McLaren Chief Designer Rob Marshall has revealed the offer to leave Red Bull after 17 Formula 1 seasons “came at the right time”.
Marshall departed Red Bull in May 2023, entering a period of gardening leave before joining McLaren at the start of the following year.
His influence at McLaren has been profound, contributing to its first Constructors’ title in 26 years.
Marshall has proved to be a wise acquisition by McLaren and he has explained the decision to move to the Woking-based outfit came amid a decision to start afresh in F1.
“From a personal point of view, they [McLaren] asked me at the right time. I was at a point where I thought, ‘if I don’t move to another team now, I’m probably here forever,’” Marshall told GP Blog.
“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.
“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. And I’m thinking, well, you know, 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.
“Because at that point, you kind of go, ‘yeah, I’ve been kidding myself. I think it’s probably time to go’. And at that point, you’re going.
“If there’s any doubt, you’re going. I don’t think you can turn back. If you’ve thought about it long and hard. If you think long and hard about leaving, then you’re gone.”
Marshall glad he ‘left Red Bull the right way’
Having worked with Red Bull since 2006, Marshall was happy to manage his exit accordingly.
“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. I thought I had a really good career there, really enjoyed it and I’m now really really enjoying at McLaren.
“I think I’m enjoying it as much here now in my first year as I did in the first first few years at Red Bull, which were the you know like the fun part.”
Marshall praises McLaren’s leaders
Part of Marshall’s enjoyment at McLaren stems from working with Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown.
Marshall is glowing in his review of the McLaren leadership duo, saying the atmosphere the pair had created in Woking was “totally not what I expected, and that’s a good thing.
“From the outside, for many years, McLaren was considered just a grey place where grey people went to work,” Marshall added.
“There was basically a sort of undertone of misery throughout the whole place. And apparently, it was like that for a while.
“But it’s not always been like that. It wasn’t like that when I started, and it’s definitely not like that now. The atmosphere is brilliant, honestly.
“Andrea is an inspirational leader, but genuinely cares for everyone.
“Zak just makes me laugh every time I speak to him. He’s just so charismatic and enthusiastic.
“He’s a great leader, both of them are.”
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