McLaren recruit new race team CEO

The McLaren F1 team have appointed Volkwagen Director of Motorsport Jost Capito as their new Chief Executive Officer.

Capito, who will take up his new role in due course, succeeds Jonathan Neale who, having been acting CEO of McLaren Racing for the past 22 months, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of McLaren Technology Group.

Capito and Neale will work closely with Eric Boullier, who retains his position as Racing Director, and will report directly to the McLaren group’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ron Dennis.

“I first approached Jost last summer,” said Dennis of his move for Capito. “He is an extremely impressive, competitive and ambitious individual, who comes to us with a very wide range of automotive and motorsport experience, encompassing senior positions at BMW, Porsche, Ford, Sauber and, since 2012, Volkswagen, leading the latter company’s World Rally Championship team to consecutive world titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“From a motorsport perspective he has experience in not only the World Rally Championship but also Sports Cars, Touring Cars, Motorcycle Racing and Formula One, about which he is hugely knowledgeable and infectiously passionate.

“I am therefore delighted to welcome Jost to McLaren, and I am certain that he will work extremely well with Eric and all at McLaren Racing, building on the very good work they have already done to take the McLaren-Honda programme forward towards Grand Prix victories and world championship successes.”

The management change comes as McLaren go into 2016 looking to recover from the worst season in their F1 history.