New McLaren sporting director Courtenay granted Red Bull F1 exit

Will Courtenay has completed his long-awaited move to McLaren's Formula 1 team to take up a new role as sporting director, after being granted approval to leave his position at Red Bull.

McLaren had announced its signing of Courtenay as early as 2024, but the Briton was not able to negotiate an exit from his contract ahead of 2025 and remained the team's head of strategy.

Red Bull had planned for Courtenay to see out the remainder of his contract on gardening leave, which was due to expire in the middle of 2026, but he has now been able to expedite his departure for the new year.

Courtenay confirmed his belated arrival at McLaren on LinkedIn, where he will report to racing director Randeep Singh.

"After 22 years at Red Bull Racing, the last 15 as head of race strategy there, I’m excited to say I’m now embarking on a new challenge, joining the McLaren Racing Formula 1 Team as Sporting Director," Courtenay posted.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB21, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL39, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL39

Photo by: Clive Rose / Getty Images

"I’d 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’ll still see many of you in the paddock. It was an incredible two and a bit decades.

"But now I’m 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."

Courtenay continues a wave of departures from Red Bull, which has included Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, and Jonathan Wheatley over the past 12 months, as the team continues to undergo a changing of the guard.

Red Bull's head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase is tipped to assume greater duties in 2026 as the team looks to promote from within, although it is known that Williams and Aston Martin is chasing his services in a senior role.