McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has praised the immediate and transformative impact of former Red Bull engineer Rob Marshall, who joined the Woking-based team as chief designer at the start of the 2024 season.
Marshall, who spent 17 years at Red Bull, arrived with a sterling reputation – and his influence has exceeded even the high expectations set for him.
McLaren's revival in 2024, capped by its first constructors' championship since 1998, showcased a team firing on all cylinders.
Much of this success has been attributed to a series of key hires in the last 18 months, including Marshall, whose extremely proactive involvement and vast experience have impressed Stella and McLaren's top brass.
Even more impressed than expected
Speaking about Marshall's contribution, Stella remarked on the profound impact the engineer has had on McLaren's car design and team dynamics.
“Rob came with a wealth of experience, knowledge from a technical point of view, with a reputation from this point of view,” Stella said, quoted by Motorsport.com.
“I have to say that, working with him, myself, the other technical directors, the entire technical team…if anything, we have been impressed even more than what we expected.”
©McLaren
Stella noted Marshall's deep involvement in shaping McLaren's trajectory for 2025 and beyond.
“Because of these qualities, like the knowledge of how you design a car, especially from a car layout point of view. And this is very important for 2025, and this will be very important for 2026,” the Italian added.
“I'm sitting next to Rob here, and while I sit next to him, and I see him working on the screen, I said like, 'It was really a good idea to get Rob,' because he's doing all the work in terms of layout for '25, '26 and we did miss this kind of role at McLaren before.”
Beyond his technical expertise, Marshall's practical and approachable style has also been a standout.
“In addition to that, Rob brings fantastic human qualities, a very positive person. Everyone enjoys working with him. “He's full of energy,” Stella continued.
“You can see him in the garage, and very often he's just laying 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 was with his hands on the parts.
“So that's something that we did miss before, and we are glad that now we have it in the role.”
A reshaped technical structure
McLaren's restructured technical leadership, which now operates as a three-pronged system, also benefited from Marshall's collaborative style.
Working alongside aerodynamics head Peter Prodromou and performance technical director Mark Temple, the 56-year-old engineer has brought cohesion to the team.
Neil Houldey, McLaren's technical director for engineering, highlighted how Marshall's arrival galvanized the group.
“Rob came in and he's such a collaborative guy to work with and just wants the best for the team and for everyone,” commented Houldey.
“Actually, the way it's worked has been really positive and I think it's shown the entire technical team how we can all work together—different personalities, different specialties, but actually it's brought everyone together.”
Houldey also credited Stella's vision in implementing the new structure.
“I think the way that you can divide up the work, you've got Andrea as a guide, you've got us meeting together as a group. It just enables you to focus on your area that much more and ensure that the performance is coming in your area,” he explained.
“If you're going to credit, I think it's something you can definitely give Andrea credit for, realizing that that actually was a better way to structure the McLaren racing technical team.”
Eyes on 2025
With Marshall taking the lead on the design direction for 2025 and laying critical groundwork for the 2026 regulations, McLaren appears poised to maintain its competitive edge.
His ability to balance big-picture strategy with hands-on involvement has injected renewed energy into the team, solidifying Team Papaya's resurgence.
As McLaren sets its sights on defending its constructors' title and competing for individual driver glory, the presence of Rob Marshall and the leadership of Andrea Stella stand as cornerstones of a bright future.
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