Mansour Ojjeh, a significant and influential long-time shareholder at McLaren, has died aged 68.
In a statement announcing his passing, McLaren paid tribute to Ojjeh.
Zak Brown, McLaren’s chief executive, described Ojjeh as a “titan of our sport”.
Ojjeh’s time at McLaren brought 10 drivers’ championships, including Lewis Hamilton’s first title in 2008, and nine constructors’ triumphs.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton posted a tribute to Ojjeh ahead of Sunday’s grand prix in Baku.
First involved in Formula 1 at Williams in the late 1970s, the Paris-born Saudi businessman joined forces with Ron Dennis at McLaren and his TAG Group funded the team’s Porsche engines which debuted in the 1983 season.
The McLaren-Tag combination claimed a drivers’ and constructors’ championship double in 1984 and successfully defended both titles a year later. McLaren added a further drivers’ crown in 1986, before beginning an era of dominance with Honda power from 1988.
Stefano Domenicali, F1’s president and CEO, said in a statement: “Mansour was someone with incredible talent, passion and energy and was a giant of our sport. I will miss him greatly and so will the whole F1 community.
FIA president Jean Todt tweeted: “Deeply saddened by the passing of my friend Mansour Ojjeh, one of F1’s legends. He achieved huge success with Williams and McLaren. He was unique and a real gentleman.
“He will be truly missed and will always be remembered. Our thoughts & prayers are with his beloved family.
A one-minute silence will be observed ahead of Sunday’s race in memory of Ojjeh and Max Mosley, the former FIA president who died last month.
