McLaren loses Chief: 'Time to focus on my family'

In a week when McLaren appointed Alessandro Alunni Bravi (ex-Sauber) as chief business affairs officer, a top brass man has just announced that he is leaving the organisation. Steve Atkins, in recent years serving as chief communications officer, has himself decided to take up another challenge after February. It is still unknown what his new job will be.

As many as 24 Grand Prix weekends, all over the world, the F1 calendar will also hold in 2025. So many races means hard work for the people involved in the sport which takes a toll- especially on a family level. Atkins has now decided to stop travelling the world continuously and has looked for a job that allows him to be closer to his family.

Commenting on his impending departure, Atkins states that his time at McLaren has been challenging as well as enriching, but that he feels it is time to focus on a job that allows him to be with his family more often. He will be at McLaren for the last time during the testing days in Bahrain at the end of February.

Atkins joined McLaren in December 2022 as chief communications officer. Before that, he worked at football club Chelsea, where he was responsible for media relations, issues and crisis management and public affairs. He was also the club's official spokesperson.

It is still unknown who will succeed him at McLaren.