F1 exec MARTIN WHITMARSH "has officially left his role as McLaren team principal after spending 24 years with the team." RON DENNIS "took control of the team" when he was appointed CEO in January. A McLaren spokesperson said, "McLaren and Martin Whitmarsh have agreed amicably to part company."
After gaining control of the team at the start of the year, Dennis "formed a new management structure," with ERIC BOULLIER as racing director and JONATHAN NEALE appointed Group F1 CEO (BBC, 8/26). ... Infiniti has appointed TOMMASO VOLPE its new F1 global director, effective on Monday. Volpe will be responsible for Infiniti's activities around its title partnership and vehicle performance partnership with four-time F1 champion Infiniti Red Bull Racing. He will be based at Infiniti’s global headquarters in Hong Kong and report to Infiniti VP of Global Marketing VINCENT GILLET (Infiniti).
FROM THE SIDELINES: Liga MX side Puebla announced JOSÉ LUIS SÁNCHEZ SOLÁ as its new coach. He previously coached Puebla from '06-10 (MARCA, 8/26). ... Maccabi Tel Aviv coach OSCAR GARCIA left the club less than three months after joining the Israeli Premier League side on a two-year deal. Garcia informed Owner MITCH GOLDHAR of his decision recently and "spoke to the players before Tuesday's training session, notifying them that he will be stepping down" together with assistants RUBEN MARTINEZ and FRAN SANCHEZ.
Garcia "will be replaced by fellow Spaniard" PAKO AYESTARAN, 51 (JERUSALEM POST, 8/26).
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