Former Red Bull Head of Race Strategy, Will Courtenay, has completed his long-awaited switch to Formula 1 rivals McLaren as Sporting Director.
Courtenay, who has held various roles at the Milton Keynes-based squad since its inception, was announced to be moving as far back as September 2024.
But despite its best efforts to spring him out of his contract earlier, McLaren was forced to wait, with Red Bull ensuring Courtenay remained on its pit wall throughout the 2025 season.
Courtenay, who previously worked in Milton Keynes with Red Bull forebearers Jaguar Racing, has now been freed to join McLaren, announcing the move on his LinkedIn page.
“After 22 years at Red Bull Racing, the last 15 as Head of Race Strategy there, I’m excited to say I’m now embarking on a new challenge, joining the McLaren Racing Formula 1 Team as Sporting Director,” he wrote.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone I worked with at Red Bull. I made so many great friends there and I hope I’ll still see many of you in the paddock. It was an incredible two and a bit decades.
“But now I’m looking forward to settling into my new role and team, and hopefully making plenty more new friends, as I do my very best to help McLaren continue its recent success in the coming years.”
Courtenay will report to McLaren Racing Director, Randeep Singh, as the Woking-based outfit looks to begin F1’s new regulations cycle on the front foot, entering a season as both reigning Drivers’ and Constructors’ Champions for the first time since 1999.
Red Bull’s Principal Strategy Engineer, Hannah Schmitz, is likely to be moved into Courtenay’s role.
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