Jan.16 (GMM) At the launch of the new MP4-24 single seater on Friday, McLaren's Ron Dennis announced he is to shortly hand over the reins of the Mercedes powered team to his long time deputy Martin Whitmarsh.
The hand-over of the team principal role will occur on March 1, but 61-year-old Dennis insisted to those at the team's Woking factory that he is not retiring and the move is "100 per cent my decision".
He will remain executive chairman, and focus on McLaren's new production car project without attending all the grands prix from now on.
"I will always be part of McLaren. I just want to have the odd longer weekend," the Briton said.