Former McLaren team coordinator Jo Ramirez, a man who started his F1 career with Ferrari and the Rodriguez brothers in the early sixties, believes the team has lost its passion.
Speaking to Spanish radio Cadena Cope, Ramirez offered his informed assessment of the former dominant outfit and the plight it currently faces.
"Unfortunately, McLaren is in a very delicate situation because there are a lot of politics," he said.
"Everyone is still working, but there's not the passion there was before because new people have come but most of them were Ron's people."
With his heart still firmly entrenched in F1 and McLaren in particular, Ramirez is hopeful teh new management can extract the team from the doldrums.
"In January or February, we will see if the new management has been able to revive this great name, because for those who were there before it is a pity to see them destroying themselves..
"They lack great people in design, but have understood what they need to do. 2017 should be the year in which they are good, and if Fernando (Alonso) would have left, he would have regretted it.
"He has taken a few decisions at the wrong time and suffered, so let's see if he's now right this time. Hopefully."
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