McLaren CEO Jost Capito set to leave the Formula 1 team

McLaren Racing CEO Jost Capito is set to depart the team, Autosport understands

McLaren CEO Jost Capito set to leave the Formula 1 team

While Capito, 58, currently remains a McLaren employee, he is no longer working day-to-day for the company.

The former director of motorsport for Volkswagen Group was announced in his McLaren role in January this year, joining the team on September 1.

He was appointed by McLaren's outgoing chairman and CEO Ron Dennis, but since Dennis was placed on 'gardening leave', pending the expiration of his current contract on January 15 2017, Capito's position was regarded as vulnerable, in some quarters.

Despite Capito's strong motorsport background, with a CV that includes guiding VW to world rally titles in both drivers' and manufacturers' championships for the past four consecutive seasons, some viewed his appointment as duplication of a role already occupied by racing director Eric Boullier.

McLaren would make no comment on Capito's position when approached by Autosport.

In a separate development the position of Ekrem Sami as a director of McLaren Technology Group was terminated on November 29.

Sami, 62, has been a close ally of Dennis for almost 40 years, since working as his personal assistant at Project Four Racing - the company that merged with McLaren in 1980.

In the ensuing decades Sami was responsible for leading McLaren's commercial charge and the development of many of the team's long-term partnerships with sponsors.

Sami's place on the McLaren Technology Group board has been taken by John Riches, a partner at London law firm, Withers, but Autosport understands that Sami remains in position as managing director of McLaren Marketing.

Riches' company biography describes him as an expert in wealth management and an industry award winner in his field.

It adds: "John is listed in both the Citywealth 2010 Leading Lawyers List Top 20 and Top 20 Men in Private Wealth Management and was recently voted by his peers as the leading private client lawyer in London."

shares
comments

Toro Rosso aiming to beat Force India and Williams in 2017 F1

Ferrari Formula 1 team signs Antonio Giovinazzi for 2017 role

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay

How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay How Perez kept Verstappen’s Saudi Arabian GP surge at bay

The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off

The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
GP Racing

The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off The enormous job facing F1 for its Vegas gamble to pay off

Testing times for Vasseur, but the true challenge at Ferrari is about to come

Testing times for Vasseur, but the true challenge at Ferrari is about to come

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Jonathan Noble

Testing times for Vasseur, but the true challenge at Ferrari is about to come Testing times for Vasseur, but the true challenge at Ferrari is about to come

How the F1 driver expression saga continues to have a Lineker-like problem

How the F1 driver expression saga continues to have a Lineker-like problem

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

How the F1 driver expression saga continues to have a Lineker-like problem How the F1 driver expression saga continues to have a Lineker-like problem

Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise

Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Adam Cooper

Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise

Why Mercedes is fronting up to its F1 mistakes too much

Why Mercedes is fronting up to its F1 mistakes too much

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Why Mercedes is fronting up to its F1 mistakes too much Why Mercedes is fronting up to its F1 mistakes too much

How a dynamic design tool has grown in F1 importance

How a dynamic design tool has grown in F1 importance

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

How a dynamic design tool has grown in F1 importance How a dynamic design tool has grown in F1 importance