McLaren Lands Red Bull Strategy Chief Will Courtenay in Early Move

Will Courtenay, Red Bull's highly respected head of race strategy for the past 15 years, is set to join McLaren as their new sporting director in a surprise early move. The transfer, agreed upon between the teams, sees a key architect of Red Bull's dominant era switch to a direct rival ahead of the pivotal 2026 regulation changes.

Why it matters:

Courtenay's departure is a significant talent drain for Red Bull and a major strategic coup for McLaren. He brings with him over a decade of insider knowledge on how a top team operates, manages races, and secures championships during periods of technical dominance. For a McLaren team aiming to cement its place at the front, adding a mind like Courtenay's is a huge asset as they prepare for the next era of F1.

The details:

• The Move: Courtenay was originally slated to join McLaren mid-2026 but an agreement allows him to start immediately. He will report to McLaren's racing director, Randeep Singh.
• Red Bull Tenure: A Red Bull veteran since 2005, he was promoted to head of race strategy in 2010, helping guide the team to multiple world championships in the V8, V6 hybrid, and current ground-effect eras.
• McLaren's Praise: Team principal Andrea Stella previously called Courtenay the "ideal candidate" to lead McLaren's sporting function during a "key phase" for the team.
• Wider Context: This is the latest in a series of high-profile exits from Red Bull, following the departures of technical titan Adrian Newey and team manager Jonathan Wheatley.

What's next:

Courtenay will now integrate into McLaren's leadership structure, with his strategic expertise expected to be invaluable for the development and execution of their 2026 challenger. For Red Bull, the task now falls to filling a critical void in their race operations, a challenge compounded by the team's broader personnel changes and the immense pressure of the upcoming new regulations.