F1 Notebook: Shakeup Continues at McLaren; Schumacher Tests for Mercedes

McLaren hires from Red Bull, and a Sebastian Vettel sighting as and some champions past and present make a splash.

Autoweek rounds up its notebook from the Spanish Grand Prix.

Marshall Quits Red Bull for New McLaren Role

Rob Marshall, a long-term member of Red Bull Racing’s senior leadership group, will join McLaren in 2024.

Marshall has been with Red Bull since 2006, having moved across from Renault, and was Chief Designer during its title-winning phase of the early 2010s. Marshall took on the role of Chief Engineering Officer in 2016, with his remit including overseeing Red Bull Powertrains, but he has stepped back from his role with immediate effect.

Marshall will take on the position of Technical Director, Engineering & Design, at McLaren, from January. His recruitment comes two months after McLaren axed Technical Director James Key and implemented a revised technical structure, having recognized internal failings and poor in-season development.

Marshall will work alongside Peter Prodromou and David Sanchez—who will also join on January 1—and report directly to Team Principal Andrea Stella.

“Rob’s appointment is one of the fundamental steps and a natural fit to aid the team’s journey to get back to our winning ways,” said Stella. “We are a team with the ambition of fighting for championships, but over the last couple of seasons we have not shown a steady upward trend from an on-track competitiveness point of view.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner conceded that his team is losing “a key figure” and paid tribute, outlining that “his influence will be missed, and we wish him the very best in his new role.”

McLaren has also repurposed its old factory to become its new composites facility, in turn creating more space at the MTC for its heritage cars.

Schumacher Set for Mercedes Test Run

Mick Schumacher will return to Formula 1 action with Mercedes in Spain this week being confirmed for a tyre test run.

Mercedes, along with Ferrari, stayed on at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for two days of post-event running as part of Pirelli’s 2023 program. The main aim will be evaluating the slick tire compounds without tire blankets, amid the company’s aim of removing them for the 2024 season. Regular race driver George Russell will drive the W14 on Tuesday before reserve Schumacher takes over duties on Wednesday. It will be Schumacher’s first on-track running in Formula 1 machinery since joining Mercedes as its reserve driver.

“He has done a great job with the team so far, working hard back in the simulator and giving valuable input trackside,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “We're looking forward to him getting his first taste of on-track running this year, and sure it will help him in his role as reserve driver.”

Schumacher spent two seasons competing for Haas, in 2021 and 2022, but was not retained for 2023.

Vettel Goes Sailing Along

Sebastian Vettel has kept a relatively low profile since his retirement at the end of 2022.