Ron Dennis: « I will never return to the F1 paddock »
McLaren's iconic former boss Ron Dennis has ruled out a return to Formula 1. Discreet but still passionate, the Briton now prefers to watch the Grand Prix from a distance and cultivate a life far from the spotlight, without nostalgia or regrets.
You have nothing to offer. At 78, Ron Dennis observes Formula 1 with a critical eye but without bitterness. Architect of McLaren’s success starting in 1980, craftsman of the Senna-Prost era, and mentor to Lewis Hamilton, he remains a key figure in the modern history of the sport. However, unlike other former executives or drivers, he will never set foot in the paddock again.
“I will never go back,” he told the Times. “You can imagine that I have children and grandchildren, and they bother me about this. I’ll arrange it for them, but I won’t go.”
Why such a distance? I’ve seen people return to Formula 1 after leaving it. The problem is that your opinion is outdated, even if you are a multiple world champion. People are polite, that’s all you expect from them. They sit you down, they serve you a coffee, but you have nothing to offer. You’re a spare part and I would never want to be in that position. I have better things to do.
An unwavering love for racing, not for the commentators.
If he no longer goes to the circuits, Dennis continues to follow the Grand Prix. But in his own way: without sound.
« I always mute the sound because I know too much to want to listen to the nonsense some commentators might say », he explains, probably referring to Sky F1’s coverage, of which he is a British viewer. A blunt critique that contrasts with Christian Horner’s enthusiastic statements about Flavio Briatore’s return to the paddocks: « It’s refreshing to see Flav back. Those press conferences were so boring before you came back », rejoiced the Red Bull boss.
Ron Dennis, for his part, was never sidelined from F1 due to a scandal. His withdrawal in 2016 followed McLaren’s decline in competitiveness, but it never tarnished his reputation. However, his name is rarely mentioned in current discussions, which some observers consider an injustice.
An active retirement, a strong attachment to the United Kingdom
Between philanthropy, a passion for sports, and a love of gardening, Dennis now leads a discreet but committed life. Estimated at 450 million pounds, he notably donated a million during the pandemic to fund meals for NHS caregivers. It was never about the money, he recalls.
Deeply British, he never sought to exile himself for tax reasons. “I am a passionate Briton,” he asserts. “You would have a good headline if I told you how much tax I have paid in my life. But I won’t do it, because that would be the only thing highlighted in the article.”
And to conclude, not without a touch of irony: “I love our changing weather. I have friends on a 90-day system, sleeping in beds in Monaco, Switzerland, Jersey, everywhere. And I tell them, ‘Why wouldn’t you pay your taxes here?'”
