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WOKING, England — Ron Dennis is stepping down as team principal of the McLaren Formula One racing team and handing over to Martin Whitmarsh.

Winner of seven constructors' titles with the team, Dennis helped Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Mika Hakkinen, Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton win 10 world drivers' championships.

The 61-year-old Dennis, who has been team principal since 1981, said Friday he would step down on March 1 but will stay on in his other roles with the McLaren group.

"It's time for Martin to take over as team principal," he said. "On March 1 he will adopt that responsibility. I will still go to races but not all of them because I am passionate about Formula One."

Whitmarsh is McLaren's head of operations, having joined the team in 1989.

Ron Dennis to step down as McLaren F1 team principal....