Ex-Red Bull Designer Rob Marshall Boosts McLaren’s Prospects

Rob Marshall’s arrival at McLaren F1 brings fresh expertise, impressing Andrea Stella and reshaping the team’s engineering approach for future success.

Rob Marshall joined McLaren in 2024, bringing extensive experience from his previous role as a key figure at Red Bull Racing.

Andrea Stella expressed satisfaction with Marshall’s contributions, stating that the chief designer will play a pivotal role in shaping McLaren’s cars in the coming years.

From 2006 to 2023, Marshall first served as chief designer alongside Adrian Newey before becoming director of engineering in 2016. He played a significant role in Sebastian Vettel’s successful years with the Milton Keynes-based team.

“Rob arrived with a wealth of experience, technical knowledge, and a well-earned reputation in that regard,” said Stella, McLaren F1’s team principal.

“I must say, in working with him—myself, the other technical directors, the entire technical team—we’ve been even more impressed than we expected. His qualities, such as understanding how to design a car, especially from a layout perspective, have stood out.”

“And this is very important for 2025 and will be crucial for 2026.”

“I said it was truly a great idea to recruit Rob because he’s laying all the groundwork for 2025, 2026, and this type of role was something McLaren lacked before. Beyond that, Rob brings fantastic human qualities; he’s an incredibly positive person. Everyone enjoys working with him. He’s full of energy.”

“You can see him in the garage, and very often, he’s simply lying under the car, on the ground.”

“Everyone appreciates his incredible knowledge and experience, but at the same time, his hands—and sometimes even his head—are dirty because he’s fully hands-on. That’s something we lacked before, and we’re delighted to have him in this role now.”