McLaren hires Red Bull strategy chief as sporting director

McLaren has made a significant move in bolstering its Formula 1 operations by signing Red Bull's chief strategist Will Courtenay as its new sporting director.

The appointment marks a major coup for the Woking-based outfit as it continues to strengthen its challenge against the current world champions.

Courtenay's journey in F1 strategy

Courtenay's tenure with the Milton Keynes squad spans an impressive two decades, beginning in 2003 when he joined as a systems engineer under the team's previous Jaguar guise.

His transition to a strategy role coincided with Red Bull's takeover in 2005, setting the stage for a remarkable career progression.

For the past 14 years, Courtenay has held the pivotal position of head of race strategy, playing a crucial role in Red Bull's dominant performances and multiple championship victories.

His expertise in race strategy has been a cornerstone of the team's success, making his departure a significant loss for Red Bull and a considerable gain for McLaren.

McLaren's reinforcement

In his new role at McLaren, Courtenay will report directly to the team's long-standing racing director, Randeep Singh.

This move underscores McLaren's commitment to enhancing its on-track racing operations and challenging for top honors in the sport.

Team principal Andrea Stella expressed his enthusiasm for the new addition, stating,

"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."

Stella emphasized the critical juncture McLaren finds itself in, adding,

"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."

Transition timeline and contractual obligations

The exact timing of Courtenay's transition to McLaren remains uncertain.

A Red Bull spokesperson confirmed that Courtenay is contractually bound to the team until mid-2026, stating,

"Will continues to be part of the team seeing out his contract until mid 2026."

However, this statement is likely to serve as a starting point for negotiations between the two teams.

McLaren is expected to push for an earlier release, aiming to integrate Courtenay into their operations as soon as possible to maximize the impact of his expertise.

Red Bull's talent exodus

Courtenay's impending departure adds to a growing list of high-profile exits from the Red Bull camp.

The team is already set to lose legendary design guru Adrian Newey to Aston Martin in March 2025, while sporting manager Jonathan Wheatley is slated to take up the team principal position at Sauber from next season.