Just three races into the season, it's understood that McLaren has dropped its chief technical officer (chassis), Tim Goss.

Goss joined McLaren from Cosworth in 1990, and since then has had various roles within the Woking team, starting as a design engineer and subsequently enjoying stints as chief test engineer, chief engineer powertrain and director of engineering.

One of three senior engineering bosses at McLaren, the others being Matt Morris (chief engineering officer) and Peter Prodromou (chief technical officer - aero), Goss is largely responsible for the MCL33 which has proved to be a disappointment in the opening races of the season, the Woking outfit not taking the step forward it had hoped for.

According to the BBC, a spokesperson for the Woking outfit would only initially say that McLaren was "undergoing a review of its technical operations as part of its programme to return the team to success.

"This is a proactive, ongoing process that addresses a broad range of factors across the organisation," the spokesperson added. "More details will be given in due course. Until that time there will be no further comment."

Having switched to Renault following three disastrous years with Honda, McLaren had a difficult time in pre-season testing.

While Fernando Alonso had claimed that Melbourne would be the team's most difficult race of the year, thus far it has actually provided McLaren with its best result.

With an eye on the fact that the MCL33 is powered by the same Renault engine that took Daniel Ricciardo to victory in China, the Woking outfit, despite Alonso's claim that it was targeting the Austrian outfit, is finding it tough establishing itself in the midfield, with Renault, Toro Rosso and Haas all looking likely to put it under pressure in the months ahead.

Goss' could be the first of several heads to roll at Woking should the team not take a significant step forward this season, and the recent reshuffle that saw Zak Brown appointed CEO at McLaren Racing could in fact see the American in the firing line along with Eric Boullier.

Update

As news of the move spread through the Baku paddock, McLaren issued a statement that while confirming that a review of its technical operation was now in progress in a bid to "return the team to success”, Goss was not actually named.

The shake-up of the technical operation comes just two weeks after the management reshuffle aimed at "bringing greater efficiency and simplification to the business".

Clearly, though Ron has long gone, much of the corporate BS at Woking remains.

Check out our Thursday gallery from Baku, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by hussainahm, 27/04/2018 5:30

"McLaren are not there yet chassis-wise this year, there’s no denying Honda was the issue last year. The car doesn’t break down power units, and straight line speeds have very little to do with the car."

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2. Posted by Yeyox02, 26/04/2018 16:52

"Honda must be laughing a lot because McLaren blamed their engine for all their woes, now the crap floats. Dennis must be laughing too."

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3. Posted by vins0n, 26/04/2018 16:43

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out Zak"

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4. Posted by nonickname, 26/04/2018 15:14

"I am not a team supporter they all suck. I am a Fernando supporter though. Please Fernando if they carry on screwing up go to another series."

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5. Posted by Oldbuzzard, 26/04/2018 14:51

"What? You mean someone at McLaren finally realized that PR and marketing bullshit and doing pit lane interviews don’t make the cars go faster? Ron Dennis had a dour personality, but how many championships did he win?"

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6. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 26/04/2018 14:06

"I am available guys, how hard can it be!"

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Updated: McLaren's technical director Goss out?

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