F1 Round Up: Red Bull sees staff drain, Qatar Lusail circuit gets a facelift

Rob Marshall leaves Red Bull to join McLaren in key technical Role

Starting in January 2024, McLaren welcomes Rob Marshall, a veteran in the world of Formula 1 and a stalwart of the Red Bull team, as its new Technical Director of Engineering and Design.

Team principal Andrea Stella hails the appointment as a "fundamental step" in McLaren's quest to return to its winning form.

Stella’s optimism is drawn from Marshall's impressive track record, which includes 17 years as Red Bull's Chief Engineering Officer, an influential role in Benetton’s successful campaign during the mid-90s, and a fruitful tenure at Renault where he helped secure both drivers' and constructors’ championships.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner thanked Marshall for his outstanding work, wishing him well on his new assignment.

This appointment completes McLaren's technical structure, as it aims to combat a lack of upward trend in competitiveness over the past seasons.

Ferrari welcomes Red Bull ‘wildcard’ in double staff swoop

Ferrari's hunt for revitalized performance has led to a strategic double hire from Red Bull.

Key among these is the acquisition of David George, an aerodynamicist whose multifaceted career spans Formula 1, IndyCar, and NASCAR. George is not a stranger to championing comebacks, having significantly contributed to Honda's return to form with Red Bull.

Reputed for his innovative thinking, he is set to immerse himself in developing Ferrari's 2024 challenger.

The team, six rounds into the 2023 season, recognizes that their realistic competition is now against Aston Martin and Mercedes, as they aim for the best-of-the-rest P2 spot.

With new acquisitions from Red Bull and forthcoming upgrades, Ferrari is optimistic about challenging Red Bull’s dominance in the 2024 campaign.

The trend of Red Bull losing high-profile engineering talent raises serious questions about its future technical leadership.

The departures of Rob Marshall to McLaren and David George to Ferrari follow the previous losses of Peter Prodromou, also to McLaren, and Dan Fallows to Aston Martin.

These exits highlight an ongoing technical talent drain from Red Bull, despite the team's on-track success.

Lusail International Circuit unveils major upgrades

Ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season, Qatar Grand Prix organizers have disclosed extensive renovations to the Lusail International Circuit.

The decade-long commitment to Formula 1, initiated in the pandemic-impacted 2021 season, prompted the refurbishment, which includes an entirely new pits and paddock complex, medical centre, race control, media centre, and expanded fan zones.

While the circuit layout remains unchanged, the facility now boasts a capacity for 52,000 spectators, and features improved access through new car parks, roads, and tunnels.

Al-Hamad, CEO of the Lusail International Circuit, emphasized the drive to make the experience exceptional for drivers and spectators alike.

As the circuit also prepares to host the World Endurance Championship from 2024, alongside MotoGP and Formula 1, the objective is to integrate sustainability, offering opportunities for local students and aspiring engineers to participate in the vision for the future.