Red Bull strategist Will Courtenay is making a bold move to rival McLaren for the upcoming season! The British mastermind announced his transition on LinkedIn, revealing that he will be leaving earlier than expected—initially slated for mid-2026. Red Bull has granted him the green light to head to Woking sooner. Courtenay has been a key player since Red Bull’s debut in 2005, contributing to the world titles of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
“I’m excited to share that I’m starting a new role as sporting director at McLaren,” Courtenay stated. “After 22 years at Red Bull, including the last 15 as head of race strategy, I’m thrilled to announce that I’m taking on a new challenge.” He expressed heartfelt gratitude towards his former employer and colleagues, saying, “I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with at Red Bull. I’ve made so many great friends there, and I hope to see many of you in the paddock. It’s been two and a half decades; what an incredible time.”
Transition to McLaren
Courtenay is eager to embrace his new challenge at McLaren. “I look forward to settling into my new role and team, and hopefully making even more new friends. I will do my utmost to help McLaren continue its recent success in the coming years.”
During his time at Red Bull, Courtenay celebrated four world titles with Sebastian Vettel and another four with Max Verstappen. His move to McLaren comes on the heels of several key departures from Red Bull, as the team bids farewell to prominent figures like Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko.
