Whitmarsh offers to step up amid McLaren crisis

  • Published on 18 Jun 2018 11:52
  • comments 16
  • By: Danny Sosef

Former team boss Martin Whitmarsh has offered to step in amid a reported staff revolt at McLaren. The Daily Mail reports that some McLaren staff, upset about the great British team's current troubles even after the end of the Honda era, have put together a delegation that is reaching out to Whitmarsh.

Whitmarsh stepped down as McLaren team boss in 2014, after 25 years with the Woking outfit.

"People at McLaren said they would send me a letter about the situation.  I told them not to send it to me, but to (team shareholder) Mansour (Ojjeh)," Whitmarsh confirmed.

It is believed the disgruntled staff are upset about Eric Boullier's leadership following the latest performance slump, and Zak Brown's forays into the worlds of Le Mans and Indycar.

"I love the team and I am desperately sad to see what it has become," Whitmarsh continued. "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 and it is for the shareholders to decide what to do."

Whitmarsh suggested he is siding with those staff who think that Brown in particular is spreading McLaren's interests too far beyond the F1 paddock.

"The team used to be all about winning in Formula One," he said.  "McLaren going in (another) direction, rather than making Grand Prix racing their sole priority, makes me shudder."

Whitmarsh said it was the departure of Tim Goss that pushed him "over the edge" in support of a revolt.

"He was scapegoated," he said. "If a delegation showed up at my door, I wouldn't turn them away. They know where I am."

I like Goss and still don't quite get why he left or was fired. However, I do know with certainty that the initial decline of McLaren happened entirely during Martin's watch. I like Martin a lot. Especially since he replaced Ron and the atmosphere seemed a lot better. But he was the man when McLa... [Read more]

  • 2
  • Jun 18 2018 - 21:01

Replies (16)

Login to reply
  • 2GRX7

    Posts: 108

    WOW! It doesn't get more out there in the open than this! Sad!

    • + 0
    • Jun 18 2018 - 15:08
  • Major Tom

    Posts: 152

    Clearly everybody is deeply unhappy but the overwhelming problem is the design of the car - its just not fast enough. The design team must carry the can for that.

    • + 0
    • Jun 18 2018 - 15:47
    • mpm001

      Posts: 20

      management is one thing, the design team is another, agree with your 100% the design team is at fault here not the management.

      • + 1
      • Jun 18 2018 - 16:05
  • After 3 years, its apparent that, Zak and Eric are not the guys. I question the capability of Mansour for his string of poor decisions.

    • + 0
    • Jun 18 2018 - 16:49
  • Bhurt

    Posts: 320

    The entertainment just never stops from Team Clown.

    • + 1
    • Jun 18 2018 - 17:34
  • Damn Martín... You really think this is gonna work for you don't you? I mean why else put up a show like this?

    • + 0
    • Jun 18 2018 - 18:01
  • They should never have dumped Goss. But McLaren diverting resources from F1 at a time like this is nonsensical, it shouldnt be. Ferrari can afford it, Mercedes can afford it, Red Bull can afford it. McLaren cannot. And while the car is indeed suboptimal, lets be real here: the situation hasnt been managed properly.

    • + 0
    • Jun 18 2018 - 18:03
    • I like Goss and still don't quite get why he left or was fired. However, I do know with certainty that the initial decline of McLaren happened entirely during Martin's watch. I like Martin a lot. Especially since he replaced Ron and the atmosphere seemed a lot better. But he was the man when McLaren dropped from a winning team to a mediocre team. It seems highly suspicious for him to come out publicly with this. Furthermore, it's classless and unsavory.

      • + 2
      • Jun 18 2018 - 21:01
    • Yes, it wouldnt surprise me if he, as Whitmarsh implied, was a scapegoat. And while I agree that the decline begun under Whitmarsh'es era, it doesnt mean it is related to him, or that it would've gone this poorly had he remained in charge. Either way, I dont think McLaren's current poor performance can be explained by poor leadership, but their face outwards certainly can be, and at this rate is has become a problem for them. As I've said before, I dont think they are doing a bad job, but their arrogant talk worsens it from mediocre to poor. So reemploying Whitmarsh will likely not fix the performance, and may or may not improve team atmosphere and image. As you say, I dont like this move, things like this should happen on the other side of the curtain, but maybe it is that bad that he feels a need to vent it? It could be him basically warning Boullier and co of ongoing discontent (Yeah, I dont think so, but could be).

      • + 0
      • Jun 18 2018 - 22:47
    • RogerF1

      Posts: 501

      AJP that’s my recollection as well and the team has never recovered. Can’t imagine how difficult it must be inside McLren F1 to maintain a positive attitude so long without a win, just like with Williams. I used to regularly visit McLaren Automotive as a supplier and shared in the sense of pride that enthused through the whole company. Really want them to turn this around again but not sure this is the answer.

      • + 0
      • Jun 18 2018 - 22:53
    • @Calle @RogerF1 I think there's plenty of scapegoating going on, but it's being done more by fans rather than Mclaren. I agree that they made things incredibly worst with bold talk of wins and podiums. However, seems that after a couple of GPs they've toned it done to normal levels. You don't hear them making bold predictions anymore do you? Also, I'd say that outside of the F1 team, Mclaren's image has never been better. Their road cars are selling at record levels, good reviews across the board, expanding their racing footprint, etc.

      As mentioned before, McLaren is already have collected 85% of the total points from 2017 and we're not even half way through the season. McLaren has improved massively, the problem has been the absurd standards and expectations management created; and of course you also have history. McLaren exists to win. All of these fighting for 8th and 7th places is hard to swallow. But let's not lose perspective. The team is not going from winning 6 races in a year to not even scoring podiums like it happened from 2012 to 2014 still with a Mercedes engine. McLaren is on course to score more points this year than in 2013 (121 pts).

      • + 0
      • Jun 19 2018 - 01:11
    • Bhurt

      Posts: 320

      @AJP - they only make bold nonsensical statements in the off-season. Once the season starts and their car is shown to be mediocre, they shift into excuse-mode. They'll cycle back into making bold and ridiculous statements once we're back in off-season mode. Their 2019 car will have surpassed all predictions and benchmarks heading into 2019 pre-seasons testing. Just watch.

      • + 1
      • Jun 19 2018 - 10:32
    • Yeah, as BHURT says, McLaren has entered what the game industry refers to as the Molyneux cycle: perpetual excuses and promising the next will be much better, nay superior to anything else. But its true that McLaren's car division has a great reputation currently, as it should, but that does sadly not help its F1 case. As I've said, I never went into this season expecting wins, I dont think anyone truly did, but since they promised wins and podiums they've caused some of this mess themselves.

      • + 0
      • Jun 19 2018 - 11:15
  • The best thing would be to fire Boullier immediately.

    • + 0
    • Jun 18 2018 - 19:58
  • Fire the lot and let Whitmarsh start a team. Otherwise shut up and get back to work. People forget that McLaren was doing terrible before Whitmarsh left.

    • + 0
    • Jun 19 2018 - 15:54
  • Major Tom

    Posts: 152

    Yer. Because he was so successful last time!

    • + 0
    • Jun 20 2018 - 17:36

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar