Former McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh is returning to Formula One as an adviser to the sport’s governing body.

Whitmarsh, who has not been involved in F1 since he was ousted by McLaren’s former chairman Ron Dennis in 2014, has accepted a temporary role to guide the FIA on cost control.

Whitmarsh, 59, left McLaren after Dennis replaced him as team boss with Frenchman Eric Boullier.

Martin Whitmarsh is returning to F1
Martin Whitmarsh is returning to F1 (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

The Englishman was subsequently appointed as chief executive of Ben Ainslie Racing – the sailing team set up by the four-time Olympic champion – in 2015 before leaving that position last November.

The FIA is expected to release further details on his new role following the conclusion of the sport’s latest strategy group meeting which takes place on Thursday.