McLaren has announced the high-profile signing of Red Bull’s Head of Strategy, Will Courtenay, as their new Sporting Director. Courtenay, who has spent two decades with Red Bull, including its early days as Jaguar Racing, will bring extensive experience to McLaren’s leadership team, further strengthening their bid for future championships.

Courtenay’s move is part of McLaren’s strategy to bolster their senior management as they enter a crucial phase in their journey to challenge for wins and titles. Reporting to Racing Director Randeep Singh, Courtenay is expected to play a key role in shaping McLaren’s sporting operations. Team Principal Andrea Stella expressed enthusiasm about the new addition, stating, “His experience, professionalism, and passion for motorsport make him the ideal candidate to lead our F1 sporting function.”

Despite the announcement, McLaren will have to wait until mid-2026 for Courtenay to officially join the team, as Red Bull confirmed he will see out his contract with them. Red Bull acknowledged Courtenay’s long and successful tenure, dating back to the Jaguar days, and expressed regret over his departure. “We are sad to see him go but wish him all the best in this step up,” the team said in a statement.

Courtenay’s exit marks the third high-profile departure from Red Bull in recent months, following Adrian Newey’s decision to join Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner and Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley’s move to Audi as their new Team Principal. Red Bull has already restructured their team, promoting Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, to Head of Racing.

The signing of Courtenay comes at a time when McLaren is riding high after Lando Norris’s dominant victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. The addition of Courtenay, along with the earlier recruitment of former Red Bull chief designer Rob Marshall, signals McLaren’s intent to continue their upward trajectory and further challenge Red Bull’s dominance in the coming seasons.