McLaren loses second key player.

According to reports, the McLaren team may be heading into 2001 minus two of the men who brought it success in recent years.

The departure of aerodynamicist Henri Durand to French rivals Prost has already been well documented, and deprives the Woking outfit of one of Adrian Newey's key colleagues in a department where McLaren has held an advantage over the rest of the field. Now, it has emerged that a second leading figure has been tempted away - this time to arch rivals Ferrari.

Anton Sitpinovic has been charged with the management of McLaren's 'black box' control units in recent years and, as such, is understood to have been responsible for the improvements in electronics that brought two titles, many a rapid getaway, and a mid 2000 season resurgence, to Mika Hakkinen.

Being in charge of another area where the Silver Arrows have held the upper hand in recent championship battles, it is unsurprising that the South African would quickly become a target for covetous eyes, and Ferrari is rumoured to have offered him a substantial pay hike to change sides.

Knowing McLaren, there will be moves to fill the unexpected vacancies, and they will be filled well, but it will be interesting to see how long it takes the new look line-up to make its mark next season.