McLaren’s sporting director Sam Michael will leave the team at the end of the season with Australia his next destination.
The Woking-based team have confirmed the Western Australian handed in his resignation in March with Michael planning to move back to Australia with his family, ending a career in Formula 1 spanning some 21 years.
“It’s been 21 awesome years in F1,” Michael told BBC Sport.
“Loved every minute of the racing and the people, but it’s time to go home – and on with the next challenge.”
Although yet to give any indication of what his next challenge might be, Michael’s experience would make him a sort after commodity in Australian motorsport.
Michael was originally recruited by the Lotus F1 team in 1993 before moving to Jordan to work under Gary Anderson, where he played a part in the team’s successful 1998 and 1999 campaigns.
Sir Frank Williams brought Michael to the Williams team in 2001 where he went on to become technical director in 2004, before resigning from the squad after the team’s worst ever start to a season in 2011.
Michael joined McLaren in 2012 taking up the role of sporting director.
McLaren has meanwhile denied reports that acting CEO Jonathan Neale and technical director Tim Goss are heading away from the team.