Red Bull’s strategy chief, Courtenay, is set to join McLaren

Will Courtenay, Red Bull’s head of race strategy, is leaving the team after 14 years to join McLaren as their new sporting director.

This marks Courtenay as the third senior member to depart Red Bull in the last five months, amid ongoing restructuring at McLaren. Team principal Andrea Stella expressed confidence in Courtenay’s ability to enhance their sporting operations, stating, “Will’s experience, professionalism, and passion for motorsport make him the ideal candidate for this role.”

Courtenay will report to racing director Randeep Singh, contributing to McLaren’s ambitious goals as they aim for continued success in winning races and championships.

While Red Bull has not commented officially on his departure, a source mentioned they are saddened to see him go after his long tenure, which dates back to the Jaguar days. They also indicated that Courtenay will remain with the team until mid-2026, though negotiations for an earlier release may occur.

McLaren’s restructuring began with Stella’s appointment as team principal in December 2022 and has seen significant changes, including the departure of technical director James Key in March and the return of Peter Prodromou. In May, McLaren also recruited Rob Marshall from Red Bull as chief designer, who began work in January.

Under Stella’s leadership, McLaren has transformed from a struggling team at the start of last season to serious title contenders this year. Currently, Lando Norris is 52 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship, while McLaren leads Red Bull by 41 points in the constructors’ championship.