McLaren Formula 1 team has announced the strategic signing of Will Courtenay, Red Bull’s chief strategist, who will now serve as McLaren’s new sporting director. Reporting to McLaren’s long-time racing director, Randeep Singh, Courtenay’s recruitment marks a significant shift in F1’s competitive landscape.
Courtenay boasts a storied career with Red Bull, having joined during the Jaguar era in 2003 as a systems engineer before moving into strategy in 2005. After 14 years as head of race strategy, his experience is expected to be invaluable to McLaren, who recently seized the lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
Despite taking on his new role at McLaren, Courtenay remains contracted to Red Bull until mid-2026. A Red Bull spokesperson confirmed, “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. Will continues to be part of the team seeing out his contract until mid-2026.”
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, expressed enthusiasm for the new acquisition. “We are delighted to welcome Will to McLaren. 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.”
Courtenay’s move comes as a blow to Red Bull, who is also dealing with the imminent departures of Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley to the Sauber F1 team, aligning with Audi’s 2026 takeover.
Courtenay’s future role at McLaren signals a bold step for the team as they aim to solidify their position at the forefront of Formula 1.
