Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes it would be a "great loss" for Formula One if Ron Dennis leaves McLaren at the end of the season.
Dennis' future in the sport has been cast into doubt in recent weeks after reports on both Autosport.com and the BBC said the 69-year-old would not be offered a new deal to continue in his role as chairman and chief executive when his current contract runs out at the end of this year.
Horner, who has had a number of public disagreements with Dennis over the years, praised the latter for his contribution to F1 and said his fellow countryman would be missed if his rumoured departure comes to fruition.
"I only have the utmost respect of Ron," Horner told Sky Sports News. "We've gone head-to-head and fought over sponsors, engineers, drivers, whatever, but he's always played fair. It would be a great loss if he's not involved, certainly for McLaren and also Formula One."
Although McLaren has denied Dennis is stepping down, it has been suggested he will be relinquishing his management role in December, amid talk of long-running boardroom tensions.
Dennis, who owns 25 percent of the McLaren Group, has established himself as the most successful F1 team principal in history by winning a combined total of 17 drivers' and constructors' titles over more than 30 years at the helm of the Woking-based team.
"What he has achieved in Formula 1 is quite remarkable," Horner added. "What he has built McLaren into is an example to us all. He's a passionate man and he argues for the right things for Formula One, sometimes to the detriment of his own team."
Horner is the latest member of the paddock to come out in support of Dennis after F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said anyone who is willing to let Dennis go would be "stupid".