Former Red Bull chief Rob Marshall and Ferrari engineer David Sanchez are both now free to take up their new positions with McLaren.
As part of its technical restructuring in early 2023, it was announced by McLaren that Marshall and Sanchez would join a technical directors, alongside existing employee Peter Prodromou in a new structure, with each given an area of expertise.
However, as is common practice between teams when senior technical personnel move, both Marshall and Sanchez have been on 'gardening leave.'
This is a mandatory period away from the team they are leaving to ensure that they are out of the loop and cannot take up-to-date information with them to their new team to ensure one team does not have a competitive advantage.
Marshall had been a key Adrian Newey lieutenant as Chief Designer between 2006 and 2016, before stepping up to Chief Engineering Officer.
He has joined as Technical Director, Engineering and Design while ex-Ferrari engineer Sanchez joins as Technical Director, Car Concept and Performance, replacing James Key.
Alongside Prodromou as Technical Director, Aerodynamics, the trio report to Team Principal Andrea Stella - who has called the restructuring a "fundamental enabler" of McLaren's turnaround - who in turn reports to CEO Zak Brown.
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Bohunkgearhead
Good news. I hope they can contribute this year!!
Patrick Chapman
I expect that it is a bit late to have any influence on the 2024 car but hopefully they might help towards the end of the season and definitely for 2025. That is an impressive team that Stella is putting together there. Perhaps a Red Bull challenger for 2026?
Bohunkgearhead
They cannot change the car concept, but they are there to manage the engineering staff. I hope they get everyone working hard and moving forward. As a McLaren fan, I cannot ask for more at this time. If they can drive the development, that should be good.
Patrick Chapman
@Bohunkgearhead The engineering team has proved to be very good as evidenced by the excellent recovery from the beginning of the 2023 season to now. Hopefully these new signings will make it even better. Also Mclaren have two excellent drivers so I have high hopes for the team for 2024 but I think 2025 will see a big step forward for them. We shall see. I also support Mclaren for many years now so I am holding thumbs for them.
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