Mclaren’s hopes of securing Red Bull Will Courtenay early are dashed, with the veteran strategist set to stay until 2026

McLaren will need to wait until mid-2026 to bring Red Bull’s strategy chief, Will Courtenay, into its ranks as sporting director, after Red Bull confirmed its intention to hold him to the full term of his contract.

Courtenay’s move to McLaren, announced last September, was seen as a major coup for the Woking-based team. He is set to report to racing director Randeep Singh, helping to refine McLaren’s race weekend operations. However, hopes of securing his services early have been blocked by Red Bull, who have no intention of releasing him before his contract expires.

Despite McLaren’s eagerness to fast-track the transfer, Courtenay will remain on the Red Bull pit wall for the 2025 Formula 1 season. He will continue working alongside Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull’s principal strategy engineer, who is expected to succeed him once he departs.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged Courtenay’s decision to leave after two decades at the team, stating: “We offered him other roles, but McLaren’s high salary and broader role were too tempting. It’s a good opportunity for him and for us to give Hannah [Schmitz] a well-deserved step up.”

While McLaren must wait for Courtenay, the team has made internal adjustments for 2025. Oli Cartlidge, previously a senior race strategy specialist, has been promoted to lead strategy operations. This restructuring aims to allow Singh to focus on broader racing responsibilities as McLaren targets F1 championship contention.

Red Bull’s stance is consistent with its approach to retaining departing staff. Sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who will join Sauber as team principal in 2024, stayed with the team until the season’s end. However, Red Bull later granted him an early release ahead of his contract expiry in July 2025.

McLaren’s long wait for Courtenay highlights the complexities of personnel moves in Formula 1, as teams balance succession planning and competitive dynamics.