By Carlo Platella
Immediately after the disappointing start to the 2023 championship, McLaren announced James Key’s departure from Woking, leaving the position of technical director vacant. Andrea Stella, who in turn took over from Andreas Seidl in the role of Team Principal a few months ago, took the opportunity to implement a reorganization of the technical structure, thinking about a triumvirate that reflected the three macro areas of the car. All this, combined with the hiring of an important figure from Red Bull, contributed to the Woking team’s rise to the top of the constructors’ championship for one year.
The three pillars
Andrea Stella’s vision involves a subdivision of the technical direction according to the three pillars of each single-seater. First of these is the department of Vehicle Performanceincluding various areas such as vehicle dynamics, tires, brakes and performance analysis of drivers and competitors. It is the department that dictates the objectives in terms of the dynamic behavior of the car during the project setting phase, guiding the aerodynamic department towards the search for an adequate balance and aerodynamic map.
There aerodynamic division represents the second pillar and offers a different perspective compared to the other departments, seeking the best compromise solutions together with them. For example, a rear-set passenger compartment can cause various complications in terms of packaging of the transmission and power unit, but it allows the design of a more streamlined and advantageous front section of the body from an aerodynamic point of view. The same applies to the suspensions, whose layout (pull-rod or push rod) or in any case whose arrangement of the arms can sacrifice the dynamic objectives of Vehicle Performance, however in favor of a better interaction with the flows. This is the classic case in which mechanics are put at the service of aerodynamics. Especially with ground effect Formula 1 cars, it is a priority that there is synergy between the design of the floor and the suspension, optimizing the package to work in a precise range of heights from the ground.
Last, but not least, there is division Engineeringin charge of the mechanical and structural design of the single-seater. It is the department that, for example, develops suspensions with characteristics that comply with the Vehicle Performance agenda, also devising packaging under the bonnet that minimizes aerodynamic dimensions. It is therefore the department that offers the solutions to realize the vision of the other departments.
Thinking minds
With the abolition of the role of sole technical director held by James Key, in 2023 the management of the aerodynamic department will be entrusted to Peter Prodromou. Prodromou has a profound knowledge of the McLaren environment, the team he has been with since 2014 after his long experience at Red Bull which saw him win four world titles in the Vettel era. As regards Performance, however, the technical direction initially falls to David Sanchez, who however arrives in Woking no earlier than January 2024 at the end of his adventure in Ferrari. After a few months, however, he immediately said goodbye to McLaren.
Starting from May, the new technical director of Performance will become like this Mark Templewho during his over twenty years of experience in the team dealt with suspensions, was part of the team dedicated to testing and ranged between the roles of strategist, track engineer and various roles of responsibility in Vehicle Performance. Finally, the management of the Engineering and Design division is entrusted to two thinking heads. Neil Houdleyinitially appointed technical director of the department, in May 2023 he was joined by Rob Marshall, great purchase by the Woking team which takes him away from Red Bull.
The figure of Rob Marshall
For a team that has focused above all on internal figures to direct the new technical structure, Rob Marshall represents a very valuable external addition for McLaren, where he currently holds the position of Chief Designer. A 17-year veteran of Red Bull, behind the scenes Marshall was one of the architects of numerous world titles won by the cars from Milton Keynes. The aerodynamic qualities of Adrian Newey’s single-seaters have often been talked about, but if the British genius was able to realize his ideas it is also thanks to the extreme compactness and reliability of the creations of the engineering department directed by Marshall himself. The proof is that over the years Red Bull has become the point of reference on the grid as regards packaging, i.e. the arrangement and fit into the car of all the internal components, from the cooling system to the suspensions, passing through the electronics boxes.
It is thanks to this compactness that the aerodynamicists of Milton Keynes have long enjoyed great freedom in designing world champion single-seaters. The advantage has become even more rewarding with the 2022 regulations, when the bellies and the bodywork in general have taken on a central role in the management of turbulence from the front wheels and in the performance of the surface. This is an aspect that will become even more crucial in 2026, with cars that are taller, shorter and therefore more exposed to the wake of the wheels, but whose smaller dimensions will complicate the packaging of components under the bonnet. It is no coincidence that in 2023 Adrian Newey revealed how Rob Marshall was already working on the packaging for Red Bull 2026, before bringing his services to the court of Andrea Stella.
The best is yet to come
The new technical structure has certainly contributed to the development of a single-seater, the MCL38, more organic and competitive than the previous ones, but it will only be from 2025 that we will begin to see the true imprint of the new directors. Mark Temple has been Head of Performance since just last May, while there is reason to believe that Rob Marshall is dividing his time between current projects and the 2026 car, regulations which he was also dealing with at Red Bull. McLaren is on the right track to secure at least one world title already this season, but the conditions for continuing to grow in the years to come are all there.
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