Dennis will decide his future at McLaren

LONDON, England -- McLaren have said that Ron Dennis will make up his own mind whether to continue as McLaren team principal this season or hand over to designated heir Martin Whitmarsh.

They denied that engine partners Mercedes, who own 40 percent of the Formula One team, were exerting pressure on 60-year-old Dennis.

Whitmarsh, McLaren chief executive, told Monday's Guardian newspaper that for the moment all talk was mere speculation.

"I certainly think we need to stem the tide of the 'Ron has had it' coverage which we've seen in some sections of the media recently," he said.

"It's entirely, and I emphasise entirely, his decision if he decides he will have a change of role.

"There's no pressure either on me or from me," added Whitmarsh.

"I've been at McLaren for 19 years and am incredibly patient. Nor do I intend to be the Judas who knifed Ron in the back."

Dennis has already passed much of the day-to-day running of the team to Whitmarsh and has talked in the past about his desire to stand back.

Last year McLaren were fined a record $100 million and stripped of all their constructors' points after allegations of spying involving leaked Ferrari data.

Dennis, who announced last month he was separating from his wife Lisa after 22 years of marriage, was recently questioned by an Italian magistrate investigating the Ferrari controversy.

Britain's Sunday Times newspaper said that Dennis, who owns 15 percent of McLaren, wanted to spend more time with his three children.

Dennis started his Formula One career as a mechanic with Cooper in 1966 and was later chief mechanic at Brabham.

In 1980, he took charge of struggling team founded by the late New Zealander Bruce McLaren. They have since won 132 races, seven constructors' championships and nine drivers' crowns. E-mail to a friend