Ron Dennis

[Sawtooth-spike]

GAVE team orders at melbourne 97

When it was not against the rules to do so. Whats yours point?

Critising somebody for doing something that is NOW ilegal when it wasnt then is not really relivent.

[mcdenife]

Any well informed F1 fan should know about these facts.

http://www.autoracing1.com/MarkC/2002/1 ... Bernie.asp

Wow!!

[Tom]

That article is one of the worst pieces of journolism I've seen in a long time. If those are the 'facts' you're going on I'm be highly suspicious of your other sources. A while ago you drilled Autosport into the ground and then you quote them as evidence for your cause.

I suggest you pay less attention to media 'soundbites' and interviews with journos and pick up an autobiography of one of the drivers, team bosses or mechanics. These guys are usually retired and have nothing to lose by dishing the dirt on former team mates, bosses and other drivers. I recomend Steve Matchett, a Benneton Mechanic who worked with the likes of Ross Brawn; Michael Schumacher; Nelson Piquet; Riccardo Patrese; Martin Brundle; Johnny Herbert; Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi, he was employed by none other than Nigel Stepney in 1990 and worked under Benetton for 8 years.
For an insider opinion from outside the governing body or any team read Sid Watkins account: 'Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One' which gives detailed accounts of his encounters with Ecclestone and Mosley as well as many leading F1 drivers and key ersonnel.
For a look from the point of view of a team owner and driver try 'Winning is not Enough' by Sir Jackie Stewart.

However I feel you'll probably ignore his advice because it doesn't fit with your opinions.

[Project Four]

I think dennis is a bad factor for F1. The other poster said he has brought good things to our sport. My question was, what are those great things? Im like a sheep in the valley of darkness. If you can show my deluded vieuws are wrong then ill readily accept that.

What good has Ron Dennis done for Formula 1 ? ?, now this should be a debate on the spear of influence that we can see Ron Dennis influencing or which his team has shaped and influenced. Not on any reported battles he has had with FIA, as it isn’t down to team principal to the frame the rules and debates about you said this and I said that and you stopped this are fruitless. We do not know the full story, of what happened and all the politics behind them.

So the good as I see it, is firstly that since Ron Dennis took over the McLaren team they have achieved 131 Race Wins, scored 2,586.5 points, won 9 Driver World Titles and 7 Constructor World Titles.

Now this should be good enough for anyone, this is a major influence on the shape of F1 and it would have brought some joy into people life’s as they rejoiced these wins.

Along with this he is also behind or has shaped the following:-

1. Taken the failing McLaren team back to the top after they had been on a slow decline since winning the 1976 championship

2. Brought into F1 the first carbon fibre monoque, now standard.

3. The first team to look at component life-cycles and have an asset register so that parts on the care were changed before they failed.

4. First to have the chassis designer influence the design of the engine to integrate the engine design (TAG-Porsche engine)to incorporate needs of chassis and aerodynamics

5. Behind the paddock motor home / corporate hospitability, which people complain about but has brought into F1 money which has allowed F1 to develop into the pinnacle motor sport.

6. Used a ‘No Team Orders, let them race’, so that we saw exciting racing with fights for lead, during the years when they were the dominate team (unlike Ferrari in the early 2000’s)

7. Moved away from the star designer and brought in team matrix management structure.

8. Brought in driver fitness training, personnel trainers and proper diets for the drivers.

9. Been behind and supported the McLaren / Autosport BRDC driver programme, which has supported young tracing drivers since 1989. This has given us Coulthard, Davidson, Button to name just a few.

10. Brought into F1 professionalism, which has made people money but also has raised the profile of F1 so that now all races are broadcast live on TV

[DaveKillens]

So you don't like Ron Dennis, POL? Neither do I, I never felt any warmth about this person. But I have been around F1 for many decades, and although I do not feel any bond with Dennis, I sure respect him and recognize everything he has done. Heck, Todt has done many incredible things, too but I look upon him as a cockroach (personally). Just because you have a lack of empathy for someone you don't need to endlessly rant and rave about their shortcomings.
My personal opinion... without Ron Dennis, F1 would be a much poorer and lesser event.

[HKS]

So you don't like Ron Dennis, POL? Neither do I, I never felt any warmth about this person. But I have been around F1 for many decades, and although I do not feel any bond with Dennis, I sure respect him and recognize everything he has done. Heck, Todt has done many incredible things, too but I look upon him as a cockroach (personally). Just because you have a lack of empathy for someone you don't need to endlessly rant and rave about their shortcomings.
My personal opinion... without Ron Dennis, F1 would be a much poorer and lesser event.

I would have agreed with you upto 2005 season. Specially after 2007 season,he has lost that respect that I had for him.

[P_O_L]

I think dennis is a bad factor for F1. The other poster said he has brought good things to our sport. My question was, what are those great things? Im like a sheep in the valley of darkness. If you can show my deluded vieuws are wrong then ill readily accept that.

What good has Ron Dennis done for Formula 1 ? ?, now this should be a debate on the spear of influence that we can see Ron Dennis influencing or which his team has shaped and influenced. Not on any reported battles he has had with FIA, as it isn’t down to team principal to the frame the rules and debates about you said this and I said that and you stopped this are fruitless. We do not know the full story, of what happened and all the politics behind them.

So the good as I see it, is firstly that since Ron Dennis took over the McLaren team they have achieved 131 Race Wins, scored 2,586.5 points, won 9 Driver World Titles and 7 Constructor World Titles.

Now this should be good enough for anyone, this is a major influence on the shape of F1 and it would have brought some joy into people life’s as they rejoiced these wins.

Along with this he is also behind or has shaped the following:-

1. Taken the failing McLaren team back to the top after they had been on a slow decline since winning the 1976 championship

2. Brought into F1 the first carbon fibre monoque, now standard.

3. The first team to look at component life-cycles and have an asset register so that parts on the care were changed before they failed.

4. First to have the chassis designer influence the design of the engine to integrate the engine design (TAG-Porsche engine)to incorporate needs of chassis and aerodynamics

5. Behind the paddock motor home / corporate hospitability, which people complain about but has brought into F1 money which has allowed F1 to develop into the pinnacle motor sport.

6. Used a ‘No Team Orders, let them race’, so that we saw exciting racing with fights for lead, during the years when they were the dominate team (unlike Ferrari in the early 2000’s)

7. Moved away from the star designer and brought in team matrix management structure.

8. Brought in driver fitness training, personnel trainers and proper diets for the drivers.

9. Been behind and supported the McLaren / Autosport BRDC driver programme, which has supported young tracing drivers since 1989. This has given us Coulthard, Davidson, Button to name just a few.

10. Brought into F1 professionalism, which has made people money but also has raised the profile of F1 so that now all races are broadcast live on TV

Good! I like these points. Im still not convinced but at least i have a better idea what mclaren has brought in terms of technology.

When it was not against the rules to do so. Whats yours point?

Critising somebody for doing something that is NOW ilegal when it wasnt then is not really relivent.

My point was not that giving team orders was illegal. The point is he made his team giving false statements about the so called driver agreement. That agreement never existed. He never asked DC to move over, he TOLD him to. There is a big difference.

And if the point against Ferraris tactics is they should provide a race, like roebuck said, then it was hypocrite to defend mclarens no race tactics at melbourne 98. Where from lap 1 til the end, there was no race. Their cars where about 1.5 sec a lap faster than anybody else and it was just a travesty.

I dont think my feelings on Dennis will evaporate quickly, but I just hope you respect my opinion. Oh, and Tom..if i have time il try the mechanics book, but Jacky Stewart is another character i just cant stand. Just like Mosley

[P_O_L]

I know a positive point about mclaren!! Ring the news!!

I LOVED the Marlboro livery. In fact we should start a thread just about liveries. But that Marlboro scheme was ace. Miles better than West or the current colours.

[Spencifer_Murphy]

You're right P_O_L, we shud start a thread about liveries, either that or the most beautiful F1 car ever.

F1 Racing magazine ran an article about the latter a while ago, and it brought up a few classics. It would be interesting to see what us - the fans - think, not a bunch of designers.