Ron Dennis

June 1, 1947 — Woking, England

Ron Dennis is a renowned figure in Formula 1, best known for transforming McLaren Racing into one of the sport's most successful teams. Dennis began his motorsport career as a mechanic and quickly moved up the ranks. In 1980, he merged his own team, Project Four Racing, with McLaren, eventually becoming McLaren's team principal and CEO. Under his leadership, McLaren saw incredible success, winning numerous Constructors' and Drivers' Championships with legends like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and later, Mika Häkkinen and Lewis Hamilton. Dennis is credited with modernizing the team, introducing innovative technology, and setting high standards for precision and professionalism in Formula 1. Beyond racing, Dennis also expanded McLaren into a successful luxury car brand. He stepped down from McLaren in 2017 but remains an influential figure in motorsports and the automotive industry.