When Rob Marshall decided to part ways with Red Bull at the conclusion of the 2023 F1 season, he shared that the move was driven by a need to reignite his professional passion.
Marshall began a new chapter with McLaren Racing in January 2024, after a flourishing 17-year stint at Red Bull Racing. Now, he’s a part of Andrea Stella’s F1 Technical Executive team, where he works closely with Neil Houldey, McLaren’s Engineering Technical Director.
Prior to the official news, McLaren touted Marshall’s arrival as a crucial step in their quest to reclaim a leading position on the grid.
During his time at Red Bull, 56-year-old Marshall was a key player alongside chief designer Adrian Newey, contributing to the team’s championship victories with racers Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, praised the impact Marshall has had during his first year with the team.
“Rob brought with him a tremendous amount of experience and technical expertise, and his reputation preceded him,” Stella remarked.
“Actually, we’ve been even more impressed than expected. His profound understanding of car design, particularly in terms of layout, is vital for 2025 and will continue to be so for 2026.”
Marshall mentioned that McLaren’s offer came at a perfect time, coinciding with his desire for a fresh professional challenge after thriving for so long at Red Bull.
“From a personal standpoint, McLaren reached out at just the right moment. I was at a crossroads where I thought: ‘If I don’t switch teams now, I might never leave.’
“I was content with the idea of staying forever. Red Bull was always a fantastic workplace. But eventually, you start feeling stagnant, almost in denial.”
He added, “Things were becoming too routine and comfortable. I knew everyone and everything ran smoothly. Then, out of the blue, the phone rings with an offer to move. You’re tempted to decline, yet something inside stops you.”
“It just hits you: ‘I’ve been in denial; it’s time for a change.’”
Marshall felt confident leaving Red Bull on a good note and was relieved to see the team continue its success without him.
“Now, I’m really glad I left, and very pleased it was on good terms. It’s reassuring to know they don’t need me to succeed. No one should be irreplaceable. I didn’t want to leave and disrupt things.”
