Woking, Britain  - Ron Dennis quit Formula One racing for good after 28 years on Thursday when he left his post of McLaren Racing CEO for the executive position in the company's automotive division.

Dennis, 61, had earlier this year resigned as team principal of the McLaren-Mercedes F1 team. The new team boss Martin Whitmarsh was also named Mclaren Racing leader on Thursday.

The announcement by McLaren came two weeks after the team's world champion Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix for misleading race stewards amid speculation that Dennis may have pulled some strings in the background.

Dennis cited a major restructuring scheme at McLaren, insisting that "no-one asked me to do it." But the step comes two weeks before an April 29 hearing before the ruling body FIA over the Australia affair in which McLaren could face more sanctions.

"I admit I'm not always easy to get on with. I admit I've always fought hard for McLaren in Formula 1. I doubt if (FIA president) Max Mosley or (F1 boss) Bernie Ecclestone will be displeased by my decision," said Dennis.

Dennis entered motorsport in 1966 as a mechanic for F1 driver Jochen Rindt before leading his own Formula 2 team in the 1970s. In 1981, he took over the helm at McLaren and in the subsequent 28 years celebrated 10 drivers' titles and seven constructors' crowns.(dpa)