Staff Reporter.
Mansour Ojjeh, a major shareholder in McLaren and key figure in the history of the team for nearly 40 years, has died aged 68.
The Paris-born Saudi billionaire bought into McLaren in 1984 and was a driving force in the huge success of the team alongside his former partner Ron Dennis.
A statement from McLaren said the team “mourn his loss with deep sadness”.
“It is with deep sadness that McLaren Racing announces the death of Mansour Ojjeh, shareholder of McLaren since 1984,” said the team.
“Mr Ojjeh passed away peacefully this morning in Geneva, aged 68, surrounded by his family.
“A full statement will be made in due course.
“All at McLaren Racing mourn his loss together with his family, to whom the team sends its most heartfelt condolences.”
Ojjeh’s career spanned McLaren winning 10 drivers’ titles, with Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton, and nine constructors’ championships, through engine partnerships with Porsche, Honda and Mercedes.
Ojjeh had eased his involvement in McLaren following a double lung transplant in 2013, but recovered in time to play a key role in the ousting from the company of Dennis. The two former friends had fallen out some years before over a personal matter.
McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown said: “Mansour was a true racer in every sense. Ultra-competitive, determined, passionate and, above all, perhaps his defining characteristic: sporting. No matter the intensity of the battle, Mansour always put sport first.
“Mansour was a titan of our sport, yet modest, unassuming and disarming to all he encountered. His easy manner, sharp wit and warm humour touched all those who were fortunate to know him.”
A joint statement from Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff and parent company Daimler’s chair Ola Kallenius said: “Mansour was a business icon with a deep passion for racing.
“Together with Ron Dennis at McLaren, he set a new benchmark for how a Formula One team could be run, and Mercedes enjoyed iconic moments together with them over many years of partnership.
“Mansour was also a tenacious fighter – and a true and loyal friend. He will be sadly missed.”
F1 president Stefano Domenicali said: “He was someone with incredible talent, passion and energy and was a giant of our sport. I will miss him greatly and so will the whole F1 community.”
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who raced for McLaren in 2007 and again from 2015 to 2018, said: “So sad for this. One of the best people I have ever met in this sport and a man with a big heart. Will be truly missed.”
Ojjeh’s involvement in F1 started when his Techniques d’Avant Garde company sponsored Williams in the late 1970s – with world titles following in 1980 and 1982.