Source – Planetf1.com
Will Courtenay, Head of Strategy at Red Bull, has joined McLaren as their new Sporting Director.
In a bold move set to shake up the Formula 1 paddock, McLaren has announced the signing of long-serving Red Bull figure Will Courtenay as their new Sporting Director. Courtenay’s departure marks the end of an impressive two-decade tenure with Red Bull, a team he first joined back when they raced under the Jaguar banner, before the energy drinks giant took control in 2005. His arrival at McLaren signals a major strengthening of their senior leadership team, as the Woking-based squad continues to push toward its lofty goals of regularly challenging for wins and championships.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella expressed his enthusiasm about Courtenay’s signing, hailing his vast experience and commitment to motorsport. “We are delighted to welcome Will to McLaren,” Stella stated. “His experience, professionalism, and passion for motorsport make him the ideal candidate to lead our F1 sporting function. We are now entering a key phase in our journey as a team, and we are confident that he will be a great addition to our strong leadership team as we strive to continue challenging for wins and championships.”
However, McLaren fans will need to be patient. Courtenay remains contracted to Red Bull until mid-2026, meaning he will not immediately begin his duties at McLaren. Red Bull, in a statement to F1.com, confirmed his departure, adding: “Will has been offered the position of Sporting Director. After a long and successful service, being with the team since the Jaguar days, we are sad to see him go but wish him all the best in this step up.” This statement underscores both Red Bull’s reluctance to let such a valuable team member go and the respect they hold for Courtenay’s long-standing contribution.
His signing is just one part of a wider reshuffle within McLaren’s senior leadership, a move orchestrated to inject fresh expertise and experience into the team’s framework. Courtenay will report directly to Racing Director Randeep Singh, whose role in McLaren’s resurgence has been pivotal in recent years. Together, they will form a key part of the team’s effort to rebuild its competitive edge, following several seasons of fluctuating results.
What makes Courtenay’s appointment even more significant is the timing. McLaren, under the stewardship of Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown, is focused on transforming its fortunes after a few seasons of mixed performance, with the goal of reclaiming its status as a front-running team in F1. Adding Courtenay’s wealth of knowledge, gained from Red Bull’s dominance in the hybrid era, could be the key to unlocking McLaren’s full potential in this new chapter.
But Courtenay’s move is not an isolated incident. His departure from Red Bull is the third high-profile exit from the team in recent months, signaling a wave of change within the reigning champions. The legendary design mastermind Adrian Newey is set to leave Red Bull after a storied career, with plans to join Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner. Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s former Sporting Director, is also set for a new challenge, having accepted the role of Team Principal at Audi, which is gearing up for its highly anticipated F1 debut in 2026. These departures highlight the fact that Red Bull, though still a dominant force on track, is navigating a period of internal transition.
In response to these shifts, Red Bull has already begun a strategic restructuring of its senior staff. One of the most notable moves has been promoting Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, to Head of Racing. This move signifies Red Bull’s effort to maintain its competitive edge despite the reshuffling, ensuring that the team remains cohesive and continues to push the boundaries of performance.
For Courtenay, the move to McLaren also represents something of a reunion. He will be teaming up once again with Rob Marshall, another former Red Bull colleague who joined McLaren earlier this year as chief designer. Marshall, like Courtenay, spent years contributing to Red Bull’s success and is seen as a pivotal figure in McLaren’s future plans.
The connection between these two former Red Bull employees now at McLaren adds an interesting layer to this story. As Courtenay prepares to make his eventual switch to McLaren, the duo will be tasked with translating their collective knowledge from Red Bull’s hegemony into McLaren’s next era. The Red Bull philosophy, famed for its aggressive and innovative approach to both car design and race strategy, could bring the spark McLaren needs to elevate itself back to the top tier of Formula 1.
For Red Bull, Courtenay’s departure, coupled with the exits of Newey and Wheatley, may be a sobering moment, but the team’s enduring dominance on track is unlikely to fade quickly. Red Bull’s ability to adapt to these changes will be closely watched, as they continue to rely on their deep bench of talent and carefully curated leadership.
As the Formula 1 landscape continues to evolve, with McLaren looking to bridge the gap to the front, Courtenay’s move could be a game-changer in their ambition to once again challenge for titles. While the wait for his arrival may feel long, the anticipation is already building for what this experienced sporting leader can bring to the storied British team. His departure from Red Bull after two decades of service marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of what promises to be an exciting new one at McLaren.
