Ron Dennis has finally bowed to the inevitable.
When he was forced out of McLaren in November, Dennis went around telling people he would be back, that he would find a way to wreak revenge on the former friends and partners who had ended his reign at the company that was his life.
But that was never going to happen, given the power and wealth of the men involved.
Friday’s announcement that Dennis had sold his remaining 25% shareholding in McLaren to those men and formally parted ways with the company was always going to be the result of that boardroom coup as winter closed in at the end of 2016.
Back then, Ron Dennis’ departure from McLaren was no less shocking for knowing it was coming.
After all, this is a giant of both Formula 1 and British industry, who was forced out of the company he had built up – which had made him the most successful team boss in F1 history, which is now one of the world’s leading sportscar manufacturers – by his own partners.
It is a story with many aspects of a Greek tragedy: a great but flawed man losing the thing he cares about most, at least partly because of his own failings.
At its heart is the story of a broken friendship – between Dennis and fellow shareholder Mansour Ojjeh, who were close allies for three decades before they fell out a few years ago.
Why? There are stories buzzing around the F1 paddock about it, including one that many of those close to the situation believe to be true but which cannot be detailed here.
One thing is clear, however. It got very personal between the two of them before Ojjeh finally won the battle.
In truth, it is not hard to see howsomeone could fall out with Dennis.