McLaren Explains Why Copying Rivals Is Central to F1 Development

Rob Marshall says success comes from understanding a rival’s goal and then rebuilding the idea to fit your own car.

Overview

McLaren’s chief designer, Rob Marshall, said Monday that the team studies almost every rival upgrade to judge if it can work on the MCL40.
He outlined a step-by-step review that ranges from quick rules checks to wind‑tunnel runs, computational fluid dynamics simulations, and simple thought tests.
Marshall pushed back on the claim that copying never works and pointed to Brawn GP’s 2009 double diffuser, a legal airflow device under the car that others adopted to big effect.
He added that reverse‑engineering only pays off when teams grasp the intent behind a part and build the supporting know‑how, since layout and engine packaging can block a straight swap.
Reporting also points to major McLaren upgrades targeted for Miami and Canada and notes the team has examined items like Ferrari’s distinctive rear wing for potential gains.