McLaren boss Ron Dennis facing battle to keep hold of job after Chinese approach
RON DENNIS, the long-serving McLaren boss, is facing a battle to save his career at the British team.
Reports last night claimed that Dennis, 69, tabled a £1.65billion buyout of the McLaren Technology Group from a number of unnamed Chinese investors last week.
But the move is said to have provoked his fellow shareholders to try and remove Dennis from the group with an emergency meeting of the McLaren board called last night.
It is claimed that the summit could lead to his immediate suspension from the group.
Reports also claimed that Dennis appeared at London’s High Court on Thursday in a bid to prevent him from being placed on gardening leave until his contract expires in January.
Dennis, who has been involved with McLaren since 1980, stood down as McLaren team boss in 2009 but returned as chief executive of the team five years later.
The Englishman, instrumental in signing Lewis Hamilton to McLaren – for whom he claimed his first world title in 2008 – has spearheaded the Woking-based marque to a number of driver and constructors’ championships.
AWKWARD moment Robbie Williams reveals he hates F1
But their success has dried up in recent years, and their renewed relationship with Japanese engine manufacturer Honda has failed to provide a return to winning ways.
On the circuit itself, worldchampion Hamilton reminded Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg that he will not hand over his title without a fight after dominating practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, 19 points behind Rosberg with two races remaining,was fastest in both sessions at a hot and sunny Interlagos with his best lap of one minute 11.895 seconds set on soft compound tyres in the morning.
Rosberg was third, and 0.230 off the pace in that session, but ended the day second on the afternoon timesheets and just 0.030 slower.