McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed that designer Pat Fry has left the Woking-based team, but is adamant that his departure will not affect preparations for next year’s car.
Fry, who joined the team in 1993, had been one of two designers who had been responsible for the design of the team’s challengers and reports had suggested that he was set to be responsible for the team’s 2011 car.
However, Whitmarsh has downplayed suggestions that Fry’s departure will have a negative impact on next year’s preparations.
“We’re talking about Pat Fry and Pat’s been with the company for about 18 years, so he’s made a great contribution to the team over a number of years,” he is reported as saying by PlanetF1.com.
“I think it was probably good for him, the right decision for him to take a bit of a break, take a breather. I think he’s worked very hard for the team for a number of years.
“Within our team, then, I think we’ve got quite a bit of a talent and depth, so in these situations it’s a great opportunity for someone younger, maybe hungrier, to come along and replace all of us.
“We’re all replaceable. I think the process will be the same but we’ve manned with fresh new engineers.”
