McLaren backs Dennis, denies sack rumours.

Contrary to claims that he had been forced out of the company he has fronted through thick and thin in Formula One, Ron Dennis remains at the helm of McLaren with the backing of those around him.

Rumours surfaced earlier this week that Dennis had been sacked as the espionage row that dogged 2007 continued to rumble on as 'private' Italian investigations dragged the matter into 2008. However, the company has responded, not only by demonstrating its support for its figurehead, but also by revealing that removing him is not as simple as it would appear.

"There is no question that Ron has everybody's full support," Dennis' right-hand man - and the man most likely to succeed him as team boss - Martin Whitmarsh told reporters, "Ron is fully supported by all our shareholders, all our managers and all who work for our team's company. He continues to fulfil the role of chairman of the McLaren Group, chief executive of the McLaren Group, and team principal of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. It therefore follows that it is for Ron to decide when and if to step down, step away, step back or whatever."

Dennis' home was among several raided by British and Italian police this week, along with McLaren's Woking base, but, despite the upheaval, Whitmarsh insisted that preparations for the forthcoming Australian Grand Prix - where he expects Dennis to be on pit-wall even if the rumour mill doesn't - had not been disrupted.

The raids and speculation over his future compounded an already difficult month for Dennis, who recently announced that he was to split from wife Lisa after 22 years of marriage, but, in a private briefing with Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper, he revealed that, as leader of an organisation he part owns, it is pretty hard to oust him.

Dennis, now beyond his 60th birthday, did admit, however, that he was constantly evaluating his position and role within the McLaren organisation, with the timing of a decision apparently the only element to be sorted in his mind.

The complexity of Dennis' involvement with the company was echoed by 'a highly placed McLaren insider', who told Britain's Times newspaper that 'Ron can't just be fired'.

"He is not a simple employee," the source continued, "He is a shareholder in the company and enjoys the complete confident support of all our investors, Mansour Ojjeh, Mercedes-Benz and the Bahrain government. He has been under a lot of pressure recently, but he is in fine form and raring to go. There are a lot of exciting projects on the go - and not just on the Formula One front."

It remains to be seen how the unfolding drama of this week's raids and the ongoing investigations into a matter that many believe should have ended with last season's World Motor Sport Council hearing - which fined McLaren a record $100m and stripped the team of its constructors' points - affect Dennis and his will to remain at the head of McLaren. Naturally keen to take the team to its first world title since Mika Hakkinen triumphed in 1999, he may decide that enough is enough even as Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen take the fight to Ferrari in 2008.

The Italian police last night issued a statement about their ongoing investigation, revealing that they removed several computers from both the McLaren base at Woking and the private premises of key personnel and made copies of files they believe are key to the espionage row. The statement added the information obtained would be added to 'a considerable body of evidence' already gathered against Dennis, Whitmarsh, MD Jonathan Neale, Rob Taylor and disgraced designer Mike Coughlan, who have been placed under investigation.