noted that “under current planning, the main trial should start in late April,” but few further details have emerged.

Meanwhile in a statement reported by Reuters, Ecclestone’s German legal team said: “The decision to go to trial is normal and in no way is it a finding in the issue at hand. This is something that is up to the trial itself. The alleged bribery never took place. The accusations that are based on Gribkowsky’s testimony are incorrect and based on the facts offer no coherent picture.”

Ferrari will launch its 2014 car on the afternoon of Saturday January 25th, the day after McLaren unveils its new machine online.

Ferrari has taken the unusual step of asking the public to name the car, with an online poll to choose between five different options. The names reflect either the year of 2014, or the 1.6-litre V6 engine configuration.

The choices are F14 T, F14 Maranello, F14 Scuderia, F166 Turbo and F616. F166 Turbo had the early lead against strong competition from F14 T, which as has been pointed out, looks a bit like ‘FIAT’…

If you would like to vote, have a look here: http://2014f1car.ferrari.com/en/#countdown

Mansour Ojjeh has relinquished his role as a director of the McLaren Group. He has been replaced by his younger brother Aziz, his partner in the TAG organisation.

Ojjeh had a double lung transplant late last year after battling IPF lung disease, and thus it’s perhaps no surprise that he is cutting back on his business commitments.

A McLaren spokesman said: “Mansour Ojjeh is enjoying a period of rest and recuperation following his recent operation. For the time being, therefore, Mansour’s brother, Aziz Ojjeh, has agreed, with Mansour’s full support, to join the McLaren board on a temporary basis until such time as Mansour is fully recovered. Mansour, the Ojjeh family and TAG Holdings have a passionate love for McLaren, for motor racing and for cars in general, and Mansour intends to return to the McLaren board as soon as possible.”

Incidentally on Sunday Mansour’s close friend Michael Douglas wished him well while making an acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, having won the award for best actor in a TV drama.

John Button, the father of Jenson and formerly a top rallycross driver in his own right, has passed away after a suspected heart attack at his home in France. He had celebrated his 70th birthday in Hungary last year.

A wonderful, outgoing character, it goes without saying that he was Jenson’s number one supporter throughout the latter’s career. John took Jenson through the karting ranks and then attended all but one of his F1 starts, only missing out through illness. He had hundreds of friends up and down the paddock, and not just at McLaren or Jenson’s previous teams.

A familiar face since Jenson’s debut in 2000, his colourful personality sometimes disguised the fact that he was an extremely perceptive observer of the F1 world. His advice and counsel was clearly very useful to his son over the years, and helped to keep Jenson’s feet on the ground.

The astonishingly close father/son relationship was a shining example for people in any walk of life, never mind racing, where ambitious dads don’t always take the right approach.

Few in F1 knew about John’s rallycross exploits, notably with a VW Beetle, and later a Golf. He was one of the leading British drivers of the seventies, regularly featuring on BBC Grandstand, and he even earned a slot on the cover of Autosport.

A great human being and a total one-off, he will be sadly missed. This writer offers his sincere condolences to Jenson, his sisters and the rest of the Button family.

Williams has given details of the changes to its engineering management, and has rather handily given a job description for the key players, who will work under chief technical officer Pat Symonds.

As previously noted here on November 29, former McLaren and Force India man Jakob Andreasen has joined as Head of Engineering Operations. The team says his job is to “focus will be on better integrating trackside operations with the continued design and development of the Williams-Mercedes FW36 at the factory.”

Meanwhile Craig Wilson has returned to Williams from a spell at Mercedes to take up the job oof Head of Vehicle Dynamics, in order to “strengthen the engineering team in applying vehicle modelling and analysis to help bring further improvements to on-track performance.”

Lotus man Rod Nelson has joined as Chief Test & Support Engineer “to head up the team’s testing programme including leading the group at the factory that provide support and analysis from Grove over all race events.”

Finally Max Nightingale is promoted to Head of Vehicle Science “to ensure a focus on performance within the new structure which will improve the connection between race operations and on-going development work.”

Pat Symonds said: “Williams is determined to make strong improvements in our competitiveness over the coming seasons and these new appointments continue our aggressive approach in recruiting some of the sport’s best talent.

“We are also committed to allowing our existing talent to grow and showcase their skills in senior leadership roles. Our engineering team for the coming season is looking strong and I’m excited about what we can achieve moving forwards.”

Niki Lauda made it to Hollywood when he joined Rush star Chris Hemsworth to introduce a clip of the film at the Golden Globes last night.

Lauda caused a stir by wearing his new sponsor’s baseball cap at the glitzy black tie event, but he then raised a laugh by using it to demonstrate the impact 1976 had on him (see video above).

In the end Rush lost out to 12 Years a Slave in Best Motion Picture (Drama) category, while Daniel Bruhl also missed on the Best Supporting Actor prize. Both the film and Bruhl are in contention at the BAFTA Awards next month, and meanwhile the Academy Award nominations are eagerly awaited.