With Whitmarsh as team principal, McLaren endured a torrid 2013, their worst
season since 1980, as they failed to score a single podium. Button scored a
best-placed finish of fourth at the final race in Brazil, as the team
finished behind Boullier’s Lotus in the constructors, who operate on a
shoestring budget.
Whitmarsh was not mentioned in the latest announcement, after not being
involved in the launch of the new car last week, and it appears the title of
team principal at McLaren will become redundant.
Dennis, who took Whitmarsh’s job as CEO of the McLaren Group as part of his
regaining control earlier this month, said: “Eric’s appointment is an
integral part of a senior management restructure within McLaren Racing.
“I’ve already personally conveyed to the entire workforce of the McLaren
Group, which includes McLaren Racing, the values, principles and mindset
that I intend us all to adopt, going forward. My intention is that from now
on everyone at McLaren Racing will understand their responsibilities and
accountabilities, focusing on their specific areas of expertise, in keeping
with those values, principles and mindset.
“In due course we’ll announce the identity of McLaren Racing’s new Chief
Executive Officer, who’ll report to me, and to whom Eric will report.”
Boullier, 40, added: “First of all, I regard this appointment as an honour, a
privilege and a wonderful opportunity.
“The McLaren Racing workforce and the facilities at the McLaren Technology
Centre are world-class, and I’m hugely excited about the prospect of joining
such an outstanding team.
“I’m both eager and determined to play an active part, working alongside
McLaren Racing’s other senior managers and directors, within a new
operational structure, to bring about the changes that will deliver success.
“Last, I want to take this opportunity to assure the McLaren Racing workforce
that I’m utterly determined to match their famous passion and commitment to
win.”
Meanwhile in Jerez, McLaren have been operating in testing seemingly without a
team principal, but at least Jenson Button finally made it out on track
following a frustrating start to pre-season testing. Of the nine teams with
an available car to run on the opening day at Jerez on Tuesday, Button was
the only driver not to turn a wheel in anger.
McLaren described the situation as “a challenging start”, and that like other
teams they had “faced difficulties” readying the MP4-29 for the first of the
three winter tests.
The team blamed “electrical issues” for the lack of running which required the
dismantling, inspection and reinstallation of several major components.
Given the complexities of the new powertrain units (turbocharged 1.6-litre V6s
have replaced the 2.4-litre V8s) and the new-for-2014 ERS (energy recovery
system), all the teams have faced headaches in the build process, hampered
by the lack of time.
But on a chilly, damp second day on Wednesday, McLaren completed an
installation lap early on, followed by a further 12 laps of the southern
Spanish track in just over three hours of the session.