Boullier resigns in management shake-up at struggling Mclaren

Eric Boullier, Mclaren’s racing director, has resigned after overseeing the British team’s worst run in their 52-year grand prix history.

Gil de Ferran, a former Indycar champion, takes up the new role of sporting director, while Andrea Stella, who moved to Mclaren with Fernando Alonso from Ferrari, is promoted to performance director.

Boullier’s position has come under increasing scrutiny this season. The 44-year-old insisted only a fortnight ago that he would not resign despite reports of a staff revolt at the team’s Woking headquarters.

But only days before their home race at Silverstone, the British team have moved him on in a dramatic shake-up of their management structure.

Zak Brown, the team’s American chief executive, said: “The performance of the MCL33 in 2018 has not met the expectations of anyone at Mclaren, especially our loyal fans.

“This is not the fault of the hundreds of committed and hard-working men and women at Mclaren.

“The causes are systemic and structural, which require major change from within. With today’s announcement, we start to address those issues head on and take the first step on our road to recovery.”

Boullier added: “I am very proud to have worked with such a brilliant team over the past four years, but I recognise now is the right time for me to step down.”

Mclaren have won 20 drivers’ and constructors’ championships but they have not won a race since 2012, and have failed to finish on the podium in more than four years.

Alonso, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has scored all but eight of the team’s 44 points this season.

They are sixth in the constructors’ championship, 203 points behind Ferrari.