Will Courtenay has started his new role as McLaren\u2019s Sporting Director in the build-up to the 2026 season, following an early release from Red Bull.<\/p>\n
Courtenay represented Red Bull from their first F1 season back in 2005, having joined the Milton Keynes-based operation under the previous Jaguar guise.<\/p>\n
He rose through the ranks to Head of Race Strategy, before McLaren secured his services in a deal originally announced back in September 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHis experience, professionalism and passion for motorsport make him the ideal candidate to lead our F1 sporting function,\u201d said McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Red Bull subsequently stated that Courtenay remained part of their team and would \u201csee out his contract until mid-2026\u201d, but his release has been brought forward to the start of this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy to share that I\u2019m starting a new position as Sporting Director at McLaren Racing!\u201d Courtenay confirmed on his LinkedIn profile<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter 22 years at Red Bull Racing, the last 15 as Head of Race Strategy there, I\u2019m excited to say I\u2019m now embarking on a new challenge, joining the McLaren Racing Formula 1 Team as Sporting Director.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to say a huge thanks to everyone I worked with at Red Bull. I made so many great friends there and I hope I\u2019ll still see many of you in the paddock. It was an incredible two and a bit decades.<\/p>\n \u201cBut now I\u2019m looking forward to settling into my new role and team, and hopefully making plenty more new friends, as I do my very best to help McLaren continue its recent success in the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n