Ron Dennis
Team Principal, Team McLaren Mercedes. Chairman and CEO, McLaren Group

Ron Dennis, who was born in June 1947, began his career in motor racing in 1966 with the Cooper Racing Car Company. He moved to join the Brabham Racing team and by 1968 he had been appointed to the position of Chief Mechanic to Sir Jack Brabham. Three years later Ron launched his own company, Rondel Racing, and during the 1970s he ran a succession of highly successful teams, concentrating on the F2 and Procar Championships. In 1980, Ron’s company Project Four merged with Team McLaren Limited to form McLaren Racing. This was to be the catalyst for the success and diversification that McLaren has enjoyed to date. Since 1980, McLaren has won seven Constructors' World Championships and has claimed the Drivers’World Championship on nine occasions.

In 1989 Ron co-founded McLaren Cars, which designed and manufactured the revolutionary F1 road car and is now working in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler on the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car project. The McLaren Group has continued to grow and diversify and currently encompasses the McLaren Automotive Division (comprising McLaren Cars and McLaren Composites), McLaren Electronic Systems, McLaren Marketing, Absolute Taste and Lydden Circuit, all in addition to the flagship, McLaren Racing's Team McLaren Mercedes Formula One team. During 2004 two new businesses were created: McLaren Applied Technologies and McLaren Heritage.

During the year 2000 Ron, who lives in Surrey with his wife and three children was honoured with a CBE for services to motorsport. In 2001 Ron was presented with a BRDC Gold Medal in recognition for his contribution to motorsport. Ron was also awarded with an Hon DTech from De Montford University in 1996, an Hon DSc from City University, London, in 1997 and, in 2000, an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University of Surrey.



Martin Whitmarsh
CEO Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes

Martin Whitmarsh, born in April 1958, graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1980 and began his career at British Aerospace (now BAE SYSTEMS), working on finite element analysis. Martin rapidly progressed within the organisation and in 1988 he was promoted to Manufacturing Director. At the end of 1989, Martin left BAE SYSTEMS to join McLaren Racing, as Head of Operations, a role created to utilise his management expertise to assist with the growth and diversification of the company. Martin was primarily responsible for both the race and test teams, in addition to overseeing the company's engineering and manufacturing functions.

After two years at McLaren, Martin’s developing role saw him become Operations Director. In 1997, as the race team division and parent company, the McLaren Group continued to evolve, Martin was promoted to Managing Director, a role which encompassed managing the team of people and processes behind the Formula One operation and relationships with the company’s Technology Partners.

In addition to his key task of ensuring that the Group’s core business of Formula One continues to operate with success and efficiency, Martin is also involved in the long-term development of the McLaren Group. During Martin's time with the company, the McLaren team has secured three Constructors' and four Drivers’ World Championship titles. In April 2004 Martin was appointed CEO, Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes and is responsible for the Formula One engine and chassis programme.


Jonathan Neale
Managing Director, McLaren Racing

Jonathan Neale, born in August 1962, graduated from Nottingham with a Physics Degree in 1984, and joined Phillips Defence Systems shortly after. This technical-based role saw Jonathan’s work focus on semiconductor design, software and electronic warfare systems for submarines and surface ships. In 1991 Jonathan moved to BAE SYSTEMS as a Project Design Engineer on turboprop aircraft, and his managerial capabilities soon saw his role develop within the company. In 1995 he gained a Masters Degree from Manchester (MBA) and was promoted to Operations and Support Director for Regional Jets and by 1999 Jonathan had taken charge, as Managing Director, of the prestigious Hawk Fast Jet Programme.

Jonathan joined McLaren Racing, as Operations Director in 2001 taking on responsibility for the manufacturing processes, supply chain, transport and logistics and purchasing at the company. In April 2004, Jonathan was appointed Managing Director, which increased his responsibilities to include the engineering departments, enabling him to become more involved in the technical strategy and direction of McLaren Racing.


Norbert Haug
Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

Born in 1952, Norbert Haug has spent a lifetime in the company of cars - in particular, racing cars. Having started out as a trainee journalist on the daily newspaper in his home town of Pforzheim, his enthusiasm for everything with wheels and an engine brought him to the Stuttgart publishing house Motor-Presse-Verlag in 1975. He began as a member of the editorial team for the specialist magazine sport auto, then in 1976, he took charge of the sports department for the publisher's flagship journal auto motor und sport. In 1985, Haug became editor-in-chief of sport auto, before returning to auto motor und sport as deputy editor-in-chief in 1988.

Two years later, married and with one daughter, Norbert Haug switched sides - the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG appointed the motoring journalist with insider knowledge to be their new Head of Motorsport. Since 1st October 1990, he has been in overall charge of all Mercedes-Benz’ corporate motor sport activities. Under Norbert Haug's leadership, Mercedes-Benz reached the very top of international motor sport. As engine supplier, the ‘brand with the star’ celebrated its return to Formula One in 1994, and in partnership with Penske won the Indianapolis 500.

One year later, the partnership with the McLaren team was struck – a working relationship which has so far brought success with victories in the 1998 Formula One Drivers’ and Constructors’World Championships, and again in 1999 with Mika Hakkinen’s Drivers’World title. In 2000, 2001 and 2003, the team finished runner-up in the Drivers' ranking and, additionally, in 2000 and 2001 in the Constructors' standing.

Since 1991, Mercedes-Benz also collected championship titles in other important motor sport categories throughout the 1990s: German Touring Car (DTM) champions in 1992, 1994 and 1995; International Touring Car (ITC) champions in 1995; in 1997, Mercedes-Benz were top of the manufacturer’s ratings in the American CART Championships; in 1997 and 1998, AMG Mercedes won both the drivers’ and team titles in the FIA GT Championships. In 2000, 2001 and 2003, Mercedes-Benz and Bernd Schneider took three titles in the new DTM.

Ola Kaellenius
Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines

Ola Källenius, born on 11th June 1969, was appointed Managing Director of Mercedes High Performance Engines in December 2004. A DaimlerChrysler affiliate, Mercedes High Performance Engines is responsible for the design, development and production of Mercedes-Benz Formula One engines.

Swede Ola joined the Management Associate Programme of the then Daimler-Benz AG in 1993. In 1995 he became head of the Controlling department in M-Class production in Tuscaloosa, USA. He changed to Engine, Exhaust Management and Electronic Engine Component Procurement in 2000 before being appointed Director of Powertrain Procurement with responsibility for all engine and powertrain procurement issues at the end of 2001. In early 2003, he joined McLaren Cars as a DaimlerChrysler representative and employee having been appointed Executive Director of Operations for Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren production.