During the media session organized by McLaren, Rob Marshall also spoke at length, offering a highly detailed technical perspective on the new regulatory cycle and the working philosophy adopted by the Woking-based team. The Chief Designer explained that, despite regulations that appear more restrictive on paper, the 2026 grid has already displayed a remarkable diversity of solutions. He also emphasized how crucial it is to interpret rival concepts rather than simply copying them.
The former Red Bull engineer highlighted how initial expectations surrounding these new rules have not fully matched what has been seen on track: “We thought the regulations would be very prescriptive. Today they are written in a completely different way compared to the past. Once, we simply had numbers on a sheet that defined volumes you had to stay within. Now, instead, there are very complex CAD models, which on paper seem to limit creativity. When you look at the ‘legality boxes’, it almost feels like the car designs itself. But then you arrive at the first race and discover that there are many different solutions across the teams.”
Variety of concepts across the 2026 grid
It is precisely this diversity of interpretations that has impressed Marshall the most: “Every car has something that makes you think: this is completely different from what we had imagined. Audi’s sidepods are very interesting—they have chosen a solution that is different from everyone else. Aston Martin has a very interesting suspension geometry, especially at the rear, and even the front is quite unusual, perhaps inspired by something we did last year. Looking further back, Ferrari’s rear wing was a surprise. Everyone wondered if it was legal… and it is. They have also done some interesting things around the exhaust exit.”
Marshall also pointed out that variation exists even in areas that many expected to be standardized, but which will play a key role in the upcoming development battle: “Front wings are all different, while many people thought they would all be the same.”
Ferrari solutions under the spotlight
A significant part of the discussion focused on Ferrari, particularly its solutions related to the exhaust area and rear wing design. Marshall explained that teams always carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the ideas seen on rival cars: “We look at everything. Some ideas are discarded immediately just by reading the regulations, others remain open.”
Regarding Ferrari’s FTM solution, it is worth noting that although other teams are exploring similar concepts, the Maranello design cannot be fully replicated. This is because it originates from the fundamental architecture of the car, including a very rearward differential position, which then influences the ‘legality boxes’ mentioned by Marshall. “Some ideas are limited by the architecture of the car or the engine. Some make it as far as the wind tunnel or CFD, while others remain at the level of theoretical study.”
Copying vs understanding in Formula 1
“In Formula 1, people often say that copying doesn’t work, but that’s not always true.” Rob Marshall supported his point with a historical example: “Think about the double diffuser—it worked on one car, everyone copied it, and it worked on the others as well. One thing is copying, another is understanding what a team is trying to achieve. That’s the real secret. You can copy something, but you don’t have their understanding. If you study it properly, you can develop the same know-how, but faster because you’ve been inspired by them.”
Less wind tunnel time: a real limitation?
Marshall also addressed the topic of wind tunnel and CFD restrictions, particularly relevant as McLaren enters the season as reigning champion—limitations that are often perceived as a disadvantage: “From the outside it seems like a big problem, but in reality it isn’t. You have a huge list of possible developments, some good and some not. The restrictions force you to decide what not to do.”
This represents a somewhat unconventional approach, as Rob Marshall sees these limitations as a potential advantage: “If you work in a methodical way and know what you want to achieve, you simply avoid wasting time on things that aren’t worth it. In a way, you free up resources. If you have a lot of wind tunnel or CFD time, you end up testing things that are just ‘nice to have’. We need to focus only on what really works.”
Of course, there are risks involved: “You might miss something because you considered it a lower priority, but you need the right mindset to make the correct decisions. In a sense, you are forced not to do unnecessary things, and that leaves you with more time to work on what truly makes you faster.”
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