Stories suggesting that Sam Michael will become the McLaren Merecedes Team Principal are completely wide of the mark. It is no secret that Martin Whitmarsh is out of the role and while there is a job that is waiting for him at McLaren, heading a beefed-up McLaren Applied Technologies division, which has been created in recent weeks with McLaren Electronics being rolled into Applied Technologies, it is not clear whether Martin will take the offer or simply depart. The changes will have come as a major blow to him but he is a man who has a great deal of value to rival F1 teams and would be a good recruit for a number of them.
Ron Dennis made it clear when he took over McLaren that he would make announcements in February and that would suggest that the answer to the Team Principal question is not as obvious as some people are surmising. It is logical to assume, given Dennis’s neat and tidy nature, that he would have made an announcement about a new Team Principal when he returned to the helm if there was a decision that had been made. That did not happen and this clearly indicates to me that the new team principal will not be Ross Brawn (who has been a free agent since January 1) nor will it be someone who is already at McLaren (ie Sam Michael, Jonathan Neale or another executive). The only logical conclusion is that Dennis has someone in mind who needs to extract himself (or herself) from another position. That being the case, there will be an explosion brewing somewhere else which might give us the answer that we are looking for.
joeblogsf1 
Completely out of the blue, I wonder if Monisha Kaltenborn could be considered? Just a thought and not the most obvious contender, but your comment “or herself” in your blog started me thinking.
She is a talented person, but she owns 30 percent of the team, which sort of welds her into the position on a fairly permanent basis!
Toto Wolff own(ed/s) some Wiliams shares… though not thirty percent.
But then Mr Wolff owns a chunk of Williams. But then you knew I was going to say that!
Looks like there’s plenty of unfinished work at Sauber to me, starting with the blank car might be prudent. How many years can you run a car devoid of sponsorship?
I hope you’re right about it not being Sam Michael and I hope you’re wrong about it not being Ross Brawn!
The only really explosive brew-haha right now would be someone with a name that rhymes with Mistian Corner?
No, I can think of others. Horner is not a good fit for McLaren. Not at all.
Haug?
Yes… Very Honda-friendly!
Aguri Suzuki? š
Not everyone’s mate Briattore?
Is it reasonable to rule Dennis himself out?
Yes. LOL re Briatore. That’s as likely as Bernie hiring Adam Parr…
Boullier… ?
Agree 100%. Not a good fit with McLaren OR Ron Dennis for that matter. Thinking back to that now infamous incident last season, can anybody really imagine Ron (when he was team principal) saying something like…….’Oh come on Seb, this is silly’?…….Can you imagine it say, during 1988 if RD had said; ‘Oh come on Ayrton, this is silly’…..!!……..No, a poor fit at McLaren indeed.
Racking my brains but struggling to think of someone both the right calibre and compatible with Ron. I was really hoping for Ross but couldn’t really see him working with Ron.
Having worked in the same team as Sam Michael I can honestly say I don’t think he is Team Principle material. Nice man but very unassuming in my opinion.
So, Joe can we work on the assumption Ron will replace Martin with a Team Principle from another F1 team? Or could it be from outside F1?
We just have to wait and see…
Damn, I was hoping that would at least illicit a small hint š What’s your opinion of John Booth
Lovely fellow.
Well played š Ill just have to wait. Will you be doing an audience in Melbourne this year?
What about Adam Parr? – He might fit the bill or is he completely finished from the F1 business?
I think he’d be a very good choice but only in a little while from now…
Yes, only after a certain Bernard has shuffled off.
He is perhaps Bernie’s least favorite person over the past few years. There would be little sense in a team stirring the hornet’s nest by hiring someone guaranteed to raise the ire of the man who remains the most powerful person in the sport.
Whoa..Are you suggesting that the German courts will hold Mr E guilty to a degree and F1 would distance itself from him for Mr Parr to make a re-entry into the scene ?
Whitmarsh comes from an engineering background – both academically and pre-McLaren vocationally whereas Adam Parr comes from a legal/financial background, and even while running Williams he still had Patrick Head overseeing the engineering affairs.
Granted, Parr does appear to have a cache of credibility and would have won a lot of sympathetic supporters after publishing his graphic novel.
However, given that McLaren are *only* looking for someone to run the F1 team and not the McLaren Group, and considering also that the F1 team is in a strong-enough financial situation to get through the year without a headline sponsor, would there really be much mileage in having Parr running the McLaren F1 team?
It’s a position I will be more than happy to consider.
I think that Ron will get back Paddy Lowe to take over as Team principle.He knows McLaren and will be into the job running. Mercedes are too top heavy still in my opinion to be attractive for him to continue even with the departure of Ross.
Don’t bet the farm on it…
I hope it isn’t Sam Michael but I’m struggling to imagine someone else than Brawn!
Inside F1 there is no one who I can imagine can do the job better than Whitmarsh (apart from Brawn) and suits McLaren.
Maybe someone from the outside?
My money’s on Eric Boullier…
According to Autosport you are right….you should claim a prize š
And the winner is….
Ditto
Cher-ching
i think we have a winner!
BBC Sport is reporting that Gerald Lopez has taken over as team principal from Eric Bouiller at Lotus, while also saying a “source close to” Bouiller is saying he is moving to McLaren…
Indeed. He just bailed on Lotus.
I was thinking Monisha Kaltenborn too but had forgotten she’s a Sauber shareholder. Agree that it won’t be Ross ā really can’t see him and Ron D working together. Hmmm, who else is there that’s got the big balls needed AND can work under Ron? Could a younger Ron (mini-Ron) have been cloned in some kind of seething, nutrient filled tank deep underground at the MTC?
Could Martin W end-up at Williams? Real dark horse team for 2014 if he did: Massa, Mercedes power unit, new Martini sponsorship (please make the car look good). It could all come together if they get the aero right. Wonder what odds one could get for Massa as WDC in 2014?
Massa’s currently 100/1 so if you’re feeling lucky…
It seems to be fashionable now for teams to look at those at a lower level than team principle for promotion. Gone are the days of major headline transfers every few months. People like Paddy Lowe and Ross Brawn are good examples- Tech directors who wanted more. So maybe that’s the direction we should be looking in. Nigel Stepney is one that springs to mind.
Good job as usual Joe, seems the cat is now out of the bag on this one.
I wouldn’t have expected Eric Boullier to McLaren, but there are few other sensible reasons why he’d step down so close to the start of the season.
Eric Boullier
I agree it will not be Sam Michael otherwise it would have been announced when Ron Dennis took over, also he would not promote an existing incumbent until after he complete his review.
It is unlikely that someone holding a similar position in another team will be hired because they will have a contract for this current season. Therefore we shall just have to wait and see. However, don’t rule out Ross Brawn just yet.
You are not listening…
Given the explosion of news coming out of Lotus, it appears to be Eric Boullier…
Joe, is the explosion your are refering to Eric Boullier departing Lotus?
Eric Bouiller just left Lotus.
Yes. Funny that…
Do none of these people read your column in Autocar Joe ?
Thought of McLaren as soon as I saw the Lotus announcement. Go you Mr Saward!
No mention of “Gardening Leave”! Perhaps he hasn’t been paid either, which would probably put Genii in breach of contract?
Martin
You knew all along!
Eric Bouliier just quit Lotus – destination McLaren?
Doors closed. Signing off for some hours.
Ding Ding Ding – We have a winner!
Musical chairs, now it’s Lotus turn to slide down the grid. A shame to see a lean organization that performed so well reward the hard working staff with chaos. The commercial rights holder needs to take some responsibility when it comes to the sport attracting title sponsors – Sauber, Lotus, McLaren even having sponsorship difficulties – it seems the global sponsors aren’t meaningfully buying the F1 brand – Bernie pricing everyone out of the market – rates in keeping with F1 economics rather than real world economics, the market has spoken.
Such unfortunate timing; don’t bug the pilots too much for F1 updates from the control towers!
Eric Boullier , i will give him about six months he dresses like a slob, a no no for our Ron
So the hot off the press news that Eric Boullier has just lift Lotus may be intresting in this picture perhaps ?
exiles Ron and Adam join forces to return and defeat the mighty Charles
So McLaren plans to take someone from another team, violating the 6 month gardening leave standard? A standard that was stipulated by the courts. They must also hope to get this hire past the contract recognition board.
That only seems possible if the team from which the hire is being poached has somehow violated the terms of the prospective hire’s contract.
Given the dire financial distress some teams have suffered these past months, it’s certainly possible that any of a number of teams may have neglected to pay all their employees in a timely fashion.
Lack of pay is usually enough to violate an employment contract. If this is such an employee, they may well be able to extricate themselves. Though as Joe says, there could be an almighty fight.
So the bigger news will really be Lotus not making the grid for 2014……????
That has to be the next logical line of questioning. And with the captain of the ship jumping off, will the staff exodus accelerate and make competing impossible regardless of any late resolution to funding issues ?
The leadership is important and Lopez is not an experienced Team Principal. It would be wiser to find someone else, but it is not an attractive job at the moment, which is why Lopez is having to do it.
So where is Eric Boullier headed? Out & away from F1 all together or Macca possibly?
Double Wammi Eric Boullier to be new McLaren Team Principle!
What was that train film with Frank Sinatra?
Oh yes……Von Ryan’s Express…..
Kowalsky thinks boullier. Brawn goles to ferrari.
Well, it just happened. ItĀ“s Boullier…
Sam Michael has the ‘touch of death’ and would be a disaster.
Hi Joe
I know you’ll be off air for a few hours but I note with interest the Eric Boullier has left Lotus and will probably become McLaren Team Principle. I posted on your blog last week that it was my guess they’d go for him but you didn’t upload my post. Were you aware of this pending but sworn to secrecy? Do enlighten me as I’d love to know.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254
I’ll never tell…
Thats why I love your blog. You know everything but can keep a secret for your sources. I think he’s the best man for the job, a much better fit for McLaren than Brawn would have been.
slight side note, but at same time as Eric has Lotus left Gerard Lopez has announced he will become team principal (he is trying to top the quantum deal silliness with this one!). Sadly I don’t think there will be much left to be principal off soon. I truly hope Enstone will find a saviour as these people seem dead set to ruin it all.
Niki Lauda;)!!!
Wish I had posted this comment earlier this morning before Boullier left, as this would have looked prescient… Looking down the list of existing team principals he does look like a strong candidate. He’s acheived a lot there despite all the financial issues and he’s managed to calm Grosjean down.
We now know its going to be Boullier
Another little snippet of extra McLaren news. Lotus’s chief engineer Ciaran Pilbeam (also ex-Red Bull) has left to join them. Even more reason to think that Boullier might be moving there too i.e. a package deal??
If Ron Denis could convince Eric Boulier to leave Lotus and run McLaren, it would be quite a coup ! Hats off to Mr. Denis, balsy move, even for the Piranha Club
I agree with you that it is unlikely to be Sam notwithstanding his solid reputation for hard work. He unfortunately does not have the strong record of success that McLaren needs at this time. The Team needs to win now. One hopes that the tardiness in announcing either Brawn or Newey stems from the fact that:
(a) Brawn may be seeking added responsibilities beyond the TP role as well as assurances that he will enjoy complete and unfretted control. So Ron may be taking the time to see how Brawnās wishes may best be accommodated.
OR
(b) Newey may be seeking the position of TP & Design Chief. As design chief he may be seeking a similar type of complete freedom that he enjoys at Red Bull. Granting him a comparable level of Red Bull ā type freedom may be difficult in view of McLarenās inherent structure and philosophy
Ah Monsieur Saward, you are a very clever man wiz an insider knowledge of ze explosion on Lopez.
If Boulier does wind up at McLaren, it seems strange that he should be allowed to leave at a moment’s notice like this. He will be taking with him not only his expertise but also his knowledge of how Lotus have managed to build cars so superior to last year’s McLaren. When his own chief designer left, he was made to spend a period of gardening leave before joining Ferrari.
I wonder whether it is possible that, like Raikkonen, he might have been owed a substantial amount of salary money that Lotus was having trouble paying? And maybe he was willing to forgo this money in return for being allowed to leave immediately? If McLaren were by any chance willing to fund such a deal, it might well consider it money very well spent? Just wild speculation, needless to say.
If a contract has been broken in any way, it’s done, isn’t it?
/his knowledge of how Lotus have managed to build cars so superior to last yearās McLaren/
Boullier is not a designer AFAIK. And whatever was the secret of Lotus’ pace in 2013 compared with McLaren’s, it would be hardly useful in 2015 or 2014.
Look at Sportscars, GP2 or possibly the US for who McLaren are talking to….not other F1 Teams.
Joe has Boullier been paid? Can we assume a short time in the garden?
Joe can you see Martin W taking on an organisational role between MC and Honda, his prior role at mclaren seemed to provide an antidote to Ron’s optimised drive. Whitmarsh is an organiser and would be excellent in interfacing Honda? Also he could well be a buffer between Fernando and Ron?
No
More popcorn and soda please!!!
If Ron has chosen Boullier, the Gravity centre of gravity shifts quite dramatically, too. If young Kevin doesn’t work out, Button and Grosjean could be quite a stylish driver pairing in 2015 or beyond…
Joe, in December I suggested the departure of Whitmarsh and the arrival of Boullier at Woking on your blog for 2014…
And you thought I was smoking the green stuff?
Yes, in F1 things change all the time. It is the essence of the game.
Boullier, clearly a competent man – odd fit in a team that is British beyond British. The culture may make this short lived, successful or not.
Why? He ran Lotus very successfully despite owners who did not make it easy for him. The key is passion which goes beyond nationality!
The E22 shows that Enstone still has a talented aero team. And as for Dave Ryan taking the TP role, someone really has been smoking the green stuff! Boullier is an inspired choice; not surprising from a smart guy like Ron.
@Justin: Are you really serious in suggesting that MW be demoted to his old position as Ronās #2?! I canāt envision even some anti-MW guy wants him humiliated this way. He is a crack engineer, is well respected and most certainly deserves better. He also has fashioned very good relationship with all other Teams and is very well liked in the Press. (As Joe indicated he has options). As you mustāve noticed at one fairly well trafficked Blog every article, (subsequent to the Boardās recent decision), has called the Boardās recent decision a coup. Even the prestigious Telegraph has used this odious term in charactering the Boardās decision.
Whitmarsh to replace bernie š