Rob Marshall (motorsport)

{{short description|British engineer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rob Marshall

| image =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|4|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Taunton, England

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| nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British

| other_names =

| employer = McLaren

| known_for = Formula One engineer

| occupation = Engineer

| title = Chief Designer

| spouse =

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}}

Rob Marshall (born 14 April 1968) is a British Formula One engineer for McLaren, being their Chief Designer leading their technical team after initially being hired as the Technical Director for Engineering and Design.{{cite web | url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/mclaren-announce-several-organisational-changes-as-new-signing-sanchez.4zQsiFn5q4ebcaTanM51fg | title=McLaren announce several organisational changes }} He previously had a leading role in the Red Bull Racing team from 2006-2024.

Career

Marshall studied mechanical engineering at Cardiff University. After his study, he went to work at the design department of Rolls-Royce.

He switched to Benetton Formula as a race engineer in {{F1|1994}}. He continued working for Benetton until the take over by Renault F1 team. Through a duration in which the team was taken over by Renault (2000–2002), Marshall worked his way through the ranks to eventually become Head of Mechanical Design and in 2005, his work, particularly the development of his innovative mass damper system,{{cite web|title=Renault's mass damper|url=https://drivetribe.com/p/thursdays-longread-renaults-mass-cgFMe3ffT_u-dOBMWgU1lg?iid=HCH2wGkGQby9XxjwdsTSqw|publisher=Drive Tribe|access-date=5 August 2020|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209002111/https://drivetribe.com/p/thursdays-longread-renaults-mass-cgFMe3ffT_u-dOBMWgU1lg?iid=HCH2wGkGQby9XxjwdsTSqw|url-status=dead}} helped the team to its first Drivers' and Constructors’ Championship titles.

For the 2006 season, Marshall moved to the new Red Bull Racing team, where he worked with Adrian Newey in the role of Chief Designer.{{cite web|title=Rob Marshall is the Chief Designer at Red Bull Racing.|url=http://www.vancouversun.com/Marshall+Chief+Designer+Bull+Racing+quick+acknowledge+that+team+benefitted+greatly+from+association+with+Infiniti+Marshall+Chief+Designer+Bull+Racing+quick+acknowledge+that+team+benefitted+greatly+from+association+with+Infiniti/8461661/story.html|publisher=Vancouver Sun}} Here he had a key role in the cars that won 4 world titles between {{F1|2010}} and {{F1|2013}} with Sebastian Vettel.{{cite web |url=https://www.redbull.com/int-en/redbullracing/drivers/rob-marshall|title=Rob Marshall |website=www.redbull.com |access-date=15 July 2020}}{{cite news|title=Sebastian Vettel wins fourth straight F1 world title with Indian GP triumph|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/oct/27/sebastian-vettel-wins-f1-title-indian-gp|work=The Guardian|date=27 October 2013 |last1=Weaver |first1=Paul }} The introduction of hybrid engines to F1 led to a less successful spell, but with Marshall at the helm of the Red Bull's engineering department the podiums and victories have continued to flow. In 2016 Marshall was promoted to the position of chief engineering officer.{{cite web|title=Red Bull Racing reveals its 'honeymoon period' with Honda|date=9 April 2019 |url=https://www.racetechmag.com/2019/04/red-bull-racing-reveals-its-honeymoon-period-with-honda/|publisher=Race Tech Magazine}}

On 30 May 2023, it was announced that after a 17-year tenure with Red Bull Racing, Marshall would be leaving the team and joining McLaren as the Technical Director responsible for Engineering and Design, beginning in January 2024 after a period of gardening leave.{{cite web |url=https://racer.com/2023/05/30/mclaren-signs-red-bull-veteran-marshall-for-senor-technical-role/ |title=McLaren signs Red Bull veteran |website=Racer |first=Chris |last=Medland |date=30 May 2023 |access-date=30 May 2023}}{{cite web|title=Rob Marshall to join McLaren Formula 1 team|date=30 May 2023|url=https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2023/rob-marshall-to-join-mclaren-formula-1-team-as-technical-director-engineering-design/}} However, after just three months this role was changed to that of Chief Designer as part of a technical restructuring at McLaren which involved David Sanchez, Technical Director for Car Concept and Performance, leaving the team.{{cite web | url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/mclaren-reshuffle-ex-ferrari-f1-hire-david-sanchez-out-after-three-months/ | title=McLaren's big ex-Ferrari F1 hire out after three months | date=2 April 2024 }}

References