Ilmor Boss Leaves after McLaren Reshuffle

Mercedes have parted company with Hans-Ulrich Maik, the man who ran the Ilmor company that builds troubled McLaren's Formula One engines.

"There was an agreement between both parties and we split," said Mercedes motorsport head Norbert Haug at the San Marino Grand Prix on Friday.

McLaren have suffered their worst start to a season in 23 years, with last year's overall runner-up Kimi Raikkonen sidelined by engine problems and mechanical failure in all three races to date.

The team, winners of more races and Drivers' Championships than any team other than Ferrari, are now fifth in the Championship with just four points. At the last Bahrain Grand Prix, the Finn made sure everyone knew his engine had blown by continuing to run with a sheet of flame bursting out the back of his car.

Haug said McLaren had carried out a management reshuffle with managing director Martin Whitmarsh taking on the role of company chief executive officer in charge of the McLaren-Mercedes programme.

"We didn't achieve what we wanted to achieve in the first three races but we are working very hard to come back to where we used to be," said Haug.