Former McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has spoken out about the British team's current situation, describing it as "desperately sad".
Whitmarsh held the position of team boss between 2010 and 2014 when McLaren finished runner-up in the championship twice and scored its last victory in the sport under his leadership.
Following his forced departure Ron Dennis, Eric Boullier and current boss Zak Brown have held the role of team boss – Brown and Boullier currently share the role – but results have been in a downward spiral, particularly during their rekindled Honda partnership which came to an abrupt end last year.
Although the team have now partnered with Renault, their results haven't improved dramatically leading to rumours of a revolt within the team.
Whitmarsh, who is now a consultant to the FIA, admitted seeing McLaren struggle was hard for him and he lashed out at Brown's plans to enter IndyCar, suggesting it would only provide a distraction from the true goal of winning in F1.
"I love the team and I am desperately sad to see what it has become," he told the Daily Mail. "It needs a big change of approach.
"There is too much politics between the main figures. I think a number of them have to go. I have explained my view to Mansour [Ojjeh, a major shareholder in the team] and it is for the shareholders to decide what to do.
"The team used to be all about winning in Formula 1. Now they are looking at other avenues — going to race in IndyCar and Le Mans, for example. They are great things in themselves, but McLaren going in that direction, rather than making grand prix racing their sole priority, makes me shudder."
Whitmarsh also revealed that the departure of designer Tim Goss was a mistake in his eyes and revealed that if he were approached to return to the team, he would be open to such an idea.
"Tim Goss's departure pitched me over the edge," he added. "Tim has a fantastic intellect, and is a hard-working, non-political, value-adding member of the team. He was scapegoated. He may not have all the answers, but he would work on a solution from first principles.
"If a delegation showed up at my door [and asked me to return], I wouldn't turn them away. They know where I am."
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