The Scotsman

Boullier steps down as Mclaren bid to revive their flagging fortunes

- By PHILIP DUNCAN

Eric Boul lie rh ad to quit McLaren in order for Britain’ s most successful Formula One team to rise from the worst slump in their history, chief executive Zak Brown has claimed.

Frenchman Boulliert endered his resignatio­n to Brown only days before Mclaren’s home race at Silverston­e, leading to a dramatic shake- up of their management structure.

Gilde Ferrarn, who coached Fernando Alonso at last year’s Indy 500, takes up the new role of Sporting Director, while Andrea Stella, who moved to Mclaren with Alonso from Ferrari, is promoted to Perform ance Director. Simon Roberts will be responsibl­e for the technical aspects of the car.

Boullier, 44, has been in charge of the British team during the worst run in their 52- year history, and his position as racing director became untenable this season.

He insisted only 12 days ago that he would not resign despite reports of a staff revolt at the team’s HQ in Woking.

But, on the eve of the British Grand Prix, Browns aid Boullier’ s departure as the start of a new era for the woefully underperfo­rming team.

“It has been a difficult time for everyone at McLaren, and Eric felt, that in order for Mclaren to go forward in the best possible light, his resignatio­n would allow that to happen,” Brown said. “I have spent a lot of time with Eric and obviously we have been under a lot of pressure and underperfo­rming for too long.”

Mclaren have won 20 drivers’ and constructo­rs’ championsh­ips, but they are without a victory since 2012, and have failed to finish on the podium in more than four years.

 ??  ?? 0 Eric Boullier: Resigned.
0 Eric Boullier: Resigned.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom