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A former Red Bull star has revealed he has no regrets about leaving the Austrian team to join McLaren, calling the move "the right decision." While Max Verstappen successfully defended his title for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, Red Bull struggled in the constructor’s championship, finishing third behind Ferrari and McLaren with 589 points.
The team also parted ways with drivers Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo, opting to bring in young talent Liam Lawson for their 2025 campaign. On the flip side, McLaren enjoyed a historic season, clinching their first constructor’s title in their Formula 1 history with 666 points, edging out Ferrari. With drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in stellar form and a world-class engineering team backing them, McLaren looks poised for another strong season. But what prompted one of Red Bull’s top contributors to jump ship? Let’s dive into the story.
"Too Comfortable" at Red Bull: His bold leap to McLaren
Rob Marshall, Red Bull’s former chief designer, made waves in 2023 when he left the team after a 17-year stint to join McLaren. His impact was immediate, playing a pivotal role in McLaren’s 2024 constructor’s championship victory. Reflecting on his decision, Marshall admitted that life at Red Bull had become "a bit too comfortable" and "too easy," prompting him to seek a new challenge.
"From a personal point of view, [McLaren] asked me at the right time," Marshall told GPBlog. "I was at a point where I thought: ‘If I don’t move to another team now, I’m probably here forever.’ I was happy to be there forever. I really enjoyed my time at Red Bull, it was a great place to work. But then you get to the stage where you’re going stale, you’re in denial."
Marshall’s departure marked the beginning of a talent exodus from Red Bull, with legendary designer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley also leaving the team. For Marshall, the move to McLaren was a chance to reignite his passion for engineering.
"I think I was finding stuff a bit too easy, a bit too comfortable. You knew everybody, you had to get everything done. It was all a bit slick," he explained. "And I’m thinking, well, five, six, seven years, that’d be happier, then I retire. And then the phone rings saying: ‘Do you want to leave?’ And you’re about to say: ‘No.’ And for some reason, you just can’t."
Marshall’s decision paid off, as McLaren’s 2024 success proved.
"Now I’m absolutely glad I went, and I’m really happy that I left Red Bull the right way," he said. "You’d like to think no one wants to be indispensable, but they’ve clearly been able to manage without me, which is great for them. You don’t want to leave anywhere in the lurch."
With McLaren’s engineering team stronger than ever and Red Bull navigating a transitional phase, Marshall’s bold move has undoubtedly reshaped the F1 landscape. As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on whether McLaren can maintain their dominance—and if Red Bull can bounce back without their former star engineer.
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