Ron Dennis has hit back at Eddie Jordan following criticism from the team owner turned TV pundit.

Known for his outspokenness - amongst other things - Jordan hit out at the Woking team and its boss ahead of the Silverstone weekend, accusing the team of being "arrogant" and Dennis doing a bad job of running it.

"You can say Honda is a mess, but so are McLaren," said Jordan in a BBC Sport Q&A. "They have been a shadow of their former selves since they arrogantly stated that Lewis Hamilton would rue the day he left McLaren. Look how that has rebounded on them.

"That arrogance is still there at the top of McLaren," he continued. "They are hopelessly off the pace and anyone who thinks it is just the engine is deluding themselves. The engine is a lot of it, but there are lots of other issues there.

"I personally think the day McLaren started building road cars was the day they took their eye off the ball in F1, and I will be surprised if they ever come close to winning titles again while that road car programme is still going and while the current management structure is in place.

"Ron Dennis sacked Martin Whitmarsh, but Whitmarsh never did the job of running that team as badly as Dennis is doing it now," concluded the Irishman.

Responding to Jordan's comments, Dennis made no secret of how highly he values the Irishman's opinion.

"I consider Formula One a family, and families live in villages," he told Sky Sports F1. "And villages always have a village idiot. He fits the bill perfectly."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by karel, 08/07/2015 6:25

"To be honest, sometimes I also get annoyed by statements of Eddy Jordan and at that point I can only agree with the sayings of Ron Dennis. But I suppose it's all part of the 'show' which is far of from the real racing.
I think that Ron Dennis is one of the few who succeeded to be in F1 for many years, so he can value it very well, for Jordan I remember him to be a teamboss, having his own team and now beig a reporter."

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2. Posted by Jigsaw, 06/07/2015 23:12

"The real idiots are all the rules that make it hard for teams to test and bring their cars up to competitive speeds. I can only imagine the frustration that team owners and principals have that spend all those millions of euros, pounds or dollars on racing only to be left in the dust by 25 or more seconds. Talking heads for the media need to keep their mouth shut and let these guys get back to racing. Sheesh! It's hard enough making a competitive car when the rules limit them so much. Hang in there McLaren and the rest of you. Hope the rest can make it back next year."

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3. Posted by Yeyox02, 06/07/2015 22:02

"LOL. The comments are much more fun than the article itself. LOL A Briton vs an Irishman, nothing new."

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4. Posted by You Started It!!, 06/07/2015 18:55

"Nearly fell off my chair reading this. RD must have big kahunas to to say that after what he's done to the team "

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5. Posted by Ro, 06/07/2015 17:42

"Oh no ! Eddie Jordan will make a few bob out of a libel case....But to be honest, McLaren have gone thru this many times before. The chassis is noit up to scratch, the engine needs more development. Give the guy (RD) a break, They will come good, but not this year."

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6. Posted by GrahamG, 06/07/2015 14:24

"This from the guy who forced a coup, sacked the team principle and possibly others and then forecast an immediate return to the world beating days of yesteryear. If I was a McLaren director I would be asking some pretty direct questions - its not just the engine, the whole organisation is in meltdown and has no title sponsor, could this be linked to Dennis's return to management of the team by any chance?
When an organisation fails its ultimately the fault of the guy at the top, and this shouty arrogant character ought to have a lot more to worry about then EJ's generally well founded comments "

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7. Posted by Paul C, 06/07/2015 13:45

"Eddie Jordan should join Richard Branson at the next Formula Scaletrix race. I hear the village idiots of motorsport are convening there."

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8. Posted by Spindoctor, 06/07/2015 10:35

"Hmmmm..
So who do we find credible if we choose between Eddie Jordan and Ron Dennis.
Eddie Jordan's legacy: a series of failed F1 teams, and smart financial deals which have made him rich, but leaves nothing of value anywhere else.
Ron Dennis' legacy: McLaren F1- 2nd most winning team, McLaren Automotive - building brilliant cars and making a profit, McLaren's Woking HQ & factory - beautiful and innovative.

Of course Jordan isn't literally an "idiot", but then Ron wasn't being literal. Jordan is simply another mediocre sub-Bernie wheeler dealer who's made a good living off the back of the likes of Sir Frank, and Ron, without ever achieving anything of merit.

All of that would be bad enough, but then there's his uncalled for ad hominem attacks, incessant brown-nosing of the sainted Bernie, and general outpouring of self-congratulatory drivel. It's not "controversial", as the BBC would hope, just banal & offensive - like the man himself."

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Dennis calls Eddie Jordan a village idiot

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