---
title: "McLaren veteran Ramirez has theory on recent slump"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/12/23/mclaren-ramirez-theory-recent-slump/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Bethonie Waring"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2016-12-23T17:25:11Z"
modified: "2016-12-23T17:25:11Z"
---

# McLaren veteran Ramirez has theory on recent slump

A lack of passion is hurting McLaren’s on track performances according to ex-coordinator Jo Ramirez.

A 17-year veteran at Woking, he also blamed the amount of internal politics in the team after a number of high-level management staff recently leaving the team.

In recent weeks, Ron Dennis, who was ousted following a failed takeover bid, and Jost Capito, who leaves his post as CEO after just a few months, have both left the team, marketing chief Ekrem Sami has also stepped down from the board.

Speaking on Spanish radio COPE, [Ramirez said](https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-hurt-by-lack-of-passion-and-politics-ramirez-861199/) the situation at McLaren is delicate due to the level of internal wrangling at the team.

“Jost Capito is leaving and people at McLaren had high hopes for him,” he said. “He has been there for a few months and the politics were so big that he couldn’t take it and he’s out.”

The shuffling and problems at the top of the team have made those working there “saddened” according to Ramirez, who left the team in 2001.

![Dan Istitene/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/12/596409216.jpg)

“I’m in London and I had lunch with a friend who is still at McLaren and he says he’s sad,” he claimed. “Everybody keeps working but there’s no passion.

“They have jobs and they have to make a living but it’s not the same passion they had before for the job. We’ll see if the new management can resurrect this great name because those of us who were there are very saddened by what’s going on. They are destroying themselves.”

Ramirez hopes that, once the car launch at the start of 2017 comes around, the mood at McLaren will improve.

“Once it settles down a bit more in January or February when they launch the new car things will get better. It’s something that Fernando \[Alonso\] knows and is aware of.”

Certainly, there are hopes that the new regulations coming for next year can offer a boost to McLaren. For Alonso as well it will be an important year as he decides on his F1 future, a competitive car could help sway the Spaniard’s mood but the style of racing will also be a key factor.