Boullier resigns as McLaren racing director

Eric Boullier has resigned as McLaren’s racing director with immediate effect as sweeping changes continue at the Woking-based team.

Boullier, who joined McLaren in January 2014 working under former chief Ron Dennis, has recently come under fire with a series of team issues following a difficult start to the 2018 Formula 1 campaign having switched to Renault power.

McLaren has confirmed Boullier offered his resignation to McLaren chief executive Zak Brown yesterday (July 3) and will leave with immediate effect which has triggered a managerial shake-up.

Simon Roberts, McLaren’s chief operating officer, will oversee production, engineering and logistics with Andrea Stella appointed performance director who will be in charge of trackside operations. Gil de Ferran takes up a new role as sporting director.

In a statement released by McLaren, Boullier says it is ‘the right time’ to leave the Woking-based squad.

“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,” Boullier said. “I want to wish everyone at McLaren the best for the remainder of the season and for the future.”

Brown has thanked Boullier for his efforts and says the failings of his MCL33 are this season have required ‘major change from within’. In April, Tim Goss was removed from his chief technical officer position with Boullier’s exit signalling the next step of major management changes at the team.

“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,” Brown said.

“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.

“I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the entire team to thank Eric for his service and contribution to McLaren and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

McLaren slipped down to sixth place in the F1 world constructors’ championship after the Austrian Grand Prix despite Fernando Alonso’s pit lane to eight place performance at the Red Bull Ring.

Rumoured of unrest inside McLaren were reported last month with team members unhappy with the management direction which the team has since denied.