Former Red Bull head of strategy Will Courtenay has started work as McLaren’s sporting director as Formula 1 teams return from the winter break.
Courtenay officially joined McLaren on 2 January 2026, with confirmation provided by the team.
Early release from Red Bull contract
Courtenay agreed to join McLaren in September 2024 but was initially held to his Red Bull contract, which was due to run into 2026. Talks over an early release reopened following leadership changes at Red Bull last year, and a compromise was reached between the two teams.
Message after two decades at Red Bull
In a post on LinkedIn, Courtenay thanked his former colleagues and reflected on more than 20 years at Red Bull, calling it “an incredible two and a bit decades”, before expressing excitement about helping McLaren build on its recent success.
Role at McLaren
In his new position, Courtenay will report to McLaren racing director Randy Singh.
Red Bull succession plans
Red Bull are expected to promote principal strategy engineer Hannah Schmitz to lead their strategy team after working closely with Courtenay for around 15 years.
F1 calendar ahead
The 2026 Formula 1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from 6–8 March. Teams will complete three pre-season tests beforehand as part of preparations for major chassis and engine regulation changes, with sessions scheduled in Barcelona and Bahrain, according to Formula 1.
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