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Dennis: Still in charge

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Five days ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, McLaren boss Ron Dennis has finally ended speculation about his future by announcing that he is to remain in charge of the team.

There has been increasing speculation in recent weeks that the 60-year-old would stand down from his three roles within McLaren: chairman and chief executive of the McLaren Group, as well as team principal of the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team.

Reports suggested that Dennis would be pushed into resigning his positions in the wake of last year's spy scandal that damaged both his own and the company's reputations.

McLaren were fined a record £50 million and thrown out of the 2007 constructors' championship after being found guilty by the FIA of 'fraudulent conduct' - being in unauthorised possession of confidential information belonging to Ferrari.

Gossip intensified towards the end of last month when Italian investigators - assisted by Surrey Police - visited the homes of leading McLaren personnel, including Dennis, and a criminal case remains ongoing.

However, speaking at the team's Woking factory on Tuesday, Dennis addressed all McLaren staff currently not in Australia to assure them he is to remain in all three positions.

Dennis is due to fly to Melbourne later on Tuesday and will oversee the start of the team's 2008 championship bid from Thursday onwards.