Ron Dennis has stepped down as team principal of the McLaren F1 team. Head of operations Martin Whitmarsh will take on Dennis’s role.

“It’s time for Martin to take over. It is 100% my decision - this is a job he will embrace and from now most race-day decisions will be his,” said Dennis.

“This is the right time for this decision. But don’t see this as some sort of retirement because it is the exact opposite”

Whitmarsh has been at McLaren since 1989.

Mark Webber is aiming to make his F1 return in testing on 11th February, less than three months after breaking his leg in a cycling accident in Tasmania.Red Bull launch their 2009 car on 9th February.