Red Bull is the best team in Formula 1 and that statement is supported by a great driver like two-time champion Max Verstappen – and fundamentally – in a remarkable group of engineers who created the fastest car on the grid. Aware of this, other teams bring juicy proposals to their employees and in the last hours Ferrari and McLaren convinced three of them.
The most recent case is that of Rob Marshall, the veteran Red Bull engineering chief who left Milton Keynes after 17 years and will take over as chief designer at McLaren in January 2024.
The British engineer held that position in the Austrian team during the period 2010-2013, when the drivers' and constructors' championships were won. Red Bull then specially created the broad role of engineering director, where he became involved with the Red Bull Powertrains project, which is why he left his position with immediate effect although the link will end when the current season ends.
Rob Marshall with Sebastian Vettel in 2011. Photo Reuters/Action Images/Crispin Thruston
"I'm very pleased to have Rob join McLaren," said McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. "With more than 25 years working in motorsport, Rob comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience, elevated by his tenure and track record at Red Bull Racing. Rob's appointment is one of the fundamental steps and a natural fit to help the team get back to winning ways," said Andreas Seidl, who took over as Sauber CEO for Fred Vasseur's departure to Ferrari.
Since then, the Italian Stella made several decisions and made various hires, such as that of David Sánchez, the head of concept of vehicles of Ferrari, the team in which he was formed. "We are a team with the ambition to fight for championships, but in the last two seasons we have not shown a constant upward trend from the point of view of competitiveness on track. In recent months, we have worked to reverse this trend," he said in Tuesday's statement, emphasizing "strengthening the team from the point of view of people and experience."
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We have strengthened our staff with the incorporation of new talent. The list was already strong and encouraging, and the addition of a high-level, qualified individual like Rob will further cement our ability to set the highest technical standards at McLaren and be in a position to design winning F1 cars. We look forward to welcoming Rob in the near future."
Italian Andrea Stella, McLaren sporting director MAXIM SHEMETOV / POOL / AFP)
Red Bull boss Christian Horner also fired Marshall in a statement: "We want to thank Rob for everything he has done for the team over the past 17 years. His work on the generation of cars that gave us four incredible championship doubles between 2010 and 2013 was truly exceptional. His influence will be missed, but once again we thank him for all he has done and wish him well in his new role."
A few hours earlier, in addition, two Red Bull engineers began working at Ferrari. While they are not top-tier like the one McLaren got, it is considered that their value will be important in the Gestione Sportiva office for the 2024 car.
Only the name of one transcended: the American David George, a university professor in Maryland, with experience in Nascar and IndyCar and dedicated to aerodynamics. The other, meanwhile, is a former Red Bull aerodynamicist who has decided to bet on the resurgence of Ferrari and who will also work under the orders of Enrico Cardile.
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