McLaren’s Rise and the Role of Rob Marshall
McLaren has experienced a significant upward trajectory in the latter half of the 2023 Formula 1 season, and this momentum has continued into the 2024 campaign. A key factor behind this progress has been the appointment of Rob Marshall to the team’s technical management structure in January 2024. Marshall, who previously worked at Red Bull during its highly successful years in 2022 and 2023, has played an instrumental role in shaping the development of both the MCL38 and the MCL39 models.
Marshall was involved in the in-season development of the MCL38 before taking on a more prominent role in the design of the MCL39, which has quickly become a dominant force in the championship. His contributions have not gone unnoticed, with former Aston Martin technical chief Dan Fallows highlighting his impact on the team’s success.
Fallows, who previously collaborated with Marshall at Red Bull, praised Marshall for his ability to bridge the gap between vehicle dynamics and aerodynamics departments. Speaking on the James Allen on F1 podcast, he emphasized that Marshall’s collaborative approach has helped align different teams within the organization.
“We called him Uncle Rob – he’s a lovely chap,” Fallows said. “I think that is probably part of his impact in many ways. He’s a good person to pull people together. He’s got no artifice or doesn’t play politics.”
He further noted that the suspension design on the MCL39, which features wishbone leg placements aimed at achieving anti-dive properties, may have been influenced by Marshall’s oversight. This attention to detail and innovation has set the MCL39 apart from other cars on the grid.
“Sometimes – particularly with this regulation set, where it’s very important to be able to link up aerodynamics and the vehicle dynamics side of things – it’s very important to get the suspension working with the aero in the right way. He’s somebody who can help bridge the gap between departments.”
Fallows also highlighted Marshall’s innovative mindset, noting that his ability to solve mechanical problems creatively has contributed to the team’s overall performance. While he wasn’t directly responsible for every innovation, his influence is evident in the MCL39’s design.
“I think we’ve seen some interesting innovations from them on the suspension, for example. And I’m not saying it was necessarily him, but it’s certainly got his name all over it.”
Beyond his technical expertise, Fallows pointed out that Marshall serves as a figurehead within the team, someone who can communicate effectively and provide leadership during high-pressure situations. This role has proven invaluable as McLaren continues to navigate the challenges of the 2024 season.
A Strategic Approach to Development
One of the standout aspects of McLaren’s performance has been its methodical approach to car development. Rather than pursuing immediate gains, the team has adopted a patient strategy focused on consistent, reliable updates. This philosophy has allowed them to gradually improve the MCL39 without compromising its reliability.
Fallows explained that this approach has been evident over the past two seasons. For instance, McLaren introduced a new front wing at the Canadian Grand Prix weekend but only used it in practice to gather data before implementing it in Austria. This cautious rollout ensures that any changes are thoroughly tested and validated before being deployed on race day.
“This has been noticeable over the past two seasons; for example, McLaren registered a new front wing at the Canadian GP weekend, but used it only in practice to gather data before electing to put it on the car in Austria.”
Since their performance leap in 2023, Fallows noted that McLaren’s updates have often been subtle but effective. “Some of their updates have not been visually very striking, but they’ve clearly had a plan,” he said. “They’ve stuck to it and they’ve decided on a philosophy on how to improve the car and they’ve just gradually nibbled away at it and just got quicker and quicker.”
He added that the team’s ability to reliably implement upgrades has been a major factor in their success. “I know from personal experience and as people do across the grid, these regulations are very tricky to make reliable performance to put something on the car and to just know that it’ll work. But they seem to be able to do that.”
While the Mercedes power unit plays a role in McLaren’s performance, Fallows believes that the team’s self-sufficiency in areas like gearboxes and chassis development has been equally important. “They make their own gearboxes. They do enough of the car to be able to make a difference. I think that’s just what they’ve done. They’ve just consistently managed to put those upgrades on the car. They reliably work and they’ve just kept their head above everybody else.”
