Ron Dennis quits McLaren and Formula 1

One of the biggest characters in motorsport, Ron Dennis, announced today that he is standing down as the chairman of McLaren. His decision follows the disqualification of the team's star driver, Lewis Hamilton, from the Australian grand prix in March after it was discovered McLaren had breached the rules.

Dennis broke the news at a press conference at McLaren's Woking HQ, which had been called ostensibly to discuss his new role in the automotive side of the business. When asked to explain his reasons, he insisted he had not been forced to stand down, saying: "No one asked me to do it. It was my decision."

Dennis gave up his role as team principal on March 1, and since then the team have faced difficulties after their 2009 car proved to be slower than most of their rivals', a situation that has led to rumours that Hamilton is considering his options.

However it was the incident in Australia that is thought to have sparked Dennis's exit. Though Hamilton finished fourth in Melbourne before being promoted to third when Jarno Trulli was penalised by 25 seconds, he was eventually disqualified.

Tapes of race conversations with the pit lane showed that the British driver had been instructed to allow Trulli past and further investigation concluded that McLaren had provided "evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards".

With an FIA court hearing into the cover-up scheduled for April 29, it is felt that Dennis's decision to quit as chairman might be a move to help McLaren receive more lenient treatment from Max Mosley, the FIA president, with whom he does not get on.

When asked if this was so, he said: "I doubt if Max Mosley or Bernie Ecclestone [chief executive of FOM, the commercial rights holder for the sport] will be displeased by my decision."