Ron Dennis has rejected reports that he has been demoted within McLaren Automotive following a story published by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
The report also suggests Dennis attempted to oust Martin Whitmarsh as team principal of the McLaren F1 team, in order to once again take up the position himself which he relinquished in 2009.
The 65-year-old denies that suggestion too, brandishing it “ridiculous” and that he had “categorically not” acted towards trying to remove Whitmarsh from his current position.
The German publication reports that McLaren shareholders Mumtalakat Holdings (50 per cent) and Mansour Ojjeh (25 per cent) planned to force Dennis – who holds the remaining 25 per cent – out of the company, resulting in him being demoted from executive chairman to non-executive chairman for financial losses at McLaren Automotive.
In a statement, McLaren clarified that the change of position took place in January as per Dennis’s contract, which was agreed back in 2010, and that his voting rights remain intact, contrary to the report.
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