Red Bull’s head of race strategy, Will Courtenay, is set to leave his position to join McLaren as their sporting director, according to a statement from the Woking-based team on Tuesday.
Red Bull has experienced a series of high-profile departures, including the star designer and former chief technical officer Adrian Newey, who recently moved to Aston Martin as their managing technical partner. Courtenay, who has been with Red Bull for 20 years, will report to McLaren’s racing director, Randeep Singh. The exact timing of his transition to McLaren remains uncertain, as his contract with Red Bull reportedly extends until mid-2026.
“We are thrilled to have Will join McLaren. His extensive experience, professionalism, and passion for motorsport make him the perfect fit to lead our F1 sporting operations,” said McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, in an official statement. “As we enter a crucial phase in our team’s development, we are confident that he will significantly enhance our strong leadership team as we aim to compete for victories and championships.” McLaren currently leads Red Bull by 41 points in the constructors’ standings with six races left in the season.
