McLaren: 'No link Marshall's move and possible Red Bull engine deal'

6 June 2023 at 15:55

Last update 6 June 2023 at 18:30

Toby McLuskie

Rob Marshall has closed the Red Bull chapter and will join McLaren as Technical Director, Engineering & Design from 2024. Helmut Marko called the departure 'good for both parties'. Is Marshall's move part of an engine collaboration between Red Bull and McLaren? Andrea Stella, team boss of the Woking-based team, disputes that.

Red Bull Racing will appear on the grid from 2026 with its own engines, which it will develop together with Ford. Red Bull itself and AlphaTauri will drive the power units, but perhaps a third team in Formula 1 will also be supplied with the power units. There were earlier discussions with McLaren about a possible collaboration.

Marshall was working within Red Bull on the 2026 engine project, among other things. Not with the development of the engines themselves, but in combination with how they should fit into the car. In his new role, Marshall looks set to become responsible for that at McLaren too. During a press event in Spain, which GPblog also joined, Stella was asked whether the 55-year-old Briton's move is linked to a possible engine deal with Red Bull from 2026.

Partnership with Red Bull not imminent

"I can confirm there is no link," said the McLaren team boss. "So, we had conversations with Red Bull a few months ago as part of the due diligence in exploring what's available in the market in terms of power unit for 2026. But at the moment we are quite advanced in our negotiations with HPP. So, there's no conversation ongoing with Red Bull.

Mercedes will lose one customer team with Aston Martin as of 2026. Williams and McLaren do appear, based on current reports, to be continuing with the German engine manufacturer.