McLaren Snags Red Bull's Will Courtenay for Sporting Director Role
Former Red Bull strategy head Will Courtenay is set to join McLaren as Sporting Director in 2025 after securing an early exit from his contract, marking a significant personnel shift between the two top teams.
Will Courtenay, Red Bull's long-time head of race strategy, is finally set to join McLaren as their new sporting director after securing an early release from his contract. The move, originally announced for 2024, was delayed as Red Bull enforced a gardening leave that was set to last until mid-2026, but an agreement has now allowed him to start at the Woking-based team for the upcoming season.
Why it matters:
This is a significant coup for McLaren, adding a key strategic mind from the most dominant team of the modern era to their ranks as they push to sustain their recent resurgence and fight for championships. For Red Bull, it's another high-profile departure in a period of significant personnel upheaval, raising questions about the team's stability and ability to retain top talent as they face new regulatory challenges in 2026.
The details:
- New Role: Courtenay will take up the position of Sporting Director at McLaren, reporting to Racing Director Randeep Singh. The role is a significant step up from his previous position and will be crucial in managing trackside operations.
- Red Bull Tenure: The Briton spent 22 years with Red Bull Racing, including the last 15 as the head of race strategy, where he was instrumental in numerous race wins and championship victories.
- Contract Acceleration: Red Bull initially planned for Courtenay to remain on gardening leave until the middle of 2026. The early release suggests a shift in the team's stance, potentially to allow a clean break for both parties.
- Wider Exodus: Courtenay's exit continues a trend of major departures from Red Bull, following the likes of legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey and team principal Christian Horner, signaling a major changing of the guard in Milton Keynes.
What's next:
With Courtenay's departure, Red Bull is expected to promote from within, with head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase tipped to take on greater responsibilities. However, Lambiase is also a target for other teams, including Williams and Aston Martin, meaning Red Bull's personnel reshuffle may not be over. For McLaren, integrating Courtenay's expertise will be a key priority as they aim to build on their 2024 constructors' championship success and mount a sustained title assault in 2025.